So we talked about job and money in part 1 and if you are still keen exploring your options in freelancing, then join me in sharing the part two of this freelancing series.
Flexibility
Nothing gives you more flexibility than freelancing. I love that I can schedule work that fits my own schedule that allows me to plan ahead for holidays or having little projects of my own like MiddleMe. Even if I turned down a job to shift focus on other areas, it does not translate life and death for me. Unless a full-time job, I wouldn’t be able to tell my boss that I don’t want more work or I don’t want to be a part of this important project because I want to go home on time.
As a freelancer, you can turn away jobs you don’t want to commit. I have turned down jobs where there is a conflict of interest or where I don’t have that amount of time that the clients are looking for. If you do it politely and pleasantly enough, it does not hurt your reputation but in fact, raise your standards a lot more because employers would now think you are not just an entry level freelancer.
Flexibility also allows me to drop whatever I’m doing for a YouTube quickie like watching cat videos. Sometimes when a certain task taxed my brain and an afternoon nap suddenly sound delicious, I suddenly realized I can take a nap! Yay! Clients only cared if you complete the required task on schedule and not what happens in the process which is a lot different in the corporate world.
What it translate to me:
I get to spend a lot of time with my kittens and my loved ones. I love to take an afternoon swim and basking in the sun. When an idea pops up for MiddleMe, I can drop everything I’m doing and work on exploring the idea.
The Other Side:
I’m pretty much on my own. So much so I might not see a human face physically for days unless I drag myself out of the house to run errands. When the craving of human interactions and when my cats can’t fill the void, I’ll call up my friends and family over FaceTime for a quick chat.
Clients’ Demands
In a way, being a freelancer is kinda like running your own business on a small scale because the only person you need to manage is yourself and no one else. And your clients are your bosses. They are the ones who pays you your income. Unlike the corporate world, you can’t exactly choose your boss unless you quit your job, in freelancing you can choose who you want to work with. Precisely it is not a million dollar project that you can’t turn it down, you actually can turn a job down and not have sleepless nights over it.
However if you are picky all the time, you’ll find yourself hardly booked for any job. This is because there are thousands of freelancers out there who are willing to do the same job at a fraction of the price. And like a real business, a customer can slam you on social media and black mouth you in front of other potential customers. In a freelancing world, we likely to be reliant on a few platforms, clients who are displeased with your work can leave you a poor comment or blacklist you. Unlike the real world, business can’t close just like that as easily as you close down that freelancing profile of yours. This does leave a lot of bad names and trust issues in the freelancing world.
There are also a lot of different type of clients out there and some of them demand perfect execution from you yet pay you only peanuts. Well, when one pay you peanuts, they do get monkeys.
So what does this translate for me:
I learn to manage expectations and work within clients’ demands. I also learn to negotiate and express my own suggestions but I have to remember that it’s their project, their company and I’m just a contractor.
The Other Side:
You might meet nasty clients or clients who made you do a lot of work yet refuse to pay you citing substandard.
Enjoy what you read? Look out for the final installment of I am a Freelancer.
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MiddleMe 
how are you getting freelancer work? some of my friends tries hard to get work, but they aren’t able to get even after they have a small work portfolio.
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There are a few factors but the basic thing is that you need to ‘get out’ there and sell yourself to your audience. If you sit and twiddle your thumbs, the apple will not fall from the tree. I will try to share my experiences as a freelancer and advice from my point of view in future posts. 🙂
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I mentioned that I had joined two sites and you mentioned fiverr.com and I registered for them The bidding directions has me scratching my head. I will read that you can makes hundreds and 1000s doing these. Yet on fiverr for example, it gives you a top of five dollars and then two dropdowns. I am not sure if that is hourly, daily or when it is done. I saw the add ons and that you can add only 2 and the prices go up but once again there didn’t seem to figure out what the fees are paid per as far as time.
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Hey, I’m am researching and dissecting a couple of freelancing websites especially the ones I’m using so everyone have a better idea on how it works. I am preparing a post on my success rate as well and my journey as a freelancer as well. You can definitely make money through the platforms.
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I mentioned I am on fiverr, freelancer.com and upwork. I am so far out of school I had issues taking tests on upwork as it’s greek to me. Freelancer says every time I try to reply I used all credits when it has been over 2 months, fiverr and upwork I make either higher bids or in between and I have never heard from any and I have no idea what the bid is for. 5 dollars for a whole blog or work that takes a day or days? I am unsure.
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I don’t seem to have problems with bidding. Have you check if there is a problem with your upwork or fiverr account?
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Well the only problem I had with fiverr is it did not work on firefox well. I was able to bid but I do not know if bidding the 5 dollar amount is for the whole project, the per hour, per day etc? I know I can add 2 options and it says how you can easily make 300 on a project. So I am not sure about what a proper bid is and what it means as far as the process as just saying 5 dollars suggests per job and add ons could help or really hurt if I bid too high.
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Hey, why don’t you drop me an email at kally@MiddleMe.net and let me help you to get you sorted out? 😊
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Done, Thank you:)
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Just replied you!!
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This is awesome post ! I dreaming about being freelancer !.
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Well, best of luck to you, competitor. Haha!! Frankly, the market is huge enough for us to share clients. There are more than enough jobs out there.
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How to be freelancer, I have no clue .
Kindly guide me !
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I’m preparing more articles on freelancing. Watch out for it!
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😊
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Nice 🙂
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For sure !!! Even if it is hard
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😊
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Gud for you
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Thanks, James
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Looking forward to more posts on this subject. I would dearly love to get into the freelance arena but so unsure how it works and what to expect.
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I’m prepping a number of posts regarding this. Was pretty surprise this is a big thing among my readers!
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This really give me an interesting perspective. I’m making some changes in my life and may do some freelancing. This helps to give me some ideas. Thank you
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You’re most welcome! If you need help, you know where to look! 🙂
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Thank you so much.
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poets do not freelance if you know of a way im all ears. peace. bagel?
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I’m not sure but I believe poets do have other talents that they can showcase as a freelancer?
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given the right forum perhaps. ah but what is thy right forum?
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Transform your art in business 🙂 Ihi 😘👍♥️
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not a chance this shit is for free.
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Looking forward to your next post. I think it’s the jumping in with both feet when I really have no clue how the whole process works that’s holding me back. Not sure whether to target individual companies, or try things like fiverr or put a “hire me” page on my blog. Any suggestions?
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Easiest is to use a platform to get things rolling. I’m doing a review on Fiverr soon. You can read about it and see if you want to jump the wagon.
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Can’t wait to read more about this! I’m definitely interested in becoming a freelancer. I haven’t worked in over 3 years due to my anxiety and I need to make a change, start working slowly while I get treatment for my anxiety!
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Then being a freelancer is a great way to start to ease into working.
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I agree! I’ve signed up for a few websites you shared and applied for a few jobs on there. We will see how it goes!
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Best of luck!! I’m sure you will do good! Let me know if you need help.
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Thank you! I definitely will!
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Oh yes … Good luck my dear !
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Hey kally! I love this post of yours and deliberately commented later. Would you like to join me on facebook?
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Thank you!!! You can find me on Facebook MiddleMe.net.
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I got you. Thanks!
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I got you! Thanks
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I think most people who wanna be freelancers, think this is a cool job. My friends assume I have a great job because I sit at home with my laptop, write cool stuff, make my schedule, but they never really understand how hard it is to find clients, negotiate, meet deadlines, write as per clients demands. Phew! The list never ends.
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I totally feel you. I get that too!! Or else, they just assume that you can always make time to run errands for them because you have a ‘flexible’ job.
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