I came across an interesting debate on LinkedIn recently. Noted freelance writer Kat Boogaard posed this question to her followers: To be successful, should you call yourself a freelancer?
The question received a great number of comments, many from people who proudly call themselves freelancers, including Boogaard herself. A few claimed that there’s a lingering stigma attached to the title and clients either perceive you as cheap labor, a beginner or are an unreliable profession that can produce good quality work. Much of that is untrue.
Some responses surprised me. I figured I’d see more comments from people who preferred another title, such as business owner or writing consultant. But largely, most of the commenters were proud to call themselves a freelancer.
The conversation reminded me of a colleague I overheard at a networking event many years ago, who bemoaned her fate as a freelancer. I remember hearing her tell another colleague, “Why is it that when I tell someone that I’m a freelancer that they assume my services are free?”
I’d like to believe that we’ve come a long way since that overheard conversation and that today’s clients are more accepting of the freelance term. After all, as one of Boogaard’s commenters point out, freelance is the nature of the relationship they have with clients; it’s not the nature of the work itself.
That’s an important distinction to remember. Freelancing is simply the way you choose to work. It does not reflect the type of work we do.
So this begs the question: should you include the term freelance in your title when you market yourself to potential clients? Does it make a difference at how they perceive you? Does it make a difference in the types of clients who approach you or the type of assignments you’re offered?
Like any other issue, that all depends on who you ask. I’ve broken down the arguments below.
I proudly call myself a freelance professional because….
* It’s how I market myself to clients. It makes it clear who I am professionally, the work I do (such as writing or graphic design) and how I work for them. I proudly own the label and the narrative of a freelancer, and there’s no doubt about what I expect from clients in return.
* Freelance is a term that editors use when searching for writing support. If an editor searches for a freelance writer, and I don’t have that term in my LinkedIn profile somewhere, they’re probably not going to find me.
* The freelance term makes it clear that I am an independent contractor. I am willing to work WITH clients, but not FOR them. It makes it clear that I cannot be treated as an employee of their firm.
* The freelancer term has become more accepted in the marketplace. Many writers have been in the freelance writing business for decades, and have worked successfully under that title. More companies are noting their professionalism, their reliability and their high-quality production. Over time, any skepticism about freelancers has faded.
I don’t call myself a freelancer because …
* Freelancing can be perceived as a vague term that covers a lot of ground in the creative field. It doesn’t always explain the work you do or how much experience you have. For instance, a freelancer could have two years of business experience or 20. That experience difference can matter a lot to potential clients. It might be better to emphasize the type of writing or creative work you do first before identifying yourself as a freelancer.
* It can imply that you will work low-paying gigs or for free, and thereby attract clients who expect freelancers to do a lot of work for not a lot of money. It can suggest, often unfairly, that a freelancer is a starving artist who will do anything to get published. As more freelancers have hit the marketplace and turned down the low-paying jobs, those assumptions have faded. Still, there’s a certain mindset, especially among small businesses, that they can take advantage of your “free”lancing.
* The term freelancer sounds impermanent and temporary, like the title of “interim manager” in sports. It can imply that the freelancer is there for a short time to hold down the fort while those in charge look for a better qualified candidate for the job you’re already doing. It can also suggest that you’re doing this work short term until you find a better opportunity. In other words, you’re there to collect a check rather than build a long, steady relationship with the client.
As you can see, there are solid reasons on either side. Much of it depends on your comfort level with the term. I recently changed my profile description to include freelance to test out the theory that editors might find me. We’ll see…..
If you find yourself in the middle of this debate, unsure whether to call yourself a freelancer or something else, here are a few questions to ask of yourself.
* What impression do you want to make to potential clients? How do you want them to see you professionally?
* How comfortable do you feel calling yourself a freelancer?
* How do you want clients to find you (via LinkedIn, X, Instagram, other job sites)?
* How do you see yourself? As a business owner? A consultant? A writer and editor? A freelancer?
* How concerned are you about misperceptions in the marketplace?
* How much experience do you have? Are you starting out as a freelancer or have you been working that way for a while?
It takes some serious soul-searching and experimentation with assorted titles to see which one works best for you. No matter how you define yourself as a professional writer, the freelancing business is definitely thriving and is here to stay. There’s plenty of room for new faces in the freelancing pool.
The Regal Writer 