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Surviving the pandemic - A Twitter thread for freelancers.
If you're worried about C-19, have lost your income, or feel your mental health is being affected by the craziness that's going on, grab a cup of tea and read on.
If you're worried about C-19, have lost your income, or feel your mental health is being affected by the craziness that's going on, grab a cup of tea and read on.
I've lost a chunk of my income thanks to the shut down on motorsport but thankfully I've been able to create other revenue streams so I'm not too worried about my own situation. This thread will look at where you can find work, productive things you can do, and more.
1. Think about where else you can use your skills. Motorsport might be off but could you write about automotive stuff? A business might not be interested in spending on new video/photo content but can you repurpose what you've already shot, or could you offer to edit instead?
2. Get on some freelance sites:
http://Fiverr.com (general)
http://Peopleperhour.com (general)
http://Contently.com (design and writing)
http://nDash.com (writing)
http://Freelancer.com (general)
http://Rev.com (transcription)
http://Fiverr.com (general)
http://Peopleperhour.com (general)
http://Contently.com (design and writing)
http://nDash.com (writing)
http://Freelancer.com (general)
http://Rev.com (transcription)
3. Reach out to old clients.
Look for small jobs you can do with old clients. Not everyone is shutting down.
Look for small jobs you can do with old clients. Not everyone is shutting down.
4. Lay the groundwork for building residual income.
These are the revenue streams that will keep you safe in the future and help you build savings. If you're without work, build the foundations now. This article might help: https://medium.com/vixe-collective/why-you-need-to-stop-chasing-passive-income-8dd5a01d2a36
These are the revenue streams that will keep you safe in the future and help you build savings. If you're without work, build the foundations now. This article might help: https://medium.com/vixe-collective/why-you-need-to-stop-chasing-passive-income-8dd5a01d2a36
5. Charge what you're worth.
This is hard enough to do even when you're not in a desperate situation. I created a freelance rates calculator that will help you work out your hourly and day rates, as well as how to price up a project. Find it here: http://jessshanahan.com/pricing-calculator
This is hard enough to do even when you're not in a desperate situation. I created a freelance rates calculator that will help you work out your hourly and day rates, as well as how to price up a project. Find it here: http://jessshanahan.com/pricing-calculator
You can also find an explanation of how to use the calculator here: https://medium.com/swlh/five-ways-you-can-price-your-services-as-a-freelancer-eb7d333f56f4
6. Cut unnecessary expenses.
If money is going to be tight for a few months, look at what you can cut. If you're not going to be out photographing for a while, can you pause your liability insurance? Do you need 12 project management app subscriptions? Can you cut travel costs?
If money is going to be tight for a few months, look at what you can cut. If you're not going to be out photographing for a while, can you pause your liability insurance? Do you need 12 project management app subscriptions? Can you cut travel costs?
7. Meet virtually with clients and colleagues.
If you're social distancing, you might start to get a bit lonely. Make sure you have regular calls with clients and colleagues to keep those relationships alive and keep you all sane while working remotely.
If you're social distancing, you might start to get a bit lonely. Make sure you have regular calls with clients and colleagues to keep those relationships alive and keep you all sane while working remotely.
8. Do the same with friends and family.
Video chat with the people you love on a regular basis.
Video chat with the people you love on a regular basis.
9. Productise your offering.
Normally sell in-person fitness training sessions? Start selling bespoke online plans.
Normally do branding work? Start selling simple logos for a fixed fee.
Normally teach media training? Create a playbook for those who want to work on it at home.
Normally sell in-person fitness training sessions? Start selling bespoke online plans.
Normally do branding work? Start selling simple logos for a fixed fee.
Normally teach media training? Create a playbook for those who want to work on it at home.
10. Look after yourself.
Your health is important. Don't let the hustle get in the way of taking care of yourself. Take regular breaks. Exercise (I recommend yoga). Journal. Play video games.
Your health is important. Don't let the hustle get in the way of taking care of yourself. Take regular breaks. Exercise (I recommend yoga). Journal. Play video games.
11. Get into a routine.
Even with no work coming in, it's important you maintain some kind of routine. Shower. Stretch. Read emails. Create something. Pitch something. Lunch. Take part in a course. Watch a webinar. Have a cup of tea.
This is important, friends.
Even with no work coming in, it's important you maintain some kind of routine. Shower. Stretch. Read emails. Create something. Pitch something. Lunch. Take part in a course. Watch a webinar. Have a cup of tea.
This is important, friends.
12. Drink water.
Unlike loo roll, you should have an endless supply of water. Drink it. It'll help you mentally and physically. You'll avoid brain fog, headaches, and fatigue. You'll also eat less.
Unlike loo roll, you should have an endless supply of water. Drink it. It'll help you mentally and physically. You'll avoid brain fog, headaches, and fatigue. You'll also eat less.
13. Nourish yourself.
Eat well. Your body will thank you and so will your brain.
Eat well. Your body will thank you and so will your brain.
14. Learn something.
If you really can't find any work, take time to learn that thing you've always wanted to. Find an online course or buy a book. Use this downtime productively.
Ideas: SEO; SFX makeup; jewellery making; character drawing; photo editing; social media marketing.
If you really can't find any work, take time to learn that thing you've always wanted to. Find an online course or buy a book. Use this downtime productively.
Ideas: SEO; SFX makeup; jewellery making; character drawing; photo editing; social media marketing.
15. Create something.
Go back to painting, songwriting, or maybe even work on that novel you've always said you'd write. Again, spending your time productively will make a big difference to your mental state, even if you're not getting paid.
Go back to painting, songwriting, or maybe even work on that novel you've always said you'd write. Again, spending your time productively will make a big difference to your mental state, even if you're not getting paid.
16. Work on building relationships on social.
Start engaging with the businesses you'd like to work with. Build genuine relationships. Support people. Offer advice. Not only will the interaction take the sting off isolation but these are relationships to lean on in the future.
Start engaging with the businesses you'd like to work with. Build genuine relationships. Support people. Offer advice. Not only will the interaction take the sting off isolation but these are relationships to lean on in the future.
17. Diversify.
If you usually do graphic design, could you start picking up commissions for illustration work for authors?
If you usually write medical texts, start pitching your sought-after expertise to magazines.
If you're a motorsport commentator, what about sim racing?
If you usually do graphic design, could you start picking up commissions for illustration work for authors?
If you usually write medical texts, start pitching your sought-after expertise to magazines.
If you're a motorsport commentator, what about sim racing?
18. Do something else.
Could you become a virtual assistant?
Could you sell an ebook on a topic you're an expert in?
Is one of your hobbies sellable (painting, making, podcasting, dungeon mastering etc.)?
What other skills or knowledge do you have that people might find useful?
Could you become a virtual assistant?
Could you sell an ebook on a topic you're an expert in?
Is one of your hobbies sellable (painting, making, podcasting, dungeon mastering etc.)?
What other skills or knowledge do you have that people might find useful?
This article might help you lay the groundwork for building your freelance career even further: https://medium.com/@jessshanahan/how-to-level-up-your-freelance-career-c27d8652b73c
Reminder: If you're going to spend money, do it locally or with freelancers. We're all struggling so the more we can support one another, the better!
I'll leave this thread here for now, but I'll add to it as I think of other opportunities and advice that might help you.
