๐ฅณ Freelance coffee mugs are here! ๐ฅณ
I created a bunch of mugs (yes, including the "tears of my unpaid invoices one ๐) for you to sip from while you relish your stretchy pants and flexible schedule.
๐ You can check them all out (literally) right here:
@standardtuber
My parents were set on naming me Hildegard Sofia.
It was only when I arrived they said, "Hmm...she just doesn't look like a Hildegard." Not sure what I would've had to look like to *look* like a Hildegard as a baby. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ Also, now I'd be Hildegard Boogaard, so I'm relieved.
Hi, freelancers! ๐๐ป I've said it before and I'll say it again:
๐ก You don't need to send your client your original Google Doc. ๐ก
Before submitting, paste it into a fresh one. Your clients don't need to see your process, revision history, or how long something took you.
Yesterday, I invoiced for my highest-earning month as a freelancer *ever*. Here's a real look at how I made it happen. ๐๐ป
โ๏ธ I worked way too much.
โ๏ธ It was very stressful and exhausting.
โ๏ธ I don't recommend it.
โ๏ธ I have no desire to do it again.
My calendar: "You absolutely do not have time to take on another project."
My brain: "You're already so stressed. You need to let go of things, not take on more."
My fingers typing an email: "This sounds great! Let's talk about how we can work together."
The reason I charge project rates rather than hourly is that I just don't know how to bill you for the 12 minutes I spent thinking about the perfect subhead while in the shower. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Potential Client: "Can you do a lower rate if we commit to having way more/regular work for you?"
Me: "Does your utility company charge you less when you use *more* power?"
If you hire freelancers, understand that an invoice (whether it's $500 or $5,000) isn't a line item or a drop in the bucket.
It pays their bills. Provides for themselves or their families. Sustains their businesses and careers.
Please oh please, treat (and pay) it accordingly.
"Iฬถ'ฬถmฬถ ฬถsฬถoฬถrฬถrฬถyฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถbฬถoฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถrฬถ ฬถyฬถoฬถuฬถ ฬถbฬถuฬถtฬถ this invoice was due two weeks ago. Wฬถhฬถeฬถnฬถ ฬถyฬถoฬถuฬถ ฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถ ฬถaฬถ ฬถcฬถhฬถaฬถnฬถcฬถeฬถ,ฬถ please let me know when payment will be submitted."
Last week, a prospective client told me they couldn't afford me.
They didn't shame me for my prices. They didn't try to talk me into a discount. They simply said, "I've put you on our list of dream providers for when our budget increases!"
MORE CLIENTS LIKE THIS PLEASE. ๐๐ป
Hi! Did you ever stop to think that the reason youโre struggling to be productive every single second of every single day is simply because we arenโt *meant* to be productive every single second of every single day?
In case you need to hear this, it's totally possible to have a thriving freelance career without:
โข Starting a newsletter
โข Creating a course
โข Growing your social media following
โข Building a team
Want to do those? Great. But they aren't prerequisites for success. ๐๐ป
Hi potential client,
Thanks for sharing your project details!
My rate for this work is uฬถsฬถuฬถaฬถlฬถlฬถyฬถ $700. Hฬถoฬถwฬถ ฬถdฬถoฬถeฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถsฬถoฬถuฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถoฬถnฬถ ฬถyฬถoฬถuฬถrฬถ ฬถeฬถnฬถdฬถ?ฬถ
I'm happy to answer any questions oฬถrฬถ ฬถnฬถeฬถgฬถoฬถtฬถiฬถaฬถtฬถeฬถ ฬถoฬถnฬถ ฬถpฬถrฬถiฬถcฬถeฬถ.
Best,
Freelancer
๐ฃ *clears throat* Freelancers, repeat after me:
โข "I'll need a signed contract before starting any work."
โข "I'm not starting any new projects until my overdue invoice is paid."
โข "I charge a rush fee for last-minute requests and projects."
Me: *commits to a completely unrealistic and unreasonable workload*
Also Me: *convinces myself that I just haven't yet found the right routine/schedule/hack to make it all feel manageable and tomorrow/next week/next month will be better*
Freelance client: "Does next Tuesday work for a deadline?"
My brain:
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't you dare say it
Me: "Yep!"
Client: "How's next week for a deadline?"
My calendar: "Absolutely not."
My to-do list: "There's no way."
My stress levels: "No. Nope. Nah."
My response: "Sounds great! I'll get right on it."
I was rejected last week. By a client I was excited about potentially working with.
I'm sharing that here because I hear from a lot of new freelancers who assume experienced freelancers never get turned down.
It's part of the process for *all* of us. There's no shame in it. ๐๐ป
My typical freelance workday involves wildly swinging between these three things:
๐ณ Panicking about not having enough work
๐ฌ Panicking about having too much work
๐ง Searching for work I definitely donโt need
One small way I set client boundaries? Asking fewer questions.๐๐ป
๐ "What's your deadline?"
โ "I can have this done by..."
๐ "What's your budget?"
โ "My rate is..."
๐ "Can you send...?"
โ "To get started, I need..."
๐ "Does that work?"
โ "Let me know if you have Q's."
Ander Matthew Boogaard made his speedy entrance last night (Jan. 24) at 7:41pm. ๐
Iโm feeling a bit like I got hit by a train but Iโm so smitten I donโt care.
I donโt know when or how often Iโll be on Twitter during leave. Smooching his cheeks is my top priority. ๐ฅฐ
๐ง My brain when I accept and start a new freelance project:
โYay! New project.โ
โWaitโฆI donโt think I know what Iโm doing.โ
โOh god. I definitely donโt know what Iโm doing.โ
โIโm never doing this again.โ
โI did it!โ
I think every freelancer (especially new ones) needs to hear this:
๐ฃ You don't need to feel apologetic for sending your invoice or following up on payment. ๐ฃ
Your client isn't doing you a favor by paying you on time. That's the expectation.
Potential client: "We're so excited to work with you! Let us know about next steps."
Me: "Of course! Here's my rates, contract, and typical process."
Potential client: ๐ป๐ป๐ป๐ป๐ป
Freelance confession (that always triggers a lot of impostor syndrome for me): I don't have a desire to "grow" or "pivot" my business into content strategy or consulting.
That's often talked about like it's the best/only next step. But, I like *producing* the content most. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Everybody: "I'm rested, recharged, and ready to tackle my goals for 2022! Let's get after it."
Me: "What's my password? Has my desk chair always been this uncomfortable? Where did all of these emails come from? Do I really write for a job? How do I put two sentences together?"
Confession: I've made my living as a writer for over nine years and I still don't *totally* get what a "whitepaper" is.
My understanding is that it's a blog post but way longer and stuffed with as many big words/as much jargon as you can possibly fit. That's it.๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Here's my tried and tested approach to my freelance work, if you want to copy it:
1. Accept freelance project
2. Procrastinate project
3. Convince myself I'll never finish project
4. Deeply resent project
5. Somehow complete project
...repeat forever.
Here's a peek into my typical workday as a freelancer:
โ๏ธ Avoid my work
โ๏ธ Panic about the work I'm avoiding
โ๏ธ Look for more work I can avoid and panic about
Where I thought I'd work when I became a freelancer:
โ๏ธ Coffee shops
โ๏ธ Planes
๐ Beaches
๐ Hotel rooms
Where I actually work:
๐ก My same ol' desk
๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ My parents' kitchen table
๐ The service area at the mechanic
๐ท The waiting room at the pediatrician
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Don't send your client your original Google Doc.
Create a fresh one. Your client doesn't need to see your process in the revision historyโand, more importantly, they don't need to be able to check how long something took you. ๐๐ป
Me when planning my workload: "Oh, that article should only take an hour or so to crank out."
Me in reality: *spends two hours searching for synonyms, Googling the difference between "affect" and "effect," and cursing statistic roundup posts*
Client: "We'll get you the brief next week!"
Me a week later: "Do you have the brief?"
Client:
Me another week later: "Any update?"
Client:
Me a few days later: "Just checking in..."
Client:
Client two months later: "HERE'S THE BRIEF CAN WE HAVE THE DRAFT TOMORROW?"
Hi, freelancers! ๐๐ป Here are a few things you have full permission to say to your clients:
โ "That deadline doesn't work for me, but [date] does."
โ "I won't start any work without a signed contract."
โ "My typical process works like this..."
Hi, clients! Your 68-page style guide is nice, but you should know that I'm skimming it for:
โ Adjectives to describe your voice/tone (+ examples)
โ Do you use sentence or title case for subheads?
โ Do you use an em dash? Spaced or unspaced?
โ Do you use the Oxford comma?
What I say: "Looking forward to your feedback!"
What I mean: "Looking forward to taking every single one of your edits personally while questioning my entire career choice!"
Me: "Freelancers, quote the higher rate! You have to cover your own expenses, taxes, paid vacation, and retirement. Be confident. You've got this."
Also me: *backspaces my own rate 14 times before closing my eyes, saying a silent prayer, and sending the email*
Freelancing is really just telling yourself, "I'm sure I can squeeze this in!" over and over again until you're completely overwhelmed and then find a new seemingly impossible dream of opening a coffee shop/bookstore/bed and breakfast in a small town. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Hi, clients! ๐๐ป Imagine that a freelancer you work with was very late delivering a project. Every time you checked in, you were told, "Yeah, it's coming."
Unreliable? Unprofessional? Frustrating?
Now ask yourself how your freelancers feel when your payments are late.
Is it just me, or does freelancing/self-employment/entrepreneurship constantly involve swinging wildly between these two thoughts?
"OMG this is my dream.๐"
"OMG this is my nightmare.๐ณ"
๐ฃRepeat after me: I am still valuable and worthy even when my calendar is blank, my inbox is empty, and my to-do list is short.
Friendly reminder that you don't need an overwhelming workload to justify your importance.
Client: "We want the content to be super conversationalโlike you're talking to a friend over coffee."
Also client: "We need you to include these 82 unnatural key phrases, this specific anchor text for all these internal links, and these four different cringey calls to action."
Yes, freelancing offers flexibility. And that's great. ๐๐ป
But let's clear this up: "flexibility" does not equate to "easy breezy with no expectations, accountability, deadlines, or obligations."
Potential client: "We're excited to work with you and will send a brief by EOW!"
Me a week later: "I'm checking in..."
Client: *silence*
Me another week later: "Any update?"
Client: *silence*
Client three months later: "HERE'S THE BRIEF CAN WE HAVE THE DRAFT TOMORROW?!"
Client: "Just make the content super conversational and approachable. You know, like you're talking to a friend."
Me: "That's perfect because I'm always talking to my friends about "what is a Gantt chart," "best Gantt chart software 2023," and "free Gantt chart software."
Me to freelancers: "Go out there and confidently quote a higher rate! You've got this."
Also me: *deletes my own rate from an email types it again deletes it again reduces it by $100 deletes it types the original rate again hits send and runs from my computer like it's on fire*
Client: "We'll send a brief by the end of the week!"
Freelancer one week later: "I'm checking in on this brief."
Freelancer another week later: "...any update on this brief?"
Client randomly three weeks later: "HERE'S THE BRIEF CAN WE HAVE THE DRAFT YESTERDAY?!??!?"
Hi client,
Thanks for sending project details.
Iฬถ ฬถwฬถaฬถnฬถtฬถeฬถdฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถlฬถeฬถtฬถ ฬถyฬถoฬถuฬถ ฬถkฬถnฬถoฬถwฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถIฬถ'ฬถmฬถ ฬถaฬถfฬถrฬถaฬถiฬถdฬถ the February 15 deadline doesn't work for me.
Iฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถiฬถnฬถkฬถ I need to push the deadline to February 28. Iฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถoฬถkฬถaฬถyฬถ?ฬถ
Sฬถoฬถrฬถrฬถyฬถ!ฬถ
Kat
Here's a piece of freelance wisdom that took me years to understand:
If your gut tells you that a client or project isn't right for you, trust it. Your intuition is almost always right.
Does anybody else feel like we've lost the knack for just *enjoying* something?
Like, why can't I love gardening or baking without thinking, "Ooh, should I start an Instagram account for this? Or a blog? Or some products? Should I monetize this somehow?"
I. HATE. IT. ๐คฆ๐ปโโ๏ธ
What won't help your burnout:
โช๏ธ Vacation
โช๏ธ Quick social media detox
โช๏ธ Massage, face mask, bubble bath, etc.
โช๏ธ Constantly telling yourself "next week will be better"
What will help your burnout:
๐ Tough decisions that lead to real changes
Potential client: "Are you taking on new projects?
My brain:
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't you dare say it
Me: "Yep!"
Me: "My plate is full. I don't need more work. I need to focus on what I already have."
Also me when I see a freelance opportunity that seems interesting: ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
Having one of those days when I want to shut my whole business down and become a barista. Or gardener. Or nurse. Or work in a pottery studio.
Fellow freelancers and entrepreneurs, please tell me I'm not alone in feeling this way approximately 8,294 times per week. ๐
Whenever I find myself engaging in a time-wasting activity, I ask myself this question:
Is this pushing me toward my goals?
If the answer is "no" (which it often is), I continue wasting time on that activity anyway so that I can end the day feeling extra bad about myself.
What you see: My big bylines, dreamy clients, and impressive income
What you don't see: The years I spent writing $40 blog posts about storage unit insurance and how fish finders work
My typical to-do list:
โ๏ธ Tฬถaฬถsฬถkฬถ ฬถIฬถ ฬถaฬถlฬถrฬถeฬถaฬถdฬถyฬถ ฬถdฬถiฬถdฬถ ฬถbฬถuฬถtฬถ ฬถaฬถdฬถdฬถ ฬถsฬถoฬถ ฬถIฬถ ฬถcฬถaฬถnฬถ ฬถcฬถhฬถeฬถcฬถkฬถ ฬถiฬถtฬถ ฬถoฬถfฬถfฬถ
โป๏ธ Task that's unimportant but I will prioritize above everything else
โป๏ธ Task that will continue to move to "tomorrow's" to-do list for eternity
It doesn't matter how long I've been freelancing. I will still *always* be baffled by potential clients who sound so excited and eager to work with you but then disappear into the ether when you follow up. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Potential Freelance Client: "What's your rate for this project?"
My Brain:
don't say it
don't say it
don't say it
don't say it
don't say it
don't say it
don't say it
Me: "Well, you know, I'm flexible."
I feel like telling people I'm a "freelance writer" sounds really exciting and interesting.
...but really I'm just answering emails, googling synonyms, and searching for the original source of a damn statistic while also trying to remember to move the wet clothes to the dryer.
Me: "Tell me more about your content strategy."
Prospective client: "We want the top spot on Google."
Me: "Well, first I'd love to hear more about your product."
Client: "Top spot on Google."
Me: "Can you tell me about your audie..."
Client: "TOP ๐๐ป SPOT ๐๐ป ON ๐๐ป GOOGLE."
This tweet isnโt really โon brandโ but oh well:
I gave birth 2.5 weeks ago and the amount of targeted ads for waist trainers, stretch mark creams, diet pills, etc. is appalling.
Iโll just say this: My body grew two beautiful lives and Iโm in zero hurry to hide the evidence.
I woke up to an email from a long-term, anchor client letting me know they need to cut back from four blog posts per month to only one.
8.5 years of freelancing have given me perspective and thicker skin. But dang, this stuff still really stings when it happens. ๐๐ป
What finding work is like lately:
โข Find a LinkedIn post looking for freelance writers
โข Read more about it and get excited
โข Check that it was only posted 4 hours ago
โข See 249 comments and 87 reposts
โข Put your head down and weep๐ญ
It's rough out there, folks.
Are careers supposed to feel like "I don't know if I want to do what I'm doing forever but I also don't have the first clue what I'd *rather* be doing"???
Because if so, I'm really nailing it over here. ๐๐ผ
I did zero planning over my holiday break. No visioning. No strategizing. No reflecting.
But I *did* spend a lot of time with family. I caught up with old friends. I read several books. I visited a few bookstores. I cooked and ate delicious food.
I have zero regrets. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
I admire all of the moms who manage to get themselves dolled up and take glamorous maternity/newborn photos.
I am not that mom. I havenโt had a lick of makeup on in over a week. But I showered today, so I had my husband snap this photo as a keepsakeโฆwet hair and all. ๐
๐ฉ Red flags in freelance job posts. They tell you:
ยท Rates are low, but could lead to regular work.
ยท You need to do an unpaid test assignment.
ยท Rates are "competitive," but refuse to say a number.
ยท There's a lengthy application process for a single project.
What else?
What you see: Me working with awesome freelance clients, bragging about six figures, and offering advice.
What you don't always see: Me spending years writing $40 blog posts about storage unit insurance, fish finders, and fitness trackers.
In October, I connected on LinkedIn with the Content Marketing Manager for a brand I'd love to write for.
We had some friendly back and forth, but nothing came of it immediately.
Today, she reached out to say they're hiring freelancers. Bottom line: build relationships. ๐๐ป
Potential client: "Rates are low but we can send *a lot* of work your way."
Me: "Great. The only thing I love more than getting crappy work is getting even *more* of it." ๐
I love how the expectation is that we all return to work on Monday feeling rested and recharged after a weekend spent taking care of all of the stuff we never have time to get to during the workweek. ๐
One of the things I've learned in the 6.5-ish years I've been freelancing is that it's *so* important to set boundaries with your clients.
Here's a graphic I created to show you what that can look like in practice. ๐๐ป I hope it helps you!
Client: "We really want the content to be super conversationalโlike you're talking to a friend."
Also client: "Here are 863 super clunky keywords and phrases to include in the post."
How other people like to think about freelance income: "You booked 5 projects at $1,000 each?! Wow. You just made $5,000."
How freelance income actually works: *take out money for taxes, business expenses, retirement savings, "paid" time off, etc. and then get what's left*
Iโve been pretty loud about the fact that I donโt work Fridays for a while now.
But hereโs a more recent development: For the past several months, I havenโt worked on Thursdays either.
I am LOVING a three-day workweek. ๐ฅณ
๐จ Friendly PSA for anyone posting a freelance gig: Please don't ask for a resume. Ask for a portfolio or relevant samples. Please. We're all begging you.
๐๐ป If a freelance job post:
โข Says "40 hours per week"
โข Dictates a specific work location
โข Spells out a specific schedule
...they're not actually looking for a freelancer. They're looking for an employee they don't have to offer benefits to.
I'm OOO today for some random appointments. ๐๐ป
I'll say it again: I'm ridiculously grateful for a career that allows me to do this without asking my boss or requesting PTO.
Honestly, I just don't want to ask a fellow grown adult for permission to go to the dermatologist. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
I'm working with an existing client on a different project.
I suggested a slightly lower rate than my normal one since this project isn't as much work. They responded, "Nah, appreciate it, but let's just stick with your regular rate."
More clients like this, please. ๐๐ป
Does anybody else feel like they desperately want a change in their career but couldn't for the life of them articulate what that change is but also feel terrified of changing anything at all because of the robots and the economy and everything else?
...no? Just me? ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
๐๐ป Here's your periodic reminder: Don't send your client your original Google Doc.
They don't need to see your revision history (or how long something took you).
Client: "Could you write this whitepaper for us?"
Me: "Absolutely! No problem."
Also me: *frantically googles what exactly makes a whitepaper a whitepaper*
Here's what I think people are referring to when they talk about the "rollercoaster ride" of freelancing:
โคต Panicking because you don't have enough work
โคด Panicking because you took on too much work
Repeat forever. Until the end of time.
Friendly reminder: You don't need to earn six figures to consider yourself a "successful" freelancer.
It's often talked about like it's the be-all and end-all benchmark, but I promise it's not. ๐๐ผ