Are you a digital marketing freelancer, or are you thinking about taking the plunge to go full-time freelance? Danielle Antosz, Features Editor at Search Engine Journal and a full-time freelancer, shares tips and tools for building your side hustle into a full-time career.

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Freelancer
s Forum
#SEJThinkTank @dantosz

2. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
Hello!
Danielle Antosz
SEJ’s Features Editor
Full-Time Freelancer
Contact Me on Twitter:
@dantosz

3. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
Poll 1
What best
describes your
current situation?

4. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
Poll 1
What best
describes your
current situation?

5. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
What We
Will
Cover!
⊙Facing the Fear
⊙Getting Started
⊙When to Go Full-Time
⊙Where to Find Work
⊙Client Red Flags

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Facing the Fear:
Define your worst case scenario

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How to
start your
freelance
career
⊙Decide what you want to do
⊙ Get hired to do it (at least
once)
⊙ Join communities
⊙ Keep learning

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So, When Do I Quit
My “Real” Job?

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“ Just do it. There will
never be a perfect time,
there will never be a
perfect amount of money
in the bank.

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Poll 2
What is your
biggest struggle?

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How do
you find
clients?
There are
three
main
ways.
Job Boards
Go to industry blogs and publications and look for a job board. (Will get into more places
later)
Hiring Platforms
There are a variety of these, and they can be an ideal place to start. Just keep in mind
you have to put in the time to sort the good from the bad. Upwork, etc.
Referrals
This may take time. Do good work, build real relationships and afraid to ask “Hey I
have some availability this month, if you know anyone looking, send them my way!”

12. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
Problogger
Craigslist (yes, really)
Upwork
Flexjobs
ClearVoice
Media Bistro
Freelancer.com
Guru.com
Top sites
to find
clients
(Will vary
by
industry)

13. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
Resources for writers:
Jeff Bullas’ 20 Sites that pay $100+
Morning Coffee Newsletter
ProTip: Facebook Groups!
(Just don’t sell too hard - offer value)
Top sites
to find
clients
(Will vary
by
industry)

14. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
T
The Top
Red Flags
(AKA:
Clients to
Run
From)
Rude/Sketchy
If they are a
headache from
the start, they
will be a
headache until
the end. (and
might not pay)
#byefelica
Unclear
You do social
media, and they
want to hire
you. Yay! But,
they have no
clue what their
goal is or what
budget they
have.
Lack of
Communicatio
n
They don’t
respond for
weeks, miss
deadlines but
then are raring
to get started at
a moment's
notice.
Most Obvious Red Flag: They ask you to do something you
aren’t comfortable doing. Pay attention to your spidey sense.

15. #SEJThinkTank @dantosz
Want to
succeed?
Be willing to say
no.

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Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me on
Twitter: @dantosz

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