The Freelance Coach

Why Go Freelance (And Why Not) with Ruth Thaler-Carter – Ep 156

Do you want to start freelancing? This episode is packed with valuable information that will help you decide whether or not freelancing is right for you.  

 

Today my guest, Ruth Thaler-Carter shares why you should (or shouldn’t) start a freelance business.  You’ll learn the experience that you need to get started, how to determine your rates, and how to manage clients.

 

Ruth shares tips to help you create your portfolio and stay away from the common pitfalls most new freelancers make. You’ll discover how to get clients through networking and learn how to share your services that will grow your client list.

 

Here are some things we covered in this episode:

  • Why you should and shouldn’t freelance
  • How to know when you are ready to be a freelancer
  • The experience that you need before you get started
  • The one thing that will help you when you don’t have clients yet
  • How to determine your rates
  • Ruth shares warnings for charging rates and protecting your time
  • Aspects of client management that may catch you off guard
  • Tips for communicating with clients
  • Managing clients expectations and setting boundaries
  • Reasons that you shouldn’t freelance
  • Why you need a savings cushion before you begin freelancing
  • Things that freelancers don’t do enough
  • The importance of networking and being visible
  • Why you need an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed
  • Why you need something to prove to a prospective client that you are worth hiring
  • Ways to get experience and build your portfolio
  • The importance of being able to pivot
  • The value of showing up every day and meeting clients expectations
  • Learn about Ruth’s annual conference “Be a Better Freelancer”

Ruth E. “I can write about anything!” ¼ Thaler-Carter (www.writerruth.com) is a successful, award-winning writer/editor/proofreader who provides writing, editing, proofreading, website critiques and updates, and presenting to publications, associations, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and individuals in diversity, decorative arts, cats, landscaping/gardening, education, facilities management, healthcare and wellness, communications, freelancing, business, law, public relations/marketing, and much more.

Thaler-Carter is the author/publisher of “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer” and co-author of the 2020 editions of “Freelancing 101: Launching Your Editorial Business” and “ResumĂ©s for Freelancers” for the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). She owns Communication Central (www.communication-central.com), which hosts (now with the National Association of Independent Writers & Editors; NAIWE) the annual “Be a Better Freelancer” Âź conference that she created in 2006; A Flair for Writing (www.aflairforwriting.com), which helps aspiring authors get published; and the An American Editor blog (https://americaneditor.wordpress.com/).

Thaler-Carter has received awards for her writing and editing skills; contributions to her hometown literary community; and support of fellow freelancers. She is a popular in-person and webinar presenter about freelancing, websites, editing and proofreading, grammar, working with associations, specializing vs. generalizing, networking, and other topics related to freelance writing, editing, proofreading and Publishing.

Known as the “Queen of Networking,” Thaler-Carter is active in the NAIWE, EFA, Cat Writers Association, Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: The Society for Editing, International Association of Business Communicators, Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, and several more.

After listening to this episode, share your action steps and take-aways with our group:

Mastering Your Freelance Life With Laura

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Meet Laura:

Laura Briggs is empowering the freelance generation. Through her public speaking, coaching, and writing, she helps freelancers build the business of their dreams without sacrificing all their time, family, or sanity. Laura burned out as an inner-city middle school teacher before becoming an accidental freelancer with a Google search for “how to become a freelance writer.” Since then, she’s become a contributor to Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and Writer’s Weekly. She worked for more than 300 clients around the world including Microsoft, Truecar, and the Mobile Marketing Association. She’s delivered two TEDx talks on the power of the freelance economy for enabling freedom and flexibility and how it’s being used to address the technical skills gap in the U.S. Laura is the host of the Advanced Freelancing podcast, a sought-after public speaker on the gig and digital freelance economy, and a freelance coach focused on aspiring six-figure freelancers. Laura’s books, courses, and coaching have reached over 10,000 people.

As a military spouse, Laura is passionate about serving her community and founded Operation Freelance, a nonprofit organization that teaches veterans and military spouses how to become freelancers and start their own business.https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=19656152