AI-powered tools are rapidly transforming the freelance market and disrupting every industry. Learn how to use AI to take your freelancing career to the next level.
This year I found out I'm going to be a father! My wife and I spent two weeks in the Outer Banks, Instacart had a successful IPO, I started selling AI artwork on my…
Plausible Analytics is a breath of fresh air compared to the dumpster fire that Google Analytics has become. Find out why I switched and why you should too!
Pricing freelance projects can be a confusing and even contentious topic. But all types of freelancing pricing strategies fall into two distinct categories: time-based or fixed pricing.
Unfortunately, many freelancers encounter clients who delay payment, ignore invoices, or simply refuse to pay altogether. Learn how to navigate these difficult situations!
You're on the phone with a potential new freelance client. The conversation is going smoothly until they ask about cost and timeline. Suddenly, your anxiety kicks in...
Estimating the cost of a project is one of the most important requirements of freelancing. You'll need to calculate hours, set a rate, and present a proposal to the client.
Buying a home as a freelancer can feel impossible. The process can be complex, intimidating, and stressful, especially when your income is unpredictable. In this article, I'll share what I wish I knew before…
This year was all about routine. It was my first year full-time at Instacart and I continued working with my own freelance clients. My personal life was also filled with special moments and memories!
You may need to apply sales tax to your invoices when selling products, but you can't just arbitrarily add a tax to your invoices in an attempt to pass your income tax burden onto…
Most freelancers are passionate about what they do. Whether it’s writing, photography, design, or any other creative outlet, it’s easy for a freelancer to find a lot of joy in hir or her career.…
Whether you're a designer, makeup artist, glassblower, or dog walker, all freelance businesses share 10 fundamental similarities that are the pillars needed for success.
Freelancing gives you the time and money you need to see the world. Despite the freedom that freelancing affords, newly self-employed folks seldom take the time to travel.
If you want to make real money as a freelancer, you have to start treating your career like a business – and that begins with learning how to market yourself.
2021 was a great year. It was quite different than I imagined and ended with an unexpected plot twist! As always, I'll highlight professional accomplishments and share personal updates with photos!
Organization skills are key for freelancers. If you know how to stay organized, you can track work projects and complete them on schedule. You're also well-equipped to set priorities and stick to them.
Freelancing is an exciting way to earn money on your own terms, particularly when you're in college. If you need a way to earn cash while you’re in school, here are a few tips…
Work-life balance is never easy, especially for freelancers. You can feel like you're juggling too many things, and your health can suffer. Never fear, though – our tips will help you achieve the balance…
The gig economy is growing faster than ever, but breaking into the freelance lifestyle can feel like a daunting task. These expert tips will help you get your first 10 clients.
When you're a freelancer, taxes become much more complicated. In this article, I'll explain everything you need to know about freelance taxes in the implest way possible.
Don't waste hours talking with a freelance clients only to have them "go in a different direction". Use Project Roadmapping to build trust, provide value, and get paid to plan the project!
If you can't find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram anymore, it's because I permanently deleted all my accounts. I don't like what the platforms have becoming, so I'm investing my time elsewhere.
When businesses look for a freelancer, they’re looking for someone they can trust. Great copy and a nifty design aren’t enough. You need to demonstrate your worth using testimonials as social proof.
The freedom that freelancing brings to business owners is rewarding, but it demands responsibility and discipline so you can remain productive so your output is both sustainable and impactful.
2020 was wild. It was easily the most difficult and challenging year of my life, but every day I chose to make the best of it and appreciate everything I have. Here's a recap…
Building a business requires you to see everything from a marketing perspective. Using a popular platform such as Instagram, you can build your online presence, attract more freelance clients, and earn more money.
How you accept payments from clients has a major impact on your freelancing business. Accepting a variety of payment options ensures that you get the compensation you deserve while giving your clients easy ways…
Before you quit your day job and leap into full-time self-employment, make sure you have control of your savings, debts, workspace, potential clients, and your price rates.
Many companies use a financial technique called net payment terms which are difficult for freelancers to accommodate. Here's how to handle them like a pro.
Freelancers who like to learn usually end up pursuing a side project. But it's important to have a method of determining which side projects are worth pursuing.
When pursuing a freelancing career, you may feel a bit lost from time to time. Fortunately, there are tons of freelance tools you can use to make it easier for you to complete tasks…
Freelancers often face the consequences of burnout, stress, and fatigue to stay ahead. These healthy life tips will help you avoid creative and mental blocks when freelancing
Most new freelancers don't understand how to properly price their services. We'll explain some of the key factors that influence freelancing pricing to help you get more clients and close more deals.
Freelancers need community now more than ever. Human interactions are how we learn and grow. But when you quit your job to freelance or work remotely, you leave all of that behind.
When I first started freelancing, I'd spend hours of precious, billable time writing the same responses to the same requests and questions practically every day, which added up to lot of wasted time and…
When you quit your day job and transition into full-time freelancing, it's important to make the career adjustment as smooth as possible. These 7 tips will help you do that!
As a freelancer, it can seem easy at first to run your business without money management, but in the long-run, a lack of financial awareness or organization can spell ruin for your business.
Freelance proposals and contracts serve different purposes and should be presented to the client as two separate documents. Find out what to include in each of them!
When it comes to setting up a freelance business, no matter the industry you work in, creating a financial strategy is vital to both your business’ survival and your own personal finance.
Use Google Trends to find out what freelance clients are searching for, make yourself more visible online, and get more leads for your freelance business.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes subscribers don't enter their first name properly into your ConvertKit forms? Learn how to automatically fix poorly formatted names in a few simple steps!
Have you ever wondered why you should have your own portfolio website? Having your own website will increase your online visibility and help you get more freelance clients
The promise of a better life and a flexible schedule is tempting more people who feel stuck in a 9-to-5 job to start freelancing. But it's not as freeing as you might think when…
Find out all the details of how I plan to navigate the transition from freelancer to company while maintaining my relevance and relationship to freelancers.
2019 was another fantastic year both personally and professionally. Overall, it was more simple, stable, and smooth than previous years — yet still each month seemed filled with events!
You must have a system in place for scheduling freelance projects, setting your availability, and maximizing your down time if you want to avoid burnout and keep your freelance business running smoothly.
A value-based project is simply a fixed-fee project where the price is determined by the value of the outcome to the clients business – not the estimated time it will take to complete.
Just like a regular 9-5 lifestyle, the freelancing lifestyle comes with its own set of challenges, some of which are unique to freelancers. These 3 tools will help you manage your projects!
Teaming up with other freelancers helps you establish valuable relationships, find channels for mutual assistance, and free up time for yourself. There's no need to take on every project client's send, but before you…
In order for a website to keep working hard on your behalf, you need to give it a bit of regular attention. In this article, Jodie Manners outlines 6 ways you can upgrade your…
As a freelancer, you get to decide how to bill your clients – and there's no right or wrong billing strategy. In this article, we'll look at hourly rates, daily rates, weekly rates, monthly…
2018 was thrilling from day one. It was packed with highs, lows, and countless exciting changes. Check out all the amazing things that happened in my life and my business as I reflect on…
Learn why I created a global Slack community for freelancers dedicated to learning and professional growth. Take a look behind the scenes and find out how The Freelance Institute was born and what my…
Most portfolio websites are focused on the wrong person. Thinking like a client might be all you need to kickstart your freelancing career. Find out how seeing myself from the perspective of a paying…
Do you ever wonder why clients assume that freelancers are available 24/7, over weekends, and after hours? It's because too many freelancers respond to their requests over weekends and after hours. Teach clients to…
When you put a design in front of a client, they're inevitably going to have an opinion on it. These strategies move the conversation away from who is right or wrong and re-focus both…
It took me a full four years to earn my first $10,000 of freelance income. I didn't know what I was doing, but I didn't let anything hold me back. When it comes to…
After one year of full-time freelancing, I share the observations I made, lessons I learned, advice I have for anyone interested in becoming a full-time freelancer. Make sure you have a desire to freelance,…
Most freelancers don't spend time thinking about invoice naming conventions, but caring about the seemingly trivial aspects of your business is what will set you apart in the eyes of your clients.
I only experience problems with clients when I break my own rules. Accepting that position, attitude, and perspective is what enables you to learn and grow from your mistakes and make better decisions in…
A collection of brutally honest tips for what you should remove from your portfolio website immediately before someone decides to not hire you (and what to replace them with instead).
There's nothing more valuable than having predictable income when you're a freelancer. Unreliable income holds us hostage to our business even if we've managed to free ourselves from past employers.
There's no avoiding stressful and uncomfortable situations when you run your own freelancing business. The key to staying comfortable during stressful situations is to maintain control of your business from every angle.
After over two years of freelancing full-time, my business has finally started to run itself. It's become more organized and efficient. I know what to expect from it. The kinks and quirks have been…
You aren't allocated a specific number of sick days each year as a freelancer. That's why it's important to have a plan for sick days before they happen.
Learn how to write great copy for your website that converts viewers into customers even if you don't have experience with copywriting, sales, or marketing.
2016 wasn't filled with many professional achievements or accomplishments. It was quiet and more refined. My business grew naturally, and it grew a lot.
Referral spam can pollute your Google Analytics account and make it impossible to track user data accurately, but you don't need to use complex filters.
You won't be a good fit for every project, but don't leave your clients empty-handed. Learn how to politely decline projects while guiding them toward success.
If you want to be a UX designer, you'll have to be more specific. In this article I'll explain what UX design really is and how to make a career out of it.
As a freelancer, getting paid is at the top of the priority list. But what do you do with the money once you have it? It's time to structure your finances.
Each year people accept salaries less than what they deserve. It seems like employers always have the upper hand, but that doesn't have to be the case.
Over 100 million new businesses each year are trying to stake their claim in the startup world, but with so many businesses trying to create "the next big thing", finding the right startup to work…
In this interview, Lakera's thought-provoking and inspiring questions got at the heart of my college and career life to reveal the path that led me to where I am today. I want to share our conversation with you…
Before deciding what to call yourself, it's important to understand how people perceive consultants and freelancers, but at the end of the day, the way you position yourself is more important than what you call…
Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day? Most of us end our days feeling like we haven't accomplished enough. The truth is, you can grant yourself that wish if you're willing to…
Responding to every email is a great way to build your network, but it's also time-consuming. Using pre-made email templates will save you hours each week.
After two amazing back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014, I wasn't sure if 2015 would be able to top it. But it totally did. I hope that by sharing my accomplishments I can inspire you…
Have you ever been stiffed by a client? You convinced them to hire you, everyone was eager to get stared, and everything seemed to be going great, but the client either paid you late or…
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the perfect clients always reaching out to you for work? It’s not only possible, but completely attainable for any freelancer. The key to attracting the right clients starts…
When you look at your inbox each day, how do you feel? Do you dread opening Gmail because of all the emails that need your attention now? If you're anything like I was, you'd be…
Freelancing awards us the freedom to choose the hours we work, but it is important to have a plan for your days and weeks, even if that plan changes from time to time.
Being in business for yourself comes with a lot of added responsibility. Gone are the days when you can focus on your work and leave the billing, scheduling, client management, project management, and new business development to…
As freelancers, we put a lot of time and effort into getting new leads, but we often forget how to close the deal once they arrive. A new lead isn’t much to brag about…
Writing a winning proposal starts long before the proposal is written. You have to ask qualifying questions and determine if the client is a good fit. Then present the project in the most effective…
If you are pursuing a degree in any digital or creative field, it is no longer optional that you have a personal website to show off your best work to potential employers. Thanks to many…
It's difficult to know which clients to work with and which ones to avoid. It's not always easy because that can sometimes mean rejecting potential income and a new portfolio piece, but working with the…
The freelance market is more oversaturated now than ever before. If you want to stand out from the crowd, asking this one will tell the client that you know what you're doing and that…
Most freelancers don't know what they're doing in the beginning — and that's ok. To kickstart your freelancing career, use these six simple tips to get your first clients and gain traction as you…
Everyone has an opinion about the way things look. Even the most trusting clients will have revisions and change requests waiting for you after you present your work. But why? After all, they hired…