The Indian concept of Jugaad is exceptionally relevant to freelancing and gig economy, especially so in severe circumstances like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All the indications are that it will lead to a massive recession or even economic depression. Freelancers anyway operate with a lot of uncertainty, and this has further added to the pressure and general … Continue reading "Use Indian Jugaad to Advance your freelancing career"

With the constant news of lockdown and an ever-increasing number of coronavirus cases, anxiety is inevitable. The stories of economic downturn, recession or depression can be overwhelming and daunting. Typically, freelancers are the first casualty of an adverse economic environment. So, it is not surprising that freelancers are reporting that projects have been put on … Continue reading "Why You Must Continue To Pitch During A Global Crisis"

The other day a writer I frequently work with asked me if she needs a website to grow her profile as a freelancer. She started writing a year back and has only a few clips to showcase her work. Even so, I replied without any hesitation, yes, you do. The fact of the matter is … Continue reading "Why Freelance Writers Need a Website?"

Uncertainty is the biggest reason why some people are reluctant to become a freelancer. But you can turn it in your favour.

Frequently, I come across blog posts or social media posts that say that it is impossible to earn six-figure (in USD) as annual revenue from freelancing writing business. To be honest, I myself believed it not too long back. The persistent negativity in the freelancing world makes it easy to believe in this. The rates … Continue reading "Six-Figure Freelancing Is Not Easy. Are You Upto It?"

It is a fairly known and accepted fact that the number of freelancers and writers continues to rise exponentially. In this situation, it is crucial to stand out from the crowd and to demonstrate your expertise in every word that you dish out. Your writing should be stellar in all respect, and one way to … Continue reading "Are you using research to stand out and earn better-paying writing assignments?"

What no one tells you about freelancing is that sooner or later, you will question your decision to become a freelancer, and worse, you may even want to give it up. I know, I know it doesn’t gel with the glorious picture of being on your own you have in your mind. But it is … Continue reading "What No One Tells You About Freelancing"

As freelancers or managers of our small businesses, we are usually guilty of overworking, and typically, we are also averse to taking a break. Whether it is completing 100 blogs for your first clients, acquiring first retainer client, or reaching an income of $100,000 for the first time, the goals need to be acknowledged. Believe … Continue reading "Three Reasons Why It is Important To Celebrate Milestones In Freelancing"

When I started freelancing about five years back, I generally went with the flow. I didn’t bother much about goal setting…I used to pitch randomly without any focus, get work from online jobs, and that was that. But my income remained more or less static. If there is a single factor responsible for my growth … Continue reading "#Growthhack 1: Set Up Effective Goals For Your Freelance Business"

Nothing quite prepares you for horrible feedback from a client. You might be writing for some of the biggest names in the industry, or you might be getting consistently good reviews, still, one harsh feedback is enough to burn a gigantic hole in your confidence and make you wallow in self-pity for the longest time. … Continue reading "Six Tips For Freelancers To Handle Horrible Feedback From A Client"

Last few years have completely changed my perspective of freelancing. When I started freelancing about five years back, all I wanted was to earn the same amount as my last-drawn salary. However, a change in circumstances led me to approach freelancing with much more focus and vigor. To put it mildly, I had to cut … Continue reading "Excerpt: What Do High-Income Freelancers Do Differently?"

In my first stint as a freelance journalist about a decade back, I really had no focus area. I used to think of story ideas and then sell them before I start working on them. It worked initially, and I wrote some good stories for Women’s Feature Service, Women’s eNews, World & I, Hindu Business … Continue reading "Why you need to choose a niche to grow your freelance business"

I faced a weird situation a few years back. I was doing all the right things: pitching consistently, following up regularly, networking, maintaining a good relationship with existing clients, and so on. Even so, my income remained static month after month. It was frustrating and I was disheartened. I discussed the problem with an old … Continue reading "Don’t Let These Mindset Issues Stunt Your Freelancing Growth"

The biggest challenge as a freelancer is to find work regularly and consistently. Cold pitching is the easiest and the fastest way to acquire new clients. Provided it is done right!! However, the very thought of sending thousand and thousand of pitches before you actually acquire the right client can be frustrating and daunting. Follow … Continue reading "12 Tips For Successful Cold Pitching"

The transition from being a journalist to a content marketer is anything, but easy. In the previous post I discussed how you use the same skill sets for both but the two professions demand a totally different mindset. To begin with, the switch from journalism to content marketing is usually under duress. As the opportunity … Continue reading "LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOURNALISTS AND CONTENT MARKETING"

I have been a journalist all my life and have written for some of the biggest media houses and online publishers in India and abroad. In the past few years, I have been increasingly involved into non-journalistic or content marketing work. This made me realize how the journalistic skills that I acquired over the years … Continue reading "JOURNALISTIC SKILLS CAN POWER YOUR CONTENT MARKETING CAREER"

After working for over a decade with the country’s best media brands, it was a tough call to start freelancing. Not just the thought of losing regular income but also the perks of working for the biggest media house made me mull over my decision for days and weeks. Finally, the idea to break free … Continue reading "THREE YEARS OF FREELANCING, ALL THAT I LEARNT AND UNLEARNT"

Years ago, my professor in journalism school had told us about the crucial role that a knowledgeable and helpful senior can play in molding a reporterís life. According to him, this mentor is generally either a senior reporter or a senior person in the reporter’s beat who directly or indirectly helps him in understanding the … Continue reading "YOU NEED THESE MESSIAHS IN YOUR FREELANCING LIFE"