Name, admitted age and how old you feel?

David Masters. I’m 29, but five years old inside. I’m still Gazing in wonder and curiosity at this big wide world.

Canuck or Yankee? or Other?

British, though I spend a lot of my time thinking in American, as many of my clients are based in the US.

What do you do as a freelancer?

I write, spinning words into gold. My main income comes from business blogging. I also do some journalism, some copywriting, and some ebook writing.

Still employed or freelance all the way? Or still dreaming of freelancing?

I freelance fulltime.

What song are you currently listening to over and over and over again?

Let Yourself by Martyn Joseph. I’m spending a lot of time with the line “Let yourself be quietly drawn by the stronger call of what you really love,” which Joseph borrowed from Rumi. I find Rumi a source of vitality in my life and my writing.

Who was the last person you said “I love you” to?

Siona, my beautiful wife.

How would you describe yourself? Glass half-full or half-empty?

The glass broke a long time ago. I drink straight from the wellspring.

Do you have a private stash of junk food? If so, where do you hide it?

I keep a bar of chocolate in the kitchen cupboard.

Chocolate or chips?

Dark chocolate. The more cocoa the better.

iOS or Android?

Android.

PC or Mac?

I jumped from Linux to Mac a couple of months ago. I love the flexibility of Linux, but switching to a Mac is like going from a kit car to a Rolls Royce.

Best vacation ever?

The next one. I love every holiday. I feel a deep affinity to the sea and being in the UK, most holidays are at the beach.

What’s one item on your bucket list?

To write and publish a novel.

What do you constantly tell your children to stop doing that you do yourself?

I don’t yet have children, but if I do, I want to give them encouragement for effort rather than achievements. I struggle to do that with myself.

Could you give up your cell phone for a week?

I rarely use my cell phone. I stay in touch with clients using email, Skype and Google Hangouts. I’d gladly live in a world without cell phones.

Learn more about David. Visit his website, davidmasters.com

And yet, most of the time, we ourselves keep our freelancing business small.

Don’t believe me? Read on. Here are the different ways we sabotage our freelance businesses, or keep it from growing.

Charging Small Fees

When you’re just starting out, have no experience or track record in the freelancing niche you’ve chosen, it makes sense to charge on the low end of the spectrum.

I myself did this to build up my portfolio and get testimonials.

However, you shouldn’t be the budget option forever. After all, the more freelance projects you get, the better your skills get, too.

Increase your rates at least every year. Maybe even every six months.

Is this scary? Heck ya! Will you lose clients? You may lose some of them. But you’ll be surprised how the best clients recognize what you’re really worth and are willing to pay your new rates.

Check out an earlier post I wrote about raising your fees and, more importantly, read the discussion in the comments, where other freelancers shared their experiences. (But please pardon the video; I was clearly having a bad hair day when I made it but refused to let that stop me).

I assure you, raising your fees will wake up that voice inside you. The one that demands, “Who the heck are you anyway?”

That’s only your self-doubt rearing its ugly head and trying to keep you safe, protected — and small. Pay no heed. If you don’t feel deserving to charge higher fees, do what you have to do to be worth what you’re charging. Improve or add to your skills. Get more experience. But make sure this is not your way of making excuses so you can stay in your warm and cushy comfort zone.

Strive to be the premium choice in your niche, instead of being the budget option.

Targeting “Small” Clients

I don’t mean to sound like a snob. But the fact is, if you want to charge premium fees you have to be choosy with the clients you work with.

When I was starting out, my target clients were home-based Moms who were getting started with their online businesses. But that was ok, because I was charging on the low end of the scale while getting experience, building up my portfolio, and collecting testimonials.

When I wanted to charge more, I began targeting female entrepreneurs who were earning at least $100,000 a year. Soon, this market became too “small” for me. How much does it take to earn 100k a year — only $8,333.33 a month. If I want to charge monthly retainers of $2000 or more, obviously this was not the right market for me.

So I decided to go for bigger fish: corporate clients. More specifically, B2B companies with an annual income of at least $500,000. In the same way, if you want to charge bigger fees, you need to go after “bigger” clients.

(Incidentally, when I shifted to B2B copywriting, I found AWAI’s B2B copywriting course helpful. Not only did it help me transition from B2C to B2B copywriting. It also taught me how to actually get B2B clients and how much to charge for my services.)

Doing Everything Yourself

When you’re just starting out as a freelancer, you’ll probably do everything yourself, from marketing your services, to completing projects, and invoicing your clients.

But if you want to grow your freelancing business, you need to build a team. You simply cannot get everything done yourself and do everything well. There are several ways to do this, including partnering with other freelancers and outsourcing some of aspects of your freelance business.

Here’s one guideline I learned from a very wise businessman: Don’t strengthen your weakness; outsource it.

For example, I’m good at math, but hate to do my own bookkeeping and accounting (if you’ve ever tried to fill up the Canadian income tax return for businesses, you’ll understand why). So instead of forcing the issue, I’ve hired an accountant. Bonus: She’s a self-employed freelance accountant, so I get to support a fellow freelancing Mom

Are you doing any of the above to keep your freelance business small? What do you want to overcome? What kind of help do you think you need to keep growing your freelance business?

Are you staying small or are you “doing it?”

 PS: Jill Konrath’s “Selling to Big Companies” is another resource for you if/when you want to go for bigger, corporate clients. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my Amazon wishlist.

Name, admitted age and how old you feel?

Anne, over 40, somedays 80, more often 25

Canuck or Yankee? or Other?

No idea what that means. I’m Irish

What do you do as a freelancer?

Excel training plus energy work

Still employed or freelance all the way? Or still dreaming of freelancing?

Freelance since 1997.

What song are you currently listening to over and over and over again?

Chasing the Sun by the Wanted.

Who was the last person you said “I love you” to?

Husband and son

How would you describe yourself? Glass half-full or half-empty?

Half full

Do you have a private stash of junk food? If so, where do you hide it?

I have a number of locations which I refuse to reveal

Chocolate or chips?

Do I have to choose?????

iOS or Android?

Do I have to choose?

PC or Mac?

PC ALWAYS

Best vacation ever?

Cameroon in 2005, weekend away last year with two of my girlfriends.

What’s one item on your bucket list?

Visit St. Peterburg

What do you constantly tell your children to stop doing that you do yourself?

Get distracted by an electronic device…like that phone….

Could you give up your cell phone for a week?

Probably.

Learn more about Anne by visiting her website, the-excel-expert.com.

Name, admitted age and how old you feel?

Melissa Weir. I’m 54, really. My brain is at 35, my knees and back are 154.

Canuck or Yankee? or Other?

Yankee, although I am nation-neutral.

What do you do as a freelancer?

I write for businesses. Case studies, white papers, annual reports. At least, that’s what I want to write.

Still employed or freelance all the way? Or still dreaming of freelancing?

Freelance all the way! Lucky to have dual-income household and my husband is super supportive. Lucky.

What song are you currently listening to over and over and over again?

Listening to Los Lobos with Dave Alvin “Somewhere in Time”

Who was the last person you said “I love you” to?

Told my 11-year old daughter this morning.

How would you describe yourself? Glass half-full or half-empty?

My tendency is half glass empty. I work very hard to maintain glass half full.

Do you have a private stash of junk food? If so, where do you hide it?

No private stash, yet. As my son gets older (he’s 8) he’s chowing through food like nobody’s business! I might have to hide someday.

Chocolate or chips?

Chocolate, def.

iOS or Android?

IOS

PC or Mac?

Mac, from the beginning.

Best vacation ever?

Best vacation was my honeymoon to Rarotonga. Long before Survivor invaded.

What’s one item on your bucket list?

Bucket list….hmmmm…I don’t have one! Off the cuff I’d say I want my kids to have a chance to live in another country.

What do you constantly tell your children to stop doing that you do yourself?

I’m constantly telling them to quit eating junk food…..sigh.

Could you give up your cell phone for a week?

I would be thrilled to give up my cell phone for a week!

When I asked for your opinion about a “business” decision, you emailed me your honest, no-holds-barred answer.

When The Savvy Freelancer got hacked, you gave me a heads up on Twitter and by email.

When I share something from out of the blue, or when my emails have dead links, or when I mess up some other way, you put up with me.

I sure appreciate you!

And now, I’d like to get to know you a little better. Because of this, I’ve decided to publish an “In Your Neck of the Woods” post every Tuesday. I’ll start today by answering these questions about myself. I hope you’ll participate by sending me your responses to these questions. Use this contact form or, if you’re on my email list, simply reply to one of my emails.

Here we go:

Name, admitted age and how old you feel?

Alexis Rodrigo, almost 45 but sometimes feel 65, other times I feel 6.

Canuck or Yankee? or Other?

Canuck. With Filipino origins.

What do you do as a freelancer?

Copywriting, social media marketing, strategizing

Still employed or freelance all the way? Or still dreaming of freelancing?

Both!

What song are you currently listening to over and over and over again?

My group’s recording of a traditional Filipino love song, but only because I used it as the music for a family video (I’m the one singing the alto part, if you’re wondering). Otherwise, anything by the Swingle Singers. Here’s one I never tire of:

 

Who was the last person you said “I love you” to?

My six-year-old son. (Oh no, did I forget to say “I love you” to my 12-year-old?!?!)

How would you describe yourself? Glass half-full or half-empty?

Definitely glass half-full. I always, always look for the silver lining.

Do you have a private stash of junk food? If so, where do you hide it?

No. I don’t stash or hide. It’s out in the open.

Chocolate or chips?

Chocolate, of course.

iOS or Android?

iOS

PC or Mac?

Mac all the way.

Best vacation ever?

It’s a toss up between Boracay and New York City.

What’s one item on your bucket list?

Go on road trips with the hubby and kids in a Roadtrek E-trek (you gotta admit, it’s a beauty).

What do you constantly tell your children to stop doing that you do yourself?

Don’t keep the shower running while you soap yourself. (Shhh, don’t tell!)

Could you give up your cell phone for a week?

I want to say yes, but to tell the truth, I doubt it.

Your turn!

When you send your response, include a URL to your website, and a photo of you. I want to see your beautiful face!

But did you know you can have a regular, predictable income?

Yes, even if you’re a freelancer.

The way to have regular income is by working with clients on retainer basis.

What’s a Retainer?

By “retainer basis,” I mean you have a contract with your client that:

• specifies work you will do on a regular basis
• gets you paid a set amount on a fixed schedule, usually monthly
• covers a long period of time

Many businesses work on retainer basis, including lawyers and marketing agencies. Why not you, too?

Imagine setting up a regular subscription on PayPal, so your clients pay you automatically every month. You don’t even have to bill them.

Wouldn’t it be great to know for sure you will receive that income every month?

Benefits of a Retainer Contract

Retainer contracts are beneficial for freelancers, because they:

• guarantee a fixed income, as long as you produce the agreed upon outputs
• minimize your need to keep finding new clients
• allow you to get involved deeply in your client’s business and therefore gain intimate knowledge and mastery of it
• reduce the need to learn a new business or market
• free you to focus on getting the job done instead of chasing after your next clients

Disadvantages of a Retainer Arrangement

Is a retainer arrangement ever bad for a freelancer? It could, if:

• you underestimated your value and are not getting paid enough for the work involved
• it makes you so complacent that you neglect to market your business altogether
• it isn’t flexible enough to cover task adjustments, and you end up doing more work than you agreed on, due to the dreaded “scope creep”

Even with these disadvantages, I still think retainer contracts are ideal for freelancers.

It may take some creativity to think of recurring services you could package into a retainer contract. And ideally, the retainer package you come up with is based on outputs rather than inputs. I mean you should get paid based on the work you produce, rather than the number of hours you put in for a client.

To help you come up with retainer packages, think of:

• maintenance work your client will need after your initial job is done (e.g., WordPress upgrades, backups, and maintenance)
• continuous requirements, such as weekly blog posts, bi-weekly newsletters, monthly lead-in offers, and quarterly white papers
• tweaks or improvements you could do for your client, like website conversion optimization, monitoring, and evaluation

If you really can’t come up with anything, as a last resort, you could bundle your services by time. For example, if you’re a VA, offer 15-hour monthly packages. But I would still challenge you to come up with an output-based, rather than time-based contract.

Do you have retainer contracts with your clients? If so, what types of recurring services do you provide?

If not, what’s stopping you?

Share your experience below.

© Snokid | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

If you will recall, a couple of weeks ago I wrote about one of my greatest fears. As a result of that fear, I resolved to create multiple streams of income.

Well, I have gotten so desperate motivated to do so, that I even explored a couple of MLM opportunities. And then, I had a “duh!” moment, when I realized that, instead of going into something new, I should instead simply scale up something that’s already working.

The Epiphany

That is, instead of creating another stream of income, why not make an existing stream bigger and flow more vigorously?

I’m talking about something I’ve been doing since 2008, something that’s been showing results, but which I’ve been neglecting for the past year: affiliate blogging.

In the past, at one point, I made $1000 in affiliate commissions in a month. I’ve also won an iPad 2 in an affiliate contest. Just the other day, I made an affiliate sale from a blog post I published in 2010.

But since becoming a work-at-home employee, I’ve been neglecting my affiliate websites, and that stream of income has almost dried up. Still, on average, I make $200 a month on my affiliate blogs. Not a lot, but at least it covers my hosting and other costs.

The Destination

So here’s the challenge I made for myself: By the end of six months, my affiliate earnings should increase to $1000 a month.

Now you see why I’ve been putting this off? I didn’t want to put this goal out there, and then admit failure later on. But there it is.

I know it’s a modest goal, but I’m comfortable with it. It’s large enough to make a significant impact in my family’s finances (that would cover my teenager’s university costs and my other daughter’s braces), yet small enough that it feels achievable.

What would an extra $1000 a month mean to you?

The Roadmap

In 2009, I bought The Super Affiliate Handbook by Rosalind Gardner. Ros has been making a good income from affiliate blogging in non-internet marketing related niches. Sure, she sells books and ebooks, and gets paid to speak at internet marketing events, but her main income still comes from affilite blogs in niches like travel and dating.

I bought the handbook, because Lynn Terry, one of my early mentors, followed Ros’ system and within six months was steadily earning a full-time job — enough to close her service provider business forever.

So why didn’t I get the same results, or even close to it, as Lynn did? You see, I bought that book and didn’t read it all the way through. I printed it out, put it in a binder… then put the binder away.

I don’t know what I was thinking! Maybe I thought I already knew everything. Maybe I got busy with clients. Whatever the reason, I put my hard copy of that ebook away… only to pull it out again almost four years later.

This time, I read it in earnest. And boy am I kicking myself. Despite the successes I’ve experienced in affiliate blogging, I realize I’ve been omitting so many things and doing other things wrong. Who knows how much money I’ve lost because of my recklessness?!

To reach my goal, I’m going to give Ros’s advice a shot. I’m going to put it to work for at least six solid months. (If you’re interested in Ros Gardner’s ebook, you can find out more here. I bought it for $47 but today it’s only $27)

In fact, I’ve started implementing some of her advice, and today I got an email from an affiliate manager who’s come up with an idea for me to profit even more as their affiliate. I can’t wait to see what other results I get from following Ros’s affiliate blogging advice!

Your Challenge, Do Accept!

Here’s my challenge to you: In the next six months, create or scale up another stream of income. Let those income streams gush forth!

Are you up to the challenge? If it isn’t top secret, share with us what income stream you want to create or expand. How much additional income do you want to earn, and how do you plan to do it? Do share!

PS: As I was going through the Super Affiliate Handbook, I find I have a few questions and wish I could get Ros to answer them. Turns out I can! In 2010, Ros created Affiliate Blogger PRO, an exclusive forum where members can interact with her directly and see inside even her affiliate blogs. I am so stoked!

Photo by meiburgin

I love traveling, and I love the fact you can freelance while traveling. Today, we have a guest post from Mark James, a former freelance writer who has successfully combined freelancing with traveling.

As anyone who’s done a little traveling will concur, once you’ve caught the travel bug, it’s hard to make it go away. Even more so when you live in the UK like me, where the climate is bordering on Arctic six months of the year.

The perpetual desire to see new places and meet new faces is something that’s hard to satisfy though, thanks largely to the significant cost involved. Travel is pricey, especially when you’re looking at going further afield or looking at backpacking in first, rather than third, world countries.

One way to counter this is by working whilst you cross countries and continents, although again there may be considerable barriers to doing this, visa issues and the like posing problems.

As freelancers though you’re in a gifted position, as for many freelancing disciplines you can take clients and customers with you, regardless of where you go in the world.

I speak from experience, having combined some freelance copywriting with some backpacking around Europe. Sitting in a hostel dormitory in Naples, money running low after three weeks spent traversing round taverns and frittering away funds, I sent a speculative email to a client and managed to snap up enough work to tide me over another two weeks. It was then it struck me how it could be possible to juggle a freelancing career with some larger scale traveling.

Intrigued? Here’s how I think it’s possible…

Communication barriers have been reduced

Skype has made things infinitely easier on the worldwide communication front, increasing numbers of expats, immigrants and backpackers all using the platform to keep in contact with friends and relatives back home. For free, too. It’s even being used to conduct interviews remotely, according to a friend who’s on a working holiday in Canada.

On this basis, what’s to say that it can’t provide a medium from which to communicate with clients? Elsewhere, if you’re required to communicate on a larger level then there’s apps like GoToMeeting. Ultimately we’re so connected online nowadays, it’s relatively easy to communicate.

Paperwork needn’t be so much of a burden

The rise of cloud software has made things remarkably easier regarding paperwork, creations like Dropbox meaning that you can access all your important documents on foreign shores, as long as you’ve uploaded and scanned them prior to setting off on your travels. Furthermore, with online platforms gradually taking greater and greater precedence over paper, it’s increasingly possible to go without paper.

All that said, you’ll likely need to deal with post from time to time. Here in the UK the taxman is keen on sending letters should you have any outstanding tax liabilities, (presumably the IRS are similar?!) so you’ll probably need a helpful relative or friend who can occasionally check up on your post, or, failing that, a mail forwarding service.

(Nice) accommodation can be reasonably cheap

Finding a place that’s conducive to work is vital. Whilst hostels and budget hotels may prove good places to make new friends and save money, they’re likely to be noisy, making it a struggle for you to keep your focus.

Thankfully, there’s still a range of reasonably priced options that are more conducive to clients’ needs. Sites such as Couchsurfing and Airbnb offer an alternative to the hellishly priced hotel or just plain hellish hostel. You can even get yourself some office space should you so need it, Loosecubes and Sharedesk providing the opportunity to rent desks by the day.

Convinced? Well, if you are then don’t go packing your bags just yet. There’s still one considerable barrier to nomadic freelancing. The legalities. If you don’t not have a “permanent” address, what laws will apply to your business?

Amongst the biggest legal concerns is tax but as a little research around the subject has shown, to overcome this issue many mobile freelancers pick a home tax base regardless of whether they’ll actually be spending much time there. I’m a just a mere Writer though and I don’t profess to be an expert on this issue, so it’s probably best to liaise with an accountant before booking that one way flight to the Bahamas.

What are you waiting for? Get packing!

Mark James is a former freelance writer who now works in-house for Crunch, online accountants for contractors. He specializes largely in small business and finance, contributing to both online and print media. Outside of work writes extensively on soccer and travel, two of his biggest passions. Having spent several years freelancing prior to working in-house, Mark is also a regular contributor to Freelance Advisor, popular UK news and advice site for freelancers. He hopes to return to freelancing again in the near future, preferably combining it with some travel across South America.

How scary that should this client drop me, or this business fold up, my family’s lifestyle and well-being would change drastically.

And so I vowed that I would never depend on the one client or the one job to sustain me and my family.

Whether you’re a freelancer or employed full-time, you need to have multiple streams of income.

Below is a list of alternative income sources you can start on the side. I like these ideas, because you can start small then, if necessary or as your time and energy allow, go bigger.

Other Ways to Earn Income

1. Employment

If you’re a freelancer, a part-time job is a good way to earn steady income on the side. It can also be a good way to build your resume, develop contacts, and keep your skills sharp.

2. Freelancing

If you’re employed full time, offer freelancing services. Of course, I’m assuming you don’t have a high-powered job that pretty much fills up your days and uses all your energy.

If you’re already a freelancer, consider offering other types of services. For example, a copywriter I know also offers graphic design and web design services.

3. Sell on eBay

Selling on eBay, Craig’s List, or Kijiji (if you’re in Canada) is an easy way to make extra income. You don’t have to have your own website or know a lot of techie stuff.

4. Sell in Person

Join a network marketing company like Avon, Mary Kay, Scentsy, financial services, or insurance. This is especially good if you’re already a happy customer of their products. Some people make full-time incomes from this, so it can definitely become lucrative, if you find the right program and manager/director.

5. Become an Internet Marketer

Internet marketing itself involves several different income streams. For example, with my blogs, I earn income through affiliate marketing, advertising, and selling my own information products. However, it can take time for internet marketing to become profitable. You have to learn a lot, set up websites, create content, generate traffic, etc, etc, etc. Once you get the hang of it, though, not only will you be making extra money. You’ll have developed marketable skills you can offer clients or prospective employers.

If you’re interested in internet marketing, check out my other blog, Magnetic New Marketing.

6. Be a Real Estate Agent

If you’re willing to put in the time and money to get licensed and have an interest in houses, why not become a real estate agent? Again, this can bring good financial rewards, depending on how hard you work it, and how good you are.

7. Make and Sell Your Own Products

Do you bake? Love to craft? Put those hobbies to work by turning them into a side business. A self-employed PR consultant I know sells pastries to pay for her children’s music lessons and sports activities.

8. Rent Out Property

If you can afford it, buy property and rent it out. Finding good tenants and maintaining the property doesn’t need to take up a lot of your time.

9. Teach, Coach or Mentor

Teach a class, or offer coaching and consulting services, to help other people do what you already know how to do. For example, if you’re a writer, offer to be a writing coach to graduate students who are writing their dissertations. Web consultant and online marketer Angela Wills earns a substantial income from intranet-based training courses.

And it doesn’t even have to be related to your freelancing services. A VA, for instance, teaches fitness classes at a gym. She says, “I don’t exercise unless I get paid.”

10. Self-publish

If you’re a writer it seems perfectly natural to start writing your own books. It’s now easier than ever; you don’t even need a publisher. I know of freelancers, not necessarily writers, who are publishing and selling their own books on Amazon and Kindle. It’s getting profitable, too, I hear. And, no, they’re not writing how-to-make-money-online types of books. In fact, one is writing about zombies.

Here’s an excellent book on self-publishing by Guy Kawasaki (review coming soon!).

Those are the 10 alternative income streams I’ve come up with, thanks to contributions from my freelancer friends.

Take your talents, skills, hobbies, and special interests and monetize them somehow.

Which of these income streams appeals to you? Which one will you pursue? Let me know your thoughts!

1. Evernote

2. Wikipanion

3. iThoughts HD

4. Plaintext

5. WordPress

6. Dropbox

7. Kindle

For details, watch the video:

What iPad apps do you use for writing?

PS: I also got a kick out of making an iPad screen capture video. I made it by using the Reflector app and Screenflow.