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You are here: Home / Archives for science art and voodoo

Halley’s Client, Schrödinger’s Project, and other freelance phenomena

September 7, 2017 by Jake Poinier

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halleys client and schrodingers projectI received an email this week from a client that I assumed I’d never hear from again. It hadn’t been a bad breakup, simply that my main contact left and her replacement had different freelance writers in her stable. With a whopping six-year gap between communications (a personal record), I was reminded of one of my favorite freelance phenomena: Halley’s client, you know, the clients that enter into your orbit only once in a great while. They’re not a bad thing, but don’t exactly provide dependable income, either. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: General Tagged With: Freelance Follies, Halley's Client, pet peeves, psychology, red flags, science art and voodoo

Do luck and superstition affect your freelance business?

November 3, 2016 by Jake Poinier

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luck superstition businessI’d originally planned to post on this topic for Halloween, but the World Series dovetailed into my thoughts about the role of luck and superstition in freelance business success, so here I am. I’ll confess, I was chronically superstitious as a kid, due to growing up as a Boston Red Sox fan back in the days when their pattern was to get to big games…only to lose in spectacular and heart-breaking fashion. I had lucky (and jinxed) shirts and hats. If a traffic light turned green before I got to it or if my favorite song came on the radio, that was an auspicious sign. I stuffed a four-leaf clover in the middle finger of my baseball glove. Alas, none of my efforts altered the fact the Sox were quite simply and thoroughly cursed. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Manage Your Freelance Business Tagged With: luck and superstition, science art and voodoo, self-employment

Is BookGrabbr the answer for self-published book marketing?

December 10, 2015 by Jake Poinier

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bookgrabbr freelance booksAs you may have seen on social media, I’m experimenting with BookGrabbr. (UPDATE: The promotion is over as of March 8, 2016.) It’s a relatively new book marketing tool that provides readers a free preview of a book in exchange for sharing the link. (I’ve uploaded the first 7 chapters of The Science, Art and Voodoo of Freelance Pricing and Getting Paid.) Before I get into my initial take on the tool, though, I want to discuss why I’m giving it a try. In short, it’s because I believe experimenting is a critical component of freelance success. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Manage Your Freelance Business Tagged With: experiments, Freelance Pricing, sales strategies, science art and voodoo, Social media

Help! I’m underpricing my freelance rates

October 6, 2015 by Jake Poinier

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underpricing freelance ratesDr. Freelance: You have probably heard this before, but I constantly look at the going freelance rates for a project on one of the industry rate charts, add up the average per page/word costs, then think, “I can’t charge THAT!” So I end up underpricing myself and throwing in freebies such as marketing plans and so on.

I am aware of the danger of undervaluing my work, but I have really yet to find a client who understands the value in what they are receiving and are willing to pay full price. I recently lost out on an editing project, which I’d priced at $1,500 for 80 hours, to another editor who charged $400. I understand that I need to do a better job of pricing accurately, but how do I avoid losing work to someone who’s supplementing their retirement income with a few dollars?—Shooting Myself in the Foot [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Make More Money Freelancing Tagged With: estimating projects, pricing freelance jobs, rates too low, science art and voodoo

10 freelance pricing fudge factors

September 1, 2015 by Jake Poinier

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freelance pricing fudge factorsIn addition to the measurable facts of a project (work volume, meeting time, deadline, etc.), freelance pricing requires accounting for highly individual items that can’t be defined in hours or put into a spreadsheet—but will have an impact on how much you charge: [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Make More Money Freelancing Tagged With: estimating projects, Freelance Pricing, science art and voodoo

Kindle Countdown Deal for Science, Art and Voodoo of Freelance Pricing

December 24, 2013 by Jake Poinier

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Science Art Voodoo of Getting PaidUPDATED: The holiday Kindle Countdown Deal for The Science, Art and Voodoo of Freelance Pricing and Getting Paid is now closed.

Thanks to all who shared the news on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn with other freelancers. Please keep your eyes on this site for upcoming promotions. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Make More Money Freelancing Tagged With: Freelance Pricing, kindle countdown, science art and voodoo, voodoo

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