The freelance editor's handbook : a complete guide to making your business thrive / Suzy Bills.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bills, Suzy, 1981- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Self-employed--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Self-employed.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (337 pages)

Place of Publication:

2021.

Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2021]

Summary:

A comprehensive guide to building and maintaining a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable business as a freelance editor. According to LinkedIn, more than twenty thousand people in the United States list themselves as freelance editors. But many who have the requisite skills to be excellent editors lack the entrepreneurial skills needed to run a thriving, fulfilling business. The few resources available to freelance editors, new and established, are typically limited in scope and lack the strategic thinking needed to make a business flourish. The Freelance Editor's Handbook provides a complete guide to setting up and running a prosperous freelancing business, from finding clients to increasing productivity, from deciding how to price services to achieving work/life balance, and from paying taxes to saving for retirement. Unlike most other books on freelance editing, this book is founded on a business-success mindset: The goal isn't simply to eke out a living through freelancing. Rather, the goal is to establish a thriving, rewarding business that allows editors to achieve their career goals, earn a comfortable living, and still have time for family, friends, and personal pursuits. Author Suzy Bills identifies multiple strategies and methods that freelancers can apply, drawing on current research in entrepreneurship, psychology, and well-being. This book is the ultimate resource for editors at all levels: students just starting out, in-house staff looking to transition, and experienced freelancers who want to make their businesses more profitable and enjoyable.

Contents:

Cover

The Freelance Editor's Handbook

Title

Copyright

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Why This Book Is for You

What We're Going to Cover

1 Deciding Whether You Really Want to Be a Freelance Editor

Benefits of Freelancing

Downsides of Freelancing

Skills and Characteristics of Effective Freelance Editors

The Decision of Whether to Freelance Part-Time or Full-Time

Key Takeaways

2 Setting Up Your Business

Business Name

Business Entities

Business License

Employer Identification Number

Bank Account and Credit Card

Business Plan

Business Costs

3 Establishing a Strategic Mindset

Creating a Vision

Setting and Achieving Goals

Finding a Mentor

4 Looking for Clients

Deciding Whether to Specialize

Finding Clients

Getting Repeat Business

5 Marketing like a Pro

Awareness of Target Clients' Needs

Unique Selling Proposition

Lead Nurturing

Social Media Platforms

Editing and Business Directories

Promotional Pieces

Books, Training, Podcasts, and YouTube Channels

Additional Marketing Tips

6 Creating Your Website

Why You Need a Website

How to Build Your Website

How to Choose and Purchase a Domain Name

How to Decide on the Website Design

Pages and Content to Include on Your Website

The Debate about Blogging

7 Maximizing the Benefits of LinkedIn

Components of a LinkedIn Profile

How to Connect and Network with People on LinkedIn

How to Search for Jobs on LinkedIn

8 Winning at the Pricing Game

Figuring Out How Much to Charge

Choosing a Pricing Method

Setting the Stage for Presenting a Fee

Developing a Price Quote

Applying a Rush Fee

Presenting Your Price.

Overcoming Price Objections and Negotiating a Rate

Increasing Your Rate

Reducing Income Uncertainty through Establishing Retainers

Choosing Payment Methods

9 Using Contracts and Invoices to Get Paid and Protect Yourself

What You Need to Know about Contracts

What You Need to Include in Invoices

How to Address Issues in Getting Paid

10 Managing Time like a Pro and Increasing Productivity

General Strategies to Improve Your Time Management and Productivity

Strategies to Improve Your Editing Efficiency

Strategies to Manage Your Project Schedule

Strategies to Stop Procrastinating

11 Achieving Work/Life Balance

Balancing Work and Personal Pursuits

Dealing with Crises

Dealing with Negative Client Feedback

Dealing with Perfectionism

Avoiding Imposter Syndrome

12 Overcoming the Fear of Taxes

The Basics

Self-Employment Tax

Quarterly Payments

Annual Tax Return

How to Avoid Tax Penalties

Tax Deductions for Freelancers

13 Becoming a Financially Savvy Freelancer

Personal and Business Budgets

Cash Flow Management

Bookkeeping

Insurance

Retirement Savings

Conclusion

Appendix A: Most Important Action Items for Establishing a Freelance Editing Business

Appendix B: Improving Editing Skills through Using Editing Programs and Other Resources

Further Reading and Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780520381346

0520381343

OCLC:

1240263984