How to start your freelance career
If you’re a seasoned PR pro, content marketer or editor, perhaps it’s time to hang up your agency hat and start anew. Here are a few tips to get you started as a freelancer.
When I tell my marketing colleagues that I’m a freelance writer, they usually think it’s a temporary occupation that fills gaps between jobs.
When I explain that it’s what I want to keep doing for an indefinite period of time, they ask, how much money do freelance writers really make? That, however, is a tough question to answer, because a freelancer can make anywhere from $5 to more than $150 per hour.
In 2014, nearly 50 percent of freelancers made $9,999 or less, and only 3 percent made more than $70,000 annually.
When I entered the field, I was convinced I would earn more money than most freelancers. That turned out to be true, but I am still not making as much as I originally thought—or as much as many PR and marketing pros.
Ask yourself this question if you’re considering a career as a freelancer: How difficult is it to break into the market?
The answer: That entirely depends upon you. Not everyone is cut out to freelance.
If you’re convinced you can adhere to rigorous deadlines and motivate yourself to get things done, here’s how to get started:
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