Re: UKNM: Going Freelance

[Clifford Weatherall]

Hi Lois

It's rather nice to read a balanced report of running your own business.

It sounds like you have the balance just right.


One thing that caught my eye...


>3. Be prepared to sell yourself face to face; I got professional training

in

>how to look a client in the eyes when stating fees, and how to handle

>hard-ball negotiations


Could you be kind enough to say who the company/ individual was / were?


Best of luck

cliff



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Clifford Weatherall

cliffcliffordweatherall [dot] co [dot] uk

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

-----Original Message-----

From: Lois Grayson <

loisgdialstart [dot] net

>

To:

uk-netmarketingchinwag [dot] com

 <

uk-netmarketingchinwag [dot] com

>

Date: 03 October 2000 11:36

Subject: UKNM: Going Freelance



>All very sound advice - I made the leap 6 years ago and it's been worth it.

>My additional advice is:

>1. Keep hard copy/print out samples and keep your portfolio up to date

>(sites can go down as well as up)

>2. If you do a great job immediately ask for a testimonial - this once won

a

>court case for me

>3. Be prepared to sell yourself face to face; I got professional training

in

>how to look a client in the eyes when stating fees, and how to handle

>hard-ball negotiations

>4. Always ask for repeat work when an opportunity arises and keep in

regular

>(but not irritatingly frequent) contact with your clients; I once called a

>client after disappearing for two years and they were really pleased to

hear

>from me - I got a project right away - but I was lucky and I learned a

>valuable lesson

>5.Understand your value - just because the market rate is x, you don't need

>to stick at x forever; as I get older I have come to recognise that it's

>only fair to ask for more if you really are more talented than others in

the

>same field (this may take a while to suss out)

>6. NEVER undervalue yourself; even if you're not sure where the next

project

>is coming from if you're offered work below your lowest rate turn it down -

>and look really hard for the next piece at the right rate

>7. Take advantage! Every year for 5 years I worried and stressed through

the

>summer scrabbling about for bits of work that weren't worth the hassle;

this

>year I chilled for almost two months. There's a rhythm to freelance; work

it

>out and then go with it. Aim to earn your annual salary in 9 to 10 months

>(summer hols and pre-Christmas lethargy can dry up sources in some lines of

>work)

>8. The last point only works if you're careful with cashflow; only take out

>what you need initially and try to put tax aside on a regular basis - I try

>to sequester all VAT and 25% of fees on payment of each invoice.

>9. Get an accountant and find out what constitutes legit business expenses

>10. Don't let ANYONE (even your mother) fall into the trap of thinking that

>a) your work isn't important or b) it isn't that difficult or c) it can

wait

>just because you do it at home - freelancers have deadlines like anyone

else

>and often get the really intense stuff to do (because if it were

>straightforward and everyday someone at the client's end could handle it)


[Sam says: msg chopped]



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