Freelancing Myths

I thought this was an interesting article by Alyssa Gregory, owner of virtual assistance firm avertua, LLC, concerning myths about freelancing. There are some on here I've heard before and some I'd never thought about. And I thought I'd add a few more to the list.

Myth--Freelancers can do whatever work they like. Well, you can, but . . . there's a qualification that needs to made here. You need to make sure there's a market for the service you want to provide. You also need to do whatever's necessary to reach that market, whether it's networking, cold calling, social media, sending queries, etc. Plus you need some basis for claiming you, in particular, would be good at the work. What value do you provide? How does your background and experience lend itself to providing that value? These are all important considerations in choosing the work you do.

Myth--All freelancers work in pajamas. Casual clothes, yes. But pajamas--absolutely not. Some freelancers may work in PJs, but not this one (and I don't think I'm the only one). I feel like I'm not really ready to work, unless I've taken a shower and dressed in real clothes I could wear on the street. I think it helps, in a psychological sense, to get ready for your day and dress for it--even if your "dress code" doesn't require pantyhose, heels, a suit or a tie. Besides, you never know what might come up that could require you to leave the house.

Myth--Freelancers have to work all the time. Not true. If you plan ahead and set a schedule for yourself, then do your best to keep to it, you can get work done without working all the time. You shouldn't have to kill yourself to make a living. This is also a function of the rate you charge and the type of assignments you're willing to accept. Bottom line: don't sell yourself short and treat your work like any other business. And if extra hours are unavoidable (and sometimes they are--owning a business can require some OT now and then), be sure to pencil some time in for yourself, keeping in mind the old saying: Work expands to fill the time allotted. Set goals for getting your work done and hold yourself to them the best you can.

Myth--Freelancers can't afford to turn away any work. So not true. Sometimes it's in your best interest to turn down work. Why? The pay offered may be so low it isn't worth your while. You could use the time you spend on a crummy project seeking something much better. (That's a frustrating feeling. Take it from one who's been there.) Another reason: it might not be work suited to your skills. What better time than that to refer the work to a fellow freelancer. By doing so, you'll be doing yourself, your freelancing peer and the client a favor. And possibly get a referral in return. (Good freelancer karma is a thing to be desired.) Finally, you may already be overloaded with projects. Knowing how much new work you can take on without sacrificing the quality service you give to existing clients is essential. And, again, referring the client can work to everyone's advantage.

Myth--Freelancers never have to leave the house. Even in a time when we do so much online marketing, using social media and other online resources to reach our target markets, not to mention using email to communicate and the Internet to do research, there comes a time when even the most housebound freelancer will want to get out and about. Whether it's to attend a conference or a networking event, freelancers can get more marketing mileage from meeting people face-to-face. Joining organizations, giving talks to local groups, volunteering, meeting someone for coffee--these are all ways freelancers can make contacts and generate business by leaving the house.

Another for instance: you're writing an article. Say it's a profile of a local business person. You could handle it by phone, but if you're doing an in-depth piece, you'll probably want to go to their workplace and see them in their element. Get an up-close sense of what they're like. See how they treat others (and vice versa). Freelancers can do a lot of work from home--but even if we're working for clients that are far from us, sometimes the information we need is not online or even a phone call away. (I know--I worked on several projects for a client two time zones behind me and much of the research for them had to be done on-site at the Library of Congress.)

Myth--Freelancers get to watch TV all day. Okay, read the article I linked with, then read what I've added. Do you really think I spend all day watching television?