Hm.. great confession.. I'm not writer but as a publisher I totally agree with you. we hire a cheaper freelance writer to increase our profit and decrease our loss
I don't have a definition for financial success, I just it's a "I'll know it when I get there" for now. I still have a mortgage and a car loan (too low interest to pay off the car loan fast) and an annoying student loan that I am focusing on first. Focusing on a goal for an early retirement of work we like to do. Setbacks have included house repairs and renovations being more than we expected...
Financial Success is a personal and subjective metric - to me, being debt-free and with a solid nest egg as a recent University graduate is alright - yet on my standards is expected, rather than successful because I am on track, not above it. Financial Success in my point of view is being able to exceed your planned budget and savings goals, always somehow finding extra money in the most creative ways possible (i.e. dividends, bonuses, bartering and selling old items etc.).
There is nothing in the world of writing more disappointing than finding examples of capitalization on words given freely. As much as I would like to get paid for my thoughts, I give in for failure to have faith in the jump from a typical job to getting paid for talent I have gave away so freely for so long.
Slight bummer this didn't answer the questions I was hoping for...But I had to mention that MCM is quickly becoming a major, sought out trend. Even those ceramic Xmas trees some of our mothers used to make in the early 1980's can be sold for over $60. Ashtrays I would pick up at garage sales for 50¢ range from $30-$100. I won't even get into the furniture. All things from that era are in high demand and prices are climbing, rapidly :)
A content farm is a place like Yahoo! Voices, Squidoo, or HubPages that just churns out content. You can submit your stuff, get paid, and earn residual income based on pageviews and other criteria. It's not glamorous, and it doesn't pay great, but it's one way to pay the rent if you need fast cash.
Great advice! I am new to this field and was wondering if these freelance bidding sites are the best approach to finding gigs. I'll proceed cautiously and work on some of the suggestions Miranda provided. Thanks!
Financial success for my husband and I would be getting a good night's sleep knowing we aren't scrabbling in the morning to answer calls from creditors while trying to work and figure out how to try and make ends meet.
I define financial success as having enough money to work and live as I please. That means a healthy savings account; an emergency fund that meets my needs; growing investments; retirement money to help supplement part time or occasional work as I age; a nest egg to use for continuing education or career change; and some extra money to play with once I meet all of my housing, utility and medical needs.
I did this once a couple years ago and am now rebuilding my savings, emergency and other funds while working at a job I enjoy by living within my means, re-adopting a frugal lifestyle and saving up for classes to make the career change in the future.
I'd love to get this book for free, but was so intrigued that I just purchased it instead.
I'm three weeks into drawing unemployment from one of the worst employment experiences of my life (I am a 'mature' woman) and am in no hurry to enter into another potential nightmare. Having owned my own very lucrative business for 20 years (which was locale-based ... and I no longer live there!) I know that I have the drive and desire to be a success as a freelance writer - I just need direction from those who have walked this path!
Financial success is having financial resources that give me choices - choice of where I live (and for how long), what I do (and for how long), what I give away and what I keep. Success is having the ability to cover the basic needs, add some wants and, most important, share - through experiences.
I've avoided those bidding sites for the very reasons you mentioned. The value of good (or even decent) copywriting has dropped substantially over the past decade (give or take) and these sites only make that worse. Question: What are content farms?
The freelance bidding sites are the kingdom of low-balling, I can't bring myself to get involved. My best source of freelance work is my own blog. Sure, I put a TON of time and energy into maintaining it, but it serves me better than any resume could.
Great article! In a world where people think that it's really easy to make a quick buck writing and bring down the curve for everyone, or businesses want to get great content for their site for free, it can be hard to get what you're worth as a pro. I'd love a copy of this book.
Wow! this is such a help for my weekend I'm planning to bring an old friend of mine to get together again and then we will get ready to have a blasting weekend of joy!!!
Yes. I can do a little better on the price. I could get 5% more. (If I was willing to sell it for less I would have priced it accordingly.)
No. My best price is 3 times that. (Oh. You meant for you?)
Yes. I offer lower level services at a cheaper price.
Point is, consider carefully what message you are sending when asking for a discount. It is one thing when asking for a discount on merchandise but quite another when asking for a discount on a service. The service takes a specific amount of time. By asking for a discount you are really telling the person that you don't respect them. It is quite insulting when people ask for a discount that equates to me working for nearly minimum wage after covering my expenses. If I wanted to work for that amount I would go work for someone else and drop the risks and headaches associated with being a business owner.
What all these people don't realize is that companies learn the game and still come out ahead. That $100 dress is really valued at $50 but if they put it in their store for 2 months at $100 then put in on sale for $60 they laugh all the way to the bank because they got you to spend more than the value because you thought is was a bargain.
Also, make sure you compare apples to apples. In my industry I have some of the highest prices in my area. I know this. Telling me that my "competition" will do it for less makes me laugh. I know what my competitors charge and what they deliver for that price. You are getting a better deal with me. All the customers who come to me AFTER being dissatisfied with the service by my competitor happily tell me so.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" - President Benjamin Franklin
"I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process." - President Benjamin Harrison
Financial success is feeling comfortable on a monthly basis that I will have enough money to pay my bills and that I am saving for emergencies and the future.
Hm.. great confession.. I'm not writer but as a publisher I totally agree with you. we hire a cheaper freelance writer to increase our profit and decrease our loss
I don't have a definition for financial success, I just it's a "I'll know it when I get there" for now. I still have a mortgage and a car loan (too low interest to pay off the car loan fast) and an annoying student loan that I am focusing on first. Focusing on a goal for an early retirement of work we like to do. Setbacks have included house repairs and renovations being more than we expected...
Financial Success is a personal and subjective metric - to me, being debt-free and with a solid nest egg as a recent University graduate is alright - yet on my standards is expected, rather than successful because I am on track, not above it. Financial Success in my point of view is being able to exceed your planned budget and savings goals, always somehow finding extra money in the most creative ways possible (i.e. dividends, bonuses, bartering and selling old items etc.).
There is nothing in the world of writing more disappointing than finding examples of capitalization on words given freely. As much as I would like to get paid for my thoughts, I give in for failure to have faith in the jump from a typical job to getting paid for talent I have gave away so freely for so long.
Looks like a great book. I would love to read it. Thanks.
Slight bummer this didn't answer the questions I was hoping for...But I had to mention that MCM is quickly becoming a major, sought out trend. Even those ceramic Xmas trees some of our mothers used to make in the early 1980's can be sold for over $60. Ashtrays I would pick up at garage sales for 50¢ range from $30-$100. I won't even get into the furniture. All things from that era are in high demand and prices are climbing, rapidly :)
A content farm is a place like Yahoo! Voices, Squidoo, or HubPages that just churns out content. You can submit your stuff, get paid, and earn residual income based on pageviews and other criteria. It's not glamorous, and it doesn't pay great, but it's one way to pay the rent if you need fast cash.
I'd love to win this!
just to win the book, cheers
Great advice! I am new to this field and was wondering if these freelance bidding sites are the best approach to finding gigs. I'll proceed cautiously and work on some of the suggestions Miranda provided. Thanks!
Financial success for my husband and I would be getting a good night's sleep knowing we aren't scrabbling in the morning to answer calls from creditors while trying to work and figure out how to try and make ends meet.
I'd like to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I define financial success as having enough money to work and live as I please. That means a healthy savings account; an emergency fund that meets my needs; growing investments; retirement money to help supplement part time or occasional work as I age; a nest egg to use for continuing education or career change; and some extra money to play with once I meet all of my housing, utility and medical needs.
I did this once a couple years ago and am now rebuilding my savings, emergency and other funds while working at a job I enjoy by living within my means, re-adopting a frugal lifestyle and saving up for classes to make the career change in the future.
I'd love to get this book for free, but was so intrigued that I just purchased it instead.
I'm three weeks into drawing unemployment from one of the worst employment experiences of my life (I am a 'mature' woman) and am in no hurry to enter into another potential nightmare. Having owned my own very lucrative business for 20 years (which was locale-based ... and I no longer live there!) I know that I have the drive and desire to be a success as a freelance writer - I just need direction from those who have walked this path!
Can't wait to read it!
Financial success is having financial resources that give me choices - choice of where I live (and for how long), what I do (and for how long), what I give away and what I keep. Success is having the ability to cover the basic needs, add some wants and, most important, share - through experiences.
I've avoided those bidding sites for the very reasons you mentioned. The value of good (or even decent) copywriting has dropped substantially over the past decade (give or take) and these sites only make that worse. Question: What are content farms?
The freelance bidding sites are the kingdom of low-balling, I can't bring myself to get involved. My best source of freelance work is my own blog. Sure, I put a TON of time and energy into maintaining it, but it serves me better than any resume could.
Great article! In a world where people think that it's really easy to make a quick buck writing and bring down the curve for everyone, or businesses want to get great content for their site for free, it can be hard to get what you're worth as a pro. I'd love a copy of this book.
I WANT THAT BOOK! :D
Financial success is being debt free.
"Fortunately, I have a colostomy."
Never thought I'd see that written. :-)
Wow! this is such a help for my weekend I'm planning to bring an old friend of mine to get together again and then we will get ready to have a blasting weekend of joy!!!
Yes. I can do a little better on the price. I could get 5% more. (If I was willing to sell it for less I would have priced it accordingly.)
No. My best price is 3 times that. (Oh. You meant for you?)
Yes. I offer lower level services at a cheaper price.
Point is, consider carefully what message you are sending when asking for a discount. It is one thing when asking for a discount on merchandise but quite another when asking for a discount on a service. The service takes a specific amount of time. By asking for a discount you are really telling the person that you don't respect them. It is quite insulting when people ask for a discount that equates to me working for nearly minimum wage after covering my expenses. If I wanted to work for that amount I would go work for someone else and drop the risks and headaches associated with being a business owner.
What all these people don't realize is that companies learn the game and still come out ahead. That $100 dress is really valued at $50 but if they put it in their store for 2 months at $100 then put in on sale for $60 they laugh all the way to the bank because they got you to spend more than the value because you thought is was a bargain.
Also, make sure you compare apples to apples. In my industry I have some of the highest prices in my area. I know this. Telling me that my "competition" will do it for less makes me laugh. I know what my competitors charge and what they deliver for that price. You are getting a better deal with me. All the customers who come to me AFTER being dissatisfied with the service by my competitor happily tell me so.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" - President Benjamin Franklin
"I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process." - President Benjamin Harrison
No debt, savings and money to give away, maybe a house paid for in cash. And freedom from the crazy consumer-driven culture we live in!
Financial success is feeling comfortable on a monthly basis that I will have enough money to pay my bills and that I am saving for emergencies and the future.