The document provides advice for journalists interested in becoming freelancers. It discusses the history and evolution of the term "freelancer" and lists common freelance jobs. The benefits of freelancing include being your own boss, choosing your hours and topics, and working from home. However, freelancing also has drawbacks like sporadic income and lack of benefits. The document recommends having a plan, doing research, cultivating good habits, developing a marketing strategy, and planning finances carefully before making the transition to freelancing.

1. Taking the Plunge Into
Freelancing
David Sheets, president, St. Louis Pro Chapter,
Society of Professional Journalists;
member, SPJ’s national Freelancing Committee

2. Freelancer:

3. Freelancer:
• Coined in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott in the
book “Ivanhoe,” describes a medieval
mercenary not sworn to a lord’s service

4. Freelancer:
• Coined in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott in the
book “Ivanhoe,” describes a medieval
mercenary not sworn to a lord’s service
• Evolved by 1860 to imply a free worker

5. Freelancer:
• Coined in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott in the
book “Ivanhoe,” describes a medieval
mercenary not sworn to a lord’s service
• Evolved by 1860 to imply a free worker
• Became what we know it today only within
the past 40 years

6. Common freelance jobs:

7. Common freelance jobs:
• Acting • Publishing
• Consulting • Translating
• Editing • Writing
• Graphic design • Reporting
• Photojournalism • Video production
• Proofreading • Web development

8. Benefits of freelancing:

9. Benefits of freelancing:
• You’re the boss

10. Benefits of freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Home office

11. Benefits of freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Home office
• Comfortable clothing

12. Benefits of freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Home office
• Comfortable clothing
• Choose your hours

13. Benefits of freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Home office
• Comfortable clothing
• Choose your hours
• Choose your topics

14. Benefits of freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Home office
• Comfortable clothing
• Choose your hours
• Choose your topics
• Choose your clients

15. Drawbacks to freelancing:

16. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss

17. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment

18. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income

19. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income
• No benefits (insurance, medical, vacation)

20. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income
• No benefits (insurance, medical, vacation)
• Out-of-pocket expenses

21. Drawbacks to freelancing:
• You’re the boss
• Sporadic employment
• Spotty income
• No benefits (insurance, medical, vacation)
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Market uncertainty

22. But with a little advance
planning,

23. But with a little advance
planning,
Freelancing can become
a rewarding, enjoyable
experience

24. All you have to do to start
is one thing:

25. All you have to do to start
is one thing:
Don’t Be Afraid

26. And
I know
why
you’re
afraid:

27. And
I know
why
you’re
afraid:

28. True, you can’t start out
making the same money in that
came with your first media job.

29. True, you can’t start out
making the same money in that
came with your first media job.
But by following a few
important steps, you’ll
approach that same salary,
or surpass it, in a short time

30. First, have a plan

31. First, have a plan
• Find a niche

32. First, have a plan
• Find a niche
• Make source lists

33. First, have a plan
• Find a niche
• Make source lists
• Study the
marketplace

34. First, have a plan
• Find a niche
• Make source lists
• Study the
marketplace
• Study potential
competition

35. First, have a plan
• Find a niche
• Make source lists
• Study the
marketplace
• Study potential
competition
• Ask friends, family
for references

36. This assumes
that you can
write and
edit in the
first place

37. This assumes
that you can
write and
edit in the
first place

38. This assumes
that you can
write and
edit in the
first place
If not, fix these problems first

39. Next, lay the foundation

40. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace

41. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours

42. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
• Have a “personality” and marketing strategy
suitable for freelancing

43. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
• Have a “personality” and marketing strategy
suitable for freelancing
• Separate your personal and professional
budgets

44. Next, lay the foundation
• Create a dedicated workspace
• Have dedicated working hours
• Have a “personality” and marketing strategy
suitable for freelancing
• Separate your personal and professional
budgets
• Have good working habits

45. Good working habits
require:

46. Good working habits
require:

47. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions

48. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination

49. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom

50. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
• Setting aside surprises

51. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
• Setting aside surprises
• Giving up generalizations

52. Good working habits
require:
• Discarding distractions
• Putting off procrastination
• Banishing boredom
• Setting aside surprises
• Giving up generalizations
• And 3 more things ...

53. Research,

54. Research,
Research,
Research

55. Because what you
know is more
important than what
you think

56. That means:

57. That means:
• Looking deeper than the first couple pages
of a Google search

58. That means:
• Looking deeper than the first couple pages
of a Google search
• Interviewing people, in person as well as
online or through social media

59. That means:
• Looking deeper than the first couple pages
of a Google search
• Interviewing people, in person as well as
online or through social media
• Getting out from behind the computer and
experiencing things first-hand

60. You don’t
learn by
imagining

61. You don’t
learn by
imagining

62. You don’t
learn by
imagining
You learn
by doing

63. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:

64. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche

65. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche
• Enterprise — Keep looking for work even
when you already have it

66. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche
• Enterprise — Keep looking for work even
when you already have it
• Good health — Exercise regularly, eat well

67. Qualities every freelancer
should cultivate:
• Curiosity — Stay interested in your niche
• Enterprise — Keep looking for work even
when you already have it
• Good health — Exercise regularly, eat well
• Professional demeanor — Understand the
value of deadlines, story lengths; dress as if
you’re heading to the office

68. Look like
this:

69. Look like
this:

70. Look like Not like
this: this:

71. Look like Not like
this: this:

72. Because how you feel
affects how you act

73. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills

74. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche

75. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
• Direct mail, email — For a personal touch

76. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
• Direct mail, email — For a personal touch
• Social media — Establish yourself on
Facebook and Google Plus, Twitter,
Pinterest, etc.

77. Develop a marketing strategy
highlighting your talents, skills
• Word of mouth — Talk it up with former
colleagues, professionals in your niche
• Direct mail, email — For a personal touch
• Social media — Establish yourself on
Facebook and Google Plus, Twitter,
Pinterest, etc.
• “80/20” plan — 80% promotion, 20% work

78. Please, don’t diminish your
work’s value by doing it for
free. Set a rate and be firm.

79. Please, don’t diminish your
work’s value by doing it for
free. Set a rate and be firm.
A good guide for setting pay
rates is available through the
Editorial Freelancers
Association

80. Speaking
of which,
we come
to the
main
topic ...

81. Speaking
of which,
we come
to the
main
topic ...

82. Financial planning

83. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job

84. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away

85. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away
• Review 2 years’ worth of monthly income

86. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away
• Review 2 years’ worth of monthly income
• Budget for health, life insurance

87. Financial planning
• Don’t quit your day job
• If you do, have 1-2 years’ worth of salary
socked away
• Review 2 years’ worth of monthly income
• Budget for health, life insurance
• Set aside 20% for taxes, 40% for savings,
40% for emergencies / extras

88. And don’t push aside the
bookkeeping until the last
week of the month, or
worse, the last two weeks
of the year.

89. Help with finances:

90. Help with finances:
• IRS.gov
• Freelancers Union
• NerdWallet.com (compare credit cards)
• QuickBooks online (30-day free trial)
• LegalZoom.com
• SPJ’s Independent Journalist blog
• Other freelancers

91. Taking the Plunge Into
Freelancing
David Sheets, president, St. Louis Pro Chapter,
Society of Professional Journalists
dsheets@post-dispatch.com
314-971-0073
Facebook: david.sheets
Twitter: @DKSheets