In an uncertain economy, the most important way to market yourself as a freelancer isn’t your rates. In this episode, Jason and Bridget are joined by Rhonda Negard of Fat Dog Creatives to discuss the marketing angles freelancers always forget — reliability and delivery.

The Futur’s “How Much Should I Charge as a Freelancer” video inspired this podcast.

Jason Tucker, Bridget Willard, and Rhonda Negard

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Know Your Strengths

Rhonda sees herself as a rebranding specialist. Though she can (obviously) make a logo from scratch, this is her gift. (Definitely check out this case study). Because of that, she charges by the project, not by hour.

The opposite is also true; it’s important to know your weaknesses. Once you start outsourcing, you have a bit of project management that is unavoidable.

“If you’re not good at project management, you do not want to take too many projects where you have to manage people.” Rhonda Negard

Networking, Your Most Valuable Asset

Whether your networking is on LinkedIn, Twitter, or in person, it’s important to account for this time as work. Start a relationship and “get curious about other people,” Rhonda says, but not to your own detriment.

“Don’t just look to get jobs but to give jobs.” Rhonda Negard

Whether you are hired as a freelancer or outsource work to freelancers, you need to keep your bench warm. Connect with people on “as many platforms as you can,” reminds Rhonda. This way, they are sure to stay top-of-mind.

Price By Project, Not by Hour

When looking for vendors, Rhonda wants to know the full total of the project. This way, she can add in her margin as an agency.

When bidding, account for your time that includes networking, going through emails, and research and development, Rhonda says.

Meet Your Deadlines

When it comes to how long something takes, well — that’s up for debate. Does it take an hour? Or is it an hour after you’ve been thinking about it for a week? You need to know this so you don’t overload your production schedule.

It’s a slippery slope when you’re pricing too low. You take on more work and miss deadlines. It’s okay. We’ve all been through it. The important thing is to understand how much work you can really handle.

“Build research time into your quote.” Rhonda Negard

Tool Or Tip Of The Week

  • Rhonda recommends Nail It! by Ted Leonhardt. This helps you shift your mindset from employee to entrepreneur.
  • Jason recommends Tappy Card. You can share any website with this special QR code. And it’s under $15!
  • Bridget recommends keeping kindness in the form of grace at your intention right now.