{"id":2657,"date":"2018-10-05T06:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-10-05T04:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justmeneesha.com\/?p=2657"},"modified":"2021-07-06T10:59:53","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T08:59:53","slug":"hustle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justmeneesha.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/05\/hustle\/","title":{"rendered":"#FreelanceFriday: the hustle is real"},"content":{"rendered":"

#FreelanceFriday: the hustle is real<\/span><\/h1>\n

I began blogging some years before I became a freelance content creator. It was the ideal platform for me to work at my own pace while I held down a full-time job. It was also a great space to build content that was my own. <\/span><\/p>\n

My goal was to hone my skills as a writer, direct traffic to my site and get people engaging with the content I was creating. The bottom line was I was passionate about writing and I just wanted a space in which I could voice my opinion. Blogging was a purely cathartic experience. At the time, I had no intention of monetising my blog. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"JustMeneesha,<\/span><\/h3>\n

Creating<\/span><\/h3>\n

Then the idea of living the \u201cgig life\u201d began taking shape in the recesses of my brain. If I was creating all this content for myself and people were interested in what I was saying, why couldn\u2019t I do the same for others? And be paid for it to boot?! Of course, it\u2019s not that simple. If it was, everyone would be doing it right? <\/span><\/p>\n

As a blogger, I worked to satisfy myself. I wrote what I liked and when I wanted. That readers engaged with what I created was a bonus. If they didn\u2019t that was okay too. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a freelancer, the client and his\/her needs are always front of mind. This changes the dynamic. Setting rates, coming up with original pitches for something I may have zero interest in or have to spend hours researching \u2026 these are the variables I have to deal with as a freelance creator. <\/span><\/p>\n

While creating may no longer be a solely cathartic activity, loving what I do still makes it enjoyable. Passion drives me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Passion<\/span><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve learnt that if I want to succeed as a freelancer then two things are most important.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first is that my portfolio is never complete. I work on improving it every day. Sometimes I add to it. At other times I remove dated projects. I often tweak existing content too. My portfolio lives and grows as I do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, I\u2019m no longer afraid to charge what I\u2019m worth. I started off charging a measly R2 500 to build a website in 2017! Yes, R2 500. My mentor thought I was mad! Today, that\u2019s my rate for a single article. If I don\u2019t see value in my work, why should I expect anyone else to? <\/span><\/p>\n

This, my friends, is the hustle of being a freelancer.<\/span><\/p>\n