Comments on: Tips For Growing Your Freelance Business

By: Joe Piekarz

Joe Piekarz — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:22:11 +0000

Steven,

Some nice advice for freelancers. My note is more about sharing an idea I have been working on for awhile. The idea is a time sheet network where freelancers and people who do staffing can track time and get any approvals or do submissions of time sheets by project right on the network. It’s called TimeXchange.net and I’m hoping you might take a look and add it to your recommendations if you see fit.

Thanks for your time and I hope your readers might find this valuable.

Joe

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:43:32 +0000

Thanks Cynthia. Glad I could help and feel free to ask any questions you have. I’m happy to help if I can.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:41:41 +0000

Thanks Davina. It really is hard, especially when there are bills to pay. Somewhere along the way though. I realized how much some clients and projects were really costing me in time and aggravation.

I try to make myself a valuable part of my client’s team. Maybe one that’s not needed every day, but one who’s always ready to serve when the need arises.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:38:51 +0000

It wasn’t easy for me either Melinda. I can remember the first time. I was staring at so many bills and worrying about how I was going to pay them.

I knew it was the right thing to do though and had faith that I’d survive even if I didn’t quite know how. I haven’t looked back since.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:37:17 +0000

Thanks Maicon. Hopefully the last post in the series is worth the wait.

By: Cynthia Fox-Giddens

Cynthia Fox-Giddens — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:02:46 +0000

I am just getting started on how to better get my freelance business going and these tips are very helpful. Great post!

By: Davina K. Brewer

Davina K. Brewer — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:51:50 +0000

Steven, Some really good points here, will save for future reference.

Learning to say no to the wrong project, the wrong client is hard, but sometimes it’s the smart thing. As for creating happy clients, it’s the upsell.. offering new services, companion projects to build on what’s working to be more than an “order taker” but a valuable part of their team. FWIW.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:42:15 +0000

I totally agree with you about cutting loose unreasonably demanding clients. But damn it is hard to do! Especially as you say when money is a little tight! Developing strategies to find and win clients that are a great match for you and your business is, in my view, the pathway to peace and happiness!!

By: Maicon Sobczak

Maicon Sobczak — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:22:06 +0000

Great post. Now I’m needing expand my business and this tips help me clarify the ideas. I’m waiting for the post of next week.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:47:05 +0000

Thanks Amber. Unfortunately it took me some time to realize I should be adding extra into my estimate, but it has saved my butt since I finally figured it out. I think we all naturally estimate on the low side since we’re optimistic about how long it will take to finish a project. Then we find things never go as smoothly as we hope.

By the way an article you wrote for Freelance Folder inspired this short series of posts on running a freelance business. It mainly inspired the 3rd one which I had originally planned for Thursday, but I think I’ll be publishing it next week instead. It’s mostly written and starts mentioning you and your article.