Must Read Resources for Freelancers
So you’re ready to jump into the thrill of freelancing and wanna know where to start? Here are a few of my favorite posts to get you started and a couple of resources you can add to your must read & watch lists.
Let’s start with some Work Made For Hire posts, shall we?
Kick off your reading with a good overview: How to be a Successful Freelancer is a workshop George Rohac and I gave at both Emerald City Comic Con and Stumptown Comics Festval this year. We crammed it fu of information on how to look like a total pro and avoid some common pitfalls.
Does your work take you to conventions or have you sell directly to clients on a fairly regular basis? Check out Gettin’ Fancy with the Negotiation Skillz for advice on pricing and letting people know how much your servies cost.
At some point in time you’ll get overwhelmed by all of the things you need and want to accomplish in a negotiation. Here’s how to manage Too Many Interests and still get what you need out of those deals.
There are nice people in the world. And there are crummy people.OMG! Hopefully, you won’t run into too many of the crummy kind, but be prepared. Know how to protect yourself by asking the right questions and not settling for less than you’re worth.
As the World’s Longest Invoice recently highlighted, sometimes getting paid as a freelancer can be, uh, challenging. Here’s some good advice to help you Get Paid!
By PNASH via Flickr.com
There’s a nice big internet out there and it is filed with tons of good resources. Here are a few of mine.
Mike Monteiro (aka @Mike _FTW) is a blunt man. It is a trait he flaunts in his video informatively titled “F*ck You, Pay Me” and his new book Design is a Job. Both are worth checking out and reviewing whenever you need an encouraging punch in the arm.
Jessica Hische makes really pretty things. She also has a fantastic post on pricing your freelance services and a helpful chart for determining when, if ever, you should work for free.
Ramit Sethi teaches people how to be rich. And he sat down and talked to freelance photographer Chase Jarvis for an hour and a half on how to pitch to clients, how to identify potential new sources of income and how to be a kickass freelancer. The best part: they caught the whole thing on video.
Chris Guillebeau has this book called The $100 Startup. Guess what its about? I picked up a free copy at Live Wire! last week and have been enjoying both the writing and the advice. There are a number of free resources on his website worth checking out. I’m particularly fond of his check list of things to do if you’re unveiling a new product (cough, KICKSTARTER, cough) and his one-page business plan.
That should be enough to get you started! Good luck in your new adventure and congratulations!
Categories: Good Advice
