This week has not been a good week for me freelance-wise. Well, let’s extend that to the last month, shall we? The last month has not been good for my freelance-wise. As well as some family problems that have been taking up a lot of my time and energy, I’ve pretty much lost one of my best clients to a middle-man type company and I didn’t get hired for a project that I was really interested in.
I’m not whining. Seriously, I’m not. I know I’ll face a so much more rejection along the way, but it sometimes feels personal, you know? When it all happens at once, it feels like someone out there has it in for me.
Yeah, see I’ve also become paranoid.
When I kicked out on my own ten months ago I literally had no idea what was in store for me. I’d polished up my armour and put my pride in the closet because I knew that I’d have to put myself out there if I was going to get anywhere.
And, when you put yourself out there you make yourself vulnerable. You’re basically standing on the roof shouting “GIVE ME YOUR BEST, GO ON!”
Luckily, I’ve had a smooth ride so far. Sure I’ve had some minor meltdowns about money and whether I have enough clients at any one given time, but actually looking back, it’s been a bit of a walk in the park. Too easy, some might say.
I really don’t want this site to be a whole “you need to go freelance because it’s the best thing ever” or to sell you some high-flying lifestyle that’s just not reality. I want to share my struggles with you as well as my successes (I mean, hopefully I’ll have more of the latter than the former). Because, after all, it’s our struggles that we learn from and that make us better at what we do.
Here’s what’s been kicking me down this week/month in my freelancing life:
- A number of clients trimming back work
- One of my major clients taking themselves off to a middle-man type company
- July was my worst-earning month so far
- Trying to find new ways to reach clients
- Not getting hired for perfect projects
- A lack of well-paying jobs out there is really disheartening
That’s my grovelling done with. Promise.
I always try and push forward, so I’ve started to look at each of these points in a different way. I’m trying to spur myself on using these as motivators because, let’s face it, I’m probably going to come up against these hurdles at least a few thousand more times in my career.
This post isn’t just about me, though. I’m sure there are lots of you out there who often find yourselves feeling down about the whole freelancing malarkey for one reason or another (maybe even because of one of the reasons above).
If you like, whilst reading through this post, you can list the things that have been a kick in the stomach for you along the way and start to highlight ways you can learn from them and move forward.
Because admitting the problem is the first step in solving it. Or something like that.
Clients trimming back work
This is probably the most common problem freelancers will face. Clients cut back work all the time and at a moment’s notice, too. It can be a major knock back if you considered yourself comfortable with them, but there’s literally nothing you can do in this situation.
Or is there?
- Make sure you don’t have all your eggs in one basket:
Seriously, don’t just have one or two clients. What happens if one of them cuts down your work or, god forbid, stops it entirely? You don’t want to be reliant on other people all the time – that’s not why you went freelance in the first place, right?
Keep a regular set of maybe four or five clients depending on the workload for each and then you’ll face less of a financial (and confidence) crisis when one of them walks off into the sunset.
- Offer other services:
Freelancers in this day and age tend to have multiple talents. As well as weaving words, we can also navigate social media like it’s the back of our hand and design awesome graphics. We aren’t just one-trick ponies, so if a client comes to you with the aim of cutting down your work, why not offer another of your services to them instead?
Make yourself irreplaceable.
Bad money months
As a freelancer you can pretty much wave goodbye to a stable income on a month-to-month basis. Very often you’ll have incredibly lucrative months followed by months where you’re bank account is only party to a bit of tumbleweed.
It happens, and that’s why it’s important to save and keep a track of your earnings (plus you’ll need to do this for tax purposes anyway). Don’t be disheartened when you have a low income month, though (seriously don’t, because you’ll be having one of these every couple of months when you first start out).
- Set a goal:
I find it really helps to set goals with my earnings. I figure out how much I need to live each month, taking into account rent, food, and living expenses, and then I work out how much would be comfortable for me to earn a month (i.e. a couple of hundred more than the basics).
Then I figure out how much work I need to do to reach that goal. Sometimes it’s a lot less work than I think and that alone makes me feel a whole lot better.
Trying to find new clients
I often find myself trawling the depths of Google looking for new clients. It’s so time-consuming and usually leads to dead end after dead end. That being said, over the last month I’ve been so much more motivated to go and seek out clients on my own terms so I’m not as reliant on other people. I’ve found a couple of new ways to seek out clients, which I reveal in this week’s video (hey, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel – click below!).
Not getting hired for perfect projects
Rejection hurts no matter how many times you’ve experienced it. As freelancers we regularly feel like we’re not good enough or that we have to prove ourselves to someone, so getting rejected for a project or job you thought you were the perfect fit for can bring you right back down to earth with a bump.
- Keep in touch with the client:
If you felt you were a good fit and got along with the client keep in touch with them. The writer they did hire might prove to be a bad fit after all, or they might give up after a while. Cue you sweeping in like a hero.
- Know that there’s something better out there:
For fear of getting all hocus-pocusy, I am a true believer of things happening for a reason. If you didn’t get hired, keep on looking and I guarantee something just as good will come along sooner than you think.
It’s so easy to dwell on what we could have done differently or better but this will get us absolutely nowhere. Instead, channel this energy (I promise I’m not into all this spiritual shebang) into finding other prospects that are a better fit.
Lack of well-paying jobs
This one keeps on pummelling me down with a wooden spoon. I knew the online world was up shit creek when I started freelancing, but I didn’t really know how bad it was until I was slap bang in the middle of it. By that point, it was too late.
There are SO MANY low-paying jobs out there it’s unreal, and it can sometimes feel like they are the ONLY jobs out there, but that’s far from the truth.
- Look around you:
Everywhere you look there are potential clients galore, from your local shops and businesses to anywhere and everywhere online. If it’s got words, it has a writer. Just remember that when you feel suffocated by the freelance world.
- Onwards and upwards:
But really one of the only things you can do in this situation is to keep your chin up and put one foot in front of the other. Put your blinkers on to low-paying jobs and hustle harder and work smarter.
Okay, so basically this post is a pep talk to myself but I hope it’s somehow shown that freelancing definitely isn’t all rainbows and unicorns all the time, no matter how many people say it is. There will be moments where you want to crawl back into the arms of employment but, let’s face it, in this day and age that’s equally as insecure…
There we go, now I’m pretty sure I’ve put the fear of god in everyone.
On a serious note, take some time to highlight what’s getting you down about the world of freelancing and then note down some lessons you can make from it all. Because that’s all we can do at the end of the day – learn from our mistakes and move along.
Do any of these points get you down about freelancing? How do you pick yourself back up again? Seriously, I need some pointers!
I can completely sympathize with you Lizzie! I was also turned down for a dream job this month for an animal charity – it would have meant giving up freelancing but it was really what I wanted in my heart and I’m still trying to console myself. Then shortly afterwards I got Dengue fever which was pretty horrendous. When I read your blog though it only makes me more determined to build a more solid freelance business – especially the part about not putting all your eggs in one basket. That’s something I worry about a lot and want to work on putting right. So, even though it’s been a crappy month take heart in the fact that you’re helping loads of people like me. I think there are good things waiting for you just around the corner…just a matter of riding things out 🙂
Rachel @ The Digital Gypsy recently posted…Visiting Bali’s Green School, the “greenest school on earth”
Thank you so much for your kind words, Rachel! I’m sorry to hear you had a crappy month, too, but I guess we sometimes need to come back down to earth with a bump to see where we can make changes and lift ourselves up again. Onwards and upwards, I say… there must be better things lying around the corner!
Hey Lizzie
You are an inspiration, sweetie. Thank you for being this honest about your travails – you will not only get back on your feet, but will soar through the skies #HUGS
As for me, my problems span the gamut – from the silly to the shameful
Shameful? Hmm…yep. You see, I HATE negotiating prices. Talking money is less enticing than getting 16 root canals (I have done the latter…I am trembling to do the former!)
About a month ago, I got the OK to start earning as a freelancer. I should have been jumping with joy – right? My career is kicking off- the future is as bright as the rays of the summer sun.
Alas, I have been quaking in my shoes every since. While I used to primarily focus on my words while working pro-bono, I have to now take on the responsibility of finding, pitching, searching, negotiating and marketing. As a result, my work is suffering *sigh*
There have been times when I have questioned whether getting authorized to be paid was a blessing or not! LOl
Admitting this feels shameful, but your honesty deserved mine too!
I need to rethink my perception of MONEY, and be able to offer my services with confidence and compassion.
People like you help me befriend these fears and still move forward!
I am a complete newbie, Lizzie, not just to freelancing, but to writing – in general. I feel old (34!) and am often strangled by a strange sense of desperation, disgust and doom! Is it too late for me to dream? Do I have to work for years on end to achieve some positive reputation? Am I being delusional, crazy, stupid?
In all honesty, I have nothing against the 9 to 5 grind. As someone who deals with numerous psychological issues, I might benefit from having a structure…but I don’t want to give up the diversity of freelancing – that initial frisson of excitement when someone wants me to help him or her with their blog post.
The research…outline….writing…words…they all make me come alive.
But my own insecurities are a killjoy that makes me doubt my own passion….
I can’t lose my passion for words – I can’t – I have nothing else
Oh dear – I got too personal..sorry, but this is my favorite post of yours so far.
As sadistic as it sounds, I like reading about peoples’ struggles – it makes me feel less alone.
But KNOW that YOU are going to rise above a poor July and get back on your throne, darling… #HUGSS
Kitto
Kitto, thank you so much for sharing your story! I too “enjoy” (for want of a MUCH better word!) reading about other peoples’ struggles if only to realise that we are all just human. No one is perfect and there are road bumps we will inevitably encounter along our journeys (some much bigger than others).
I still struggle with the money side of freelancing due to a lack of confidence. I hate discussing money and feel like I always have to justify my prices. The thing is, as soon as you start getting clients in, it gets so much easier (especially when they don’t question your prices).
Think of it less about how much money you’re getting paid and more about how much value you’re offering the client – would they be able to do it without you? Probably not, otherwise why would they be seeking a freelancer?! If you need to hire a plumber you call them up and accept the fees they charge, because it seems uncouth (and pretty much out of line) to start haggling with them. Think of your services in that way – YOU charge the prices based on what you need to live on and the clients can take it or leave it.
There will always be clients that try and make you feel ashamed for your prices, but would you really want to work for them anyway?
I’m thinking about doing a whole post/video on this soon, so thanks for the inspiration and for opening up about your experiences – this is why I love blogging so much!
Hi Lizzie
Thank you so much for this post. I want to reassure you that not only are you not “whining” but it’s one of my favourite posts of yours. Why? Because it is real and vulnerable and speaks to the experience most of us have as freelancers.
Whilst its great to follow popular, successful blogs, it’s far more encouraging and sincere when a professional like yourself says, “Hey, I go through what you go through too, and here’s some suggestions..” There are only so many “I’m so super popular and huge brands are beating down my door and i have a perfect life” posts one can read before feeling miserable and defeated.
I applaud you and appreciate you discussing the very real issues probably 99% of your readers face (the other 1% aren’t in this industry ha ha.)
2 tips of advice I received last week when I was seriously down in the dumps re all the things you’ve shared in this post was 1 – Do not take anything in business personally (hard to swallow but business is a fickle thing) and 2 – Try to get some retainer clients so that you start the month off with something (i find a big challenge of the freelance world is that sinking feeling at the beginning of a month that I need to start all over again finding work.)
Of course this is not new advice and easier said than done, but I’m developing packages where potentiol clients can buy a set amount of hours to use as they wish each month for what we offer (web/print design.writing, photography, social) This way they have someone on call when they need something however small and I get some steady income. If you charged more for some packages, perhaps the hours could roll over each month?)
Once again, thank you for keeping it real.
Clear skies
Sam
Hi Sam, thanks so much for your lovely comment!
I’m sick to the gills of reading freelance writing blogs that hark on about everything being hunky dory all the time because it gives people a false idea of what it’s actually like (at least the hard bits, anyway). Hopefully with this blog I can show that it IS possible to craft a lifestyle that you enjoy waking up to every day as well as tackling the trickier parts of it, too!
You’re so right about retainer clients – this is something I always try and do at the start of each month as I can breathe a big sigh of relief when I know I’ll be making a certain amount the coming month. I love your idea for the packages and charging a set amount of hours each month – I’ve actually started to move into this domain with a few clients and am in discussions with two about working in this format.
Thanks for stopping by Sam, always good to have you here!
Hi Lizzie,
What a great post and thanks for being so transparent! I know it can be difficult to open up like that.
For me, I’ve had some set backs recently. I think it’s the summer. Clients seem to re-assess their marketing strategy and freelance writers are usually the first to go.
One of my bigger clients cut back my work so I’m out like $400 a month now. It sucks, but I goter get moving right?
What’s nice is having your clients to lean back on. All I have to do is ask if they know of anyone needing content and usually one or two do!
Good luck!
Elna Cain – Freelance Writer and Coach recently posted…Keeping Things in Order â My Freelance Writing Project Management System
Hi Elna – great to have you here!
I think it’s summer, too, especially with the niche I work in (travel). Sorry to hear about you losing a major client, but sometimes we need that safety net ripped out from under us so we can find a way to improve and move forward. I hope you find an even better client to replace them with 🙂