Comments on: Freelance Income Report (aka, Show Me the Money)

By: Freelance Advice from the Blogosphere | Freelance Parent

Freelance Advice from the Blogosphere | Freelance Parent — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:50:34 +0000

[...] you’ve been watching our freelance income reports, then you won’t be surprised to learn that we’ve been really, really busy lately. I’ve had [...]

By: Using Guru.com for Our Freelance Business | Freelance Parent

Using Guru.com for Our Freelance Business | Freelance Parent — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:32:19 +0000

[...] Eggspert blog. She is interested to know how we use Guru.com, as she can tell from our monthly freelance income reports that we get a fair amount of business through that bidding [...]

By: Susan Payton, The Marketing Eggspert

Susan Payton, The Marketing Eggspert — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:39:49 +0000

Wow, you guys do a lot from Guru! Are you Guru Vendors? I just signed up as one (gulp. $250 is a lot of $$)! I'd like to learn more about how you use Guru to get jobs and beat the cheapies that bid on projects (as I'm sure your readers would too). Susan Payton, The Marketing Eggsperts last blog post..Cold Calling is Evilâ€¦and a Waste of Time

By: Tamara Berry

Tamara Berry — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:26:42 +0000

I know, I know. I NEED to track my hours. I say that every month, and then I never follow through. Here is my list of excuses (hey – at least I know they’re excuses):

I think it will end up being more than 20 hours/wk, but I like believing that’s how much I work.

I work really, really sporadically (sometimes mere minutes at a time). I hate schedules.

I talk to Lorna a lot on the phone, but often while I’m driving or doing something else. Does that count as work or life?

I have shiny penny syndrome like you wouldn’t believe, so when I do sit down for an hour, I’m pretty sure at least 1/3 of that time is spent “playing” on the computer.

Sigh. How does everyone else track time effectively?

By: GardenWall Publications » Ok, Already, Ladies- Income Report

GardenWall Publications » Ok, Already, Ladies- Income Report — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:15:40 +0000

[...] buddies over at Freelance Parent share their company’s income every month. I’ve deccided to share for this month, at [...]

By: Allena

Allena — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:14:33 +0000

i always reccomend to my newbies at About.com they track their hours. you guys too!

By: Lorna Doone Brewer

Lorna Doone Brewer — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:03:51 +0000

Allena and Susan – I would guess that I put in about 70 hours this month. I’m not sure about Tamara, but I know she usually averages about 20 hours a week.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:27:50 +0000

Wow, that’s really inspiring. I want to go check out Guru.com. I’d also like to hear the time commitment involved. I find I’m either too busy or not busy enough. Very rarely a happy medium…

Susans last blog post..What to Expect on a Press Trip

By: Allena

Allena — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:27:02 +0000

gah! I don’t make icon money! Where’s my icon money??:)

I want to know how many hours you worked? Do you track them? B/C I put in 75.08 hours in September. “Full time” my big toe. I’m not happy about it!

By: Lorna Doone Brewer

Lorna Doone Brewer — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:40:13 +0000

Allena – So, my take on it is that you should post your income if you want to. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t do it. If, however, you feel like it’s the right way to empower your readers, then go for it. There are no rules about this kind of thing. We like doing it, but that doesn’t mean that others should feel the same. It doesn’t make us better or worse than anyone else!

Does that make sense.

By: Tamara Berry

Tamara Berry — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:54:59 +0000

Allena: First of all – do you really have a cyberstalker? That is bizarre (and somewhat intriguing – do tell…).

Secondly, we have been nothing but happy with our decision to put this all out there. We’ve gotten only positive feedback (either everyone loves it, or those that don’t are keeping their mouths shut), and we feel really good about where we are right now.

We’ve always known that we don’t make as much money as many other freelancers, and we’re okay with that. We’re learning, we’re growing, and hopefully, we’re inspiring others to learn and grow along with us.

As far as existing and potential clients go, I simply don’t address the idea that they read this and may be upset with any of our quotes. It might have something to do with being busy enough right now that I simply don’t care what potential clients think, but it also has to do with *finally* being secure enough in ourselves to be unapologetic about what we expect to make.

I say do it. You are such an icon of the freelancing world (you are the About expert, after all), that I think people will really respond to your honesty. But maybe that’s just me.

By: Allena

Allena — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:07:48 +0000

….or what if my outstanding success pisses off my cyberstalker again

By: Allena

Allena — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:06:46 +0000

is this hard to put out there? I wrote one up but I’m having trouble hitting POST. What if one of my clients says “but I know you only made $ an hour last month”? What if a new freelancer thinks it’s not enough- or too much?