Five Ways to Minimize Interruptions
Some people favor a telecommute life because they’re able to work at their own pace. However, if you’re like me, you’ve likely discovered that freelance life isn’t always that fabulous.
Staying on task should be easy, right?
Think about it: you don’t have to deal with meddlesome co-workers spreading the latest office gossip, and you don’t have to deal with a phone that rings off the hook. Unless you’re a work at home mom, your house is probably quiet during day, which presents the perfect work environment.
Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple.
Telecommuting is a nice perk - but there’s a downside. Our homes are a breeding ground for distractions. Have you ever been in the middle of a project, and caught sight of a table that needed wiping, or perhaps you forgot to wash the breakfast dishes. There is nothing wrong with taking breaks and caring for the house or other responsibilities. Actually, that’s the beauty of telecommute life - chores and obligations aren’t put on hold until after 5 p.m. However, if you find that interruptions have started to affect productivity - it’s time to make a few adjustments.
Read more
Freelance Jobs: How Much Should I Charge?
I’ve been a freelance writer for five years, and in my opinion, I think one of the biggest challenges is pricing projects correctly.
Freelancers are normally self-employed. They have to look for contracts and satisfy their client’s needs. Moreover, freelancers often apply for opportunities featured on job boards. Most clients have a budget in mind, and they’ll set the price for an assignment. Based on the compensation, freelancers can choose to ignore or apply for the assignment.
A few clients are clever. They don’t include compensation in the ad. Instead, they’ll ask all applicants to quote a price. I dislike these kind of job ads for two reasons.
- If you don’t know the client’s budget, there’s a chance that you’ll undersell yourself. In other words, you quote a price for the project, but the client is prepared to pay twice or triple the amount.
- You’ll likely be undersold by another freelancer. For example, you quote a price within the client’s budget, but lose the bid because someone else can complete the assignment for less.
The Instigator Blog offers several great tips on how-to price freelance projects successfully. Some freelancers have set prices for all assignments. While this method is quick and uncomplicated - it’s a big risk.
It’s best to determine freelance rates on a project-by-project basis. A few assignments are straightforward and require little research, in which you can charge a set price per word. Then again, an in-depth 300 word piece might take three or four hours to research and write. In this case, you’ll earn more with an hourly rate.
Technorati Tags: freelance, telecommute, freelance fee, self-employed, work at home
Picking the Right Time to Become a Full-Time Freelancer
Making the switch from employee to freelancer requires strategic planning. Unfortunately, some people don’t plan ahead or they approach their business with naive expectations. As a result, they fall flat on their faces and often return to the workplace.
The secret to a smooth and successful transition is meticulous planning. Moreover, you need to assess your individual circumstances and determine the best time to make the switch to full-time telecommuter. The best time for someone else isn’t necessarily the best time for you.
Read more
Telecommuting Jobs: No Work vs. Too Much Work
Freelancers aren’t promised a weekly or monthly paycheck. Their income is based entirely on performance. No work, no pay - it’s that simple.
Although this simple rule applies to every type of occupation - it’s a little different in the freelance world. Most telecommuters work on a per project basis. They complete an assignment and then move onto the next. The key to continuous income is a steady flow of clients. Thus, freelancers have to guard the work at home job boards and look for new contracts.
Sooner or later, every freelancer experiences at least one slow period. We get too comfortable with assignments and think that they’ll last forever. This is rarely the case.
I’ve made this mistake - twice. But, you live and you learn. Now, I try to stay one step ahead of the game.
I’m happy with my current work load. I generate enough income to meet my monthly expenses and have a little leftover. And the best part…I’m able to work part-time (most of the time). Still, I look for new contracts every day. You never know when you’ll stumble upon that perfect opportunity - great pay, great topic. I know it’s crazy, but even with a full schedule - I keep applying for new jobs. It’s like an addiction - or rather a fear.
For the most part, I’ve had a positive freelance experience. Yet, my worst month ever stays fresh in my mind.
It was early February 2007, and two of my highest paid contracts ended - at the same time. Inside a three day time span, my monthly income dropped 50 percent. Talk about painful!
I always plan for a rainy day, so the income plunge didn’t impact my finances. Still, I don’t like to dip into the nest egg. Now, I do everything in my power to ensure enough work, and few surprises.
Technorati Tags: work at home, telecommuting jobs, telecommute, freelance
