Don't Forget Playtime in the Freelance Sandbox

One of the biggest problems facing freelancers is burnout. If you're new to the freelancing game, you probably don't believe me. Setting your own hours, being your own boss, working in your pajamas - sounds pretty sweet, right?

I kid you not. When business is good, it's very easy to get lost in work and forget about taking 'you' time. This is particularly true in the first few years, when you're afraid to set limits, or turn down work because who knows when the next contract will come along. No sense looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth and pissing off the gods of freelance fate, right?

It's true. For the first few years, until your reputation is a rock solid monolith, and repeat customers are banging down your door, freelance work is pretty much feast or famine. So it's logical while at the feast to want to gorge 'til you burst because you have no way of judging how long the famine with last. This easily leads to over-extending yourself with long hours that stretch into days and weeks and months. But you're making money, so who cares, right?

That's a dangerous attitude. Downtime needs to be scheduled and treated with as much sanctity and respect as work time, or burnout is inevitable.

Stretch yourself too thin and stupid mistakes are made, the quality of work goes down, and you start feeling just plain miserable. And it's a vicious cycle. This impacts your reputation and forces you to have to work longer and harder before you're firmly established. And more stupid mistakes are made... and so on... and so on...

Burnout sucks.

It's okay to take on a big rush job and work like a maniac. Just know your limits. Know how far your can push yourself before the stupid mistake monster rears its ugly head, and bid on those rush jobs accordingly. Schedule down time and stick to it.

I'm one to talk. Here it is, Sunday, the traditional day of rest, and I'm typing away. But the thing is, we're back to one of the big selling points of freelancing in the first place. You set your own hours. Find your natural rhythm and stick to it. If your workweek is ten days straight, then do it. You choose the when and where of down time. Just don't underestimate its importance or you risk frustration, anger, depression - and ultimately burnout.

All work and no play makes for very miserable freelancers, and that's not good for anybody.

So go have some fun! It will make you more money in the long run.



image by bukutgirl

A Buyer's Guide Part One: How Much Does a Freelance Writer Cost?

You've decided to hire a writer. Maybe you want to beef up existing material, or to create something totally new. Maybe you want to increase sales or brand your product, or maybe you want to educate. You may need creative materials, or technical, general interest or very specialized. You may have a clear and specific idea of what you want, or no clue at all.

Whatever the reason, you've made the choice to get a writer on your team. You've heard good things about Elance, and you're ready to proceed. But one big question remains. How much will a good writer cost you?

This is impossible to answer directly without project details, but here are some general guidelines:

1 - Define your needs.
Are you looking for filler articles to drive traffic to another site so content or skill isn't important? Or are you looking for a high level of writing skill that projects your image or the image of your product and/or company?

The first won't cost you much at all. There are several providers who will meet your needs because it's cost effective for them. They can pump out low level material fast to seed your sites.

The second will run you quite a bit more. You're paying for skill, crafting, and research time, and a high level of quality. Cutting cost corners here will bring the quality of the project down.

2 - Be realistic about your budget.
If you need 500 pages and only have a budget of fifty dollars, you're not going to attract high quality work. Think of it this way - how many hours would it take you to write 500 pages?

If your budget is small, try to re-think your project. A great writer can do more for your business in two pages than 500 bad pages will ever accomplish.

3 - Look closely at samples.
Writers provide samples to show you the level of quality you can expect. Find a writer with a bid price that matches your budget and samples that meet your needs. Ignoring either will lead to disappointment.

4 - Finally, remember that you get what you pay for.
Writers base their bid price on their skill level, years of experience, and rate of success. That doesn't mean that the highest quote will be the best, but it does mean that you can and should expect higher quality from writers with higher rates. If quality is key, don't skimp on cost or you'll find yourself frustrated and disappointed.

It really does come down to quality or cost. What is most important to you? Like the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want high quality, expect to pay for it.

That being said, there are ways to keep your costs down. Go for a writer with killer samples but who has very little feedback. They charge less because they lack the experience, and they're hungry for it so they work super hard. Or take it a step further. Take a chance on an absolute newbie. If they have amazing samples, it's worth the shot - and in six months, you may not be able to afford their rates.

This may seem risky, but it's not if you choose to go with payments through Elance Escrow. This is there specifically to protect both you and the provider, and takes the risk out of it.

Whatever your needs, you'll find a writer to match on Elance. Just remember, go in with clearly defined needs, and a realistic budget, and you'll walk away a happy customer.

image by Teb