4 Things You Should Know Before Becoming A Freelancer
Getting into the business of freelancing has become sexier than ever because it comes with the idea that you get to be your own boss. Social media paints the picture that once you become a freelancer, there's no more clocking in and out of the office, being micromanaged by some control-freak, or rushing to get out of the office to make happy hour with your girls. On top of all of this, you get to work literally from wherever you want in the world (oh hey Bali, oh hey Jamaica), and look cute on Insta while doing it.
Being a freelancer, you are the master of your own fate, the ultimate girlboss - OR at least that's what you think.
While being a freelancer does come with many benefits (yes, often you can work from wherever and be in control of your own schedule), the rewards comes with many risks and hard work.
Before you decide to become a freelancer, here are four women who share the top things that they wish someone would've told them about freelancing, and the things you should know before you become one.
Dalila Thomas
Freelance PR Agent, Journalist, and Founder of Starving on a Budget
On being a freelance writer:
Negotiate.
"This is something that many can expect goes without saying, however there are plenty of writers - honestly professionals of all sorts - that still don't negotiate pay. That's a no-no. If you've gotten to a point with a potential employer that you're in a room/on the phone/Skyping/etc. discussing pay, it means they want what you have to offer. If they see the value in you, you should be able to come to an agreement regarding your compensation. If not, it wasn't meant to be."
Plan.
"If you're freelancing full-time, it's very likely you'll be working on multiple pieces/projects at one time. While it may be tempting to take on a much as possible, be mindful - and realistic - about how much you can handle. When you compromise yourself, you compromise that quality of your work. Another important thing is planning out your pay. Knowing when you will get paid is crucial to your livelihood. Some publications allow you to submit an invoice immediately, others may pay you months later after the piece is published."
Know the rules.
"If you're freelancing with multiple publications and writing about similar subjects, make sure you're following rules laid out in any agreement/contract you sign. Many publications won't allow you to write about the same subject/subject matter for other publications until a certain amount of time has passed."
Follow her on Instagram.
Trina J.
Freelance Fitness Trainer
On being a freelance fitness trainer:
Don't be scared to talk about what you do.
"Work your network, ask for referrals from friends and even from your social media network."
Don't just post progress pics.
"Be relevant, provide value fitness content and tips on and off line to gain credibility and expand your reach."
Think outside of Instagram.
"Use LinkedIn. A lot of professionals in my industry ignore this platform. LinkedIn is where the professionals live that see the value in working with a trainer. Be relevant in this space, engage with people and work your connections."
Follow her on Instagram.
Quiana Darden
Freelance Content Marketing Writer
On being in the content business:
Never stop working on you.
"It takes a lot more than being an excellent writer to be a successful freelance writer. Between organizing projects, meeting deadlines, communicating with clients, and reaching out to potential clients to find new business, you have to ensure that your other skills are refined as well.
"You should always be a student. Maybe it's because I used to be a teacher, but I love learning how to improve both my writing and my business as a whole. Whether you invest in reading books, listening to podcasts, taking courses, attending conferences, or hiring a coach, you should always be learning about how to improve your writing skills and your business skills. There are tons of fantastic resources out there for you to take advantage of, no matter your budget."
Always keep the money on your mind.
"Run your business like a business. It's easy to find and accept writing jobs, but are they helping you reach your revenue goals? If you're taking on very low-level assignments that pay you next to nothing, yet you're trying to scale your business, you will struggle. Know your annual, quarterly, and monthly revenue goals. Know your required hourly rate and ensure that the projects you take on are pushing you towards reaching your overall business goals. That's the only way you will grow and sustain your business."
Follow her on Instagram.
Ashley Janelle
Freelance User Experience Design Coach
On getting clients as a freelancer in tech:
Be a boss in every area of your business.
"Do great work, be on time, and stay professional at all times. Many of the clients I get are from referrals, so it's really important to always put your best foot forward. Also, make sure you have a system in place for getting clients. When you have a client, you should always be looking for your next client so never get complacent."
Follow her on Instagram.
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Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Is It Ever Okay To Share Your Friends' Business With Your Partner? Maybe.
The older we get, the more we communicate our boundaries. With age, we also more clearly understand those boundaries and how to effectively, and immediately speak on them confidently. For many years, I remained connected with a friend whose boyfriend would always come to me and call me "lonely" or mention a discussion I had only had in private with her.
Back then, not only was it that anything I said to her in confidence was being reiterated without my permission. But there was also the sass of that man to repeat tidbits of our conversations back to me coupled with her audacity not to check him then and there whenever he did. But, as a much older adult, I realize people can’t do what they don’t know, and based on her choice of partner – it now seems to be a given that boundaries and respect weren’t two things that were high on her list of priorities…respectfully.
We stayed friends for many years, and honestly, I wouldn’t have had a problem with it had her man kept his mouth shut. I’m about to tell on myself when I say, “I thought we were all doing that? I thought we were all telling our man the tea at the end of our days?” I mean, I don’t have a man 90 percent of the time – so more often than not the secrets have been safe, but like?!
But, I’ve since seen several online posts in passing that suggest this is actually against the girl code – leaving me to feel validated but also guilty for my acts of treason. I thought it would be safe to get some more insight from an expert as listening to internet rhetoric can, at times, be overrated.
According to Dr. Ayanna Abrams, a licensed clinical psychologist, it depends. "It depends on four relationships – not just the one with your friend. This answer depends on your friendship, your partnership, your friend's relationship with your partner, and your relationship to the shared information.”
Dr. Abrams went on to provide a list of questions that can help us better understand if what you want to share with your partner is information your man is even qualified to know. Here is the list of questions that Dr. Abrams suggests you use as a flowchart of sorts:
1. What is my relationship with this friend?
How close are we? What stage of friendship are we in? Is this vulnerable information that feels particularly intimate or difficult for them to share? Did my friend ask me not to share?
2. What's my relationship with my partner?
What do I know about them and how do they hold information about me or the people in my life? Have they shown respect for people's privacy or do I know that they sometimes have trouble with privacy/secrets?
3. How does the shared information affect me?
Does it overjoy me, upset me, might it impact me and I'm anxious about it? (This could help determine what information you're sharing–are you sharing context for how it impacts you or are you sharing it as gossip?)
4. Is this information something that I believe my friend wouldn't mind my partner knowing?
Do they have any connection to each other (or is it strained or fairly distant?)
5. What's motivating me to share?
Do I need support, am I trying to connect with my partner through sharing things that happen to me within other relationships? Do we have a practice of sharing what's going on with our friends? How do I feel about sharing this information with anyone?
What can seem harmless to us may be a cause for immediate termination for others. This is a great opportunity to point out the importance of communicating and setting boundaries in all relationships, early and often. This is often recommended in romantic relationships but it can solve a lot of the issues stemming from miscommunication in platonic relationships as well.
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