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CERTAINLY NOT is the message that comes loud and clear from 10 Steps to Freelance Freedom by Sue Kendrick. She does not pull any punches about the time and effort one will have to expend in order to achieve success. But this no nonsense e-book does offer help and advice that is extremely practical, drawing on real life examples from the author's own twenty years experience as a freelance and also that of her family, even down to offering resources that have been tried and tested by successful freelance operations within the family.
Primarily concerned with using the web to build a freelance career, this e-book is easy to use, clearly set out in chapters with easy links between Chapters and the Contents page. Each Step contains a wealth of tips and this easy design enables one to 'dip in' as need requires.
The very first chapter, 'You Can If You Think You Can', sets the tone for the book. It emphasises self-belief and positive thinking, whilst at the same time reminding readers that caution should not be thrown to the winds. This blend of encouragement, through the opening up of new possibilities and ways of working, coupled with warnings and very practical advice on both avoiding and dealing with pitfalls, continues throughout the book.
We might think we are organised, but Step 2 showed me that I wasn't, simply because I had neglected to think of my skills as a business. Step 3 - Setting the Rate was another eye opener and of particular interest to those of us who have been caught by working for peanuts or sometimes for goodwill; both damaging to self esteem and future productivity.
A career as a freelance obviously needs a shop window to the world. Step 4 gives advice on web sites with Step 9 offering thoughts on advertising, both on the web and within more traditional venues. Combined with showing their wares, freelancers also need to know where to find work if their career is not to die before it has really begun. Steps 5 through to 8 are the meat of this book and are supported by an extensive Resources section. They include detailed tips on networking, both on and off line, plus two really illuminating chapters, on job sites and the direct approach. Although quite thorough in explanations of how things work, an explanation of some abbreviations, e.g. C.E. & B.N.I., would have been welcome. Surely B.N.I isn't the British Nursing Index?
Finally, freelancers cannot survive without payment and the detailed advice in Step 10 on dealing with slow or non-payers certainly showed the steps to take, both to minimize the risk and make sure that payment was made eventually.
It takes courage to start on the freelance path. 10 Steps to Freelance Freedom by Sue Kendrick looks like the kind of companion I would enjoy walking with as I take that first step.
Maureen Slaven, Freelance writer
Moe.Slaven@tinyonline.co.uk
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