#91 | How To Make Money As A Freelancer With Tia Meyers

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‘How to make money as a freelancer’ has almost 23 million search results on Google! I saved you the trouble of combing through all of those and brought the answers straight to you via this week’s Coffee With Kim guest, Tia Meyers. Tia’s vast experience and community of 250,000+ Freelancing Females has given her top tier insights on the freelance industry. In our convo she shared her tactics and tips on avoiding common freelancing mistakes, finding and retaining clients, and negotiating for more money. She left us with a wealth of information, but don’t worry about writing it all down, sign up here and I’ll send you the notes.

Common mistakes freelancers make (05:47)

Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an influx of freelancers in every industry. As someone who works with freelancers daily, Tia sees firsthand the pitfalls they run into. Avoid these common mistakes to make money as a freelancer: 

• Not asking questions – “Ask peers what you’re good at to find where you’ll be best fit. Also, talk to people in the business you’re interested in to learn the ins and outs.”
• Not niching down – “You can’t do everything. Focus on what you’re most passionate about to avoid burnout.”
• Not pivoting – “You can create a job doing anything if you’re really good at it. Don’t be afraid to change directions if something isn’t a good fit.”

What to do when starting out (07:57)

Before you can make money as a freelancer you’ll need a portfolio to showcase your work. 

If you are just starting out and don’t have any examples, Tia says create your own! Once you do, let people know you’re available for hire.

“Post on your social media accounts and tell past coworkers that you’re available for work in your new niche. Also, take advantage of sites and directories like Freelancing Females and Working Not Working to post your availability and build clientele.”

(Join Tia’s community at Freelancing Females using the code COFFEEWITHKIM & get 20% off)

Keep your content fresh with my 7-Day Content Kickstart and remember no amount of marketing is too much!

How to know what to charge (11:28)

The number one question freelancers ask is, “How much should I charge?” Tia says the answer starts with knowing how much you want to make. 

“Have a goal income. Keep in mind about 30% will go to taxes and all your software and tools are being paid for out-of-pocket. Next, ask peers what they are charging so you can know what industry standards are and be confident in your rates. Check out Freelancing Females’ rate sheet for starters!”

Additionally, here’s how to know when you should charge more.

“In corporate, everyone gets a raise once a year so give yourself a raise at least once a year too.

You can also charge more with every client you get. If your first client is charged $50, charge the second $55. You aren’t charging enough if your client roster is getting too full and people aren’t questioning your rates. Shoot for the stars and negotiate down when you want to.”

Pro Tip: Remember, you deserve to get paid. Be ok with saying no to clients offering to pay you in equity. The company may not take off as imagined, the equity may not come in, and you’ll be left with regret.

Questions to ask potential clients (23:20)

Speaking of, here are Tia’s tips for ensuring potential clients are the right fit:

• Having a phone call to see if your personalities match
• Being clear on your boundaries and stating them in your contract
• Being clear on communication avenues and availability
• Defining emergencies and when you’re available to handle them. *Be sure to ask the client what an “emergency” is to them. 
• Ask them to define their business values 

Bonus: Create a persona of your ideal client to reference back to with each potential deal.

Making sure you’re getting paid on time (26:12)

Tia and I both shared horror stories of early freelancing days when clients said “the check is in the mail” but it never came. Require a deposit to make sure you’re getting paid on time. 

“It’s important to get a deposit! I recommend 50% up front and then 50% upon delivery of assets. You can show your clients the completed assets in a web meeting but don’t send them until you receive your payment. I also recommend adding a late fee clause. You shouldn’t have to babysit your client either, use tools like Quick Books and Lumanu for payments. 

Speed round (35:26)

• What is something you have been doing or using lately that you love? Using Notion
• What is the next thing you are hoping to learn? Email funnels and planning a vacation
• What are your favorite social media accounts to follow? Sprout Law, Girls Night In, and Jules Acree 
• Homework: Figure out your enneagram number to learn your strengths and weaknesses, plus how you like to work. Also, create a personal values document and refer to it throughout the year. It will keep you focused and help you make decisions that get you closer to what you’re reaching for.

Next Week

Shyvee Shi succesfully transitioned from a consultant to a product manager and is showing us how she landed her dream role at LinkedIn Learning. One of her secret weapons? Networking. Join us as we talk about making the right connections, preparing for interviews and how to reposition your experience for a new career. RSVP here!

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Want To Learn 1 on 1 with Me?: I’m passionate about making YOU stand out at work. After a 45 minute training, Avery (aka my newest shining star) implemented my tactics and got a new job making $60k MORE than the last. Want some of that secret sauce for yourself? Check out more here. 

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