Product Overview

The Principles Of Successful Freelancing

- Here’s a look at the table of contents:

Preface
- Who Should Read This Book?
- What’s in This Book?
- The Book’s Web Site
  - Updates and Errata
- The SitePoint Forums
- The SitePoint Newsletters
- Your Feedback
- Conventions Used in This Book
  - Tips, Notes, and Warnings
- Acknowledgments
Considering Freelancing?
- What Is Freelancing?
- Why Freelance?
  - Advantages of the Freelance Life
  - Disadvantages of the Freelance Life
- Are You Freelance Material?
  - Technical Skills
  - Business Skills
  - Organizational Skills
  - Interpersonal Skills
- Successful Freelancer Personality Traits
- Making the Decision
  - Do Your Research
  - Consider Your Situation
- Interview with Derek Featherstone
- Case Study: Emily and Jacob
  - About Emily
  - About Jacob
- Summary
Prepare for the Transition
- Deciding How Far to Jump
  - Freelancing on the Side
  - Freelancing Full-time
- Taking Time to Plan
  - Creating a SWOT
  - Establishing Goals and Milestones
  - Planning the Start-up Shopping List
- Creating Your Brand: the Preliminaries
  - Using Your Own Name
  - Using a Fictitious Name
- Considering Your Business Structure
- Engaging Assistance
  - Asking for Advice
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
Manage Your Money
- Accounting Basics
- Determining Your Costs
  - Costs Checklist
  - Considering Insurance
  - Obtaining Accounting Software
- Hiring Professionals
- Calculating Your Rates
  - Step One: Determine Your Overheads
  - Step Two: Allocate Your Salary
  - Step Three: Decide on a Profit Margin
  - Step Four: Work Out Your Realistic Hours
  - Step Five: Calculate Your Hourly Rate
- Cash Flow Is King!
  - Encouraging Prompt Payment
  - Dealing with Debtors
  - Recurring Revenue
- Loans and Savings
- Interview with Mark Boulton
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
Set Yourself Up
- Planning Your Office Space
- Considering Ergonomics
- Separating Work and Life
- Tracking Your Time
  - Scheduling Your Time
  - Discovering Your Personal Productivity
- Organizing Your Tools
  - Registering Software
  - Backing Up Regularly
- Polishing Your Contracts
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
Win the Work
- Learning to Sell
- Determining Your Offering
  - Asking Prospects What They Want
  - Creating an “Ideal Client” Profile
  - Reviewing Your Competitors
  - Developing Your USP
- Understanding the Sales Process
  - Overcoming Your Fear of Selling
- Controlling That Sales Funnel
  - Asking for Referrals
- Creating “Brand You”
  - Polishing Your Web Site
  - Networking in Real Life
  - Online Social Networks
  - Public Speaking
  - Marketing and Advertising
  - Blogging
  - Writing Articles
- Interview with Molly Holzschlag
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
Give Great Service
- Benefits of Great Service
- Basics of Client Service
  - Manage Client Expectations
  - Maintain High Availability
  - Practice Courtesy and Respect
  - Be Honest in All Communication
  - Be Proactive in Your Service
- Communication Tips
- Project Management
  - Tackling Scope Creep
- Resolving Issues with Problem Clients
  - When All Else Fails
- Being Ethical
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
Achieve Work–Life Balance
- Looking After Yourself
  - Caring for Yourself at Work
  - Maintaining Health and Wellness
  - Having Self-discipline
- Staying Connected
- Thinking Beyond the Office
  - Supporting the Community
  - Being Green
- Interview with Stephen Collins
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
Where to from Here?
- Staying Solo
  - Retiring from Freelancing
  - Building That Business!
- Avoiding Skill Rot
- Case Study
  - Emily
  - Jacob
- Summary
- Good Luck!
Index

Order this Book NOW!

By Miles Burke

Product Information

Features

Published: December 2008

7"x9" format
Includes FREE poster of your choice (while stocks last)
Entire contents of book in full color throughout!

Customer Reviews

Live, unmoderated reviews from our customers, typos and all.

I am a freelancer for the past 8 years. I just read the first 50 pages and felt like i was looking at a mirror. Coz Burke nailed it very clearly about the facts of freelancing which i have gone through all these years. I am excited to read more...

Nirmal, India

A very easy to read book that is NOT just for the web industry freelancers.
It contains many thought provoking topics that you may not have thought about as you enter or continue as a freelancer.
I didn't necessarily pass the freelancer test but still continue on my freelance path with the support of this book.
Of all the business books I have read I would definitely recommend this to someone thinking of going into freelancing and it is a book that I keep and refer back to along the often bumpy ride.
Best of all its for me is that it is written by an Australian.

Frances McLean, Australia

I just bought this book before three days from the great sale at Melbourne office.(A BIG Hi to all the nice and friendly people there)..

I don't need to comment on the content of the book beyond a simple "it's excellent"
I advice everyone who want to fly solo to use this book, it's organised and well structured.

The book takes a real world view of freelancing using relevant examples and giving useful advices.I liked the tips about life balance.

I have purchased many of your books in the past, and I am always satisfied. They are always presented in an easy to read format, and they look very presentable. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from them, and look forward to many more in the future.