Bear with me, because I’m about to get all sales and markety for a minute. But just for a minute.
I’m talking about Way Smarter Freelancing, the first ebook from the editorial staff here at The Freelancery. (Me, mostly.)
It’s 178 pages of real-world help that will make you a lot savvier about freelancing, right away.
You get fresh, hands-on advice about the issues we all wrestle with: Money, pricing, finding work, finessing clients, getting paid.
You get ideas, insights, and know-how you can use out there on the front lines every day.
The idea is to help you feel smarter and more confident about what you do all day — and have a good time doing it.
You get some 50 articles from The Freelancery that form the core of what you need to know — whether you’re freelancing now, or just getting started. Virtually all the content is no longer on the site.
And it’s all in the unique spirit of The Freelancery; if you like the blog, you’ll like this. It’s not your typical ‘How to Freelance’ stuff.
It comes as a .pdf that’s readable on almost anything: laptop, tablet, or even smartphone (if you squint a bit). Read it on the beach or in bed. No wi-fi needed.
Anyway, Way Smarter Freelancing is available for $9.95. You can buy it below right now. Use Credit/Debit card, PayPal.
The good part is, on page 106, you’ll see an easy way recoup your investment on your very next assignment. As the piece explains, instead of charging a client, say $1100, bump it to $1125, which the client will perceive as a more rational price. You make back the $9.95, and then some. Fair, no?
$9.95
Delivered as .pdf
Way Smarter Freelancing: What’s in it
THE LIFE
Your freelance tool box 7
Is freelancing risky? 9
Plan less, succeed sooner. 10
Your first day freelance 13
How much can you earn? Really. 14
The difference between freelancers and entrepreneurs 19
Brains? Or brass? No contest. 23
The MOO approach to freelancing 27
Andrea Mignolo: Will design for beer 30
Laura Silverman, Writer: Fashioning a freelance life 36
CLIENTS
The best clients to chase 43
Landing Big-Money Clients: Who they are, what they want. 46
What your client wants. Really. 55
What to do after they say “We’ll call you.” 58
How does it feel to work with you? 66
Slightly devious client handling 70
GETTING WORK
Ten True Fans 75
Seek, and get found. 77
No portfolio yet? Try this trick. 79
Attracting and seducing the choice client 81
How to answer the phone. And when. 83
Give away your best ideas. Win more work. 85
Playing hard to get 93
Where the money is: Making stuff they really like 98
Making what they like: Getting out of your own way 100
MONEY
What your pricing says about you 105
Why we don’t charge a lot more 106
Pricing: Kill the zeros 106
How to talk money, painlessly 107
How to talk money: Terms 109
Shooting yourself in the wallet 110
Client asks: “Can you give me a ballpark on this?” 112
Client asks: Is this price negotiable? 115
Negotiating: Smaller numbers, bigger fees 115
Big client says: “I can get it much cheaper.” 118
To raise your game, raise your rates. 119
Should you post your fees? Publish your pricing? Hit yourself with a stick? 122
Proposals and bids: Put the price on page one. In bold. 126
When to say no: A budget mismatch 131
The scariest pricing idea ever. That works. 1 33
STAYING SANE
They can’t do what you’re doing 140
There’s a game plan in that excuse 143
Beating Resistance. Getting Going. 146
When to fight back 151
Finding joy in skunk work 155
How to yank yourself out of a slump 161
The restorative power of jamming 167
Take the job? Or not? 172
The freelancer’s right to bail(tm) 173
April 21, 2017 @ 8:41 am
Walt, I enjoy your writing (not clear about the hiatus, but hey who’s counting) and look forward to reading the book. I’d be interested in (more of) your thoughts on scalability. Many thanks.