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#FreelanceFriday: 8 Essential Skills You Need to Be a Successful Freelancer

Most people do not fully consider the multi-faceted nature of freelancing before they try their hand at making money online, which is why so many abandon it before ever really getting started. Thankfully, many of the skills needed to be a successful freelancer can be learned or improved upon to help put you in a better position to thrive and prosper.

So, what kinds of skills are we talking here? In short, freelancers need to be a jack of all trades. Freelancing makes you your own boss at what amounts to essentially a one-person company. And while that sounds great (and it is!), there are a lot of roles to fill within that mini company and only one person (you) to occupy them all.

1. A Marketable Skill

This might seem obvious, but first and foremost, you have to possess a certain skill that potential clients are in need of. Writer, graphic designer, photographer, programmer, or whatever it may be, you have to not only harness this skill but also broadcast it and display your proficiency. In the end, freelancing is so much more than this, but it all must start here.

2. Communication

Freelancing is all about communication–both giving and receiving. As a freelancer, you have to be able to listen attentively to what clients need and expect from you, while also expressing your ideas and requirements back to clients. You must ask the right questions to get the information you need to complete the job.

How you communicate is equally important. You should always conduct yourself in a professional and thorough manner. Return calls and emails quickly, make sure you cover all questions and details in your correspondence and read through your emails multiple times before sending.

3. Project Management

With freelancing, you are your own supervisor. There is no one above you to keep track of the big picture. You need to be able to manage all the details—big and small—involved in the projects you are working on. Effectively managing your work means you’ll never miss a deadline.

Thankfully, there are a number of online tools and apps that can help shoulder this responsibility—everything from to-do lists to content managers (Trello, Basecamp, Wrike, and Asana—just to name a few).

4. Time Management

Time management is a crucial job skill for everyone, and freelancers are no exception. An extension of project management, you need to be able to allocate your time effectively to prevent working crazy hours and suffering missed deadlines. Avoid over-committing yourself, and gather data to effectively determine estimated time—a good mantra is to always underpromise and overdeliver.

In a previous blog, we detailed numerous tips on how to improve your time management, including making schedules, estimating time, prioritization, and compartmentalizing.

5. Finance

This is one most people seem to struggle with, but it is certainly one of the most vital. Organization and documentation go a long way in helping freelancers keep track of their finances. Most importantly, make sure you are keeping track of income and expenses. You should also develop a way to easily invoice, track progress, and receive payments from clients. You may also want to hone your negotiating skills to avoid getting the short end of the stick in regards to payment.

And while you might not need an accountant or financial advisor on retainer, reaching out to one every now and then would be beneficial, especially during tax season and during start-up when you setup either as an independent contractor, LLC, or LTD.

6. Interpersonal and Networking

The common depiction of a freelancer is someone at home, alone, in their pajamas, hunched over a computer. That stereotype may not need interpersonal skills, but for real freelancers, that is a myth. Freelancers must be able to network both online and offline to develop relationships with current and potential clients, as well as fellow freelancers.

7. Business Management and Growth

To establish and grow their business, freelancers must first define goals, both long- and short-term. From there, the right strategies must be implemented to encourage and support that growth. As a solopreneur, business management skills like self-motivation, accountability, and decision-making are crucial. The growth of your freelancing business can be accomplished in many ways, including engaging networks on social media, diversifying your skills, or partnering with other freelancers.

8. Problem Solving

Like many of the best workers in any field, good freelancers are often problem solvers. It’s extremely common for unexpected problems to arise over the course of a project, and an experienced freelancer must tackle these problems swiftly and effectively to avoid time loss and more headache. A freelancer who can identify problems, brainstorm possible answers, and execute the chosen solutions will always be in a better position than those who cannot.

In the end, the more you put into freelancing and improving your skill set, the better and more successful you will be in making money. These are certainly the most important and overarching skills, but anything you can do to improve yourself will benefit you and help you navigate the freelancing game.

Images:

Particular Set of Skills

Silver Linings Playbook

April 27, 2018
#FreelanceFriday: 8 Sanity-Saving Tips for Work-at-Home Parents

This blog is part of our Freelance Friday series, where we discuss everything and anything related to freelancers. For more freelance information, tips, and trends, follow us on Twitter.

Everyone has seen it, but you have likely already forgotten about it. Sure, it was funny and readily made for internet mass consumption, but for many work-from-home parents, it is an all-too-real reality. I am talking, of course, about the dad who had his BBC News interview interrupted by his two spunky children on live television.

If life with kids teaches you anything, it is to expect the unexpected. Accidents and interruptions are going to happen no matter what, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to avoid them as much as possible, right?

For parents who work from home, this is even more important. Working from home provides tremendous flexibility and freedom. But in order to get any work done while at home, rules and boundaries have to be set, preparation and organization are key, and you have to learn to adapt.

Here are few tips for work-at-home parents for keeping the interruptions to a minimum.

1. Use a Dedicated Workspace

This alone will go a long way in setting boundaries. Though as the BBC News example proves, even this is by no means foolproof. In addition to having a positive effect on your productivity and work-life balance, having a dedicated workspace presents children with the kind of necessary boundaries that they can easily be mindful of–office door shut = no interruptions. It’s as simple as that. A dedicated workspace will also help you detach from all of the other distractions working from home can bring, such as dirty laundry, a sink full of dishes, and the never-ending allure of TV.

2. Set Clear Expectations for Interruptions

Major injuries, fires, tornadoes. These are good excuses. Petty arguments, tattletales, and boredom are not. Examples and expectations of good and bad interruptions need to be laid out ahead of time and reinforced after every interruption, positively or negatively.

Even better, create a way for kids to get your attention without causing a big fuss, such as a nonverbal cue, especially if you are on the phone. If there is a time when you absolutely cannot be interrupted, make sure everyone knows.

3. Plan for Interruptions

As any parent knows, you can plan all you want, but these things will still happen. They key is not getting frustrated and overwhelmed by them. If you go into your day knowing that at least one unplanned interruption will occur, then you can pad some of that extra time into your daily schedule. And if no interruptions happen, then even better and now you’ve got extra time!

It also can’t hurt to plan for the worst-case scenario, kind of like crisis planning. What would you do if your kids barge in while you are conducting a live TV interview (or whatever situation applies to you)? If you have given it some thought before, then you should be able to handle it in the moment.

4. Keep Kids Active and Entertained

The best way to keep kids out of your way is to distract them and keep them occupied. Set aside toys your kid can play with, or introduce special movie time when you need a few spare hours–but it has to be more than just TV or computer games. You need projects that will occupy their time but do not need hands-on supervision from you.

You can set up a kid’s desk next to your’s so they can color or play “work” independently. Playdates are great to help shoulder the load as well, and babysitters and mother’s day out programs can be a last resort when you really need to focus and get things done.

5. Get Everyone on a Schedule

The first thing that needs to be understood is that “work from home” is still work, no matter where you do it. Because of this, you need to set regular working hours. This will go a long way in helping others respect your time, space, and productivity. Treat your work from home like a “real job” and everyone else will too.

To-do lists are also crucial tools to help stay on task no matter what is going on around you. Organization, planning, and prioritization are the keys to productivity.

6. Be Strategic About Your Schedule

You need to be tactical about planning, scheduling, and making the best use of your time. Find the optimal time of day when you can take care of your most thought-intensive work, perhaps early in the morning or late at night when the kids are sleeping.

Parents with infants and toddlers also must take advantage of that most glorious time of day–nap time! Save the less intensive tasks (emails, planning, administrative, etc.) for when the chance of interruptions is high. This is where prioritization of tasks will also improve your efficiency.

7. Prep for the Week

Prepping for the week should be something everyone does, whether you work from home or not. Get your schedule organized and plan meetings and phone calls. Find ways to save time later by doing what you can early, including weekly meal prep on Sunday.

8. Just Go With It

In life, especially with kids, sometimes, you just have to go with it. What’s the worse that can happen? A client finds out you have kids? Most will be understanding. As long as you plan ahead, are cognizant of deadlines, and your work isn’t negatively impacted, everything will usually be just fine.

Images:

Newscaster Interruption

Jason Segal

Meal Prep

October 13, 2017
#FreelanceFriday: How to Remove Unnecessary Filler and Fluff From Your Writing

In digital marketing, it used to be good enough just to write content—about anything and everything. But now, and rightfully so, it is not enough for you to just have a well-written website. It needs to be one filled with original and high-quality content. What you write is important, but how you write it is equally critical.

So, with the ever-increasing demand for top quality content creation, how do you make your writing even better? How do you make your content stand out in the crowd of competitors?

One of the best (and easiest) ways to make your content more valuable is to remove any and all unnecessary filler and fluff from your writing. In general, filler is part of a sentence, whereas fluff refers to whole sentences in a piece of content that exist just to pad the word count, which ultimately dilutes the nutritional value of the overall content.

By focusing more on substance, your content becomes richer and more beneficial to the reader. Don’t pad your content with the superfluous; it just isn’t necessary. Visitors to your site come for information about your business, don’t allow them to get lost or bogged down sifting through content that is redundant or pointless.

Here are 6 ways to make your blogs better by removing unnecessary fluff and filler:

1. Create a Plan and Outline First

Your writing should always be clear and concise. When it comes to fluff, rambling is often one of the major culprits. Organization and planning (which can include creating an outline), will help you stay focused and avoid fluff even before it happens. It can also help to strategize any necessary research before writing.

2. Avoid Redundancy

Redundancy makes your writing dull and laborious to read. It can also reveal gaps in your knowledge of the subject. Required high word counts unnecessarily force many writers to say the same things over and over again instead of expanding on the topic. More content is worthless if it is redundant.

3. Nix the Common Knowledge

Removing fluff is not just about having a succinct and smooth writing style, it’s also about creating content that adds real value. Trying to make all content accessible to everyone is not only nearly impossible, but it also increases the risk of fluff. You cannot explain everything to everyone. Know your target audience going in and gear the writing toward them.

4. Remove the Unnecessary

You might be surprised by how many words you can easily cut from your writing. Focus on word economy over exceedingly descriptive or unnecessary exposition–which includes excessive adjectives, most adverbs, and qualifiers that can weaken your writing. Unnecessary words and phrases are easy to find and remove because they don’t change the meaning of the sentence when deleted.

5. Eliminate Complexity and Density

Unless you are writing content for a highly technical client or industry, overly complicated sentences with jargon should be avoided. If a reader has to reread a sentence to understand it, then it needs to be rewritten.

The same goes for overtly flowery language—it may seem well written, but it will make it harder to comprehend the meaning. The goal of your content should be to make it easy-to-read so that you can get through to the reader. Don’t bury your point in decorative language.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Edit Yourself

When editing, it is essential to detach yourself—and be merciless even. When giving your first draft a close second read, you will almost certainly find words and phrases that are completely unnecessary or misleading. Write, edit, repeat until your final draft reveals itself. Getting your point across should be your primary concern, while style remains secondary.

Improving your writing this way takes practice. First, you have to learn how to identify fluff and filler, and then you have to force yourself to remove it. The better you get at recognizing the unnecessary from the start, they less you will have to edit later, thus making you a better and more efficient writer.

Images:

Fluffy Unicorn

Holmes

Alan

July 14, 2017
Freelance Friday: Spring Cleaning for Freelancers

This blog is part of our Freelance Friday series, where we discuss everything and anything related to freelancing. For more freelance information, tips, and trends, follow us on Twitter.

Spring cleaning is as ubiquitous to this time of year as April showers, May flowers, and allergies. Spring signals revitalization, a chance to refresh yourself and your home. Every year, people around the world pull out the vacuums, dusters, and furniture polish for this annual cleaning spree.

For freelancers who work from home, it can be more than just house cleaning; it is also a great chance provide a much needed therapeutic pause to help rejuvenate your business. In fact, spring cleaning provides the perfect opportunity to clean, organize, update, and refocus your freelancing career.

Here is a comprehensive, three-pronged approach to freelancer spring cleaning:

First things first, clean your home office or workspace—this is still spring cleaning after all.

Declutter Your Desk

Albert Einstein once said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

Far be it for me to argue with the one name everyone associates with ‘genius,’ but trying to find something you need amongst the piles of papers, old mail, discarded post-its, empty coffee mugs, and trash is beyond frustrating (and a big waste of time). Rid your desk of the unnecessary, outdated, and anything else that can impede your productivity and creativity.

Deep Clean Your Workspace

While the desk is the heart of productivity, the whole office is your workplace—and hiding in every corner is a pile of clutter filled with distractions. Dust, vacuum, wash the windows, take out the trash—make your office relaxing and inviting so that you can and want to go to work in there.

And don’t just gloss over the surface of things, clean under the chair/sofa, behind cabinets, and on top of bookshelves. Bundle wires and plugs neatly, re-organize the placement of things, and rearrange the furniture for better accessibility. A clean office is a happy (and productive) office—even if your “office” is just a corner of your bedroom or your laptop on the kitchen table.

Decorate for Inspiration

Clearing and cleaning your workspace also affords you the opportunity to add key items in previously underused places, particularly your walls. Bulletin boards, calendars, white boards, and shelves can all add much-needed organization and visibility to your work while optimizing space. If you want to go even further, a fresh paint job or the right artwork can elevate your workspace even higher.

Next, after cleaning your workspace, it is time to tidy up your most valuable piece of equipment as a freelancer—your computer. Just like your desk and office, your computer can accumulate clutter at an alarming rate. Optimizing your computer’s performance can only benefit you in every other aspect of your job.

Declutter Your Desktop

If you have failed to notice the pattern developing here, it is decluttering! Like your physical desktop, your digital desktop is also a magnet for junk—outdated docs, obsolete images, and random folders. Go through them with a fine-toothed comb, combine what is still needed, and purge whatever is now expendable.

There are a few other simple upkeep tasks you can perform, including organizing bookmarks, clearing your cache and history, and making sure your computer, its programs, and your various applications are all fully updated.

Clean Out Your Email

There are two types of people: empty inboxers and crazy people. To each his own, but just because you are one of those people who doesn’t mind seeing your inbox in the thousands, that doesn’t mean you can’t organize your email.

Start by expunging junk and spam, cull your email subscriptions, archive old but important threads, and then delete any no longer relevant mail clogging your inbox (and unnecessarily bogging down your storage capacity). You can also get more organized by setting up filters and creating various folders, tabs, and labels to help you find the right email when you need it.

Back Everything Up

Even if you haven’t personally experienced a computer crash, you’ve likely had a nightmare about it. Though never a good thing, the damage caused can be alleviated by dutifully backing up your files, whether it be with a USB drive, external hard drive, or the cloud. Backups are essential in the digital age.

Virus Scan and Updates

Like backing up your files, running virus/malware scans and updating your computer and apps should be done on a regular basis anyway, but spring cleaning makes for a good reminder. It is crucial for the overall health of your computer to make sure everything is up-to-date to avoid any potential vulnerabilities. You also need to make sure that no malicious files have infiltrated your system via email or websites you have visited.

Now that your workspace and computer are clean, it is time to turn your cleaning attention to your overall freelancing business.

Social Media TLC

Like everything else in your life, your social media profiles need a little TLC occasionally. Make things easier for yourself and attempt to make social media less of a time suck for your freelancing business. Update your profiles; review your Likes/Follows to optimize your feed/timeline; setup lists, groups, circles, etc. to better find what you are looking for; and consider a new photo or bio to go along with any updates you may have about your freelancing career. Also, you may want to look back and delete anything too embarrassing from the past—you never know who is looking.

Freshen up Your Portfolio and Resume

Similar to a resume, your portfolio needs to be regularly updated. Besides updating your personal or contact info, take this time to add in any big projects you have worked on lately, as well as any new services you provide or skills you have acquired. Your portfolio should show the true range of what you have accomplished in the past. Even if you are not looking for additional work at the moment, revising as you go will ensure complete and up-to-date materials for when you do need them.

Reevaluate Your Freelancing Business

Finally, take some time to evaluate your freelance business on a grand scale. Are you satisfied with the work you produce and the money you get paid? Do you want to add more services, styles, or sources? Or drop some? Does communication between you and clients need to improve? Are your taxes and business expenses in order? Are you effectively marketing yourself?

As stated in the beginning, spring signals revitalization, a chance to refresh yourself and your business. Let this inspire to make changes (If necessary) to how you operate. Drop what isn’t working. Seek out new and challenging changes. Make your freelance career work for you, not the other way around.

Images:

Desk

Clean Laptop

Social Media Snooping

May 12, 2017
#FreelanceFriday: Tips and Trends for Freelancing After 40 (and 50)

There is a false perception that freelancing (and the gig economy in general) is a young person’s game. But now more than ever, older individuals are making their presence felt in the freelance community.

Proving that age doesn’t matter, writers and other creatives over the ages of 40 and 50 have come to embrace the freedoms and flexibility of the freelance lifestyle. A recent study conducted by UpWork found that 28% of Baby Boomers are freelancing either full or part-time.

While that is still less than the total for 18-24-year-olds freelancing (48%), these so-called “silver self-employed” are gaining ground quickly. The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) found a 46.5% increase in freelancers over 50 since 2008.

What draws older individuals to freelancing?

Unsurprisingly, it is the very same reasons that draw younger people to it:

Flexibility

Everyone–no matter what age–is trying to find the perfect work-life balance. For many, the flexibility of freelancing offers a step in the right direction towards that harmony. Freelancing is also a viable option for those in need of a more flexible schedule when raising children or caring for sick loved one.

Independence

Confined to an office for most of their lives, many older freelancers crave the independence that also comes with the freelance lifestyle.

Creative Fulfillment

While some 50+ creatives are supplementing their retirement with freelancing, others who are still working have found the same creative outlet that draws most younger freelancers to the game as well. Performing the same job for several years can leave a creative person yearning for more. Freelancing provides a much-needed outlet for all of that bottled up imagination.

Availability

And finally, the widespread availability of freelancing gigs makes it easy for older creatives to find work, especially if that person has been unexpectedly laid off. It is significantly easier to take skills culled from your years of work experience and apply them to freelance side gig or use this background to kick off a fresh new direction in your life. There are plenty of freelancing jobs available these days for everyone.

Why older freelancers are actually an asset

In the recent past, people over 40 and 50 have been filled with doubt and trepidation about entering the freelance world. They may have felt that they were too old, lack the proper experience, or were not tech-savvy enough.

Despite those fears, the exact opposite was often true. First off, no one is too old to freelance! All/any experience is important. There are so many avenues you can explore as a freelancer; you just need to find the one that works for you.

Older freelancers typically have a greater desire to learn and prove one’s self—this goes for technology too. It may seem intimidating, but you will be surprised how quickly you catch on.

Self-discipline, accountability, and overall quality are the most important factors to a successful freelancing career. It is no secret that older adults are proven to be more reliable and focused than most 20-year olds. This will go a long way with those looking to hire freelancers. In the end, being older can actually be an asset to potential clients and employers.

Tips for those over the age of 40 and considering becoming a freelancer

In addition to general advice for ALL freelancers (stay organized, prioritize, eliminate distractions, don’t take on more than you can handle, etc.), here are a few more tips specifically for the more mature freelancer:

Be conscious of, but not afraid of the learning curve

Yes, freelancing is different, in many ways, from your traditional job. Even for the well-prepared, the first time you do something new, it is a bit daunting and full of “what ifs.” Venturing out into a new world will bring with it new processes, new considerations, and new experiences. Rely on what you already know and build on that. Seek out the information you need and gain experience when you can.

Freelancing may require you to change how you write (at least a bit)

There are many different avenues you can explore as a freelancer, with many different writing styles attached to each. An experienced, talented writer should be able to adapt their style when needed. In the end, no matter what the style, successful writing usually comes from honesty, connecting with your audience, and provides a direct benefit to the reader (answers questions, entertains, etc.).

Accept that not every gig is right for you

While older freelancers can be a tremendous asset to clients, that does not mean they are right for every assignment—just as younger writers are not right for all as well. Whether that reason is based on knowledge or experience, you just may not be the right fit. There is an audience out there for everyone; you just need to find it. Faking it is never easy, and will ultimately be exposed.
As a more mature writer, you bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, plus a stronger eye to see beyond the challenges a new freelancer will possibly encounter. Combine this with a passion for high-quality work and yearning for more freedom in your life; you should have no regrets for shaping your own track as a freelancer—no matter your age!

Images:

Tom Hanks

Hawkeye

April 14, 2017
Freelance Friday: How to Balance Freelance Writing When You Have a Day Job
This blog is part of our Freelance Friday series, where we discuss everything and anything related to freelancing. If you are a freelance writer and are looking for additional work, consider applying at Search Influence.

The “gig economy” has arrived, and it is booming. According to a study conducted by Intuit, 40% of American workers will be independent contractors by 2020.

Thanks to technology, many workers are no longer tied to a specific location, much less a traditional office setting. This means freelancers can select contract jobs from anywhere, and employers can pick the best people from a larger pool of applicants for specific projects.

It’s happening everywhere and it’s easy to get started—even if you already have a full-time job.

You may ask yourself, why would you want to freelance on the side if you already have a full-time job? Well, I am glad you asked because there are several terrific reasons why:
- You Can Make More Money
  - Who doesn’t need a little extra cash these days? Freelancing gigs pay on a wide spectrum depending on numerous factors (experience, skill, time, etc.), but they always pay. You should never freelance for free! The extra money also gives you a bit more security should you lose your day job or find yourself in between jobs.
- Test out Self-employment
  - Thinking about making a career change? Or just want more freedom when it comes to your work schedule? Freelancing on the side offers you a trial run before committing to a major life change.
- Build Your Skills
  - As mentioned earlier, pay can vary based on your skill. Freelancing on the side offers you a chance to develop and expand your skills, which will put you on firmer ground should you decide to switch it up and try freelancing as your full-time job–it can even help increase your skills in your current job!
- Develop Valuable Connections
  - Like most jobs, freelancing is all about who you know. Connecting yourself with the right people will lead to more/better opportunities and the chance to expand your skills. This too can help with your full-time job.
- Discover Your Passion
  - If you are looking to freelance, it might mean you are not happy in your current job. Freelancing may help guide you down the right path towards a more fulfilling career and a happier you. Find what you love to do and make it work for you!
If you decide to freelance while you still have a full-time job, there are also a few things you can do to ensure a balance that works for you and doesn’t cause friction.
- Be Honest and Transparent
  - Don’t hide your freelancing gig from people, including your boss. This will only arouse suspicion and harbor mistrust if discovered. Check your current employment agreement or contract first to make sure freelancing won’t ruffle any feathers.
- Keep Freelancing on Your Own Time and Your Own Dime
  - This is incredibly important to keeping the peace in your double life—don’t cross the streams!
Keeping your dual work lives separate will go a long way in avoiding problems and keeping you focused solely on one job at a time, which will ultimately produce the best results. Give 100% to each during their given times.
- Focus on Time Management
  - Time management is key. You essentially have two jobs, and there are only so many hours in the day to get all that work done. Because of this, it is crucial that you do not take on more work than you can handle, especially on the freelance side.
- Do Work in the Evening and on Weekends
  - In order to fulfill the previous two points, working in the evenings after work and on the weekends (or whatever days you have off) is unavoidable. Remember, freelancing is your side gig, therefore it has to be done on your time off.
- Build a Support Network
  - Most freelancing work is a solitary endeavor, but it doesn’t mean you have to always be alone. Like any job, having support from those you trust and can bounce ideas off of will only benefit you. This can even include current co-workers, especially if your freelancing work falls in the same field.
Image 1 Credit | Image 2 Credit | Image 3 Credit
December 2, 2016
The Write Stuff: Search Influence’s Freelancer Community

Search Influence’s mission is to help businesses succeed online, and one of the ways we do that is by delivering high-quality content, from engaging blog posts to specialized website content and more. Talented freelance writers are a vital part of our content creation process. In fact, we’ve developed some great tools for managing our entire content creation process as well as an internal team of editors to ensure our freelance community is diverse and vibrant. Now it’s time we shine a spotlight on our talented community members and offer a look into what it’s like to work as a freelancer for Search Influence.

Who Can You Find Freelance Writing for Search Influence?

Saying that the Internet is diverse would be an understatement, so producing quality content means having a diverse team. Our community includes professional freelancers, students in undergraduate and professional programs, stay-at-home parents, world travelers (as I write this, we have freelancers spending time in Chile, Indonesia, and Italy), and more. We are always thrilled to match the right content with the right writer, whether that means a journalism student getting the chance to write a press release or an aspiring comic taking a crack at Twitter posts or blogs.

Developing a Diverse Writing Community

Over time, we have learned that our writers’ particular expertise is their greatest asset, so we’ve spoken to freelancers to identify the biggest challenges to leveraging that expertise to produce quality content. We have adjusted our grading scale to prioritize original and in-depth work, in order to encourage writers to focus on producing informative, natural content. Meanwhile, although our editorial team ensures all writing meets our standards for quality, we don’t penalize writers over minor technical mistakes. These changes encourage our freelancers to write content that improves our clients’ online presence by conveying valuable content to their audiences.

We have also taken steps to make sure our freelance community benefits from these changes. First, we raised our pay rates to ensure our writers felt how much we value them. Then, in Spring 2015, Search Influence created a new position, the Freelance Community Coordinator—that’s me—to develop our freelance community by providing valuable training to all of our writers. Before coming to Search Influence, I worked as both a writer and a writing instructor. I taught college writing courses and published articles and a book about Eastern Europe. I also worked as a freelance editor for international corporate and governmental clients, so I’m familiar with the freelancer perspective. In the coming year, I’ll be using that experience and insider knowledge to help Search Influence’s writers develop their freelance writing and professional skills.

Matching Talent with Content

Our freelancers come from many walks of life, so we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to workloads. We’ve developed a new software system in-house that allows writers to select their own tasks. This way, writers can select the assignments that best match their skills and interests. They can also take on as much or as little work as they want, based on their schedule.

This means that, at Search Influence, freelancers can decide to take on full-time workloads or only occasionally grab work when they need it. According to Mary S., that’s made a big difference: “The change in the system which allows writers to choose jobs from a list has been a huge improvement … Because of Search Influence’s system, I’ve been able to continue working at a slower pace and dedicate more time to my family.” Joel F., who freelances full-time, also sees the new system as a big improvement: “As a bonus, I like the modern task selection system, which allows me to schedule my work week according to the volume I can handle.”

Why They Choose Freelance Writing for Search Influence

Rather than telling you how our writers feel about writing for us, I’ll let them give their own review of freelancing for Search Influence:

Katie D. enjoys having a writing career that gives her the freedom to make her own work schedule. “I decided to seek out projects independently. I love the diversity of assignments. I also appreciate the flexibility, especially with a family,” she said. It only took her a few months to prove she’s an exceptionally well-rounded writer who’s dedicated to her work.

Over 10 years of freelancing, Mary S. has built up an impressive list of clients. She appreciates the variety of topics and media she can write at Search Influence. “The flexibility and variety of jobs is important to keeping my motivation strong … Having a variety of topics and clients helps keep things interesting and presents new challenges with each job.” Freelance writing for Search Influence has also made Mary incredibly adept at capturing the tone and message of specific clients—so much so that we’ve even had clients specifically request her work!

For Joel F., who has experience in everything from content production to graphic design, freelancing is about preparing for the future. “To put it simply, freelance writing is a fantastic way to practice. Formal tone, business style, marketing tactics, every one of these genres is explored regularly … My goal is to hone my marketing skills in writing so that when I eventually want to promote myself and my own businesses, I have all the skills already finely sharpened.” Joel has diligently developed time-management skills that have made him one of our most productive writers.

We are proud to count Katie, Mary, and Joel among the talented freelancers writing for Search Influence. As our freelance community continues to grow, we will continue to refine our system to provide them with valuable training and the flexibility to set their own schedules and develop their own specialties, all while continuing to deliver high-quality content that helps businesses succeed online.

Interested in a freelance writing gig for Search Influence? Apply online today!

August 7, 2015