Two Flavors of Independents  

Many of us (myself included) get caught up in our day-to-day work and forget the value that comes with meeting people face to face. I was reminded of the importance of these meetings in January, when I attended the STC-James River Chapter 2004 Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. The conference sessions covered everything from intercultural technical communication to XML migration strategies. For me, the conference was an opportunity to find out what was on the minds of technical communicators in the area. As it turned out, some of those concerns related to the theme for this issue.

Martin, Maurice. Intercom (2004). Careers>Freelance>Collaboration

Value of Value-Based Pricing: Should a Creative Professional Charge on an Hourly Basis, or a Project Basis? Here's the Answer

We creative professionals tend to be a right-brained bunch, harnessing our creative talents to create practical solutions for our clients. Creating pricing structures, estimates and invoices are not high on our enjoyment list. But we can avoid some common pitfalls and potentially unhappy clients by pricing our work based on project value rather than an hourly rate.

Stuart, Valarie Martin. Creative Latitude (2004). Careers>Freelance>Graphic Design>Estimating

When the Customer Isn’t Right: A Workshop in Handling Conflicts When Clients Behave Unethically  

As consultants and freelancers, we try to adhere to the theory that our clients are always right. However, clients are sometimes dead wrong. Most of us at one time or another face situations in which clients ask us to behave unethically or treat us unethically. How do we handle such situations and maintain good client relations? This workshop explores the use of a value analysis model in resolving ethical dilemmas, using representative case studies.

Allen, Lori A. and Dean Graves. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Freelance>Ethics

When You Are Your Own Client, Who Are You Going To Make Fun Of At The Bar?

Should your blog have a business? Jim Coudal shares insights into the adventure of transitioning from client services to product creation.

Coudal, Jim. List Apart, A (2005). Careers>Freelance>Consulting>Web Design

Whither Your Business? In Pursuit of Policy and Procedure Assignments  

If work coming in the door is not bringing in enough income or is just not satisfying, it may be time to cultivate new clients. However, moving into an unfamiliar field presents a new set of challenges. How do you navigate your way into that field? How do you demonstrate your credentials? A step-by-step method does exist. It requires research to identify the right niche and more research to focus on the right customers. Only after sufficient information has been gathered is action appropriate.

Smith, Gem. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Freelance>Marketing

Working as an Independent Contractor

Working for yourself can be a blessing and a curse. Independent contractors ('ICs') enjoy more freedom and control over their work than employees do -- and they can earn more money, too. But they also have to contend with deadbeat clients, self-employment taxes and the higher cost of doing business on their own.

Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2002). Careers>Freelance>Legal>Contracts

Writing Win/Win Proposals  

Win/win proposals benefit both the freelance technical communicator and the client. Not only do they get you the job, but they establish a clear understanding of the obligations of both parties that you can refer back to later as the project unfolds. The progression presentation examines the essential elements of a winning proposal, including background information, recommendations, scope of work, assumptions made in preparing the proposal, task and activity breakdown, time estimate, detailed schedule, personnel profiles, fees and expenses, terms and conditions, and relevant work experience.

Kent, Duncan A. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Freelance>Presentations

Your Next Job: Creating Your Next Company  

At a time when the economy is in recession, it may seem foolish to launch a new company. On the other hand, at such a time who better than you should be in control of your career and your financial fortunes? Starting a new company is one way to be certain you will always have a job. In fact it’s a great way to ensure that you’ll have two or three jobs, most of which technical communicators are well qualified to do.

McCarthy, Dennis M. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>Freelance>Management

Your Own Best Ad: Promoting Yourself as a Contractor

Most contractors can't afford the time or money to advertise. If they can, there probably aren't many places where an ad would reach potential clients anyway. By default, then, your reputation as a contractor rests on your behavior at each job. Leave a happy client behind at the end of each job, and you'll soon start a word-of-mouth campaign that will keep you employed the rest of your working life.

Byfield, Bruce. TECHWR-L (2008). Careers>Consulting>Freelance>Marketing

Tax Tips for Tech Comm Contractors

For those of you who have decided to venture out on your own: congratulations. Now that the celebrations are over, it’s back to reality. Although you have crawled out from under the thumb of a boss, you’ve also given up that comfortable bi-weekly paycheck to become an independent contractor. Having taken this big step a few years ago, I offer a few words of advice on how to keep the clutches of the tax man from grabbing too much of your earnings. I’ll give it to you straight: no weasel words here.

Betler, Scott. STC Phoenix (2006). Careers>Freelance>Financial

Why Freelancing Is Freakin’ Hard

It’s important to acknowledge the challenges of freelancing, though, so that you can manage them and learn to free yourself from the usual limitations. And that’s what we’re going to do in this article.

Freelance Folder (2008). Careers>Freelance

The Nonlinear Editor: On the Bubble

Not every tale of striking out on your own and following your bliss ends happily. In our industry, plenty of event videographers who’ve enthusiastically "taken the plunge" and quit the 9-to-5 grind to become video entrepreneurs have found themselves back in the work force within a few years, after their businesses failed. Sometimes the problem is ability, other times it’s lack of business sense or strategy; just as often, especially in trying economic times, it’s simply that a given market won’t bear another videographer who is unable to distinguish him- or herself from the existing competition.

Nathans-Kelly, Stephen. Event DV (2008). Careers>Freelance>Video

Stepping into the Freelance World, Part 1: Getting Set Up

So, you’re seriously considering making the jump into the world of freelance technical writing. It’s a big step, and one there’s a lot more to it than just giving up your day job and hanging out a shingle. This post details a number of things that are important to consider before making the jump.

DMN Communications (2009). Careers>Freelance>Advice

Stepping into the Freelance World, Part 2: Getting to Work

The second part of a series on making the move to freelance technical writing. This installment discusses how to gigs and get paid.

DMN Communications (2009). Careers>Freelance>Advice

Stepping into the Freelance World, Part 3: Marketing

So, you’ve hung out your virtual shingle and even have a couple of contract gigs under your belt. You’ve decided that the freelance life is for you. Now what? Obviously, expand your business to gain more and varied clients. The way to do that is by marketing.

DMN Communications (2009). Careers>Freelance>Marketing

Stepping into the Freelance World, Part 4: Educating Yourself

If we don’t learn, we wither. New trends, new tools and technologies, new techniques. Even just new skills for the job. Continuous education is a key to longevity in the world of technical communication. As a freelancer, though, getting educated can be a bit of a problem. While many full-time employees have access to at least some job-specific training paid for by their employers, freelancers must shoulder the costs themselves. And training isn’t always cheap. So, how do freelancers stay current and stay sharp? Here are a few suggestions.

Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2009). Careers>Freelance>Education

Filling Your Dance Card in Hard Economic Times

The worsening economy will adversely affect our industry, at least in the short term. However, our skills and products are suited to ride out hard economic times. Marketers can easily measure return on investment for electronic media. Likewise a web address—such as an online shop—provides a wider audience and lower overhead than a street address, and could therefore be a better investment. So how do you ensure your company isn’t a wallflower? Keeping your dance card full is about making a truly positive contribution. Here are seven steps to help get you into the rhythm.

Ronalds, Pepi. List Apart, A (2009). Careers>Web Design>Freelance

Supplementing Your Income With Side Projects

Is taking on a side project or three actually worth the time and money? It depends.

Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2009). Careers>Freelance>Writing

A Few Essentials for the Freelancer

A lot of cliches apply to freelancers — wearing many hats, fingers in many pies, juggling multiple tasks. In order to do everything that you need to do, you need the right tools. Aside from the usual suspects — productivity and publishing software, Web sites, and blogs — there are a number of essential tools that all freelancers should have at their disposal.

Scott Nesbitt. ScottNesbitt.net (2009). Careers>Freelance>Software>Writing

Review: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer

Many writers in the Triangle area dream of being their own boss, typing on a laptop by a pool on a warm day or working cozily on a couch in front of the fire when the weather is frightful. Alice Osborn, an accomplished freelance writer, wanted to dispel the myths of this perceived easy lifestyle. Alice spoke to over 50 people at February’s chapter meeting. She provided many good tips on how to get and keep jobs as a freelancer in this competitive market. For those who did not attend, her presentation is summarized below.

Eftekhar, Christina. Carolina Communique (2009). Articles>Reviews>Freelance>Writing

Breaking into Freelance Writing

This article offers tips on breaking into the field of freelance writing—some from Alice Osborn herself, some from two of the books she recommends: "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" by Robert W. Bly; and "The Renegade Writer" by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell.

Wenger, Andrea. Carolina Communique (2009). Careers>Freelance>Writing>Technical Writing

Ten Tips for Surviving The Economic Downturn

The immediate challenge for smaller web design companies is how to attract new business and keep old clients in a downturn economy. Customers are falling off of maintenance contracts and smaller businesses may not be looking to start a website right away. Enterprise level clients are becoming more price-conscious. What can we do to make sure our collective heads stay above water in this tough climate?

West, Angela. Webdesigner Depot (2009). Careers>Freelance

Fifteen Online Financial Tools for Freelance Designers

Efficiency and organization are critical for freelance web designers. Managing finances and tracking down payments is not what drew most freelancers into this line of work. Fortunately, while handling finances is a necessary part of the business of freelancing, there are many tools and resources to that can help to simplify things. These tools can be critical to keeping your business running smoothly and efficiently. In this post we’ll look at 15 online tools and services that can offer freelancers some help in the area of finances and billing. Most of these tools are paid, but limited free plans or free trials are available in most cases.

Webdesigner Depot (2009). Careers>Freelance>Software>Online

Five Things Your Clients Should Know

What follows is a list of the five things that I believe will have the biggest impact on a client’s site. At least they should, if the client understands them and chooses to implement them.

Webdesigner Depot (2009). Articles>Collaboration>Freelance>Web Design

Ten Tips for Working With Clients Remotely: Part 2

When you’re working with clients remotely it can sometimes be difficult to keep everyone happy and your project on track. Without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, it’s easy for a client to feel neglected or out of the loop. The key to successful remote work relationships is frequent and honest communication and trust between both parties. The tips below will help improve your everyday interactions with clients, no matter how far away they may be.

Webdesigner Depot (2009). Careers>Freelance>Telecommuting