Top 4 Reasons You Don't Have Any Clients and How to Change That in 2012

Psst...want to listen to this post? Find the audio at the bottom...

You've read everything related to marketing that you can get your hands on. You've followed the advice to to the letter. You have optimized your website, started social media accounts, you're running ads through Adwords. However, you haven't sold your product/service to one client. At this point, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel or even to imagine that there is one.

Your biggest question is why. Why haven't you gotten any clients? Why have you spent countless hours and several hundred (or worse yet, thousands) of dollars to get in front of clients only to come up short each time? Why does everyone else seem so successful in their business when you aren't?

I wish I could tell you there was a "simple" answer to your questions. I even wish there was a magic potion I could give you to make clients appear on your doorstep (or the other end of your phone). Unfortunately, I'm not a genie in a bottle and this is not Aladdin. I can, however, give you some reasons that you may not have a client roster. Would you believe me if I told you that your business is suffering due to not following the most basic marketing principles? Well, listen up - it's most likely true...

I'm sure you've heard of the 4Ps, but in case you haven't, they stand for Product, Place, Price, and Promotion. One (or all) of these is the reason you don't have any clients. Let me break it down for you...

• Product: Is your product/service high-quality? Before you answer that question, you should know that this isn't a question for you to answer. Would the person who wants to use your product/service find it to be high-quality. Are you meeting a previously unmet need? Is there demand for what you are offering? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it's time to rethink your solution. This doesn't mean that what you're offering is completely off the mark. All this means is that you need to do a bit of tweaking to get things where you want them to be.
• Place: Where are you marketing your product/service? If it's something that would be of interest to the elderly, advertising on Facebook may not be the best choice (that's not to say that no older people are on Facebook). On the same token, if you are wanting to reach young adults, phonebook ads won't make sense. Ultimately, as long as you put your advertising where your target market is, you should be OK in this area.
• Price: Are you pricing your services too high? Too low? How will you ever know? You won't really. You have to decide what you are worth and hope this falls in line with what the market will bear. This is, quite possibly, one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Research what several of your competitors are charging and start your price right around that range.
• Promotion: What form of advertising are you using? How does this advertising reach your target market? Are you using the product/service's unique selling proposition in every piece of marketing collateral? Are you using other forms of non-interruptive advertising? This ties in very closely to place with the earlier points about where you are placing ads. How you are promoting makes a difference as well. Content marketing is a very time-consuming yet effective method (if done correctly). Ultimately, one of the best ways to promote your product/service is to give it away for free...

It's time to get back to the basics. Have you committed any of these "deadly" misfires in marketing? If so, it's not too late. You can still change things up. There is still time to save your product/service and your brand.

What can you do? Start (or cultivate a blog). Offer a giveaway. Define (or redefine) your target market. Talk to the people who make up your target market to see what they want/need from someone like you. Give more than you take. Tell people how to do everything that you do for free, and if they can't do it, guess who's the first person they'll call on?

Of course, there are many other ways that you can change up your marketing strategy, but if you don't have any clients something needs to be done sooner rather than later. What are you planning to do differently in 2012 and beyond?

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5 Office Upgrades for Last Minute Tax Savings

Psst...want to listen to this post? Find the audio at the bottom...

You're reading this. That means one of two things. You are already working as a freelancer, solopreneur, etc. or you are interested in starting a business. For those of you who already have your own business, it's time to start thinking about tax time. That's right - with the end of the year less than two days away, that puts tax time right around the corner. My gut instinct tells me that you've been doing that all along, but that's not the point of today's writing. You're reading this today because you want to catch a break on your taxes - and more specifically, find out about how to take advantage of last minute tax savings.

Do you have any cash in the bank (or in your pocket)? If not, there's no point in reading any further. If you do, listen up...

Look around your office. What do you need? What will make your work life easier? Have you been considering the purchase of new technology equipment or even smaller purchases such as printer ink? Now is your last chance to buy these things and deduct the cost as business expenses on this year's income tax filing. If you can't think of a list of things you need for your business, here are a few to consider:

1. A new computer: It's important to keep up with technology in your personal life. It's even more important to keep up with technology for your business. You have to make sure you have the latest and greatest in technology because your clients expect it and you deserve it. If you are working on a system that is more than 3-4 years old, it is definitely worth it to consider upgrading.
2. Upgraded software: If you are still running Office XP, there is something wrong with that picture. That software debuted in 2001. It's over 10 years old. People are sending .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, etc. files. You need to be able to open them. At the very minimum, you should have Office 2007, though Office 2010 is preferred. Check all of your other software to make sure that it is current. Software that is over 5-6 years old is not current. It's time to upgrade.
3. Industry-related books: You have to keep up with what's current in your industry. Often, you can find trends, etc. online. However, for in-depth reading, an eBook (compatible with your eReader of choice) or print book is probably a better choice.
4. New desk/office chair: Is your desk meeting your needs? Does your chair provide sufficient ergonomic support? If the answer to either (or both) questions is no, you may want to look into buying a new desk or chair.
5. Office supplies: This is something that every business owner needs and the one thing that you can never have enough of. We're talking paper, pens, printer ink, staples, etc. Essentially, office supplies can be any of those little things that are necessary for running a successful business.

Certainly there are other upgrades to consider, but I think all of us can find something to shop for from this list. If you don't have anything to shop for (unlikely), don't buy stuff just for the last minute tax savings. After all, if you purchase something you don't need, you're not really saving. The idea here is to increase UTILITY then promote SAVINGS. Your main focus should be on improving your working conditions/environment. 

What's on your "before the new year" shopping list? Do you need some help coming up with something to purchase? I'm glad to help. Drop a comment below or find me on Twitter (@eliseconnors).

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Review: The 1% Solution for Work and Life by Tom Connellan

If you could change your life in a way that only involved a little bit of effort, would you do it?

That's what Tom Connellan discusses in his book, The 1% Solution for Work and Life. I've discussed it here before (on a video), but I just wanted to share a bit more about this book with all of you.

The book introduces you to several characters - all of them very successful. Their goal is to inspire the main character, who feels a bit down on his luck and is ready to change his life for the better. Ultimately, in the end, you learn that improving areas of your life by 1% is enough to make a rather large difference - even though it may not be as obvious to you at the time.

As much as we all try, we aren't able to be 100% better than our competition at any thing. However, we can, and somewhat easily, find it within ourselves to be 1% better.

Here's the review I shared with the Readers Favorite audience (I received this book at no cost to me because I am a volunteer reviewer):

The 1% Solution for Work and Life is a book aimed at teaching its readers how to improve their life, small bits at a time. Mostly the book reveals common sense practices that are often overlooked. For example, one point stressed in the book is that your body needs at least 8 hours of sleep per day. Most adults are aware of this, but we don’t usually follow this advice unless there is sufficient evidence from people we “know” that the strategy works in their life.

That’s where 1% Solution wins. Instead of revealing all of these techniques in a “preaching” way, readers are taken through several brief story lines where each successful character (and teacher of the 1% Solution) is introduced. We get to know them, trust them, and ultimately believe them. We meet all of these characters from the point-of-view of Ken, an average guy who wants to change his life for the better.

The author is great at using imagery to bring his story to life. This is definitely not like your typical non-fiction business book. It teaches you the things that you need to do in order to improve your life so that you can be "1% better at hundreds of things".

The 1% Solution for Work and Life is a good solid read. It’s very easy to follow, there’s no rambling, and there are important common sense lessons taught. I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of the book if you need help changing the pace in your life.

If you're interested in buying the book, please use my link below because I will get paid and be happy. :-)

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Top 3 Reasons Why Your Word is NOT Your Bond

How often have you heard this familiar - and borderline cliche' saying?

How many of you follow this rule? The words you speak (or type) should be as good as gold. In a world where accountability is not on the forefront, though, we often struggle with this. Businesses don't do what they say they will. Customers don't do what they say they will. This leads to an enormous circle of distrust among all parties involved.

So, why do we say these words but neglect to follow through on our "promises"?

1. We run out of time. We're all busy professionals and live busy lives. More often than not, we don't have the time to "make good" on our promises.
2. The dog ate our homework - aka - we forgot. We're all human, and we all have a tendency to forget to do the things we said we would. We said we'd add it to our calendar, but, umm...we forgot... :-)
3. We never meant what we said. Most people are genuinely good people and don't fall into this category. However, there are a select few that promise you something while you're "in the moment" but never intend on following through on these "empty promises".

While we're busy, forgetting, or simply not caring, we often forget about the person on the other end of our promise. That person can be left hurt, confused, and let down because we didn't do what we said we would.

How do you make sure your word is as good as gold?

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My 30 by 30 List (And Why You Need One Too!)

This is personal in nature but there is a moral to this story...

A few other bloggers have posted 40 by 40 lists. Well, 40 is 15 years away for me, so I have to cut it down a bit to the 30 by 30 list. I have five years to go, and I want to prioritize some of the things I would like to do.

So here's my 30 by 30 list (in no particular order):

1. Post to this blog at least 2-3 times per week regularly
2. Audition for a play at the St. Louis Black Rep Done 10/15/11
3. Complete my B.S. degree program
4. Get a full-tuition+stipend fellowship to attend Grad School
5. Renew my wedding vows in a destination ceremony
6. Build up at least a six month emergency fund
7. Get into a size 10/12 pants
8. Learn to put off procrastination and manage time better (no pun intended)
9. Earn a six figures so that my hubby can stop working
10. Get into a regular sleeping schedule (I need a bedtime!)
11. Empower at least 10 people to start their own businesses
12. Comment on at least 5 other blog posts per day to increase my blog's exposure
13. Pay off my car (and don't buy another one)
14. Donate eggs (have to get healthy for this)
15. Go jet skiing
16. Swim with the dolphins
17. Visit Las Vegas
18. Start a business with my hubby
19. Purchase a vacation home
20. Go skydiving
21. See Whoopi Goldberg live
22. Go to the Essence Music Festival
23. Visit NYC (though I'm scared of this place)
24. Join Toastmasters
25. Become a keynote speaker
26. Finish writing and publish my book on customer service
27. Pay off all credit cards (and only use them if they can be paid in full every month)
28. Become a Big Sister (with Big Brothers/Big Sisters - not from my mom having more kids)
29. Go to church regularly again
30. Give 10% of ANY and ALL income to God

Wow, that was refreshing - sharing my goals with you in the form of this list makes everything concrete. I will be updating this list as I complete each task. Now, why do you care? Well, this should inspire you to create your own list. You don't have to publish it online, but you should have one. You should share it with people who will hold you accountable. After all, if you don't have lists, how will you know if you've done everything you wanted to do?

Another thing I considered while writing my list is that each task/goal should be SMART. You've probably heard that acronym before - it stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timed.

Specific is what it is - you must be able to say exactly what you want to do. For instance, with #21, I didn't just say that I want to see a celebrity live, I specifically said that I want to see Whoopi Goldberg.

Measurable means that the goal must be something that can be quantified or tracked. Some of my goals are rather vague - for example #29 - I said that I want to go to church "regularly". What is regularly? That won't mean the same thing to everyone. However, I couldn't go much further with that. I didn't want to say every Sunday or every Wednesday because I don't know when I will go.

If something is attainable, that means that it's possible. All of the things I've listed here are within reach. I may have to work hard to make them happen, but they are all within reach.

Relevancy is subjective. What's relevant to me may not be relevant to you. However, all of my goals are VERY relevant to me.

Timed goals are set into a time box of sorts. All of these goals, I want to achieve by the age of 30. There's my timebox.

So, what's on your list? How are you holding yourself accountable?

P.S. - you can view some of the other bloggers here:

Uncommon Chick

The Cubicle Chick

MELISASource

Glamazini

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Outsourcing to Expand Your Service Offering 101

You are a freelance business consultant, and you are experiencing high demand for web design services. However, you don't have the skills to take on this work yourself. Until now, you've been referring this work to a fellow freelancer. However, you feel a web design offering would be a good complement to your existing line of service. What do you do?

You have a few options:

1. You can take courses, read material, etc. to "brush up" on your web design skills.

2. You can continue to refer clients on to your fellow freelancer.

3. You can offer web design services and outsource the work to another provider - keeping the profit for your business.

Option 1 is "doable". This will take time, however. Do you have time? Possibly. Is it worth the time required? Maybe but not likely.

Option 2 is "typical". You can refer clients to another provider. They may or may not pay you a finder's fee. You normally don't get anything else from this situation - other than a "thank you" from the other freelancer.

Option 3 is "smart". You can wrap these services under your business and provide them to your client. You can markup the cost you are quoted by the freelancer and keep the difference for yourself.

Options 1 (if the time investment makes sense) and 3 are the best moves for growing your business. Your clients already know and trust you, so the purchase will be much easier for them and require less "selling" from you. After all, you exist to service your clients and increase your profits - not serve as a referral source for other freelancers. Outsourcing the work normally makes the most sense (both time-wise and money-wise) for freelancers - especially if they are operating as a one man band.

How do you find a person/company to outsource the work to?

• One way is to use a "bidding site", such as Elance, Freelance.com, Guru, etc. With these sites, you are able to post the work you need help with and receive bids from a variety of contractors who are interested in doing the work. You compare the bids/workers and decide who to hire.
• The other way is to use your favorite search engine and find companies that do the work you need help with. You can contact the individual companies, meet with them (either in person or via phone), get a price quote, and make a decision between the companies you are considering.

Either way, you may want to ask for references and samples of their work (depending on what type of project you need help with).

Finally, once you've made the decision to outsource your work and have chosen a provider, you have to decide whether you want to provide your services as an agent for the company you're sending work out to or if you want to hide your relationship and white label the services. The choice you make here will determine how you will interface with the client on these services and ultimately how you will price this new offering.

Now that you've figured out all of these details, it's time to start letting your clients know about your new offering. All that's left is this point is ensuring all of the logistics work well and waiting for the money to start rolling in...

What has been your experience with outsourcing some of your freelance work?

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I need your help with a quick survey...

I need your help. I want to capture some statistical data for an upcoming blog post, and I need your feedback. If you can answer just a few questions for me, I'd really appreciate it. :-)

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Liability Insurance & Accountability in Freelancing

You know something that really irritates me about freelancers/independent contractors/whatever you call yourselves? The lack of accountability in your work...

Allow me to explain - when you are working on a specific project for a client, you should be responsible for the work you do (and don't do). That means - if you make a mistake that costs your client anything (their own clients or money), you should be willing to take responsibility for your actions. Normally that is in the form of financial reimbursement. However, there are other ways that you can "repay" your client.

Either way, if it was your mistake that caused the issue, you should be willing to take fault for it. Taking fault doesn't mean merely apologizing. No, there's much more to it than that. There should be some sort of consequence. Leaders step up to the plate without being asked. Followers wait to be confronted about the issue. Are you a leader or a follower?

That brings me to my next issue - the importance of liability insurance when you are working as a freelancer. In case you "mess something up" while working on a client's project, you need to have the peace of mind to repair what you did. Sometimes you can't afford to make things right with your client using your own money. Say for instance you build a shopping cart for a client and you don't configure it correctly. You set all of the products to sell at 50% of their true retail cost. This causes the client a loss of $50,000 over a 7-day period. What do you do when the client sues you for your gross negligence (you may have caught the error if you had some quality assurance mechanisms in place)? If you have no insurance, you may be forced to pay that cost out of your own money.

What type of insurance do you need? For that, it may be best to talk with an insurance agent. Overall, though, you should have some sort of umbrella coverage that protects you from a certain amount of damage. Many finance and insurance professionals carry at least $1 million worth of coverage. Again, talking to an insurance agent will let you know what will best suit your business.

How do you deal with accountability issues when working with clients?

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Why Freelancers Should Constantly Market Their Businesses

When you freelance, it's easy to get caught up in your daily work. You have to work on Client A's project, email Client B, have a conference call with Client C, etc. Once the day is done, you aren't left with much time to do any work promoting your business. This is a major mistake. Here's a quick illustration of why:

Let's say that in your line of work, 3 clients is enough to take up your time. Now that you have 3 clients, you are turning down business and referring "wanna be" clients to your fellow freelancers. This is not a problem and is actually the way things SHOULD go. This also means that once you no longer have work, you won't be able to "fall back" on those clients.

Client A pays you $1000 per month. Client B pays you $1500 per month. Client C pays you $3000 per month. Altogether, that's $5500. That's enough to live reasonably comfortable. Let's say Client C's company has been having trouble since the beginning of the recession and finally decided to throw in the towel. That means you've just lost $3000 per month.

Now you're panicking. Because business was going well, you didn't bother marketing yourself. You're left with only two options:

Wait for more clients to contact you again.
OR
Hit the pavement like you did when you first started.

Have you ever heard the old saying "If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready"? That's precisely the case when it comes to marketing your business. It's better to turn down work or outsource it than to lose work and have to start over.

Have you ever been caught with your professional drawers down? How did you make it right and are you committed to never letting it happen again?

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Going Out to Lunch

"Going out to lunch" is an office workers escape. When I worked a "real" job, I often found myself at lunch with coworkers. This was our time to dish the dirt and all around relax our minds from whatever was going on at work. These lunches were especially necessary during the tumultuous and uncertain times of the recession when we experienced 3 layoffs over the period of only a few short months. Lunch was a time for camaraderie and fun. I enjoyed it - A LOT!

Now that I'm freelancing, I miss those days. Honestly, "lunch dates" are one of the few things that I miss about working outside of the home. I miss that opportunity to socialize over food. Now I sit at my computer and eat. Going out to lunch is not so much about satisfying hunger (certainly you're hungry) as it is spending time away from the office with people you've gotten to know through work.

At any rate, I was surprised today by two other people who work as contractors for the same company I work with. Needless to say, it was a very pleasant surprise. They live over 8 hours away (driving), so it's not like we see each other often. As a matter of fact, this was my first time seeing them. However, I picked up in conversation with them as if I'd known them for a while. I enjoyed being able to get out again and enjoy time with people who can "relate" to my work.

The moral of the story is: sometimes it's nice to go out to lunch. It allows you to escape the office and socialize a bit. Humans are very social creatures, thus we need socialization in order to thrive - even when it comes to our work.

How many of you have lunch groups you go out to eat with every so often? Do you think this makes your day run more smoothly?

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1 Surefire Way to Increase Your Productivity

Freelancers must learn to be as productive as possible. You have to juggle multiple responsibilities within your business, work with various clients, etc. If you aren't productive, you can easily fall behind and have upset clients within one week or less. 

However, there is one surefire way to increase your productivity: get ready for work.

You will be surprised at how much you can get done when you have shifted your brain into working mode. The quickest way to go from 0 to 60 (productivity style) is to get dressed for work - all the way down to putting on shoes. I explain more details in this video:

It works, believe me. If you don't believe me, try it, and if it doesn't work, you have full permission to give me a good cyberslap :-).

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Even Freelancers Need Vacations

You work hard. Of course, you've got bills to pay and the repo man doesn't take excuses *wink*.

However, it's important that you take a step back from client projects, emails, etc. and take some time out for you. After all, if you get burned out or aren't in the right frame of mind while working, that can be a productivity killer. And before you ask - no, a vacation doesn't involve checking your email at ANY point - even at night after everyone else has gone to sleep.


A little over a year ago, Freelance Folder (one of my favorite freelancing blogs -- other than this one) discussed freelancer burnout, the warning signs, and how to cope. Ultimately, this is related to not taking vacations when you should. The worst part is, you may not see any direct signs of burnout. You may be able to work on client projects just fine, and you may even be pleased to talk to clients. However, you get easily distracted from your work. You find yourself putting client work on hold to play games on Facebook, read gossip sites (I know I'm not the only one), etc. This is not healthy behavior for you or your business. It's better to let your clients know you are taking a few days off (in advance, of course) than to get burned out and create an end product of questionable quality. Here are a few other "less obvious" signs of freelancer burnout (taken from the Freelance Folder site):

• Being afraid to say "no" to your client when they offer you a new project - sometimes it's best to say "no". Don't overwhelm yourself with projects just because you want to be a "superstar".
• Thinking about work when you should be doing other things - don't check your email when you should be enjoying dinner with your spouse, family, friends, etc.
• Your work is causing relationship problems - no work is EVER worth hurting or distancing yourself from someone you care about (unless that person doesn't respect your business). That's very important. I will quote Suze Orman on this: "People first. Then money. Then things." Your priorities should be in that order. Of course, as freelancers, we want to please the client, but that should never come at the expense of someone you care about personally.

So, go ahead and plan that mini-vacay (or a full vacay if that works for you), let your clients know in advance, and don't check your email or work on anything for your client while you're gone.

When you get back, let me know if you were able to maintain your self-control (something I'm still working on) and if so, please share pictures :-).

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Why Every Freelancer Needs a Productive Work Environment

For the past year I worked from my couch, the bed, Bread Co. (a St. Louis twist on Panera Bread), and even on my patio. Were these productive work environments? Not in the very least. Sure, these spots are fine when you're only doing an hour or so of work, but not for working a full day. You need your own personal space that is defined as your office.

Why does an office make you more productive? There are a few reasons:

• When you enter your office, you know it's time to work because that's the space dedicated to working.
• You can have a desk that is unique to your working style.
• You can have an ergonomic office chair that is comfortable and provides a good level of support.
• You can put up pictures of your family, friends, pets, etc. that mean the most to you (the reasons why you work).

Now that I have my own office, things are different (though my space is a bit cluttered right now). I'm better able to focus, and I know when I sit down in my office chair, I mean business. I have even been able to hook my laptop into a monitor from an older computer so that I can run dual screens. This helps immensely as I'm able to look at information on one monitor while I may be keying everything in on the other.

How has having a dedicated office boosted your productivity?

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Freelancing After Job Loss

I made a vlog for today's post - hope you enjoy!

Here's the article I'm discussing: http://www.stlamerican.com/business/local_business/article_2f32fe32-ccfa-11e0-ab71-001cc4c002e0.html

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Moving is Easy When You're a Freelancer (or is it?)

Today I will keep it quick because I'm typing this at 12:30 am after a move. I'm so tired that my eyes are crying uncontrollably. However, I wanted to address something that came up today.

Today, someone brought to my attention that I work form my home. Wow, captain obvious! Well, in addition to that, I was told that moving should be easier for me. How so? I still have to miss out on work like others, etc.

So, for the record, very few things are different between someone working a "real job" and a freelancer. Just keep that in mind when someone is telling you that you "have it easy".

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Responding to "You Just Don't Want To/Can't Get a REAL Job"

So, who made the rules? What makes a job a "real" job? Can't we all agree that a "real" job pays you "real" money? So why do you get into these spats with outsiders looking in?

• First of all, you have previously shown that you accept their thinking. If you have considered finding "a real job" while you were freelancing, you have admitted that you don't truly believe in what you're doing. 
• Second, you don't take your work seriously enough. This goes back to the old cliche that says "How do you expect someone else to love you if you don't love yourself?" Like with the first point, the change starts with YOU. If you're a career freelancer, it's just that - your career. Treat it as such, and you'll be surprised with the respect you receive from others.
• Third (and this is a big one), they are JEALOUS. Simply put, who doesn't want to set their own work hours and pick and choose the projects they work on? Who doesn't want to be able to pick their own work environment each day (at home, coffee shop, co-working space, etc.)? Wouldn't you say your lifestyle is one that is easily enviable?

Now that you now what drives that behavior, how do you respond (that is what this post is about after all)?

If you've previously shown that you don't truly believe in freelancing, it can be a bit more difficult to get people to understand that you now have faith in yourself. However, it can be done. You can respond to these doubters by letting them know that your business is more stable now and you've found work that you're truly passionate about. Let them know that you have no further desire to work what they call "a real job" because you are successful enough on your own.

If you haven't taken your work serious in the past, shame on you! Now that we got that out of the way, it's important that you remain serious about your work going forward. After all, this is your career we're talking about here. Once your loved ones see how serious you are about your business, they will take it serious too.

As far as jealousy - nothing can fight that. They have to get over that hump themselves. For your own sanity, it's best to ignore these people.

What other "personality types" have you had to respond to? What did you say?

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Getting Your Loved Ones to Understand the Freelance Lifestyle

You're weird. You don't wake up every morning, rush out the house, fight with traffic, and sit in a cubicle (or maybe even a nicely-appointed office) all day long. Yeah, you're one of those...one of those...freelancers. It's almost as if you exist on your own little island or came from another planet. The point is, you're not like them, and that's a problem -- or is it?

Do either of these sound familiar?

• Your friends are planning to get together and they're comparing schedules, but you are conveniently left out of the discussion. After everyone else is all set, they let you know the time they've come up with. When you ask why you weren't involved in the planning, you're informed that you can come anytime. It's not like you work a real job anyway.
• Your significant other asks you to run an errand that will take at least a couple of hours. You mention that you have a few things you have to work on that day, and you're met with "I thought you made your own schedule."
• Your mom (or dad) asks you for a ride to the store, bank, etc. When you say you're just a bit busy with work stuff, they tell you that your job is on the internet and you can do that anytime.

If you can relate to any of the above, you are suffering from "freelanceritis" (not a real word). This is a condition that affects those who have friends and family who don't quite understand that you actually work for a living. They mistake freedom for not being required to work. They feel that if you work at home your job is "easy" and less pressing than their jobs or anything else they have/want to do.

So, how do you combat this thinking? Well, it's definitely not simple - especially if the person in question has never done any freelance work. Some have found success from disconnecting themselves from friends/family while working. Others have been able to find success in talking with their loved ones about their work and work schedule. Ultimately, though, the most successful approaches involve a bit of education (you may even suggest they read this post).

Make sure they know your work is important, your work is your priority, you really do work when you say you're working, you have a work schedule just like anyone else (though you set it yourself). Ideally, you should be keeping business hours where you focus exclusively on your work. This will lessen confusion because people will know that between 8-5, 10-6, etc. you are actually working.

At some point, I hope freelancing is a more understood and widely-accepted career choice. But, until then, keep educating the ones you love so that they can respect you and your work.

P.S. If someone referred you to read this blog post and you aren't a freelancer, they are trying to tell you something. Start taking their work seriously. Please and thank you. *smile*

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Why Every Freelancer Should Have a Portfolio (And Why I Don't)

I'm not the hypocritical type. So, I'll be upfront with you - I don't have a portfolio, but in my defense -- I'm in the process of building one.

Why didn't I have one before? Well, I'm what you may call an "accidental freelancer". I never intended to start freelancing, and I certainly didn't originally consider it to be a long-term career move. Sure, I had done odd side jobs before, but it was typically only enough to pay an extra bill, save up for a special occasion, and the like. However, since I've started working independently, I don't know if I could ever go back to a "traditional" work routine. I enjoy my freedom - point blank, but I digress...

Just as it is important for companies to be able to show success stories, testimonials, etc., it is important for freelancers to have something to showcase the work they've done. Your clients want to see proof of your past success. This lets them take a "sneak peek" into what they can expect for their own project.

Ok, I know I need a portfolio, but what do I need to include in it? Well, that depends on the type of work you want to do...

• Photographer: You should include your best photo shoots. Ideally your website should have a gallery page that showcases all of the types of shoots you do. Don't have any clients yet? Well, take pictures of family, friends, etc. for no cost or a very low cost just to jumpstart your portfolio. After all, no one wants a photographer who doesn't take pictures.
• Designer: Your website should include samples. If you're a web designer, your portfolio should include past client sites. If you are an interior designer, your portfolio should include pictures of the spaces you've designed.
• Writer: Show us some copy you wrote for a past client. Or, write up a few articles, publish them online, and include the clippings in your portfolio.
• Consultant: You should be able to show the results you've achieved for your clients. If you helped them shave 25% off their costs in the past year, tell us!

Obviously, there is not enough space to include ALL freelance careers, but I'm sure you get the idea, and if not, feel free to shout out in the comments, and I'll help you brainstorm some ideas.

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Breaking Down the "Free" in Freelancing

Did you know that the term freelance originated as two separate words? A free lance (noun) was a man (sorry, ladies) that was available for hire as a lancer (in a sword fight). This fact was brought to you by the letter "Z". Ok, so that's not what you came here for, huh? Well, I thought it was a cool fact to share...

At any rate, now we view a freelancer as a man or woman (YAY for equal rights!) who works independently. Sometimes you can be called an independent contractor or self-employed, but they all essentially mean the same thing.

So... why the term freelancer? I'm not entirely sure where the "lancer" part comes into play (this post is about the "free" part anyway), but "free" can equate to a lot of things in an independent workers lifestyle.

Let me count the ways (or at least the first five):

1. Schedule freedom: Remember those days of punching the clock? You know how you used to wait on someone else's move? Yeah, forget those days. Feel "free" to pick your own schedule - whether consists of early morning hours, late night hours, or something in between. Need a vacation day? Take one (provided it doesn't interfere with client commitments).
2. Freedom from micromanagement: That boss that used to watch your every move while breathing down your neck? They're history! You now manage yourself.
3. Freedom from barriers to entry: Have you dreamed of being a web designer but don't have any experience? Now's the time to break in. You don't have to wait get a job, you can start building your portfolio right now.
4. Freedom from dress codes: Only own one shirt/tie that you recycle day in and day out? Do your dress shoes leave your feet blistered and uncomfortable? Ditch the dress code for your PJs (we'll even throw in your slippers!).
5. Freedom to explore the world on your terms: Want to move from the USA to Canada or vice versa (or really anywhere in the world)? Tired of your job "relocating" you? Travel wherever a plane (or train, or car) can take you. Just be sure to take your computer along so that you can keep in touch with your work.

Is that free enough for you?

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Can You Succeed As a Freelancer?

A little bit ago, I was blog surfing and found one post that struck me as rather interesting and the title nearly slapped me in the face. The writer said work-at-home freelancing is a joke. Comments are disabled on his blog - otherwise I would have commented on it.

I just couldn't get some of the things he said off my mind - and mainly because the blog is titled "Matthew's Problem with Authority". Ideally - he is a perfect candidate for freelance work because he can essentially "be his own boss".

But, to answer the question posed in the title - yes. Well, it depends. And here's why --

In order to succeed as a freelancer, you have to have all of the following:

• Willingness to succeed - believe it or not, some people don't really want to succeed. It may sound odd, but trust me on this.
• Ability to commit - if you aren't able to commit to yourself, you won't be able to commit to your business.
• Entrepreneurial spirit - you must be able to self-manage. There's no getting around it. If you aren't able manage your list of priorities, you will fall behind and could risk losing a client.
• Marketing skill (or money to pay someone to market your business for you) - you must be able to market yourself to your target market. If you aren't able to do this, you may not be able to get clients.

Possessing the above listed characteristics doesn't guarantee your success as a freelancer. However, having these tools in your arsenal is a recipe for potential success.

If you don't think that you can have a successful career as a freelancer, maybe you can't, but that doesn't mean that others will have the same result.

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Welcome to the Grand Opening of Black Freelancer!

Hi, thanks for stopping by for my "Grand Opening"!

I want to take the time to introduce myself, and I'd love to get to know some of you as well.

My name is Elise, and I've been working independently for close to a year now. After working what most folks call "a real job" for most of my adult life, I'm actually happier than ever building my career as a professional independent worker - aka freelancer.

My goal with this blog is talk about any and everything related to freelancing. Even though the blog is titled Black Freelancer (more on why I chose that name in just a bit...), there will be content here for everyone to consume, enjoy, and even debate. So, go ahead and click to "subscribe". You won't regret it one bit. I promise -- and if you do, you can always yell at me. I'm a big girl, I can handle it.

So why Black Freelancer? Well, the simplest answer is to fulfill a need that is missing in the online community. There is no "go-to" resource for freelancers/independent workers/etc. of color to connect with each other. I want this to be that hub, and like I said before, we are an inclusive community and everyone is welcome to read and participate (last time I checked it's a free country anyway).

Keep up with me over the next few days as I get into the swing of blogging, let me know that you're reading, and if there's anything you want to hear.

Talk to y'all soon! :-)

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Pardon my dust...

Please pardon my dust - I'm still trying to clean things up around here. I have a few more kinks to work out before my official "unveiling", but please stay tuned as I plan to post little nuggets of information each day to contribute to the black freelancing community.

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