February 2011 Program: The Freelance Edge
Freelance Edge 2011: Maximizing Your Potential as an Independent Contractor was a packed event as professionals gathered at the Conference Center in Chicago on February 16 to hear speakers and panelists share experiences, information, and tips on how to gain an edge in the freelance market and have more success.
The night’s opening speaker was Kelly James-Enger, a ghostwriter, freelancer, and the author of Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books; Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money; and Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create Your Own Writing Specialty and Make More Money, second edition. With more than fourteen years of full-time freelance experience, James-Enger started off the night strongly with her familiarity of the industry and an ambitious attitude for success.
Both entertaining and honest, James-Enger shared the good and the bad news about the current conditions of the freelance community, as well as ten strategies she’s used to help fuel her own career. Those strategies were:
1. Project Success
2. Determine Your Daily Nut
3. Ask for More
4. Reslant Everything You Can
5. Eliminate the Ugliest
6. Brand Yourself
7. Harness Your Hard Drive
8. Stretch Yourself
9. Connect with Others
10. Forget about Assignments and Focus on Relationships
All these strategies stemmed from the successful career roots of mindset, efficiency, and connections. James-Enger kept the audience engaged and excited with stories from past projects, as well as guiding information on how to treat clients, take on projects, and negotiate for the right paycheck.
After the opening presentation, two breakout panel sessions started; one for those who were interested in the basics of freelancing, and wanted information on business practices, industry standards, and real-life experiences of self-employment. The other was aimed at more experienced freelancers who came to hear from and participate with a panel of experts on marketing strategies.
The Before You Quit: Making the Shift from Employee to Self-Employed panel was moderated by Kadesha Thomas, who started her own freelance business—KMT Writing Services—just last year. The panel consisted of Kelli Christiansen, publishing professional with 20+ years of experience and owner of bibliobibuli, and Meg Herman, Director of Entrepreneurial Services at the Women’s Business Development Center.
The panelists began by interacting with the audience to compile a list of the perks and fears associated with the act of quitting a full-time job to start a freelance business. Most of the points on the list were discussed in the main portion of the presentation, which walked audience members through what would-be full-time freelancers need to accomplish before putting in their two-weeks’ notice. For example, Herman helped the audience to navigate the business choices of Sole Proprietorship, LLC, and S. Corp, and she discussed how to set up a business bank account and federal and state tax IDs. Herman, Christiansen, and Thomas all recommended that potential full-time freelancers save money to fall back on while business is taking off, hire an accountant, create an original business name (preferably one that does not include your own name), build a company website, and establish your physical work-at-home space before leaving the job.
Both Herman and Christiansen emphasized the importance of networking and gathering clients before quitting, and Christiansen encouraged new freelancers to build networking into their weekly schedules to maintain and generate business. Christiansen also emphasized that freelancers need to take pride in what they do and say “I own my own business” rather than “I’m just a freelancer.” Audience members walked away from the panel knowing the steps that they needed to take to make their freelancing dreams a day-to-day reality.
The Advanced Marketing Strategies: Traditional and Cutting Edge panel was led by moderator Sylvia Alston, an award-winning freelance writer and marketing communications consultant. The panel was made up of Sally Chapralis, who started her own consultancy in 1984, and has worked with a variety of small and large businesses and writes a blog about individual perspectives in marketing; and Kirsten Lambert, who has more than twenty years of communications and marketing experience for corporate and nonprofit groups, and founded her own communications consultancy.
The panel started a discussion about some of the most effective marketing methods they’ve used, as well as how to put those methods into practice. The conversation yielded that variety was the key to successful marketing, with the advice to keep in mind that there are always new ways to attract clients, and to keep in mind what works for each different organization. Social media was a large part of the discussion. Chapralis, humorous and experienced, spoke about blogs and marketing, with a focus on marketing yourself and reaching your target audience by making adjustments along the way. Lambert shared how successful her experience with professional networking sites had been, and to always notice around you what’s going on and see how you can participate.
Many helpful tips and lessons from experience were shared, as well as how to start freelancing professionally, and how to improve your own freelancing career. The bottom line of the night was that utilizing any social media outlets that are applicable to your work is an important and useful way to include yourself in the field today, but never underestimate the power of in-person communications and real-life relationships.