Archive for August, 2009
August 29th, 2009 | 
Author: Freelance jobs abound. The trick is to know how to get them. The first step in this whole process should be to determine if freelancing is right for you.
While freelancing has worked for millions of people, not everyone may be suited for it. Do you have special skills, education, or work experience? Do you have a professional attitude? Do you have regular access to the internet? Are you a self-starter? If you answered yes to these four questions, then a freelance career may be a great choice for you.
You need to bring your skills and work experience to the forefront if you are going to find employers that will contract your services. You have to show a professional attitude as well. Just because it is a freelance job does not mean it is less important. Showing the same level of professionalism in terms of attention to quality, detail, and deadlines is crucial if you are going to be successful. The best way to make your employers happy and get repeat contracts is to work just as hard as you would under the scrutiny of a boss at an office job. This attitude is the key to getting work as a freelancer. Without it, you may as well forget about the prospect.
Treat freelance work just like a normal job. You have to motivate yourself to get things going and do quality work. Once you understand these four things, you will be ready to begin freelancing.
How much money can I make as a freelance writer?
This really varies and depends on the company you work for. A reputable company will pay pay an average of £40 per 1,000 words, increasing to £120 per 1,000 words for higher level work. The average freelance writing order is around 2,500-3,000 words. Most companies undertake long and complex projects up to PhD standard, which can attract fees of up to £3,500 for completion. The more established research houses will have an in house quality team who looks over your work and has the ability to award you a bonus on successful completion of a quality freelance project – some companies even offer customer bonuses and ‘requested expert’ bonuses. Of course, as you choose which projects you take, you also are able to set the amount of money you are prepared to work for.
A major research company recently reported that around half of their researchers undertaking writing jobs as a supplement to their existing income. According to their statistics, these writers earn on average £1,000 – £1,500 per month – increasing to around £2,500 per month during the busy months. Around 25% of their freelance writers undertake the occasional brief, earning around £250-£500 a month on average. The remaining 25% (approx) of writers undertake freelance writing as a full time career. These writers earn on average £3,000 – £4,000 per month – which increases to around £5,000 per month during the busy period. According to that company, these income figures are realistic and attainable – they state that 10 projects at £400 per project, each taking 3 days for completion, will result in a monthly income of £4,000 before bonuses. On these figures, freelance writing is a lucrative job and an excellent way to make money from your writing skills.
Are there other projects as well as freelance writing?
Yes! As well as writing jobs, some research houses offer a variety of projects, including presentations, programming work, mathematical work, technical writing, the production of reports, sample job application letters, the drafting of documents, creative writing projects, proofreading, editing and marking customers’ work, the production of academic resumes, web copywriting, brochure writing, graphic design, the production of revision notes for exams, and a whole host of other freelance projects.
