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When a copy of The Wealthy Freelancer showed up at my door, the wife was quick to open the package and start perusing the contents. Now, I won’t get into how I feel about other people opening my packages, but what she said next caught my attention.

“You’re going to like this,” she said.

I asked her why, but she kept replying, “Just read it. You’ll find out.”

So I did.

What’s it about?

The Wealthy Freelancer is actually a collective work of three career copy-writing freelancers – Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage and Ed Gandia.

The book boils down to their collective experiences during their freelance career and is broken up into 12 secrets to building a high income in any freelance occupation. And although the authors are all copywriters, there are enough interviews and experiences from a wide range of freelance professionals to give the book a broad appeal.

What’s in a name?

When I first heard about The Wealthy Freelancer and its 12 secrets, I imagined it may require a healthy dose of Kool-Aid to wash down. The problem with many books claiming secrets to wealth is that they typically dispense knowledge that is long on theory and short on practicality.

While The Wealthy Freelancer has plenty of wealth building ideas it doesn’t downplay the hard work that is involved when putting them into action. There are no easy paths to the executive income and while the contents of the book may help you refocus your efforts, the authors are upfront and honest about the work that will be required to be successful.

What’s inside?

Each of the 12 secrets contains strategies and success stories of freelancers who have actualized them to a measure of success.

Here is just a sampling of what’s inside:

• Secret 1: Master the Mental Game – Whether you’re just starting out in your freelance career or well along your way, having a clear action plan is invaluable. You will really appreciate the advice on defining your ideal freelance day along with a set of business standards. With that in hand, you’ll be well along in being focused on who you want to work with rather than just taking any job that comes your way.
• Secret 2: Simplify the Process of Getting Clients –Our AskFreelanceSwitch column gets the “How do I find clients?” question asked more than any other question. This chapter will aid you in developing a strategy for finding and turning leads into prospects.
• Secret 5: Cultivate Repeat and Referral Business – Word of mouth is a powerful tool in increasing your client base. This chapter contains action tips for earning repeat business and advice on when and how to ask for referrals.
• Secret 7: Price Your Services for Success – Probably my favorite chapter. Here you will learn how to determine your prices and quote effectively. Even when asked the dreaded “ballpark” question, the chapter gives good direction on how to respond and why it is not such a bad idea to ballpark your price.
• Secret 8: Bring Focus to Your Freelance Business – I think we as freelancers all suffer time to time from a lack of focus. Taking the magnifying glass to what you currently offer and then identifying the market for your services helps you avoid needlessly spinning your wheels or getting stuck doing work you hate.
• Secret 12: Live and Work in the Wealthy Triangle™ – While I found this chapter a little short on application, I did appreciate the authors touching on the fact that more money doesn’t equal more happiness. Wealthy Triangle™ living means you can still be successful without sacrificing time with loved ones or time spent pursuing your own passions.

Conclusion

If you are just beginning your freelance career, there are plenty of common mistakes that can be easily avoided, and this book will help you identify and hopefully avoid those mistakes. For the current freelancer looking to increase his take home pay, you’ll no doubt find some suggestions to put into practice as well.

The Wealthy Freelancer has been lauded as the must have book for freelancers. And while you may not execute or even agree with all the advice given, I do believe there is something of value in the book for almost any freelancer.

As mentioned previously, I particularly enjoyed the sections dealing with methods for successful quoting and the encouragement to stand up and fight for your ideal freelancing experience. So much about being a successful freelancer is how we define where we want to be and how we focus our efforts in getting there. I believe this book can help with that.

While the authors do have a succinct focus on the copywriting sector, their writing is top notch and there are plenty of tips that will have a crossover benefit to almost any freelance business. That being said, if you are currently a freelance copywriter, you would be daft not to own a copy of this book.

The 274 page book is currently available from Amazon for $11.53.

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Last week, we opened a competition for readers to win a copy of The Wealthy Freelancer.

To enter, all you had to do is leave a comment with the freelancing tip you believe has made the most impact on your ability to earn a great income, and you had the chance to be one of free readers to win a copy and have your tip posted on the blog.

Today we’ve chosen the winners, and their tips are below the break!

Les

First and foremost is to do good work. Without it, you don’t get more work, and you don’t develop a reputation that resounds throughout the community.

Second is to be honest, if you make a mistake or miss a deadline, admit to it and apologize, it goes a long way and actually has gotten me repeat business even when I wasn’t perfect at certain points in the project.

And thirdly and perhaps most importantly, turn every job into a unique positive experience by the end. No matter what things go wrong throughout the project, if you ultimately did good work, the best work in your field, and you somehow turn each job into a positive experience for the client at the completion of the project, you will get repeat and referral business, time and time again. I’ve never had to advertise once and there’s never a day I don’t have work.

For example, one time I missed a deadline by two weeks. I had to keep my client at bay the whole time since they were very upset. My coder was behind schedule and there was nothing I could personally do about it. So at the end of the project, I offered to deduct $500 from the project as a good business gesture. What they didn’t know was that I build $500 extra from the rate I want to get into every project I quote so at the end I am able to offer discounts incase something goes wrong throughout the project, or if everything goes very smoothly, I can offer my client up to $500 for a referral. The client is usually ecstatic with the end result of my work anyway, they refer a friend for let’s say $3000 when all I wanted was $2,500 they get $500, I get my $500 back plus more work at my full rate, and around and around it goes. The work keeps coming in and each customer feels like I’m giving them something in addition to great quality work that exceeds their expectations. Everyone leaves happy

Dorothy Ryan

My tip is to always go for the “Ikea Factor” with clients. Have you observed people checking out, floating out of Ikea with their new stuff? They are excited, confident, happy, empowered. Kind of like being in love. They absolutely know this purchase is the start of something great. They are on their way. From this day forward, everything changes.

So with clients, my goal is to deliver proposals, concepts, ideas that generate that excitement and hope. Doesn’t matter how small the job. We are not selling logos, postcards, tri-folds. We are selling possibilities. Really listen to what your clients want to be, want for their business and go for the “Ikea factor” every time.

Katy Ryan

Don’t be too quick to pigeonhole yourself. Look to other interests or hobbies you have that can be developed into another area of freelance expertise. If prospective clients approach you for a job you hadn’t originally envisioned, carefully weigh the pros and cons and, if the job is worthwhile, take advantage of the opportunity to broaden your skill set and areas of expertise, which in turn can result in unforeseen clients and projects, adding another dimension to your freelance abilities.

Congratulations guys!

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Kristen Fischer recently mentioned the book The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle in her article, Tuning In to True Wealth. Ed Gandia, one of the book’s co-authors, recently contacted us with an offer to give away three signed copies of the book.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment with the freelancing tip you believe has made the most impact on your ability to earn a great income. The best three entries will win.

Please take special note that this competition is only open to residents of the US and Canada.

The rules are as follows:

• Envato staff are not eligible to compete.
• Entries must be submitted by 9am on Friday the 7th of May, Australian Eastern Standard Time.
• Judging will take place at the end of competition. The winners and their tips will announced on the site.
• Only one comment per user–if you submit more than one, your first comment will be considered your real entry.
• All decisions are final.
• Comments that are taken down for any reason are not eligible to be counted.
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter.

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