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i've been thinking of ways freelancers can help other freelancers.
here are 30 ideas:
here are 30 ideas:
1. disclose your hourly rates / project fees
(financial transparency helps everybody)
(financial transparency helps everybody)
2. teach a skill or host a skill swap
(you'd be surprised what you know that other freelancers don't know. what's a small skill you could teach in 15 minutes?)
(you'd be surprised what you know that other freelancers don't know. what's a small skill you could teach in 15 minutes?)
3. share your work publicly
(sometimes we're shy. but when you share your work it encourages others to share their work.)
(sometimes we're shy. but when you share your work it encourages others to share their work.)
4. talk about tools
(what do you use for invoicing, taxes, expense tracking? any other apps or tools fellow freelancers should know about?)
(what do you use for invoicing, taxes, expense tracking? any other apps or tools fellow freelancers should know about?)
5. refer a friend
(sounds obvious, but... when you hear about a gig and you're not available, pass it on to someone else.)
(sounds obvious, but... when you hear about a gig and you're not available, pass it on to someone else.)
6. show your pitches
(send other freelancers your successful cold emails, pitch decks, or other materials that have gotten you a gig)
(send other freelancers your successful cold emails, pitch decks, or other materials that have gotten you a gig)
7. disclose your annual freelance income
(money has nothing to do with your value as a person, but it does help other freelancers to know what the rest of the field is earning.)
(money has nothing to do with your value as a person, but it does help other freelancers to know what the rest of the field is earning.)
8. send a compliment
(see some good work? tweet or email to let the creator know.)
(see some good work? tweet or email to let the creator know.)
9. write a linkedin recommendation
(this is especially nice if your fellow freelancer is just starting out, OR if they have a bunch of old recommendations and could use a refresh.)
(this is especially nice if your fellow freelancer is just starting out, OR if they have a bunch of old recommendations and could use a refresh.)
10. disclose other sources of income, assistance, resources
(does your spouse work full-time? did you win a grant? do you have a trust fund? do you do other things for $$$? talk about it.)
(does your spouse work full-time? did you win a grant? do you have a trust fund? do you do other things for $$$? talk about it.)
11. be a mentor
(help a newbie freelancer! it doesn't have to be much... being available for questions and reassurance is half the battle.)
(help a newbie freelancer! it doesn't have to be much... being available for questions and reassurance is half the battle.)
12. make an introduction
(connect a fellow freelancer with another freelancer, a client, a former employer, a friend, anyone you think they should know, even if there's no immediate gig to be had.)
(connect a fellow freelancer with another freelancer, a client, a former employer, a friend, anyone you think they should know, even if there's no immediate gig to be had.)
13. share your materials
(swap copy docs, templates, cheat sheets, or other stuff with fellow freelancers.)
(swap copy docs, templates, cheat sheets, or other stuff with fellow freelancers.)
14. connect with freelancers who are not like you
(freelancers working in other fields, freelancers of different race, ethnicity, culture, disability, gender, sexuality, age, geographic location, economic status...)
(freelancers working in other fields, freelancers of different race, ethnicity, culture, disability, gender, sexuality, age, geographic location, economic status...)
15. sign up for something
(subscribe to a fellow freelancer's email newsletter, podcast, youtube channel, patreon, etc.)
(subscribe to a fellow freelancer's email newsletter, podcast, youtube channel, patreon, etc.)
16. share your story
(other freelancers need to hear your freelance story. how you did it. what worked. what didn't. your fears and challenges and mistakes and triumphs.)
(other freelancers need to hear your freelance story. how you did it. what worked. what didn't. your fears and challenges and mistakes and triumphs.)
17. talk about process
(how do you work? what's your schedule? how do you juggle things?)
(how do you work? what's your schedule? how do you juggle things?)
18. host a mini-residency
going away on vacation? offer your home to a freelancer who could use the time/space to work.
going away on vacation? offer your home to a freelancer who could use the time/space to work.
19. talk about expenses
(what do you pay for childcare, health insurance, housing, transportation? other costs?)
(what do you pay for childcare, health insurance, housing, transportation? other costs?)
20. did you win something?
(if you received a grant, residency, award, or anything else—and you know someone who is applying this year—share your winning application materials with them.)
(if you received a grant, residency, award, or anything else—and you know someone who is applying this year—share your winning application materials with them.)
21. retweet other freelancers
(it costs nothing!)
(it costs nothing!)
22. recommend something
(is there a website, blog, newsletter, video, book, etc. that has helped you with your freelancing?)
(is there a website, blog, newsletter, video, book, etc. that has helped you with your freelancing?)
23. host a q&a
(answer questions about freelancing on twitter for an hour.)
(answer questions about freelancing on twitter for an hour.)
24. form a mastermind group
(could be a group text or FB group where you and your freelance friends can solve problems and share advice.)
(could be a group text or FB group where you and your freelance friends can solve problems and share advice.)
25. share your freelance hacks
(don't be timid! other freelancers are hungry to know your tricks of the trade, no matter how small or obvious you might think they are.)
(don't be timid! other freelancers are hungry to know your tricks of the trade, no matter how small or obvious you might think they are.)
26. disclose your union status
(if you're in a union, share information with other freelancers.)
(if you're in a union, share information with other freelancers.)
27. take a class
(know a freelancer teaching a course? sign up. you'll learn something and you'll help support their work.)
(know a freelancer teaching a course? sign up. you'll learn something and you'll help support their work.)
28. submit your rates
(to a freelance database like @WhoPaysWriters or @TheFreelancer)
http://whopayswriters.com/#/results https://contently.net/rates-database/rates/
(to a freelance database like @WhoPaysWriters or @TheFreelancer)
http://whopayswriters.com/#/results https://contently.net/rates-database/rates/
29. meet face-to-face
(know some freelancers on twitter, but haven't met in person? meet up for coffee and let the power of human interaction fill you with waves of joy.)
(know some freelancers on twitter, but haven't met in person? meet up for coffee and let the power of human interaction fill you with waves of joy.)
30. raise your rates
(a rising tide lifts all boats. if you're able to, increasing your rates helps you as much as it helps other freelancers.)
(a rising tide lifts all boats. if you're able to, increasing your rates helps you as much as it helps other freelancers.)
what are some other ways freelancers can help each other?
have you done something to help another freelancer?
has another freelancer helped you?
reply here with your brilliant ideas and inspiration!!
have you done something to help another freelancer?
has another freelancer helped you?
reply here with your brilliant ideas and inspiration!!
another great tip several folks have suggested:
...don't work for free...
couldn't agree more!
...don't work for free...
couldn't agree more!
