Could you be our next Guest Editor?
Could you be the first-ever Freelancer Magazine Guest Editor?
⭐️ FREELANCER MAGAZINE READER COMPETITION ⭐️
We're looking for our second Guest Editor from our reader community for Issue 10 (out July 2023).
To be in with a chance of winning, we’d like to know the theme you would have for your issue and why you think you’d be the best Guest Editor.
The winning Guest Editor for Issue 10 will:
Win £500 prize money
Have their theme used for the magazine
Have their name and photo featured on the Editor’s page and write the Editor’s letter for the issue
Take part in 2 x Zoom planning meetings with Sophie Cross to help choose the main topics and titles for the issue
Suggest people and items they’d like to feature for our regulars: Newsletter Love, A Day in the Life, Top of the Shops, What We’re…
Write two articles for the magazine
Enter by using the form below. The closing date for entries is midnight on 31st December 2022.
The 20 most influential people in SEO & Digital Marketing
With a staggering 1,036,649 Linkedin followers, and over 296,000 Twitter followers, Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of Hubspot, is the most influential person in SEO from the study. Prior to HubSpot, he was founder and chief executive officer of Pyramid Digital Solutions, a software company, and has published a number of books including Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google.
In second place comes John Rampton, who is an entrepreneur, investor, and online marketing guru He is also founder of the online payments company Due and productivity company Calendar.
He was recently named #2 on Top 50 Online Influencers in the World by Entrepreneur Magazine and blogging Expert by Time, so it’s no surprise to see he has the highest number of Twitter followers from our study, with a staggering 1,257,792.
With the highest number of Tweets in the study, third place goes to Pam Moore, founder of digital marketing agency, Marketing Nutz. Sharing her 25+ years’ experience with the world, Pam has composed 134,776 tweets, giving advice and industry views to her 285,548 followers.
Two more influential females in SEO appear in the top 10, including founder of Zen Media Shama Hyder who comes in ninth place, and International SEO Consultant and founder of Orainti, Aleya Solis. Shama Hyder is most popular on Linkedin with an incredible 615,959 followers, while Aleyda Solis has a higher number of Twitter followers (125,110).
Google’s very own Public Liason Officer, Danny Sullivan, is also in the top five, thanks to his impressive number of tweets (78,888) and Twitter followers (533,000). It’s probably no surprise to also see Google’s John Mueller further down the list, known in the SEO industry for sharing tips and dropping hints about what to expect next from Google. With the most Twitter mentions in our study, it’s clear his followers are keen to get his advice and opinions on the latest industry trends.
Next up are two popular figures, Rand Fishkin and Neil Patel. Rand Fishkin is famously the founder of Moz while Neil Patel is the founder of Kissmetrics. Both figures are extremely popular on social media, especially Twitter, where they both have over 400,000 followers. When it comes to Linkedin Neil Patel has a substantially higher number of followers (453,000) while Rand Fishkin has 128,000.
And, while Rand Fishkin is the most influential figure from Moz overall, Marketing Scientist, Dr Pete Myers is 12th on the list, followed by Julie Joyce from Linked Fish Media and Anne Smarty from Viral Bee Content.
Further down, we see Gsquared Interactive’s Glenn Gabe, followed by Brian Dean from Banklink.io, a service which offers SEO and Link Building strategies to businesses and marketing professionals.
With the lowest number of Tweets in the study (7,167) it’s possible that Brian Dean gives more advice via his subscription service, rather than social media.
Marketing consultant, Shane Barker, and Former Hubspot CMO Mike Volpe are also among the most influential, and although Volpe has over 40,000 more Twitter followers than Barker, Barker tweets a lot more advice, with 82,147 posts overall.
Last but not least, Will Reynolds from SEER Interactive makes the top 20, followed by Cyrus Shepard from Fazillion Media, both of whom are definitely worth a follow.
The study was conducted by Rock The Rankings, which is dedicated to helping grow SaaS and B2B Tech companies with SEO-focused content marketing.
To help you get connected, here are the Twitter Handles for each influencer in the top 20.
The World Came Back, But Where Did We Go?
Our days are starting to have the look and feel of prepandemic life, but everything has changed – most of all us. How do we recalibrate? Penny Brazier investigates.
Restrictions have been lifted for a good few months, foreign travel is back, and the likelihood of another lockdown seems a distant prospect. Life is as close to pre-pandemic times as it has been so far, and yet, from where I’m standing, everything still feels pretty damn wobbly.
As a home-based copywriter, I’ve been able to keep working through most of the chaos, but while my fingers kept typing, my mental health slowly fizzled. This year, at last, there have been glimmers of lost energy returning, but it’s been slow and sticky progress.
Whatever our experience of the last few years has been, it’s going to take a while to piece ourselves back together. And when we do, I’m not sure anyone will be quite the same. So how is everybody else in freelance-land dealing with 2022 life? Does anybody have it figured out yet?
Getting people back together
Emma Bearman is the founder of Playful Anywhere, a not-for-profit that brings people together to connect and create, mostly in urban spaces. It’s a business with a cheerful surface and a serious purpose and relies heavily on the nuances of in-person human connection. Is it starting to feel better now we can hold events again?
“It is getting better slowly, although you have to plan events differently. You have to prepare for the fact that your plan A might not be the one you get to do,” says Emma.
“And we’re all more aware of each others’ needs. I work with associates and most of them have families, young children, older parents that need caring for. Everyone feels more stretched, people haven’t got their energy levels back yet. So while it is definitely getting better, and I am optimistic, there’s still a real sense of before and after.”
When I try to remember my “before” self, it feels a bit like peering down the wrong end of a telescope. There’s somebody there, but they’re far away and indistinct. A perky thing who posted regularly on social media, had thoughtful things to say, and confronted every working day with pluck and pep. The “after” self is a slower, sleepier, more lumbering thing, more apt to stare off into the distance, less likely to know what day it is. And while I’m mostly pleased with how my work is going, it seems to take me a hell of a lot longer to produce it than it used to.
A call-out on Twitter revealed a lot of freelancers are feeling the same. There’s definitely a restlessness that simply wasn’t there before – a distractibility, a battle to stay focused on our work. But why?
What happens when the work’s not working?
Tech writer Craig Wright wondered “if it’s the pandemic making me reassess what really matters. It kinda made me realise what I already knew – the only things really worthwhile in life are family (if you have a good ones!), friends, nature, exercise and refuelling. Everything else is just a way to fill time until you die, so try to fill it with more good stuff and less work.” A shift in priorities to focus on things that actually matter – that has to be a win?
Meanwhile copywriter Mel Barfield puts it down to the fact our nerves are basically shot: “My theory is that being on constant high alert along with WFH multitasking for so long during the early catastrophe times (remember when people were disinfecting their Tesco deliveries?) has left us unable to concentrate. It was all frazzle, no dazzle.”
As a fellow parent-of-young-children, this hits home. It feels like there’s still a bit of my brain simultaneously fretting about elderly family members, trying to remember the latest set of rules, and bracing myself for a child to start screaming in the next room. Anxiety is a constant background whirr, like a MacBook fan loudly reminding me that my tabs still haven’t quite been restored.
One freelance foot in front of the other
Like most of us, I could probably do with at least a month off on a sunny beach. But after two years of financial yo-yoing, taking a long break feels like something I can ill afford. If getting off the work treadmill isn’t an option right now, how do we keep ourselves going?
HR consultant Kirsten Smith says keeping up with the little things that do her good is keeping her afloat:
“I have to be bang on exercise, nutrition, time for myself and sleep to achieve proper productivity. Planning the day to day – nutritious meals, exercise, eight hours sleep, a bedtime routine for myself, meditation and time out, less screen time.”
This rings true for me. I recently signed up for a half marathon (highly out of character), which has forced me to put in place a good routine of eating, sleeping and getting away from my screen at lunchtime at least once every couple of days. It has lifted my overall mood, something I hadn’t anticipated. Neglecting my physical health over the last few years has probably been contributing to my general malaise – seems pretty bloody obvious now I think about it.
Making time for ourselves
But I don’t think it’s compulsory to lace up your running shoes to get back to yourself. It’s about choosing your favourite restorative activities – things that put you in the elusive “flow state” – and making time for them.
Brand strategist and writer Becca Magnus has been shielding for the last two years. She’s starting to get back out into the world, but it’s far from straightforward: ”Recovery from such a traumatic time is hard and definitely not linear. Walking helps – give the restlessness some physicality, feel it in my body, walk it out. I find making art helps too, putting my creativity into things that aren’t client work. It can feel like a luxury, a waste of time, but it’s anything but.”
It is so hard to get past that fear of not being productive to make space for those non-work activities that will help us feel better, and work better too. Even when we promise ourselves that we’ll get around to them, they often slip to the bottom of the list. We may understand that the answer lies in prioritising ourselves somehow, but in reality, we still need to (re)balance that against our other responsibilities.
What matters most? What can drop? What isn’t serving us anymore that we can move away from, to make time for what we actually need?
Start where you are
So perhaps it’s about building a new life that works better for us, whoever we are now. Since I started to accept that I may never fully return to that perky “before” at the wrong end of the telescope, things have started to feel a bit lighter. And, actually? Things might feel different, even difficult, but we’re doing ok. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re still here, hanging on.
As somebody whose work is rooted in finding happiness in messy and unexpected places, Emma agrees: “Ultimately, freelancers – whether we liked it or not – had a fragile existence even before the pandemic. Then we managed to come out of it, still here, maybe a bit bruised and battered, but we’re all still finding ways to keep creating value.”
Taking the unexpected and rolling with it. As freelancers, that’s what we do best. ●
This article was written in June 2020. The landscape of the pandemic may have changed again since going to print (although we really hope not). Wherever you are in the world, we hope you’re doing ok. Love from the Freelancer Magazine team.
Penny Brazier is a freelance writer and copy coach based in Leeds. She’s been freelance (this time around!) for four years and still enjoys being in full charge of the office stereo 100% of the time.
@penthemighty
Buy Freelancer Magazine Issue #6 - The Lets’s Get Together Edition.
News: Major London universities in partnership with online platform Underpinned to provide students with skills to go freelance
Three leading universities in London are working with UnderPinned, an online platform for freelancers, in a first-of-a-kind partnership to support their students in commercialising their skills as they enter the increasingly hybridised workforce, it has been announced today.
These partnerships give around 22,200 students - at the University of the Arts London, London College of Communication, St Mary’s University Twickenham, and London Metropolitan - access to an innovative online platform which provides a ‘virtual office’, including tools to build a freelance portfolio, find and manage clients and projects, and produce invoices and contracts. Students can also participate in a Freelance Business Accelerator programme, a comprehensive online course with modules helping students learn how to price their work, pitch to clients, and build their portfolio.
Currently freelancers in the UK face barriers which are particularly challenging for young people, with research carried out by UnderPinned and the Small Business Commissioner finding that 41% of invoices are consistently paid late to freelancers, with up to 55% of freelancers having not been paid at all for work carried out.
According to the latest ONS data, there are 4.1 million self-employed people, meaning those who run their business for themselves, making up around 14.8% of the UK’s workforce. The UK ranks second globally in terms of the proportion of its workforce that is self-employed, ahead of the US, Germany and France and behind only Italy.
The latest available data, however, also shows people under the age of 24 represent only 3.8% of the UK’s self-employed. For comparison, those aged 50-54 make up 13.7% and ages 45-49 make up 13%. Analysis shows there is also a significant gender gap - with the self-employed in the UK made up of 65% men and 35% women.
The aim of UnderPinned and the partnering universities is to enable UK graduates to equip themselves with the knowledge needed to build a business around their skills. This in turn will boost the UK’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the drive to a more hybridised future of work built around a mix of full-time employees and freelance workers.
Albert Azis-Clauson, CEO of UnderPinned, said: “The UK is fundamentally bad at professional education. We produce some of the most skilled individuals in the world, but we fail to equip them with the knowledge or tools they need to build a business around their skills.
“Our educational focus on getting people into full time employment is fundamentally damaging the opportunities of young people. Businesses are increasingly turning to freelancers and hybridised workers, but the self-employed are disproportionately older. Whether they go directly into freelancing or into a new form of hybridised employment, young people need to get access to the knowledge and tools to commercialise their skills in the modern world of work if they want to succeed.
“It’s fantastic that London universities are recognising this fundamental shift away from traditional linear employment paths. The capital is one of the best places in the world to be an entrepreneur, but this is just the beginning - we plan to scale up and partner with universities right across the country to help give students from all backgrounds and of all ages the confidence to become freelancers – and to give companies access to the flexibility and skills of freelancers that could transform their business.”
Mandip Takhar, Placements Manager at University of the Arts London, London College of Communication, said: “Often, students entering higher education are conditioned to think that the goal is to graduate and find employment within a business or organisation, but this isn’t always the case and that’s why LCC’s partnership with UnderPinned is such a valuable one, because we have the same innovative and entrepreneurial way of thinking. The LCC and UnderPinned partnership celebrates the diversity of our students that applies beyond simply identifying their core skills sets: it extends to how best they can use these skills to broaden their appeal as independent creatives.
“Working with UnderPinned has enabled us to promote that the opportunity for our students to seek freelance work – whether during their studies or following their graduation – can increase their appeal to employers in a way that captures their entrepreneurial drive and combines it with the ability to practice these skills within a ‘professional lens’.
“Not only do students gain a deeper understanding of their value as freelancers, they are also able to gain tangible experience and present this to future employers as a testament to their unique ability to seek out the work that matches their skills. UnderPinned’s offer has enhanced our approach in dealing with how we guide students and graduates into their desired line of work and help them to gain a deeper understanding into their value as creative freelancers in their chosen field of expertise.”
Get To Know Our Guest Editor, Penny Brazier
We’re so excited to have copywriting extraordinaire, Penny Brazier, joining us as Guest Editor for Issue 5 of Freelancer Magazine. Her winning theme: Freelance Reinvention, Transformation and Survival Against the Odds.
Here’s your chance to get to know our Guest Editor in just 30 questions…
1. What do you do?
I’m a freelance copywriter and copy coach. I divide my time between writing for clients and running workshops and 1:1s for small business owners to help them nail their online messaging.
2. How long have you been freelancing?
This time around? Three years.
3. How did you get into freelancing?
I couldn’t bear another second in my in-house comms role! And, despite looking for years, I could never find another job at my level that I could flex around my family commitments. So back to self-employment I went.
4. What's the best thing about freelancing?
Being able to set my hours is still the best part. The novelty hasn’t worn off. That and having control over my career, regaining the ability to keep learning and keep earning. There was no career path that excited me in my in-house jobs. But the possibilities of freelancing excite me every day. No limits!
5. What have you found most challenging about freelancing?
I’ve found quiet months hard to deal with. It’s not easy to relax and trust that the work will come. I started doing my Mighty Messaging workshops and 1:1s as a way to maintain a steadier income and now they give me so much joy. Sometimes hard times force you into trying cool stuff and you end up in a better place than where you started.
6. When are you most productive?
After a strong cup of coffee. Whenever that happens.
7. How did you find out about Freelancer Mag?
I discovered Sophie through the #ContentClubUK community on Twitter a few years ago, so I’ve been following and getting excited about the magazine since the start.
8. How did you come up with the winning theme idea?
The big heart and soul stories in Freelancer Magazine are always my favourites, so I chose a theme that I hoped would bring more of the big emotional stuff out. I’m just a sap really.
9. How did you feel when you found out you won the Guest Editor spot?
I did a big snotty cry for about five minutes before my other half could get out of me what had happened.
10. What have you enjoyed most about being Guest Editor?
Aside from getting to work with Sophie and having a nosey around behind the scenes, all of which I knew would be ace, it’s been the writing. It’s been brilliant. I haven’t written about things I care about this much for ages.
11. What have you found most challenging being Guest Editor?
Getting covid in the middle of proceedings!
12. What piece of work are you most proud of?
I’ve wanted to explore the topic of freelancer resilience for ages, so I’m really happy I got to cover that for this issue. I could have gone on for at least another ten pages!
13. If you could be another freelancer for a day, who would you be and why?
Emma Cownley. She’s got cool witchy stuff to play with in her office, I could try out all her eyeshadows, and I would be imbued with her awesome video-making and drumming skills.
14. What is success for you?
Time and space to create. Plus enough money to have a few nice things without worrying.
15. What piece of advice would you give to someone starting as a freelancer?
Get involved with freelancer communities, you’ll gain so much.
16. Cats or dogs?
Both, ideally.
17. Who is your inspiration and why?
Dolly Parton. Queen of getting good shit done.
18. What's your favourite biscuit?
I embrace all biscuits, even pink wafers, but those chocolate biscuit selection boxes you get at Christmas make me go weak at the knees.
19. Work from home or a cafe?
I mostly work from home, but I do pop into my co-working space (the beautiful Assembly Bradford) from time to time. I live in Leeds, but it’s worth the commute.
20. What scares you?
Unpaid invoices.
21. What’s your hobby?
I persist in bothering the Leeds music scene by playing in multiple bands.
22. Print or digital version of Freelancer Mag?
Print allll the way.
23. What’s your favourite podcast?
I wish I was more consistent with podcasts. The one I tune in to religiously is Doing It For The Kids.
24. What book are you reading at the moment?
The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr – it’s excellent.
25. Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. Preferably somewhere spectacular, with friends.
26. Tea or coffee?
Yes please.
27. What’s your favourite film?
The Shining. I like scary, and I like ‘70s.
28. How do you start your day?
Like everyone else in 2022, with Wordle.
29. What other area of freelancing would you love to try?
I’ve become obsessed with photography and have been doing a few shoots for mates. If there was a way to bring that into the business, that might be fun.
30. What’s the one thing you’d like to achieve by the end of 2022?
To have written more of my own stuff.
Find Penny on Instagram, Twitter and The Mighty Pen.
Issue 5: The Phoenix Edition will be released in May 2022.
17 Websites and Tools Freelance Copywriters Will Absolutely Want To Bookmark
Here are the top 15 copywriting websites our Editor, Sophie Cross, refers to again and again when she’s writing and how she uses them…
1. Otter
A go-to for transcribing interviews and for videos. Say, if a client sends over a video to refer to or you want to copy a video script structure. Simply press record on Otter, play on the vid, put your feet up and feel like a genius.
2. Deck of Brilliance
The only tools you'll ever need to breathe life into your creative processes. It can help you face that blank page and looming deadline with a bit more confidence.
3. Grammarly
For spelling, grammar and sentences that don't make that much sense. You won't agree with all the suggestions but that's part of the "fun".
Premium is definitely worth it but give cancelling your existing subscription a try as you may get a sweet 'please don't go' deal.
4. Power Thesaurus
The best thesaurus, wordbook, synonym dictionary, book that sounds like a dinosaur.
5. The Writer’s Hour
A writing power hour every weekday morning that anyone can join.
6. Google Images
Bookmarked as a reminder to use for inspiration when coming up with ideas around a topic, see what people are searching for and what's trending >> Google IMAGES.
7. Google Trends
And, more obviously (but isn't the obvious always so easy to forget?) >> Google Trends.
8. Free SEO Tools
SEO, baby. Moz have collected the 60 best free SEO tools. Thank you, Moz.
9. Headline Analyser
You've spent ages on an article or blog, it really is worth spending time on the headline to entice people to read it.
10. Portent's Content Idea Generator
More help for when you're drawing a blank with titles, subject lines and headlines.
11. Word Frequency Calculator
A really handy tool for really being able to see how many times you've really used the same word. Like really.
12. Only The Questions
Haven't found a proper useful use for this one yet, but our Editor likes it. Cut and paste text to extract only the questions.
13. Hemingway Editor
Highlights parts of your work to edit or change to increase its quality and readability.
14. Read Aloud Function
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter - Start or stop narrator
Press the specified keyboard shortcut (the default key combination is Option-Esc).
15. Words to Time Calculator
Find out how long it will take you to read a script. Converts number of words, lines and pages into how long the audio will last.
16. Naming Something
This guide is an on-going open source attempt to organize the best tools and resources for naming things.
17. Text Sniper
Extract text from images and other digital documents on your screen.
So You Want To Be A Freelance Social Media Manager?
Latasha James is based in Detroit, Michigan, and is an online educator and content creator in the marketing space. She now mainly spends her time helping social media managers to build their businesses and refine their craft.
We asked Latasha what makes a great social media manager, the best and worst things about the role and she shared the advice she’d give to someone starting out as a freelance social media manager.
How did you get into being a social media manager?
I started being a social media manager around 2015, working for a non-profit and then a corporate. I started side hustling and started getting serious with it in 2017. I've been full-time freelance for the past three years.
Now, I'm mainly an educator for other social media managers. I still do some client work to have a pulse on the industry, but it's a much smaller part of what I do.
What does a social media manager do?
The role can really vary. In general, it's to prepare the content calendar for a brand, schedule posts, do community management and engage with the audience.
It's questionable when they become video editors, designers, customer service people, etc. It will depend on what you're good at, what you want to do, the brand's needs, and the team's size.
What makes a great social media manager?
Attention to detail is my number one. Then, be in tune with the digital space - paying attention and keeping up to date with trends, the latest news, and pop culture. It's hard to be unplugged and do your job well. And creativity - take risks, try new things, go for it.
How do you market yourself?
It's a combination of inbound and outbound marketing. Inbound primarily comes from my posting on YouTube. I post high-value videos consistently on that channel. I love it because it's long-form and not as fleeting as other channels.
For outbound, I've used Upwork for years on and off as a backup, I go to networking events, and word of mouth and referrals are also a big part of my pipeline.
What are the best things about being a social media manager?
If you love the space and the internet, you get to be online all the time, which is fun. It's very creative and very social, so if that's your thing, that's great. Whether you work for yourself or are employed, it's also a very remote-friendly role. You can work from anywhere you have a laptop.
What are the worst things?
You have to be connected all the time. It's hard to unplug and hard to get a work-life balance. If you like being online as a form of entertainment, then it's challenging to find where the line is.
How do you keep the love for what you do?
It's essential for any creative person to have passion projects. Things they do just for them. That's how my blog and YouTube channel started for me. It helped me stay in tune with what was going on in digital in a way that felt authentic for me. Maybe your passion project will grow into something that could become a business for you one day.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be strict with your boundaries and set working hours. I was the first freelancer in my family, so I didn't know people who could advise me on taking calls at night or working on the weekend. When you reply to emails late, you set a precedent, and it becomes an expectation.
I'd also have raised my rates earlier. Any freelancer I speak to could benefit from this. It's all part of it to go through these experiences, to build up and create your processes, but I wish I'd done them a bit sooner.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as a social media manager?
Just start. This applies to anything.
I hear people say, 'I don't know how to do Facebook Ads', 'I don't know how to use Google Analytics, "I haven't used this scheduling tool'. Just dive, you probably won't break anything, and it's the best way to learn.
Use your accounts or create a passion project as a testing platform for you. I use my personal brand as a guinea pig, so I don't have to use clients' channels to test things. Get in there and then cross-reference and backup with YouTube videos, courses and education.
Find Latasha at latashajames.com.
So You Want To Be A Freelance Translator?
Hannah Lawrence is a freelance French to English translator and copywriter. After eight years living in London, she’s now based back home in New Zealand.
We asked Hannah about how she got into being a translator, the best and worst thing about being freelance, and the advice she’d give to someone starting out as a freelance translator.
What does a translator do?
A translator translates texts from one language into another. (Not to be confused with an interpreter, who deals with the spoken word). Rather than simply swapping out one word for another, it’s a case of understanding the message of the French and coming up with a way of getting that across in natural English.
How did you get into being a translator and how long have you been doing it?
Translation seemed like the perfect fit with my skills and interests. And being in the UK, with France just across the ditch, it actually seemed like a genuine career. So I dusted off my French and headed back to uni. I finished my Masters in translation in summer 2019 and launched myself into freelance life right away, combining my marketing knowledge and copywriting skills with translation work.
It’s now been two years. It hasn't been easy but I’ve given it my all. And I even won the Institute of Translation and Interpreting Best Newcomer – Freelancing Award, so I must be doing something right! And I just love that I’m paid to grapple with words and language every day.
Who was your first client and how did you get them?
My first translation client was a UK-based translation agency and I landed them after taking part in a competition they ran on Twitter. That brought me to their attention and that very afternoon they contacted me about a job.
How do you market yourself?
Through social media, my website (including a portfolio and blog), and networking and training events through industry bodies like the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. I also have a profile on various websites such as ProCopywriters.
Several of my direct clients have found me through LinkedIn or Google, or have listed a job on LinkedIn which I’ve applied to. The wonderful community of copywriters and translators I’ve got to know through social media has also proved a great place to find or pass on work or clients.
What are the best things about freelancing?
Being able to choose which projects I work on, and which clients I work with. Being able to choose my own hours. Oh, and being able to just go ahead and create and publish my own content without it needing to go through various rounds of approval.
What are the worst things about freelancing?
Not being able to switch off. Feeling the need to be at the top of your game all the time.
How do you keep the love for what you do?
Sometimes, like when I’m trying to get to the bottom of what an especially vague French text is actually saying, I do have to remind myself that I chose this career! In those times, I guess I try to remember the fun projects I’ve worked on. Or how great that eureka moment feels, when I’ve come up with the perfect way of putting something in English. Along with any opportunity to use puns.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting out as a translator?
Do it. It’s not easy. But if you love working with words and across cultures, it’s incredibly rewarding. Don’t be put off by the doomsayers who say machine translation, AI, or Brexit mean there will be less need for human translation.
There is work out there and with the amount of content being published continuing to rise, it’s not going anywhere. The key is positioning yourself in areas that will see increased demand. For me, this means SEO translation, transcreation, and marketing translation.
Find Hannah at hannahtranslates.com.
So You Want To Be A Freelance Graphic Designer?
Angela Lyons has been freelancing in graphic design for over 10 years and is Freelancer Magazine’s very own Creative Lead.
We asked Angela about how she got into graphic design, the best and worst thing about being freelance, and the advice she’d give to someone starting out as a freelance graphic designer.
What started your interest in graphic design?
I trained in Product Design at Central St Martin’s, and every time I had to show my work, I got positive feedback about my graphics and visual presentation. When I left, I started an internship in Habitat’s merchandising department, thinking that I would be a product designer, but again I started leaning towards graphics.
A guy who worked there in packaging designs used to let me play around on his Mac and said I should do a graphic design course, so I did.
What was your first job in graphic design?
A local company came looking for an intern while I was taking my evening graphic design course at a local college. This was my first ever magazine design work: the publication was Tractor Resale! It might not have been a glamourous title, but I learnt all about the print process, including plates and inks. They only paid for my lunch and bus pass, but luckily I was still living at home.
How did you make the move to freelance?
From Wardour, I moved to a software company. I got more money, had less responsibility, and worked just three days a week, but I hated it. There was no creativity and they had very strict corporate guidelines. It made me miserable, so I left after five months.
It was at this point I decided to go freelance. My husband encouraged me to do it, and so did my friends. I had my two children by this point too, which meant I wanted a bit more flexibility with my working hours.
How did you get your first clients?
I got one job through a recruitment agency, but apart from that, every client has come from people I’ve worked with within the past or by word of mouth.
What’s the best and worst thing about being freelance?
The best is when you feel like part of a team and are given recognition. And of course, the flexibility with work and time.
The worst thing is when clients ask, “Can you just photoshop this quickly?” “Can you just fit this in? It’ll only take a minute.” It never takes a minute…
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting as a graphic designer?
Keep your eye on the world of design, follow inspirational people and progressive companies on Instagram/online. I look at lots of magazines to keep up to date with design.
Build your portfolio. College can only teach you so much, and people want to see your creativity.
Find Angela at angelalyons.com.
So You Want To Be A Freelance Photographer?
Andy Smith has been a freelance photographer for 14 years and travels all over the world for his clients.
We asked Andy how he got his first client, how he finds inspiration and he shared the advice he’d give to someone starting out as a freelance photographer.
Who was your first client and how did you get them?
It was a chain of Indian and Pakistani restaurants in Yorkshire, where I’m from. It was one of my favourite places to eat, and I contacted the owners and asked if I could photograph one of the restaurant interiors and staff while they were working.
I said I’d do it for nothing, but if they liked the images and decided to use them, would they consider paying me to do the same at the other restaurants. They agreed, and it went from there.
I photographed all 12 of their restaurants as well as staff at work and portraits. I planned each visit so that I arrived a few hours before evening service. This meant the light outside was really nice, so I could photograph the restaurant exterior looking its best. A great client, and to be honest, I’d have just done it for the curry.
How do you market yourself?
I have a website portfolio with my work on it, and I try to keep in front of relevant people without being too annoying. It’s a combination of different methods, including email marketing, social channels, print mailers and word of mouth.
With a name like mine, you really need a logo, so I use that to help people recognise me and my work. It’s not one thing that works, and it takes time, so all of these tactics combined and a lot of patience.
Contacting people directly works well on some channels and not so well on others, so choosing how to reach people and where can make a difference.
What’s the best and worst thing about freelancing?
The best thing is lots of cycling in my spare time. Monday mornings are not so bad, and it doesn’t always feel like work.
The worst thing I’ve found is planning life around work. Over the years, I’ve missed Christmas, weddings, birthdays and family visits. The other thing is feeling isolated at times, and it’s easy to doubt yourself when you’re working alone, and things are quiet. I’m not sure I’ve ever learnt how to deal with that, to be honest.
How do you get inspiration/keep the love for what you do?
I love looking at old documentary photography and films. Travel keeps me interested as well. And 40-50% of my portfolio is stuff I’ve shot for pleasure. I’m doing a personal project with a boxer at the moment and trying out equipment that I haven’t used before, which I would never do on a client project.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Remember that photography is a business, and not everyone is as invested in your business as you are.
Try not to take it personally.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting as a photographer?
I’m going to borrow some lyrics from Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - ‘the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.’
Or in other words, it’s a long game, so plan, be patient and don’t get distracted by what other people are doing.
Find Andy at andysmithphoto.com.
The 9 Best Coworking Spaces For Freelancers In Wales
One of the best things about coworking as a freelancer is creating that separation between work and home life. We asked our readers where their favourite spaces to cowork are across Wales, here’s what they told us…
Notable for: Help to launch your business.
Gladstone’s Library - Hawarden
Notable for: Lively events programme.
Notable for: Part of the Coworking Visa Scheme allowing you to work in spaces around the world.
Notable for: Fun and friendly with great coffee.
Notable for: Based in an old Victorian building with regular workshops and socials.
Notable for: The home of startups in Wales. Specialises in supporting tech, digital and creative industries
Notable for: Just £12 a day.
Notable for: For tech entrepreneurs & startups.
Work Play Wales - Pontarddulais
Notable for: Free unlimited tea & coffee and access to childcare provision on-site.
The 4 Best Coworking Spaces For Freelancers In Scotland
Probably the best thing about coworking as a freelancer is creating that separation between work and home life. We asked our readers where their favourite spaces to cowork are in Scotland, here’s what they told us…
Notable for: A converted brewery.
Notable for: One of the oldest coworking communities in the world.
Notable for: Calm and professional atmosphere.
Notable for: A vibrant space for startups.
The 17 Best Coworking Spaces For Freelancers In London
Probably the best thing about coworking as a freelancer is creating that separation between work and home life. We asked our readers where their favourite spaces to cowork are in London, here’s what they told us…
Notable for: Fitness studio.
Notable for: Podcasting studio.
Neighbourhood Works - London Fields
Notable for: The living room style meeting room.
Notable for: It’s the V&A!
British Library & The Alan Turing Institute - King’s Cross
Notable for: The mintiest tea in the members room.
Notable for: A Gothic church serving soup, cake and coffee.
Notable for: An environment for scaling up your tech business.
Notable for: Boutique hot-desking.
The Sandbox - Liverpool Street and Waterloo
Notable for: Outside spaces too.
Plexal - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Notable for: VR and cool gadgets.
Notable for: Vegan friendly.
Notable for: Hybrid workspace and nursery.
Uncommon - Highbury & Islington
Notable for: Biophilia philosophy.
Notable for: Free.
Notable for: Outside and open spaces.
Notable for: For local start-ups, creatives and street food traders.
Notable for: Wellbeing focus.
The 18 Best Coworking Spaces For Freelancers In The Midlands & The South
Probably the best thing about coworking is creating that separation between work and home life. We asked our readers where their favourite spaces to cowork are in the Midlands and the South, here’s what they told us…
Community Waffle House - Axminster
Notable for: Amazing waffles.
Cassia Coworking Community - Bath
Notable for: Riverside space with a cafe and cocktails.
Notable for: Music, ideas, art, good vibes and sea views.
Notable for: Boutique style coworking for ambitious women.
Ziferblat: the Anti Cafe - Coventry
Notable for: Child-friendly, quirky coffee house and cowork space.
Notable for: A tranquil space for female entrepreneurs, a hidden coworking gem near Totnes.
Notable for: Monthly events and an on tap brewery.
Notable for: A riverside bar and arts venue based at the Cambridge Museum of Technology.
The Old School House - Bournemouth
Notable for: Good vibes and a short hop to the beach.
Notable for: Located within the recently-refurbished Grade II Listed Bognor Regis Railway Station.
Notable for: High-end meeting rooms.
Notable for: A collaborative space for creative industries.
Notable for: Beautifully furnished.
Notable for: Canterbury's only coworking space.
Notable for: Beautiful, ergonomically designed space.
Notable for: Child-friendly.
Notable for: Flexi and full-time space in a comfy setting.
Notable for: Fun, quirky spaces.
The 13 Best Coworking Spaces For Freelancers In The North
Probably the best thing about coworking is creating that separation between work and home life. We asked our readers where their favourite spaces to cowork are in the North and here’s what they told us…
Notable for: Over 100 businesses in their community.
Notable for: An incubator that helps tech companies grow.
Notable for: Meeting rooms, a business lounge and a virtual address.
Notable for: A multi-purpose art space for Nottingham’s creative community.
Notable for: Coworking, creative community and event space.
Notable for: Courtyard of independent shops and a cafe in converted farm buildings.
Notable for: Private offices, desks, meeting rooms and breakout spaces.
Notable for: Business Centre with a sandwich and espresso bar.
Coworking Corner - Matlock, Derbyshire
Notable for: Dog friendly and Cookie the rescue dog is available for snuggles when needed.
The Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre - Halifax, Yorkshire
Notable for: Cafe No.5 and an atrium filled with plants.
Notable for: 24/7 private access, masterclasses and workshops.
Notable for: Digital facility offering 3D character, motion and audio capture.
Notable for: Space, meeting rooms, incubator and workshops.
How To Sell Yourself As A Freelancer
It’s an extremely rare day when you talk to a freelancer who loves selling themselves. One or more of the following five reasons are usually given:
A reluctance to be ‘salesy’.
Not having decided exactly what it is they do best or offer.
Feeling caught between being a business and an individual.
Being unable to find one’s voice.
Not having the time.
The good news is...
The majority of people feel like this, so with a little commitment to getting better at selling yourself, you can stand out.
You do have to know what you do best and offer. If you don’t, no one else will. But this can change, as often as you want it to.
Don’t delay telling people what you do because you’re worried you might change your mind later. Change is all part of the process. It’s all part of the journey.
Reframe selling yourself
It’s all about you. You can do it how you want. There are no client changes to make or sign off to wait for.
Think of yourself as a business. Could you imagine if your local restaurant didn’t have a sign or menu out because they didn’t like selling themselves?
Listen to what problems your target market are having and what questions they’re asking. Help them.
Have some fun making your own things.
Find your crew. Support other people and they will support you.
If you’re running low on inspiration, listen to a podcast or read a book and write down everything that resonates with you.
Don’t feel you have to do what others do. Do it your way.
Take the advice you would give to other people.
Show off what you do best on social
Use social media as your own publishing platform.
If you’re a writer, write.
If you’re a photographer, share photos.
If you’re a designer, design things.
If you’re a marketer, market something.
If you’re an expert, share your expertise.
“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
Everything You Need To Know About Freelance Accountancy
It’s hard to know where to start when understanding your accounts as a freelancer, whether you’re just starting out or have been going for a while. We asked Martin Brooks, Director of Gold Stag Accounts, all about freelance accountancy.
Martin set up Gold Stag Accounts in 2017 when he leapt from industry to self-employment.
After dabbling with various types of clients, he decided that working with freelancers and small businesses were the most enjoyable. Gold Stag Accounts now looks after nearly 300 micro clients.
What are the main things freelancers should be considering with regards to their accounts?
It’s all about getting into good habits. For example, using a separate bank account for the business, using software instead of (or as well as) spreadsheets and putting your tax money aside.
Do you see any recurring mistakes?
We see fines for not filing tax returns. We try to step in and help and get them up to date.
Initially, some people aren’t very organised, they’re used to winging it, but with a bit of help they can’t believe how easy it is and most are good at becoming organised.
They are specialists in their area and don’t know what they don’t know, but just need to be shown the way.
What are the key things to think about when you’re starting out?
Treat yourself as separate from the business. This is even more important as a sole trader.
Have a different bank account, put tax money aside and start creating a financial buffer as soon as you can.
What are the key things to think about when you’ve been going a while?
Review your accounts every 6 to 12 months and look at costs like subscriptions. Do you still need the Zoom account you got in lockdown?
Review your processes and start using accountancy software if you don’t already; it will save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. When you’re more established, consider paying into a pension.
Also, think about whether your business structure is still right for you.
Sole trader or Ltd?
For some people, becoming limited can change their mindset to see it as a business, not a hobby or side hustle. Being limited means you have limited liability, but insurance will also cover you if you’ve got it.
Once your profit is over £30k, it’s tax-efficient to go limited, and most people switch because they want to save money.
What’s your advice for making more money and growing?
The main advice would be to see it and treat it as a business. Freelancers tend to outsource and subcontract to grow. Most know other people who do the same thing, and it can be an excellent way to scale without employing people.
What if I’m thinking of getting a mortgage?
If you’re thinking of becoming limited or changing your business structure, make sure you time it right. You’ll need a couple of years of books verifying your income. It’s always a good idea to get a mortgage advisor who specialises in self-employment.
Read our blog on Getting a Mortgage As a Freelancer for more information.
Do I need to register for VAT?
You don’t need to register until your turnover is over £85k. It’s always good to know where you’re at to see if you’re close to the threshold. Different schemes might benefit you depending on your circumstances, and an accountant can advise you on that.
Everything You Need To Know About Getting A Mortgage As A Freelancer
It’s easy to assume it’s near impossible to get a mortgage as a freelancer. However, it can be done.
Andrew Montlake has been in the mortgage industry for 26 years and is the Managing Director of Coreco Mortgages.
We asked Andrew the burning questions about getting a mortgage as a freelancer to put your mind at ease.
What are the main things for freelancers to consider with regards to getting a mortgage in the future?
Have your accounts in order and start talking to your accountant and mortgage advisor as early as possible to work out what you’re going to need to show income-wise to get the mortgage you want.
Lenders typically like to see two to three years. Make sure you’re on the voters roll and that your bank statements and credit score are in order.
What are the key things to think about if you want to get a mortgage soon?
Different lenders look at different things so getting advice is essential. Talk to an advisor about what your situation is and what is out there for you. The sooner you can think about it, the better.
What income can you show that a lender can use?
Do you see any recurring problems?
Not being up to date with your books and not having a properly qualified accountant. Make sure you’re on top of everything, that your bank statements and bank account are in order.
Make sure all your bills are always paid on time.
Is it going to be impossible for me to get a mortgage as a freelancer?
It’s a bit trickier now than it was due to the pandemic and IR35. They’ve massively changed the way lenders look at freelancers and contractors. You might want to consider your future roles and looking at getting six or 12-month fixed-term contracts. They might also look at what sector you work in. If you work with industries like travel and entertainment, you might need to answer more questions.
It’s not true that you have no chance as a freelancer. You might be able to get by with one year’s worth of accounts; some lenders might discount a poor Covid period or say you don’t need to declare government grants.
What if I get turned down?
There are over 100 different lenders. The mainstream high street banks are more likely to go off a tick box list, but specialist or broker-only lenders exist for helping the self-employed. You might have to pay slightly higher rates, but they are still competitive.
If you go to one and get knocked back, don’t be disheartened. You can try another or might be able to get on track for six to 12 months time.
Will it make a difference if you’re Ltd or a sole trader?
It doesn’t make a difference. It’s how your business is going and what income can you show. Talk to your accountant about showing more income in the year you want to take a mortgage.
How many years of accounts will you need?
One minimum, preferably two or three.
What if you pay yourself minimum wage? Do dividends count towards your ‘salary’?
Lenders will take your basic wage and dividends into account. Some might average them over two or three years. Some will look at operating profit, net profit or retained profit.
What are the best banks/deals for the self-employed?
All banks are working towards better products for the self-employed, but most are playing catch up. Interesting lenders like Accord and Clydesdale have always been good for freelancers, and Halifax is good for IT contractors.
There are a whole host of specialist banks that purely get their business through brokers who are better at looking with a blank sheet approach, not just using tick boxes.
At Coreco, we’re very noisy in the industry about getting better products for the self-employed. Freelancers and small businesses are going to be vital to getting the economy back on track.
Freelancers have a better understanding of money, taxes and they have the potential to earn more - we need to support them and lenders need to do more.
Understanding Freelance Pensions
As a freelancer, you never really know where you stand when it comes to pensions. Do you get a State Pension as a freelancer? What is the best pension for the self-employed? How much should you put aside? It can be a minefield.
To answer these questions and more, we interviewed Chris Eastwood, co-founder of Penfold, who offers pensions for the self-employed.
Can you explain, in a simple way, what a pension is?
Put simply, a pension is a tax-efficient way to save for life after work. Think of it like a savings pot built for your retirement.
Over your career, you can add to this savings pot by contributing from your income, whether that's a salary from an employer or profits from a business. Little by little, your pot grows until you're ready to stop working.
The government encourages people to plan for their futures by offering tax relief on pension contributions, making your money work more efficiently.
This means by contributing to your pension, you end up paying less tax, keeping more of your hard-earned money. You can withdraw your pension from age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028) and use it as an income in retirement.
What are the basic options available and what questions should I ask providers?
There are three main pension types - the State pension which offers a small weekly amount based on National Insurance contributions over your life, workplace pensions are those set up by employers with contributions coming directly from your salary and private pensions which you set up and contribute to on your own behalf.
If you’re looking to set up a private pension make sure the provider has the ability to make flexible contributions rather than a set monthly amount, offers automatic tax relief, has a choice of investment options and has a high review score so that you can be sure they offer a great service.
Do I get a State Pension as a freelancer?
If you're self-employed you're entitled to the State Pension in the same way as anyone else. The new flat-rate State Pension was introduced in 2016 and is based entirely on your National Insurance record.
To be eligible to claim, you must have at least 10 'qualifying years', which essentially means years you were working or claiming benefits that qualified for National Insurance contributions. To get the full State Pension amount you'll need to have 35 qualifying years.
To find out how many qualifying years you've earned and when you'll be able to claim, head to the government's website. You can also get more information on how to increase your qualifying years if they need a boost.
For many, living on a weekly income of £175.20 won't be enough to support a comfortable standard of living in later life. This is why it may be a good idea for you to make other arrangements, such as taking out your own private pension, to fund your retirement.
How much should I be putting aside?
If you sign up for Penfold, we’ll help you figure this out by applying some helpful rules of thumb and making some assumptions about what sort of life you want to live when you’re a bit older. Have a play with our pension calculator to find out more.
How easy is it to merge old pensions and should I?
Recently, combining pensions online has become increasingly popular - helped in part by new, faster electronic pension transfers. Pension providers like Penfold also work as a pension consolidation app - letting you easily bring all your pots from previous jobs together in one place.
However, it's not always a good idea to combine. You could end up paying more or losing out on some extremely valuable benefits in retirement. Before you dive in and consolidate all your pensions, you'll want to carefully consider if you're making the right decision.
The benefits are less admin, it’s often cheaper as you’ll only have one management fee and it’s likely you’ll get more choice in where your pensions are invested such as sustainable funds.
It’s worth watching out for potential exit fees, although the savings in management fees may outweigh this. Some pensions also offer special benefits or guarantees, defined benefit pensions for example are a little more complicated to transfer and you'll need to chat with an independent financial advisor before making a decision.
Any things to look out for when setting up and choosing a pension?
If you’re self-employed we recommend making sure your provider offers flexibility when it comes to how much you pay each month rather than forcing a set amount.
Make sure the providers you’re looking at automatically apply the government’s 25% tax relief top-up otherwise you’ll miss out on this great benefit.
It’s also good to have options for where your savings are invested, great customer service verified by independent reviews and ensure any providers are regulated by the FCA and have FSCS protection.
Can we look at a pension as a tax-free investment account that has a time-lock on it?
Yes, to a certain extent, without going into the specifics of other account types a pension allows you to choose where your money is invested and you get tax relief on up to £40,000 of contributions each year.
Can you make payments to reduce your corporation tax bill?
Yes! If you’re set up as a director of your company there are many tax advantages that come from paying into your pension.
If you pay into your pension through your limited company you can contribute up to £40,000 each year and claim the 19% reduction on your corporation tax bill. Any amount paid into a pension by a business also won’t be liable for National Insurance so by paying directly into your pension rather than paying out as salary, you’ll also save by avoiding National Insurance contributions.
Making a payment into your pension through your business may be more efficient than making a personal contribution but will depend on your circumstances.
It’s worth seeking advice from a financial advisor if you’re not sure about the best option for you.
Do I Need Insurance For My Freelance Business?
To learn all about business insurance for freelancers, we interviewed Ashley Baxter who runs With Jack. They provide business insurance, especially for freelancers, supporting them financially and legally.
Ashley explained the ins and outs of being insured, and why having insurance frees up your biggest asset - your creativity.
What are the most common types of claims you see?
We see the same problems over and over again. Most of them are to do with poor project management, which could be the fault of the freelancer or the client.
The work isn’t delivered on time or to a standard the client isn’t happy with. This could be down to the freelancer or because the client hasn’t signed it off on time or they’ve changed their mind halfway through the project.
The client then makes a claim to recover the costs of not being able to launch on time or having to hire other freelancers to get the project up to speed or standard.
How do most problems start, and how could they be avoided?
You might never altogether avoid a problem, but there are things that you can do to reduce the risk of the issues happening. And then if they do happen, managing them better.
Firstly, make sure you have a contract in place because a lot of the time when problems do occur the contracts can just be referred back to.
Having a project scope, that’s a huge one, making sure that the client knows exactly what they’re getting, what’s included in the scope and what isn’t, what’s budgeted and accounted for in the timescale.
Also, having the confidence and conviction to handle clients who are starting to show some red flags.
You talk about being a confident freelancer. What does this mean practically speaking?
I think it means having these processes in place and then having the conviction to stand by them. Understandably freelancers want to keep the client happy but you shouldn’t do that at the expense of yourself.
You have to go into projects knowing what you’re worth. You have to go into projects with competence so that if clients start trying to take advantage of you, you can instantly put them in their place and being insured helps you do that.
Having insurance can give you the confidence to stand up to your clients and say, ‘no, hold on a second, I’ve done the work that you’ve asked me to do, and I’ve done it to an excellent standard. You’re not entitled to any funds back.’ And you’ll know that if they do push things that little bit further, you have insurance to step in and handle it all for you.
So… do I need business insurance?
None of us should be accepting projects or working with clients expecting things to go wrong. But if they do, your insurance will work much the same way as a seat belt. And you might be the best driver in the world, but you can’t control how others behave. My advice is to not procrastinate on it and get insurance set up as soon as you start trading. It’s tax-deductible too.
Only a small percentage of freelancers will have to use the practical element of it. Still, you will benefit from it on an aspirational level every day because it helps you go into projects feeling confident and that will also free up your ability to be creative and do your best work.
Could you briefly explain the different types of cover With Jack offer and approximately how much they cost?
At With Jack, we offer four products through our website. Professional indemnity which is insurance for mistakes you might make in your work or problem clients. It gives you access to legal experts who step in and handle things, and it covers any compensation agreed with the client. It costs around £14 a month.
Public liability covers you if somebody sustained an accident or had an injury due to your work activities. This isn’t at all common with freelancers, but it only costs about £2 a month.
We also provide contents insurance. The price varies a lot depending on your equipment, but for example, it might cost about £40 a year to insure a £2000 laptop. And we have a legal expenses product where you can pick up the phone and speak to a legal expert and ask them questions to do with client conflicts or contract disputes. It also provides a late payment service with a solicitor who will chase overdue invoices on your behalf, and this costs about £5.50 a month.
