The document provides advice for journalists interested in becoming freelancers. It discusses the history and evolution of the term "freelancer" and lists common freelance jobs. The benefits of freelancing include being your own boss, choosing your hours and topics, and working from home. However, freelancing also has drawbacks like sporadic income and lack of benefits. The document recommends having a plan, doing research, cultivating good habits, developing a marketing strategy, and planning finances carefully before making the transition to freelancing.
1. Taking the Plunge Into
Freelancing
David Sheets, president, St. Louis Pro Chapter,
Society of Professional Journalists;
member, SPJ’s national Freelancing Committee
3. Freelancer:
• Coined in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott in the
book “Ivanhoe,” describes a medieval
mercenary not sworn to a lord’s service
4. Freelancer:
• Coined in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott in the
book “Ivanhoe,” describes a medieval
mercenary not sworn to a lord’s service
• Evolved by 1860 to imply a free worker
5. Freelancer:
• Coined in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott in the
book “Ivanhoe,” describes a medieval
mercenary not sworn to a lord’s service
• Evolved by 1860 to imply a free worker
• Became what we know it today only within
the past 40 years
19. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income
• No benefits (insurance, medical, vacation)
20. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income
• No benefits (insurance, medical, vacation)
• Out-of-pocket expenses
21. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income
• No benefits (insurance, medical, vacation)
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Market uncertainty
28. True, you can’t start out
making the same money in that
came with your first media job.
29. True, you can’t start out
making the same money in that
came with your first media job.
But by following a few
important steps, you’ll
approach that same salary,
or surpass it, in a short time
40. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
41. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
42. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
• Have a “personality” and marketing strategy
suitable for freelancing
43. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
• Have a “personality” and marketing strategy
suitable for freelancing
• Separate your personal and professional
budgets
44. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
• Have a “personality” and marketing strategy
suitable for freelancing
• Separate your personal and professional
budgets
• Have good working habits
48. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
49. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
50. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
• Setting aside surprises
51. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
• Setting aside surprises
• Giving up generalizations
52. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
• Setting aside surprises
• Giving up generalizations
• And 3 more things ...
58. That means:
• Looking deeper than the first couple pages
of a Google search
• Interviewing people, in person as well as
online or through social media
59. That means:
• Looking deeper than the first couple pages
of a Google search
• Interviewing people, in person as well as
online or through social media
• Getting out from behind the computer and
experiencing things first-hand
65. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche
• Enterprise — Keep looking for work even
when you already have it
66. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche
• Enterprise — Keep looking for work even
when you already have it
• Good health — Exercise regularly, eat well
67. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche
• Enterprise — Keep looking for work even
when you already have it
• Good health — Exercise regularly, eat well
• Professional demeanor — Understand the
value of deadlines, story lengths; dress as if
you’re heading to the office
74. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
75. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
• Direct mail, email — For a personal touch
76. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
• Direct mail, email — For a personal touch
• Social media — Establish yourself on
Facebook and Google Plus, Twitter,
Pinterest, etc.
77. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
• Direct mail, email — For a personal touch
• Social media — Establish yourself on
Facebook and Google Plus, Twitter,
Pinterest, etc.
• “80/20” plan — 80% promotion, 20% work
79. Please, don’t diminish your
work’s value by doing it for
free. Set a rate and be firm.
A good guide for setting pay
rates is available through the
Editorial Freelancers
Association
85. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away
• Review 2 years’ worth of monthly income
86. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away
• Review 2 years’ worth of monthly income
• Budget for health, life insurance
87. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away
• Review 2 years’ worth of monthly income
• Budget for health, life insurance
• Set aside 20% for taxes, 40% for savings,
40% for emergencies / extras
88. And don’t push aside the
bookkeeping until the last
week of the month, or
worse, the last two weeks
of the year.
90. Help with finances:
• IRS.gov
• Freelancers Union
• NerdWallet.com (compare credit cards)
• QuickBooks online (30-day free trial)
• LegalZoom.com
• SPJ’s Independent Journalist blog
• Other freelancers
91. Taking the Plunge Into
Freelancing
David Sheets, president, St. Louis Pro Chapter,
Society of Professional Journalists
dsheets@post-dispatch.com
314-971-0073
Facebook: david.sheets
Twitter: @DKSheets