Ten years ago, as a young man just one year out of college, armed with a degree in Economics, a stint as a college writing center tutor and a lifelong friend with a degree in English and a polished writing style, I started my first business. Mick and I called it a “business”, but really it was a glorified freelance writing/editing operation. Regardless, those first years were a highly educational time for us and a vital step toward self-sufficient entrepreneurship.

Mick and I eventually managed the growth of our freelance operation in a manner that allowed us to run it as a true business, i.e. - we recruited capable writers and editors, used a well-optimized website to garner new clients, and maniacally managed the quality control process, eventually turning that over to an equally-maniacal project manager. This allowed us to step away from the operations of the company and focus on the growth of the business instead. On the way to that point, however, we learned some valuable lessons and, truth be told, learned that anyone who is a good writer or editor and has the gumption can make a very good living as an individual freelancer.

For those seeking freedom in the form of working from home, setting one’s own hours, etc., freelancing is a great gig. Of course, there are many other freelance opportunities outside of writing and editing, but since that’s what we know, that’s what I’ll use as a reference point. Some of the crucial skills and steps required to be a successful freelancer are noted below. This list includes both individual traits as well as some of things that should be done to maximize effectiveness and to ultimately succeed:

• Be a little bit crazy: By this, I mean that you have to treat each bit of copy that leaves your office as though it were a state of the union address, or some other speech/document upon which the “ears and eyes” of the world will be focused. Treating every project like it’s the most important in the world will quickly endear you to clients.

• Communicate effectively and quickly: Obviously the documents that are to be written or edited must be clear, but what I mean here is to return phone calls and e-mails quickly and, whenever possible, actually answer the phone.

• Have a professional website: This is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s surprising how many freelancers have websites that aren’t very professional. One simple rule for design: less is MORE.

• Decide on your business structure: A sole proprietorship should work fine, but an “S” Corporation or LLC may be a more advantageous setup. There are some fees involved to set up this business, as well as some tax filing to do, but it also limits liability to a much greater extent. Something to consider after a business gets off the ground.

• Constantly look for new places to find “work”: I remember when eLance.com launched. It was a novel idea at the time, and they’ve done a good job. But, like everything else that works, they have been copied quite a few times, so the number of sites out there featuring similar access to projects has grown greatly. Familiarize yourself with all of them.

• Have confidence in your pricing: Set your rates where they belong - if you’re a good writer/editor, you will be charging a premium. Lower rates are for those with lesser skills, so once you’ve picked your pricing model, back off of it only when you really want or need the project. This can happen more often when you first start, especially if a well-known company that can serve as a great case study or reference comes along. When you’re busier, however, taking on projects at lower rates will simply become irritating and you’ll both regret and resent having to do the work at a rate below your worth.

There are many more (and more specific/in-depth) tips that I could offer, to such an extent that Mick and I could probably write a book or a definitive guide on the subject. One day, perhaps we will.

Tags: freelance editing jobs, freelance writing jobs, self employment, starting a business

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