You probably have to do everything for a while to pay the rent, but increasingly specialize and it will pay off. Just make sure it’s a focus you love!

Casey

If there was one “do-over” I could have, it would be to choose my niche much earlier in my career. That in itself, choosing a specialty, is a great short cut. While I certainly liked what the experts had to say about being able to command higher fees (it’s true), I didn’t quite believe them when they said it would be easier to get clients, not harder. They were right.

My advice to the struggling, impatient newbies is to GO LEARN SOMETHING. LEARN your market. LEARN your systems. LEARN your contracts. Be competent so you can be confident. Get to the point where you can hold your head high, shoulders back and announce: “I’m a real estate agent and it’s the coolest job in the whole world!” Once you can do that, business will flow your way without your even asking for it. How long will it take? Guess that’s up to you/them!

Any self-employed person should spend some serious time mastering their craft before drumming up business. If they can’t afford to take that time, then maybe NOW isn’t the time to be self-employed…

Great blog, Peter!

Brandon’s comments I love – I was recently (but not too recently) involved with the Communications Director (Director of Propaganda as he said) for a mortgage company and got to know which of the sales people were their top folks. Brandon’s soft-sell idea was what made some of the sales folks come across to buyers as unsophisticated in the sense that they were “safe” – they just seemed to be “more like us” and weren’t pushing anything. Thanks, Brandon, for sharing the benefits of free pizza and cookies!

The mentoring aspect might even work well for someone who is looking to expand into areas of writing in which they have little expertise, by allowing them to work under a mentor who has gotten the work and “outsourced” it to the newer, less expensive, writer, who builds experience but is “supervised” during this apprenticeship-like relationship by the mentor, who is then paid by the difference between what the newbie costs and what the end product is worth to the client. I’ve thought of outsourcing (once a sizeable clientele is built up) as another way of earning dollars, but isn’t that how a business grows naturally? First, outsource what you can’t do in-house, then hire as the need reaches the level where in-house is less costly than outsourcing (if it ever does in this global market).

Diane

Absolutely right – a good reputation is always the best short-cut of all. Congrats!

PB

Now, there’s another long-term well-paying gig, and since they were satisfied with my previous work I guess I was right on the tip of their mind again. It’s the same rate of pay as the previous gig but four times the frequency = higher paycheck. I just accepted!

*A Good Reputation* can be a shortcut for gigs you don’t even know are coming your way.

Thanks for stopping by! And hope you find the blog (and site) of value… Appreciate the comment – you’re doing it right – leveraging what you know, which is definitely a short-cut in itself! All the best!

PB

I’m a regular reader of Deb Ng’s FWJ blog, so I thought I’d come over and see what all the hub-bub is about. Looks great so far! I’m relatively new to writing, but have sought out some gigs who might want my expertise (as a mental health counselor). I found a great one that gives royalties (small, but consistent). I was nervous about putting myself out there as I had NO professional writing experience at that point.

My master’s degree gave me great credibility and I’ve had the opportunity to niche myself as an semi-expert in a whole new area (not related to my professional counseling practice). They’ve also asked me to be a part of a bigger project (also royalties) that is challenging my socks off as far as writing speed, organization, etc.

My master’s degree is my leverage, so I’m trying to stick with that area of expertise as I build my career and learn more about the bones of making a viable writing business. I’d love to branch out a bit into a few other writing disciplines and topics I have interest in but not as much expertise (no shortcut there!). I’m OK taking it slower (though sometimes I feel the itch of better money, too – I want to pay off that credit card NOW!) – I’m learning so much now I’m not sure I could soak up a whole lot more if I wanted to.

In counseling, there’s a phrase I’ve learned to understand and love – trust the process. I think this applies well to freelance writing as well.

Erika

Thanks for the contribution! And for all those reading this, notice how “soft sell” Brandon’s approach is. Who says you have to be some hard-core salesperson to make it in this business? In fact, the hard-sell approach, as Brandon points out, simply doesn’t work.

PB

I’ve landed two jobs in the past month that way, and I received a new email 15 minutes ago from someone I met there who is in need of two press releases. For some reason, the low-pressure I’m-here-when-you-need-me approach catches people off-guard and makes me memorable.

A self-employed professional needs to promote themselves in a variety of ways, not all of them pleasant. But getting free pizza and cookies while I promote myself is definitely one of the better ways. As a free bonus, I get amusement out of watching the anxious over-promoters tripping over one another.