Monday Markets for January 11, 2010 Are Up

You can find the current edition of Monday Markets here.

Do You Need a Freelance Writer Resume?

Looking for freelance writing jobs is an interesting thing. As I’ve said before, when you work as a freelancer, you are your own boss. When you apply for work, you aren’t applying for a job, exactly.

The person who hires you to work isn’t your employer; they are a client. You might work with a client on the different projects that you do, but you are your own boss. Some potential clients want to find out about a freelancer’s background and education before they hire them and may ask to see a resume.

Although I will provide a potential client with a resume on request, I am not altogether comfortable with it. If I was going to hire a contractor do to some work on my home, I would be asking how long the person has been in business as well as some questions about their level of experience with the type of work I need done. Would I ask for a resume before making up my mind? No, and I wouldn’t expect the person to offer to show me one.

Why are freelance writers preparing a resume, then? Are we still in the employer-employee mentality? Or are we having trouble explaining to potential clients why they should hire us?

I know freelance writers are very creative people, and there has to be a different way that we can present our credentials to potential clients. I also know that there have been many discussions in the blogosphere about how freelancer writers can command better rates for their work. I have a suspicion that one thing that holds freelance writers back from getting paid better for their work is the employer-employee mentality that some of us have. Once freelance writers start to see themselves as business owners and not job seekers, they will be more comfortable quoting the rates they deserve instead of taking what they can get.

Perhaps the answer is to prepare a one-page statement of accomplishments instead of a resume or write something that looks more like a brochure that you can share with a potential client. As a business owner, how would you tell a potential client about what you can do for them without using a resume?

Your Resume on Twitter: Hired Guns Announces Twesume Contest

Twitter is an awesome resource to keep in touch with people you know, look for freelance writing jobs and promote yourself. Have you ever thought about whether you could condense your resume into a tweet?

The Hired Guns Twesume Contest allows participants to do just that. The contest runs until January 25 and the winner gets a personal coaching session with Top Gun Allison Hemming on his or her choice of topics, from “personal brand analysis and resume makeovers to interview strategies for landing your dream job!”

For full contest rules, check out the announcement on the Hired Guns web site. It sounds like a lot of fun. If you decide to enter, please let us know in the comments and if you feel like sharing your twesume, please do so.

3 Things Freelance Writing Jobs and Home Improvements Have in Common

DIY is big business these days. If you go into your local home improvement big box warehouse store on a weekend, it will be jam packed with people who are interested in repairing or updating their homes. I like to go to Home Depot to get ideas for projects and in a past life I worked for a paint and wallpaper retailer for a number of years.

I’ve been doing some thinking about the kinds of things that home improvements and freelance writing jobs have in common. Here’s what I was able to come up with:

1. There many different types of projects you can take on.

When you are looking for freelance writing jobs, do you limit yourself to only looking at content work? There are many, many other types of writing that you could consider taking on. You could decide to do copy writing, white papers, or technical writing. Editing, translation work or news writing are other possibilities. You may even choose to develop your own information products for sale. All of these fall into the broad category of writing.

2. Some jobs are best handled by a professional.

It’s one thing to take on something relatively minor on your own, but for major projects it’s better to turn the work over to a professional. We probably know or have seen someone on television who started doing a renovation on their own and became overwhelmed by the time and effort involved in trying to manage the project. They realized that they would have been better off handing the work over to a professional from the start.

Clients who hire freelance writers may start off thinking that they can look after this part of their business on their own, too. They may have started off doing everything themselves and over time realized that their time is better spent working on the business, rather than in it. Enter the professional freelance writer to provide his or her expertise.

3. The key to a successful project lies in good prep work.

Whether it’s painting, replacing flooring or another DIY project, most of your time may be spent on cleaning, making minor repairs and generally getting the area ready. Freelance writing jobs work the same way. As freelance writers, we need to listen to what our clients want and make sure we are both on the same page before we go to work. We may need to interview subjects or conduct some research before we can type a single word. By taking the time to do the appropriate amount of prep work, we are much more likely to give our clients what they want and have that person get in touch when they need more freelance writing work done.

Not Another End of the Year Blog Post

I know a lot of people enjoy the end of the year lists that are so popular online, in print and on television. I’m not one of them. It’s just not something that holds my interest.

I’ve learned over the years that it’s probably not a good idea for me to make New Year’s resolutions. I tend to set the goal way too high, like resolving never to eat chocolate again when I have never been able to successfully give it up for Lent, without breaking the goal down into a plan to increase my chances of success.

Since now is the time of year when we take time to evaluate where we are and make plans for the future, it makes sense to include our professional goals too. I was recently asked in an interview about my writing goals. I realized that I’ve been basically flying by the seat of my pants for the last few years. I’ve been working steady, which I am certainly not complaining about, and my business has been growing – also good news.

While there are things that I have thought about that I would like to do, I haven’t made a definite plan of action, and that’s the difference between goals and wishes. I’m also more conscious of the fact that I’m the person in control of my professional destiny, not what’s happening “out there.”

While New Year’s Eve may be a time of looking forward to the future and the possibilities that it brings, you don’t have to wait until December 31 to do that. Every new day is a fresh start, and if we don’t like where we are or the way our career is going, then we can do something about it – starting from where we are right now with what we have at our disposal.

It may mean making a wish list of clients you would like to work with and following through by contacting one a week. You may decide to take a course to learn more about a particular aspect of writing or put together an ebook or a report that you can sell and get away from the “dentist” model of writing (drill and bill). Whatever you decide, so long as it fits your goals and definition of success, you have made the right choice.

There is no better time than right now to start creating the writing career and the life that you want. 2010 is the start of a new decade and it brings 365 fresh starts. What are you doing to do with them?

Attitude Counts When Looking for Freelance Work

Is looking for freelance work a necessary evil to you or something that you take in stride as part of the life of a freelancer? No matter how busy we may be at any particular point in time, we need to keep in mind that things can change very quickly.

A client who was keeping us busy with steady work may not have much for us at a particular point in time. We may decide that it’s time to move on from a client or a type of work we have outgrown. The gig may be for a specific project only. Whatever the reason, freelancers must constantly be looking for their next gig.

How do you see your job search? Do you give a big sigh and tell yourself it’s something you “have” to do? Or is it something you “get” to do? If you approach your job search and pitching clients with the attitude that you “get” to talk to people about how you can help them by using your abilities to help them reach their goals, your enthusiasm for what you do is going to show, whether you are writing a cover letter, calling a prospective client or meeting someone in person.

If you were the person doing the hiring, would you rather work with someone who is enthusiastic about what they are doing and interested in your business or someone who is just going through the motions because they “have to” look for work? You may not be able to control whether a potential client chooses to hire you, but you can do your best to be someone that people will want to work with.

What do you “get” to do today?

The Rate Question: “Is That the Best You Can Do?”

Have you ever given a quote to a client and been asked whether you could give them a further reduction in the price? If you are really interested in the project or you have the potential to pick up steady work, it may be tempting to considering lowering the price.

Before you decide whether to do so, take a minute to consider what the client has actually said. He or she hasn’t indicated that the price you have quoted is too high….yet. All they have asked is whether the price you have quoted is a firm one.

If you feel that you have quoted a fair price for the job, tell the client that. Point out to the client what factors you considered when arriving at the number you gave them. If you made your quote based on an estimate of the time the job will take times your hourly rate, tell them that. Some writers quote based on the type of job, the topic, how much time they will need to spend researching, etc. You can also take this opportunity to share with the client that your rates are set based on your level of experience and the quality of work that you provide.

What you want to do in this case is have the client appreciate the value that you bring to the table. They are not simply paying for your time, but also for your expertise and how you can benefit them in reaching their business goals.

Then Stop Talking.

I mean it. Zip it. Not one more word about your rate.

You have given the client the information they need to make a decision about whether to hire you and how much it will cost them. Talking too much at this point might get you the gig, but you may not get the rate you want.

At this point, the ball is in the client’s court. They may come back and agree to the rate you have named, or they may get back to you with a price objection. At that point, you can deal with their objection by finding out exactly what the client’s concern is and addressing it.

The client may also choose to walk away. Not everyone you prepare a quote for is going to end up hiring you, unfortunately. Rather than assume you have lost the gig by quoting what you feel is a fair price, stick to your guns. Let the client come back to you with a specific objection if they have one. Otherwise, they have just asked a question.

How would you answer if a prospective client asked, “Is that the best you can do?”

No Jargon Allowed: Keep it Simple When Applying for a Writing Gig

Have you ever visited a company’s web site and been left in the dark about what it actually does after reading through the copy? If your reaction after checking out the “About Us” page is to say “Huh?” to yourself, it’s definitely not a good sign.

Some people resort to using buzz words that sound impressive but which don’t really mean anything. For example, the expression “taking [something] to the next level” sounds impressive, but unless you know what the current level is, how do you know what the next one should be?

When you are applying for a freelance writing gig or sending a pitch to a potential client, resist the urge to try impress the person reading your materials with your mastery of the written word. You want the potential client to get to know something about you, your qualifications and the approach you take to your work. If you get the gig, you can discuss the specific style the client would like you to use for his or her assignment.

We all want to make a good first impression by presenting ourselves well and showing our best samples to people who may be in a position to hire us. Take a few minutes to read through your materials before you submit them. If you have trouble understanding what you are trying to say, a potential client will too – and you want to make it easy for them to decide that you would be a great fit for the project.

We may be wizards of words, but don’t let them get in the way of communicating effectively with potential clients. Keeping it simple is a better way to go.

Do you try to make your applications and pitches a jargon-free zone?

Why a Price Objection is a Good Thing

When you quote a fee to a potential client, there are a few things that will happen.

• The client may agree to the price you quoted and hire you.
• You may never hear from the person again.
• They may come back with an objection.

On the face of it, an objection isn’t really a positive thing. You have considered the project and how much time and effort it will take, and you have quoted the potential client what you feel is a fair price for your work. Ideally, you want them to agree to your price without objecting to anything, but the fact that the client is making an objection means that they have already decided that you are a good fit for their project.

When you apply for a freelance writing gig that is advertised or you make a pitch to a potential client, the recipient has two questions to answer:

• Are you someone who can do the work?
• Will you do the work at a price they are willing to pay?

The first question is the most important one. If the client isn’t interested in having you do the work, it won’t matter what price you quote him or her. When they object to the price you have quoted, they are interested in hiring you as long as you can agree on the payment details.

What do you do to move things forward if a potential client objects to the price you have quoted?

Getting Confidence in Your Job Search: Fake It ‘Til You Make It

One comment that I have heard several times since I started freelancing from people who are thinking about taking the plunge is that they couldn’t do because they “don’t have the confidence” to do it. Here’s the thing: You don’t (necessarily) need it.

If you waited until you felt fully confident and completely comfortable before you started applying for gigs or talking to potential clients, you probably won’t ever put yourself out there to pursue freelance opportunities. You can become more confident over time, though, by adopting the “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” approach.

A potential client sees your resume and cover letter or the materials you submit when you approach them about offering your services. They make a decision based on what’s in front of them. They have no idea when they are reviewing your stuff how you felt about yourself or your abilities when you composed them or how you feel about your abilities today.

As long as you feel confident enough to present yourself as someone who can listen to what the client needs and do what they ask, you are ready to go after the gigs you want. If you are going through a rough patch – confidence-wise – and you want to get back on track, the answer is simple: Take action.

If you don’t feel that you can tackle a lengthy list of gigs or potential clients you are interested in working for, start with applying for one job or contacting one company you are interested in working with. Apply for the gig, make the call, put the package of materials in the mail, but do something. The more times you do something to move your career along, the better your odds of getting hired. Nothing helps you feel more confident about your abilities than turning a potential client into a current one.

Until you start to feel confident in your abilities, just fake it. Then take action to move past that point.

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