This is a guest post by freelancer J.R. Pittman. Read below for author’s bio.

Many people have preconceived notions about what it means to be a freelancer, and just as many of those preconceptions are wrong. As a beginning freelancer, you’re going to make mistakes, no matter how much research you do before starting; that’s just the way it is. However, if you know about some of the big ones and avoid them, you’ll have a much better chance of being a successful freelancer.

Freelance Pricing
There’s no way around it; pricing your own work is difficult. Starting out, there are generally two classes of freelancers: the ones who under price and the ones who overprice. First, though, you need to figure out your flat rate. Your flat rate should include expenses, such as the cost of materials. Once your expenses are totaled, add a small percentage for your profit. Keep your flat rate in mind when you bid, but also have a low price – what’s the lowest amount you’ll take for a project?

Now, potential clients will sometimes want to negotiate; thus, the reason for the low cost rate. However, when setting individual project prices, think of the overall value of a project. Would it be a great piece to add to your portfolio? Is there a possibility of more work later? Does the potential client have contacts that might be beneficial to you? It may be worth taking a little lower amount for these benefits.

Time Management
Several starting freelancers have an issue with managing their time between work, home and play. Plan and simple, it’s harder for most without the time clock. As a freelancer, you’re your own boss, and you have to crack the proverbial whip. Set specific hours that you work – and then work them.

For those that love to play, it’s hard to keep the right frame of mind to be a freelancer. Part of keeping the work atmosphere is to treat freelancing just like a job, and part of that includes NOT working in your pajamas. Before you sit down at your computer, get dressed! It doesn’t have to be in a suit or fancy clothes, but working in your nightgown or pajamas isn’t the best way to keep a “business” frame of mind.

Over Commitment
Sometimes it’s hard to say “no” and many freelancers are afraid that turning down someone will ruin them in some way. However, you know if you have too many clients or ongoing projects. Accepting another one can put enough pressure or stress on you that the quality of your deliverables goes down. Don’t let this happen to you. If you don’t have the time, be honest and tell the potential client “no”. If you’re polite, explain that you’re booked for the time being and ask if you can set up another time, chances are they may come back at a later date.

Record Keeping
It’s important to keep records, even as a part time freelancer. One, because of the almighty IRS. Two, because that’s what makes the difference between a hobby and a business. Three, because keeping records gives you the ability to keep track of how you’re doing and growing as a business. You can look back three months and see if you’re making less or more, if your expenses are costing more than you’re making, etc. Record keeping is an important part of any business, especially when you’re self-employed.

Contractual Agreements
Many freelancers don’t bother with contracts, but they’re a part of keeping records. They help establish trust with your clients, as well as give you a little bit of a legal leg to stand on should something go wrong. Don’t skip over the contract; if you agree to do something, put it in writing!

Bio: J.R. Pittman is a freelance writer on YesFreelance, and has several years’ experience dealing with the ins and outs of freelancing and running her own business. Currently, she shares those experiences on the YesFreelance blog, along with other YF members.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

The 5 Pitfalls of Freelancing

This is part of the A-Z of Making Money Online series. This series covers the various ways of making money online, in alphabetical order.

Facebook – There are different ways you can make money online using this very popular social web media network. Read: 6 Ways to Make Money with Facebook

Feedblitz – Make money from email subscriptions from your blog.

Fishpond – An online bookstore based in Australia, offers different ways to make money online.

Flickr – Yes, believe it or not, there are ways you can make money off this photo sharing community.

Fluc – This is a service that helps you to make money with your mobile phone.

Forums – If you’re in to community building, then forums might be a good way for you to monetize your passions and interests.

Freelance Work – People who wish to make money online often do it with various freelance work.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

F is for…

Are you confident with your face-to-face interview skills? What about your online interview skills? Are they at par with your offline interview skills?

There may not be that much of a difference with the interview questions and how they should be answered. But the media used in online interviews can make a big difference, especially if the interviewee is not that Internet savvy or has acquired certain habits.

If you’re just starting out as a freelancer looking for online gigs especially through freelance marketplaces, I recommend oDesk Insider’s interview tips. The email interview tip that won my nod the most is “remaining polite throughout the interview and professional as buyers do not want to work with people who “rub them the wrong way”. As for the instant message interview tips…

One recent major online interview boo-boo that I’ve committed is trying to win two online interviews conducted simultaneously. This is one of those initially seemingly good choices that are actually recipe to multi-tasking failures. Case in point:

Interviewer: Can you point me to similar projects you’ve done in the past and for whom you’ve done it?

Me: Yes, do you know [insert name of a past client]?

Interviewer: Who is he?

Me: It is a client. I did him

Me: … site’s SEO.

OMG, right? Do you think I got the project?

demotivator from Despair, Inc.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Interview Tip: One Big No-No for Online Interviewees

As a self-taught web worker, I consider myself lucky to surmount all the obstacles that someone who wants to make money online is bound to encounter and still remain just partially unscathed.

Last year, I’ve learned that sound financial management is a big factor to consider if you want to really taste the sweet fruits of your labor. I can’t say that I’ve squandered my earnings last year, but I was not able to plan for the worse – worse programs and clients that is.

Now I have a friend that I used to work with when I was still doing a 9-to-5 who has also ended his being a corporate slave and is now focusing to use his skills to make money through online means without a boss breathing down his neck.

We often have chats and our usual discussions are about ways on how to make it as a freelancer and transition successfully into a full-time web worker. Although I haven’t walked the talk last year, I often tell him about the importance of financial management since an empty fridge and growing piles of bills can make him change his mind and go back to the rat race.

Now for the benefit of those who are just starting to tread the path toward earning through the Internet this year just like my friend, I’d like to ask what are the experiences you had or the greatest bits of advice you’ve learned about making money online last year that you wish you’ve learned a lot earlier?

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Your Advice to Someone Who is Trying to Make Money Online

If you think the list of top methods of making money online this 2007 is old school. How do you plan to do it on 2008? Are you going to continue what you’ve started this year? Or are you planning to explore other ways?

I noticed that e-courses and coaching programs are gaining more traction each day and they might be the trends next year. Other ways of monetizing website traffic won’t just die down easy as well. So I’m sure that we can expect more online startups offering innovative ways to make the most out of traffic. If so, this means yay! for all SEO professionals since they won’t run out of projects.

Web content writing and copywriting will continue as sizzling hot online careers because of the value of web traffic. Check out this news about copywriters being in-demand.

Speaking to FreelanceUK, a majority of creative recruiters said pay rates have leapt because demand for exemplary copywriting skills on a temporary basis outstrips supply.

Good news for those who are already serving the industry. For new freelance writers, it may take some time because of the need to build a portfolio.

So many make money online methods, so little time? So what are your plans next year?

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

How are You Going to Make Money Online Next Year?

Apparently, I can’t get enough of freelance service marketplaces. I got addicted when I started winning some projects from oDesk. Yes, that’s projectS because I also have just bagged another one a few days ago. Lucky me!

I can’t be happier because these two projects I’m currently working on are from two nice service buyers that are just the most ideal service buyers. Why so? I just love it that they’re both so into giving me detailed instructions while giving me the freedom to suggest things that I think will make things easier for me and improve the results of the project at the same time. Also, I’ve discovered the advantage of using this freelance marketplace, I don’t have to worry when I’ll get paid because oDesk do the dirty job of invoicing and collecting!

Now enough of the bragging part and get back to the learning part. Remember my screenshot monitoring issue?

I looked up the said online app and I’ve found out that this program includes a feature that I’m not so comfy with, whenever I’m logged in, the app will take screenshots of my monitor every few minutes or so. Called Screensnaps, these screenshots will be seen by the service buyer to verify work time and to collaborate more easily with the service provider.

I’m still in the process of completing the project and I’ve just started to use oDesk team. Although I can always delete anytime those screenshots that I don’t want my client to see, I’m still trying to get the hang of it and all, you know… I still get startled a bit whenever I see the small screenshot prompt which signals that my monitor is about to get captured for the whole world to see! Ok just my clients.

I finally got around it because one of the clients read my email about it which I chickened out to send at the last minute. What happened is that the oDesk team feature was on while I’m typing the email and I forgot to delete that screenshot. The client told me that it’s fine to just record my billable hours as offline time. So there you go.

Now how can you win more projects using oDesk, the oDesk blog featured tips on how beef up your profile. Among the tips are proofing, mentioning skills and links to work or portfolio and some SEO.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

oDesk Screenshot Problem Solved and Tips to Win More Projects

To the delight of online job seekers, SomeUselessInfo featured a few more sources of blogging jobs that are new to me such as:

• BloggerJobs – a blog that features blogging jobs from various sources such as Problogger’s job board and also those blogging job leads the blogger receives through email.
• Guru – an online marketplace for service buyers and providers, which means not only blogging projects are posted there but just about anything that can be done by freelancers – web designers, SEO, data entry, business consulting, etc. It offers a paid account option.
• Project4Hire – another online marketplace where freelancers can bid. I’ve noticed that there are not too many support services projects here.

I’m trying out Guru.com today. Do you have any comments about this freelance site? Are there any other freelance marketplaces I wasn’t able to include here?

Update: Misti Wolanski suggested iFreelance. I remember that it’s one of the freelancing sites that’s being indexed by Indeed.com, a job search engine.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

More Freelance and Blogging Job Sources