Photo by Jamelah

It’s that time of year again - college and university graduates are tossing their caps in their air and celebrating. But over the next few weeks, when the dust settles, many will be asking themselves “what next?”

I graduated last April and started out in a door-to-door sales job, then quit that job and relocated, then worked for a couple months as an Account Manager at a printer cartridge remanufacturing company, and eventually quit and decided it was time to take a chance. I couldn’t continue working in a job I didn’t like. I wanted to write, I wanted to chase my dreams, and I wanted to break free from the 9-5.

If you’re considering freelancing then you probably know what I mean. I hated asking for time off, I hated not being able to set my own schedule, and I hated knowing that I wasn’t following my passion - only a few months after graduation.

I had enough money in the bank to survive for three months…so I figured it was now or never. I would see if I could make money as a writer.

Tip #1: You really can make money as a writer…even as a fresh college graduate (or less)!

So there I was, stuck in my 600 square foot basement suite with no job, a laptop, and a lot of wishful thinking. I had this big idea for a couple months that I would create a website where companies could post writing jobs and writers could submit proposals…well, it was a great idea - but one that many others had thought of years earlier. When I discovered Elance I was amazed. It was everything I had imagined, but better!

So how did I get started? I bid…day in and day out. I bid on every job I could as long as I was confident that I could do it. I must have bid on 10 projects a day for the first week. But it was worth it.

Was I making a lot of money? No. But was I learning how to survive as a freelancer? Absolutely.

I remember writing product descriptions for a perfume website. I had to complete over 1000 product descriptions with 60-70 words each for a grand total of $450. It ended up around $10/hour…and you know what? I was happy.

Sure, the money wasn’t great…but at least I knew there was money!

Tip #2: Connections are more important than commissions.

You’ll meet a lot of people when you’re first starting out. Some people will only like you because of your rates, others will appreciate your style. In the end, it’s your job to make sure your clients like you.

It doesn’t matter what you charge, $10/hour or $500…if your clients don’t feel like you’re delivering value to them then you won’t earn any repeat business or future referrals. It’s that simple.

In everything you do, make sure you do your best. I’ve lost out on great opportunities with great businesses because I quietly scoffed at the rate I was getting paid and didn’t put in my best effort.

If I could go back in time then I would have spent more time in quality control. But I can’t go back in time, I can only go forward…and high quality work is something I am focussed on each and every day.

Tip #3: Make a Website/Blog

If I didn’t have a website then I wouldn’t have my largest repeat client.

One day, a successful small business owner was looking for a writer in Kelowna, British Columbia…so he searched Elance for Kelowna writers. It turned out there were four of us…but only one got a phone call that day, me.

Why? Not because I was more qualified, nor because I was cheaper. It was because I had a website. When my client saw my site (not this one…) he thought I was tech savvy and compatible with the vision he had for his company.

It’s now over eight months later and I’m still working 10 hours a week for him. It wasn’t a business card or referral that caught his attention, it was the simple fact that I had a website.

Tip #4: Relax

When I first started out as a freelance writer, I worked hard…but I didn’t work smart. I was running myself to the ground and doing everything I could to make money.

I was burning myself out.

One month in, I found myself confused when I left my suite and went for a drive - bright lights, other people, and a world that was running just fine without my perfume descriptions.

I soon realized that my lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. I was a much better worker when I gave myself time to exercise, time to travel, time to read, and time to do whatever I wanted to do. By getting more out of life you’ll also get more out of freelancing.

Tip #5: Productivity Rules

You’ll enjoy your freelancing career much more if you focus on productivity than if you allow yourself any freedom you desire. Believe me…sleeping in, working in pajamas, watching tv, playing video games, and browsing the internet do not improve your career.

It might be difficult to focus all day every day, but you should find a schedule that works for you. Personally, I like to wake up at a reasonable time (usually 7:30am) and get a couple hours of work out of the way before I shower, eat, and organize the rest of my day. After that, I outline my day so I can make enough money, secure future work, and play with some side-projects that will help my business.

Some people are morning workers and others prefer the evenings…find a schedule that works for you and stick with it.

Tip #6: Choose a Niche

The reason I put this one so far down the list is that it’s difficult to do early on. When I first started out I wanted to be a sports writer. While I still do a sports article here and there, it’s hardly my niche.

I took on a wide variety of projects early on so I could find out what I enjoyed doing the best. Personally, I enjoy copywriting the most and have found some success with it. I plan on making this the focus of my writing career and intend to build my entire business around it.

By choosing a niche, you’ll build your skills in one area so you can service fewer clients for more money. You’ll become an expert in one area of writing instead of being a novice in several areas.

Tip #7: Read, Read, Read

If you’re anything like me, you’ll land on a niche that has absolutely nothing to do with your degree. A four year English degree does not prepare you for a copywriting career. Sure, I learned a lot in school…but I couldn’t consider myself anything but a beginner when it came to copywriting.

The only way I could chase my passion was to learn what made other copywriters successful. I usually read three books a month that directly relates to my career so I can stay on top of things. If you’re not doing this in your own business, then you can be sure that your competition is.

Don’t ever act as though you’re done with school. Instead, educate yourself every day through the many opportunities around you…books, eBooks, audio books, mp3’s, blogs, and more.

Click here for a list of recommended blogs.

Tip #8: Network Like Mad

While online business is a great place to start, I think every freelancer should strive to establish a few local clients. Local clients tend to be more loyal and I’ve also found they’re willing to pay a higher rate since they trust you more.

So how do you find local clients? Networking.

Go out and meet business owners wherever they’re at - Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce, Business Networking International, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, or other social events. Just make sure you don’t push your services onto others. Networking shouldn’t be “work” at all. Just get to know people so they’ll get to know you, like you, and trust you…worry about everything else later.

Tip #9: Find out how to become more than a writer.

While being a freelance writer is significantly better than working the 9-5…you’re still exchanging time for money. To truly achieve success, you need to develop a passive income. There are a number of ways writers can achieve this - eBooks, joint ventures, affiliate programs, and more.

In the end, find something that works for you. There are hundreds of options out there…don’t feel pressured to do the same thing that’s worked for somebody else. Find a project that you want to work on that has potential for long-term income without long-term work…then get the wheels rolling on it.

Tip #10: [Insert Your Own]

The most important thing I’ve learned in freelancing is to learn from my mistakes. I’ve made tons of them, but I know that each of them has made me a better freelancer.

You’ll probably experience many of the same things I did, but you’ll also experience other things. Whatever happens - good or bad - learn from it and apply the lessons to your future. By finding out what works and how to improve what didn’t, you’ll gain the necessary skills to be very successful not only in freelancing, but also in life.

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