By Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Author Jenny MacKay

In tough economic times, streamlining a business is a cruel necessity. This could mean carving out departments and letting employees go, which often places new burdens on the remaining staff as essential projects get shuffled elsewhere. The result could be an overworked and disgruntled workforce where creativity and enthusiasm are squelched under the weight of the daily grind.

Freelance help could remedy this situation. In many industries, freelancers have always been a mainstay to doing business. But when layoff rates are high, talented and skilled professionals in every industry can find themselves in a position to become self-employed. There is no time like the present to tap into this freelance pool to supplement and enhance your operations.

What Is a Freelance Worker and Why Hire One?

Freelancers are self-employed individuals who provide services on a per-project basis. They work as independent contractors and, traditionally, have been most common in creative industries such as writing and photography. These days, freelancers abound in other occupations, too – web design, computer programming and graphic art are a few fields that have become freelance dominated in recent years.

The benefits of hiring freelancers are numerous. As a freelancer’s client, you pay only for the specific job you need done and are not responsible for benefits, Social Security, Medicare or workers’ comp. Freelancers usually own their equipment and software and work remotely, eliminating your need to provide office space and the technology needed to complete an assignment. A freelancer becomes a satellite employee for the duration of a project. It can be a very flexible and convenient relationship.

Another benefit of hiring freelancers is their enthusiasm. They typically work hard to please their clients and hold themselves accountable for the quality and timeliness of their work. As specialists in their fields, freelancers can also bring in new vision and expertise.

Will My Company Benefit from Freelance Help?

Almost any industry could potentially benefit from relinquishing tasks to freelancers. If you recently have had to downsize your business, it may be worthwhile to consider freelance help to fill in the gaps. If you have been putting off a project or company goal because you feel that there is no one on your staff who has the time or experience; and you do not have the resources to hire a regular employee, a freelancer may be a very good option.

Ask colleagues, fellow business owners and your own staff for suggestions of people who may be interested in a freelance opportunity with your company. If you recently had to lay off someone or may do so in the near future, this individual may be amenable to a freelance relationship. You can also search for freelancers through the same channels you would use to fill any new position in your company. Just be sure to mention that this will be a contract job.

Hiring Freelancers

Professional freelancers should be able to provide references of current and former clients. Also, ask to see portfolios or samples of their work, or ask if they will take tests that demonstrate their skills (freelance editors, proofreaders and transcriptionists expect such tests as a reasonable part of a client’s consideration process).

Once you have chosen a freelancer, you will need to negotiate a contract that outlines the specific job duties, payment (hourly or flat fee), job duration and quality parameters. Confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-compete clauses are other protections often written into a contract to prohibit freelancers from revealing company data or taking business away from the company. It is wise to seek legal counsel when drawing up and negotiating a freelance contract. This will eliminate many of the concerns and uncertainties employers often have about hiring freelancers.

Freelancers and businesses can form mutually beneficial relationships, and the advent of telecommuting technology makes this a more viable option than ever before. If you are a business owner, now may be the time to consider working with freelancers.

By Cambridge Who’s Who Member and Contributing Author Shirley Patterson

Freelance writing – the act of submitting authored works to a company or individual on a per project basis – offers a lot of advantages, especially for people looking to shapetheir own schedules. There are endless possibilities for the freelance writer, depending on your ability to tackle a wide range of projects. Writers are needed at every level of business, from corporate to creative. Some companies may hire a freelancer for copywriting, which is the act of generating copy specifically for advertising campaigns and publicity projects. Other organizations will seek out freelance writers for more in-depth marketing materials, corporate communications and correspondence with shareholders, investors and/or clients. Magazines usually have a reserve of freelance writers who can tackle investigative stories, depending on their specialties and interests.

You don’t have to be a published journalist to become a professional freelance writer; people are constantly looking for articles on every topic. With the migration of newspapers and magazines to the Internet and the emergence of blogs as self-publishing tools, there are more outlets than ever to choose from. You just have to prove that you possess the knowledge and skills needed to contribute relevant articles that will reach the organization’s intended audience.

How to Start a Freelance Writing Career

At first the idea of beginning a career in freelance writing may seem daunting – even impossible. But all you need is commitment, dedication, some specific areas of interest/expertise and the ability to come up with creative ideas, or story angles, that you can pitch to editors. Constructing a winning pitch is a skill that every writer considering a career in freelancing should have. Think about the different points to your story as well as the story’s cultural and historical context. Figure out a unique way to approach the subject matter that will make it more interesting or intriguing to the reader.

Now that you know how to approach an editor, let’s figure out where to begin. To make a living out of writing for the Web can be challenging because a lot of online publications do not pay well and you will have a lot of competition. Nonetheless, the Internet is a good place to start looking for freelance writing gigs. You can begin by writing engaging articles, blogs and essays on popular topics and sending out some article proposals to magazines and websites. Even if you do not get compensated initially, by getting your name out there and building your online visibility, you will create a robust portfolio that you can present to potential employers. You should also diversify your writing abilities and the outlets you select to publish your work in order to make more money. Write e-zine articles, contribute newsletter content and become involved in a variety of projects – your work load will grow and so will your income. Start your own website, join forums and writers groups and cover various article topics for an online magazine of interest. If they are pleased with your work, some of these online publications may ask you to contribute content-for-pay, including features in their print properties. Be patient. This process will take a lot of hard work and determination, but it can be very rewarding.

Gaining Success as a Freelance Writer

Perseverance and dedication will help you to reach your professional goals. If you work diligently at writing and obtain the necessary exposure for your content, your dream to build a lucrative career as a freelancer will come true. And the harder you work at your craft, the more your skill set will develop and the easier you will be able to find inspiration for your work. Once you are focused, ideas will begin to appear out of nowhere. Your characters will whisper in your ear as you are standing in line at the check-out counter of a grocery store. You will come up with a series of fascinating article ideas while sitting in the waiting area of a doctor’s office. It will hit you like a bad habit, but this time it is for the good! Actively seek work, maintain a website, join online communities, network with other professionals, and write articles and submit them to article directories. Your hard work will ensure your success as a freelance writer.

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Freelance Writing Articles by Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Authors

Cambridge Who’s Who members share their expertise on the business of freelance writing. If you are a freelance writing professional and would like to contribute your article to Cambridge Who’s Who, join the Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Author Program.