Originally published December 9, 2014, in Quill
Freelance Toolbox
By Ellen Eldridge
One of the hardest lessons to learn when freelancers start out is how to charge for services. Those coming out of professional careers may have a different perspective, but I’ve seen personally and among my artist friends that asking for money for a job you love to do sometimes feels like panhandling for spare change. And clients will abuse you if you let them.
We freelancers must have confidence in our abilities and know we are worth our fees. In 2013, after nearly seven years building the publication I sold in July, Target Audience Magazine, I started building my freelance career managing social media and editing. I had joined Twitter around the time I started my blog, which was fall 2013.
Many of my friends are self-employed — including my husband, who works as an independent guitar teacher — so I know the speech: demand respect. I worked for a few years as the lesson coordinator for Ken Stanton Music, where my job involved interviewing and hiring independent contractors to teach music as well as promoting the lesson program, planning recitals and publishing newsletters.
Music lessons are often one of the first things families cut back on when budgets get tightened, but I insisted that the teachers ensure their students paid for lessons ahead of time. Once you teach a student who hasn’t paid, you have a very tough time getting money. The same is true for writers and editors.
DEMAND RESPECT
As a freelancer who mostly helped friends and friends of friends, I never felt like I needed an official contract. A handshake and a smile felt contractual enough. And I sold myself cheap. I pretended to demand respect, but I feared pricing myself out for what I was worth.
I’ll still work without a contract, but I won’t work without respect.
The hesitation to draw firm boundaries with clients and insist on workable pay scales often comes from a lack of experience and from self-doubt. I’ve come to a point where I feel more confident than ever in my abilities. I’ve been working as fast and as furiously as I can to learn everything and network with everyone in my industry.
I’ve been fortunate to experience many sides to being a writer. My increasing love of marketing and helping build people up led to where I am now. I have confidence, which I gained by having opportunities to work and intern with more organizations. All I need to remember is that I am worthy. I deserve respect. I deserve pay just like anyone else in this world because I have experience and I work hard.
FIND A NICHE AND OWN IT
The best advice I can give to other freelancers is to find a niche and own it. Take what experience you have and apply your skills to a workable pay scale.
Because freelancers don’t qualify for insurance from the organizations that contract with them and are taxed at high rates, you need to cover your costs. Some do this with hourly rates, and some work out flat fees for services.
Demand the respect of a fee for your work that will help you continue building your business. We all have to pay our dues, but when you sell yourself for too little, you end up burning out and resenting your clients.
DON’T SELL YOURSELF SHORT
I read an article published by Flight Media about knowing when to dump your client. “Refuse money?” you may ask, but yes. Some stressors and certain situations will not be worth the heartache.
I’ve learned this the hard way. Aretha Franklin sang it the best, but something we freelancers need repeat to ourselves like a mantra is RESPECT. Sock it to me, baby.
Ellen Eldridge is president of the Kennesaw State University chapter of SPJ. She’s a freelance music journalist for Atlanta Music Guide and Performer Magazine. She founded a marketing magazine, Target Audience Magazine, in 2007, and manages a staff of contributing writers and photographers looking to build their portfolios. Website: elleneldridge.com.