Freelancing is no easy feat; since quitting my job a month ago I have ripped my hair out, cried, laughed and smiled, all in the space of one day! It takes real guts to be able to live out your dreams and I can promise you, while its never an easy ride, freelancing is ‘rewarding’ as much as it is hard work. I never thought I would create my own business never mind be able to call myself an ‘entrepreneur’ and the fact that I am sitting here today, in creative control of my own enterprise is a beautiful surprise to behold. When I was a young girl, I dreamed of becoming an actress, later a teacher and it was at uni that I realized that writing was my true passion. By second year I knew that I wanted to share my story with the world; I wanted them to know how I overcame and continue to overcome life’s many obstacles but most of all I wanted to be free to be me.
And I’m not the only one, in fact a recent survey showed that 15.1% of the population were ‘freelancers’, 6.75% of which were bloggers, proving that the future of blogging is far from over. After all, as our Guest Writer ‘Jenna’ so quite rightly put not only can we ‘work in our pyjamas’ but we can also breathe easy knowing that we are not under the surveillance of a boss. Lets face it 2017 is the era of Girl Bosses and I can’t wait for Jen to tell you how YOU TOO can win at life as a Freelancer.
Jenna Take It Away…
8 Ways to Win At Life as A Freelancer
Going freelance is a really exciting time in anybody’s life. No more boss breathing down your neck. No more not being able to leave your desk when everybody else is in a beer garden. We can even work in our pyjamas if we want to! But with this excitement, comes a complete sense of overwhelm. With so many ideas, so much to do and no idea how to begin it all. My freelance journey is still new but here’s my advice from what I have learnt so far…
1.Pick times that work for you. While there’s certainly value in setting a schedule, don’t just assume 9-5 is the best option. I spent months forcing myself to do this- but since my husband often worked lates; I began to realise I really enjoyed my evenings in the back garden with a laptop. I now feel less guilty for taking hours to get going in the mornings too.
- Keep track of your emails. Once you’re freelance, emailing can often feel like a full-time job in itself! I now create separate folders for ongoing projects (a single article can generate a huge amount of emails) and flag emails I need to chase up every couple of days. Which leads nicely to point 3…
- Persevere. Yep, you’re organised but that doesn’t mean everyone else is. Regularly flag email chains that aren’t responded to and spend 30 minutes resending them with a quick ‘just wanted to check you’ve seen this?’. It pays to be (politely) pushy.
- Track your invoices. Keep a note of each invoice you’ve sent and the date too. Sometimes months can go by and we realise a payments been slipped so make sure you keep track.
- Log your expenses and payments. With my first tax deadline looming, I invested in Quickbooks- an online software programme that allows you to track all of your payments, log expenses and upload receipts. I try to do this every few weeks which hopefully means it will be a case of simply pressing submit once my deadline comes around!
- Have a backup plan. We often hear about ‘taking the leap’ and ‘leaving the 9-5 behind forever’ but going into freelancing with a backup plan is actually a really sensible idea. This might be a month or two worth of wages in your saving or keeping your options open to returning to work on a flexible basis.
- Diversify your Income. When it comes to money, putting all your eggs in one basket is rarely a good idea. When first going freelance, you might have a clear plan of how you want to spend your working days- but having 2 or 3 options to explore is best. This is especially the case for bloggers going full-time; as it’s rare to be able to sustain this month after month. Look into different options- such as freelance copywriting or social media support for local companies.
8.Expect things to be up and down. On a weekly basis, freelancing is full of triumphs and disasters. The world is interchangeable- contracts change, fees change and nothing is really concrete until the money is in your bank account. Expect there will be good and bad days and remember the next triumph is just around the corner….
Jenna Farmer is a freelance blogger and writer. She writes about gut health and wellness over at www.abalancedbelly.co.uk and has just launched a second blog all about freelance life and blogging to make money (www.thebloglancer.co.uk)
Side Note From Faded Spring: I think we could all really learn from Jenna’s approach to freelancing and from personal experience I can truthfully state that it pays to diversify your income. When I was working full time and running my blog,I got frustrated because I was only focusing on ‘one way to make money’ from my blog and when I learnt to set up multiple income streams, that is when I truly knew that taking the plunge into full time blogging would be the right course for me to take. Another important point to note is learning how to manage your emails; while Jenna stated she creates separate folders and chases brands who have not replied within an allocated time-which are all worthy tips-I would also add that another way to utilize your inbox is to not be afraid to pitch brands yourself. No matter how small or big your blog is, reaching out to companies-through email and social media can be the start of a beautiful working relationship.
Thank you Jenna for showing us how we too can win at life as Freelancers!
How Do You Win At Life As A Freelancer?
Love this post 🙂 I stayed at the inlaws over the weekend and I was up at 6 in my pj’s working but was sooo happy about it because it also means that I can work away from home whenever I fancy it. I do need to sort out my emails though!
Some handy tips here. While I am not freelance, I have considered the idea, just scared to take the plunge!
Thank you so much for your blog post. This was a real eye opener, and I work for commission based company and it’s so true! One month I do very well, the next month, I hardly get any cash..
thanks for the love on my blog post! it’s so up and down isn’t it!
This is a really helpful post for anyone who is freelancing or looking to do it in future. There are so many things in this list that I have to learn to do. Thanks for sharing this Ana.
Such a good read especially to those who are planning to be a full time freelancer.
This is such valuable advice. I am looking to freelance at some point! Thanks for a great post!
Freelancing undoubtedly aint an easy task. These are some good pointers I would keep in mind. I follow most of it since I quit working full time and have em bounded on free lancing and contract work. The key is to plan your work timing and stick to a plan to complete it within the stipulated time.
What a great post, I love the freedom to work as and when I am able, I have no set times and work on and off during the day and evening, but it also means I am there for my Daughter or various appointments without having any stress.
Keeping track of my expenses and invoices is something I really need to improve on! x
So useful to know that the basics of running any business apply just as much to freelancing. It is a risky atep to take and a solid foundation is a good start.
I keep on searching for the post like this. These truly made for me as I’m also working towards freelancing as a full-time job. My daily routine starts with my website’s dashboard. Then emails and Instagram followed by twitter control. And off-course the blogger’s united fb group is a must.
I had to plan my trips (travel blogger) as I’m new in this world and yet not a full-time freelancer.
haha.. hard work!!
Top tips, I must confess that I need to spend more time chasing up emails – I tend to send and forget
Great post. I’m not yet at a confident stage where I can quit my full-time job but it’s nice to know I’m slowly getting there to matching my own currently work wage in blogging work!
Thanks for the tips Jenna.
no problem natalie!
The invoicing bit is the bit that really gets me…it can be a major headache reconciling and chasing payments! Some fab tips here.
Great tips from Jenna. My mummy has thought about going freelance as a graphic designer but she loves her salary and desk too much!
Great tips here! I know a ton of freelancers and they definitely hustle to make it work!
Some great tips! You have to be so organised & driven to make it, I love being my own boss. My hubby is also taking the leap into self employment next month which means I’ll have to be organised for the both of us. It’s so exciting though, I can’t wait for him to finally get to do what he loves, just like I do
Staying organize as a freelancer can be a nightmare…
OMG those murals are fantastic where they are from?
TFS
Maggie
Love to hear you say the future for bloggers is far from over! I keep seeing that debate in blog groups! Great info for tax time as well to prepare when doing freelance writing.
It’s the tax return that’s the hardest bit, I’m terrible at leaving that until the last minute. Every January I say I’ll be organised for next year. Some great points on working for yourself.
I take my hat off to anyone who follows their dreams, whether or not it works out as hoped, the fact is you did it x
I am a freelancer and I find this post helpful! I remember when I left the company and didn’t really think about that decision, I had a few months before I got a job and all my savings are spent. I agree with all the tips!
All these tips are so welcomed and good! But I think the most important might be keeping track of course but also diversifying your sources of revenue! Like never put all your eggs in the same basket
Brilliant post, during the summer holidays its really difficult to work with the seven children at home, so I tend to work a few hours in the morning before they get up, answer emails during their lunch (only time they’re quiet!) and then late in the evening.
These are some great tips! I love being able to work around my two toddlers, it means I can now be around for so many special moments.
Keeping track of your emails and invoices is such an important one as you don’t want to miss out on oppurtunities x
These are some great tips I think it is hard sometimes to switch off when you are a freelancer working from home as work is always around you.
This is a fantastic post! Jenna is so helpful in many areas of blogging! I am definitely going to be checking out Quickbooks too xx
This is super helpful! Definitely getting bookmarked 🙂 Thank you!
Loved reading this post. It’s good to know the stats and that there’s still room for more bloggers . The last tip spoke to me the best.
First, that mural is so pretty. I really love your freelance tips. I dove into the freelance world recently. These will definitely come in handy.
I’m still working on actually becoming a full time freelancer. There are too many options out there and that, for me, is a bit overwhelming. I’m still getting comfortable with the idea of being a freelancer and working up the courage to just do it but I like her tips. Thanks so much for sharing them:)
My husband and I both work from home, and I can agree with all of this! We both have our specified hours that we work, but also end up working in the evenings a lot because we have two small children and wait until they go to bed. We’ve learned to keep organized well and also track all of our expenses.
I left my full time job over three years ago. Now the work that I do is freelanced. Of course, I am also not the primary breadwinner! But every penny counts!
Great post! I went full time freelancing and blogging 3 months ago and its definitely challenging but rewarding, very glad I made the leap!
Good post. It’s very true that some days are good and some aren’t as good. I love that we can create a lifestyle for ourselves that doesn’t have to be a typical 9-5 job.
This article was definitely helpful, because right now I am in a freelancer position! I think with freelancer position, you have a lot of free time but you need to use your time right. I love how you listed checking emails since that’s one of the best way to communicate.
I’m not very good at keeping track of my expenses ! Will have to take a look at the software mentioned as it sounds like a great idea x
What a bold step you took there quitting your job but you wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t sure of yourself. Being one’s own Boss can be wonderful especially as a freelancer or blogger.
From the list I’m still struggling with #4,5,7. To be able to do #4,5 one has to keep this in mind all the time. For me it’s easy said than done. For #7 though I have started gradually but consistent.
I’ve been blogging for almost 2 years and I’m just blogging as a hobby as I’m earning really nothing. I often think of monetising the blog but not getting the motivation. I think diversifying might be a good option.
Ahhhhh this resonates with me so much. I’ve been freelancing for almost 10 years now but only full time freelance for a year and every single point is so spot on. I agree you need to have different sources of income just to be safe and time management is key!!!!!
I’ll have to check our Jenn’s blog. I’m tempted to go traveling but the idea of relying on consistent freelance work is a scary thought. Especially when most of the jobs I come across won’t pay more than 10 dollars for a 1000 word article. I have admiration for people who manage to find worthwhile clients.
I love the idea of being able to go freelance. I still have a LONG way to go yet, but the option of being able to work in pj’s really seems appealing! x
im lucky to be able ot do the job i do , being mum to 8 it gives me time and more time to spend with my dfamily, other times im not im working and its less stessful
This is great information. Although I am not a freelance writer, if I ever decide to take that path I have the fundamentals to make it great! Thank you
I love how you stress keeping up with emails. I dread opening my inbox every morning because it is always so hectic. I actually keep a google spreadsheet of all my contacts so that I don’t get lost when I reply to them all lol.
I never had much luck getting work as a freelancer… I think, for me, the issue is that there are sites like Fiverr offering “SEO” services for dirt cheap, even if the quality is really bad.. So everyone goes there instead.
Such great eye opener especially for beginners. It may seem easy being a freelancer what there are a lot of things to prepare for as well. Going out of your comfort zone and choosing to be a freelancer is the first thing to do.
Great advice here! Also it’s great to know that there’s still a good percentage of freelancers out there who are bloggers.
These are brilliant tips and so helpful for me. As a teacher who has never worked in the commercial world, I definitely have a lot of lessons to learn.
Ha, glad to hear I’m not the only one that works in their pj’s. I have made a point of getting on top of invoices, I used to be really bad before.
Great post and tips Ana. I love the fact that you can work any time of day or night working for yourself. I am just starting out as a self-employed blogger but I think it is a quiet time of year. Hopefully, things will pick up in September for us all 🙂
What a lovely post. I do all of these, so that is good to know. Freelancing is hard work but I won’t have it any other way.
Ohh I need to invest in Quickbooks. I’ve been so bad at keeping track of my finances. Uhoh! I love the tips she has shared and I’m definitely going to check out her website. I’ve been freelancing for over a year now and you’re so right about having multiple streams of income. Relying fully on one makes your income so unpredictable. I’m bookmarking this post! <3 x
still a scary thought though! lol
What a fantastic post. Loved reading these tips as a fellow freelancer.
These are really practical and doable tips. I do find live as a freelance fun, exciting but also stressful and I know I need to work more on keeping top of my emails and invoices
Laura x
Excellent tips. Love tracking expenses and invoices one. Really need to up the organization game as a freelancer to ensure that all bases are covered
I really have to know how to reach out to companies and how to promote myself and my services that I could offer. I know that I could definitely do better on freelance writing. I will have to use some of these things in considering where I go from here.
There are some moments when you get all your answers in few seconds and reading this post was that moment. I always think that I have a small blog and never contacted any brand but now I guess it is a ripe time to work on it. I am going to pin it refer it back. Thanks
Freelancing has is perks and also its downside. I have experienced being on the downside for a few times and I have learned my lesson. As the old saying goes, “Do not put all your eggs in one basket.” That rings true for me.
I enjoyed to read your post and that great write up would be excellent opportunity for others, who are thinking to be a freelancer and blogger.
Yes, that’s true , it’s not as easy as others think. I have tremendous experience to work as a blogger and freelancer when you quit your 9 to 5 job.
Well today i am feeling unique and good to be blogger and still doing hard-work for my platform.
Thank you for the inspiring post and boost our energy level once again.
Good tips! And as a freelancer, we should be very creative on diversifying our source of income. You see, being in a creative industry have a lot of opportunity!
Wonderful read. I agree with you on most points.
While I haven’t reached the stage where I get paid or I get a lot of emails, everything else is just so on spot. Especially, setting your own time, having a backup plan, and diversifying the income. It becomes a lot easier when we don’t have to worry about paying the bills.
What awesome tips and I need this too, as a freelancer I need to find a time that perfectly fit for me and have a backup plan is a must
I love this so much, thank you! <3 I adore working for myself from home, but it's not an easy ride! I'm always looking for great tips on how to improve my workflow and make things a little bit easier! I'm particularly bad at keeping on top of my accounts, so I'll definitely look into Quickbooks! 🙂 xx
You’re brave doing that but it’s admirable! Some excellent tips.
I’m loving all of your tips! For someone, like myself, who quit my job to be self-employed, these will definitely come in handy. Good luck to you too!
well done for focusing on this aspect – haven’t gone full time yet however i will keep this post as a guideline for the future to I’m organised and ready
This is super helpful, thank you! I definitely think keeping track of invoices and general finances is super important – things can easily get lost then you realise you haven’t chased a particular payment for months, eep! Immy x
http://www.immymay.com
I’ve been a freelancer for a few years now. To be honest I can’t wait to go back to proper work as I’m fed up working evenings and weekends!
I couldn’t agree more: freelancing is exciting and scary in equal measures! Brilliant pieces of advice there, and I need a backup plan!!!
I think the diversify your income is one that I am currently working on figuring out. Esp as functioning single mum. Thanks so much for sharing!
Great tips Jenna! I work from home and have a full-time career in IT as well as running my blog. One of the biggest lessons for me was to work when my mind was at its best. I’ve always been nocturnal and five years ago switched my working hours to the evenings. During my day I’m able to get things done around the house, cook, go out for walks .. things that don’t necessarily require a lot of mental energy. Around 4 pm, I sit down to work and find I’m far more productive and engaged. x
I think freelancing can be a great way to make money. I think keeping up with your invoices and income is very important.
A great post with some great tips from Jena. I am currently toying with the idea of becoming a Full Time blogger so all of these really help mme to make the right decision.
Really inspiring post, I’ve just started blogging, for myself really but very interested to see how people manage to make it their livelihood.
ooo these are some great tips! I’m planning on going freelance when I move abroad and travel so will take these into consideration
I’ve done freelancing and its’ a lot of work but definitely awesome to have your own schedule!
Jenna is so right -she has some great tips. I love life as a freelancer!
Great tips Ana. I do some free lance work but I struggle with it as it’s hard to meet deadlines when my life is so unpredictable with the children. I also struggle to track my emails and invoices, I need to get a better system in place!
Interesting. I have recently quit my job to work as Freelancer and Blogger. Though you have mentioned a backup plan, to be true to get things work out as Freelancer, it will need some 4-5months. And I feel ,once I’m into it completely returning back to corporate life will feel difficult. But yes I need to abide by most of your tips to be successful in my freelancing journey!
Freelancing is harder than I thought and I really struggle sometimes. I’m pleased to say that I’ve managed to keep myself afloat though!
What a great information! This will be a big help and i will definitely bookmarked this.
Foldering my emails was one of the best things I ever did, its so simple and makes such a difference! xx
At this point I do not feel like I am winning in this game at all. I have received an email that my upwork profile is suspended because I applied for jobs and didn`t actually receive a job, which is nonsense.
Expecting things to go up and down is a good point. There are no guarantees bei self employed and you have to plan for that.
I would love to take the plunge one day. I’m currently working on my blog a lot to try and reach a bigger audience before I can think about it more seriously. Thank you for the tips though as I didn’t know where to start!
it is not easy to work as freelancer since the income and work is erratic. With so many other bloggers also chasing work as content and copy writer it becomes really tough to sustain.
I love your tips and am going to use some of them. I like being a freelancer and working when it fits in with my family. I really love not having a boss.
This is a brilliant post – so many tips which I really need to use. Thank you so much – both of you. Kaz x
Great article. As a fellow recent freelancer, I really enjoyed this article. Freelancing is quite a journey that one needs to be prepared for. Lots of up and down and constantly juggling many balls in the air. Love it though!! Great tips!
I love being a freelancer! It has its ups and downs but I do enjoy it!
Chichi
chichiwrites.com
Some great information here! Ups and downs are certainly a part of life and we need to be positive to keep going. And yes, having a backup plan is a must. You can’t leave your job just like that without getting the essence of freelancing. Great and helpful post!
i’ve been freelancing for 4 years now. It’s not easy and takes discipline and dedication but, at this point I can’t see myself at a full time office job. I do go into an office 3 days a week and am trying to cut that to zero by the end of the year…*crosses fingers*
Perseverance – I agree. We need to sustain what we do, we should keep our passions alive in order to succeed. We should keep trying and learning each and every day of our lives.
i’m keeping my passion alive every single day by doing the little things. perseverance is the answer because when things don’t go your way, you gotta dig deep to move past those moments of doubt.
Keeping a track of everything is so important. I keep a track of products I should be receiving so I can keep an eye on what I am waiting for and what needs posts doing on them, I also keep a track of my paid posts and my invoices/ tax stuff. It makes life so much easier x
These are great tips indeed. Working from home is rewarding but can also be very overwhelming. You need to consciously stay organized.
I work freelance via my blog and these are great tips x
Valuable advice, working freelance is tough, I did it for a year before I had to give up because it just wasn’t working in the current economy, no one wanted to pay and I wasn’t earning enough to get myself a license. But I am planning on going back, it works much better for me, and the next time I take a stab at it these tips are going to be my gospel!
This is a super helpful post! I’ve recently thought really long and hard about starting my own business and it’s starting to look very, very possible in the near future. I’ll definitely be keeping these tips and hints in mind when the time finally comes! Thanks to both you and Jenna for this!
It is many bloggers dream to earn money with the blog. Mine to ofcourse but I still have so far to go! I hadly have 10 readers if I dont interract with other bloggers. I hope one day be able to work in my pyjamas one day!
I’ve been a freelancer for the last 4 years. So I have been doing several things and it’s not always been so wonderful. Sometimes I feel that perhaps i should try to go back to real work and get steady income, but I think it’s the freedom that makes this lifestyle to be so fascinating.
There is so much great advice here. Both you and Jenna are so brave to leave the day jobs and do what you love freelance. I think that’s the dream for so many people.
Freelancing is an option that most fret to take. Its to do with the uncertainties that come with it. My suggestion is to stick it out if you believe in the cause and yourself!
Tips will help for sure!