Top 10 Books for Freelancers
Slowly but surely, it seems that freelancing will become a primary livelihood for many people. Each year, the number of people transitioning to freelancing is increasing gradually. Based on a report from 99Firms.com, 31% of freelancers in the United States are making $75,000 per year. With that in mind, freelancing can definitely earn you a decent income if you do it right.
Top 10 Books for Freelancers
So, if you are planning to go freelance soon, you should check out our top ten book recommendations for freelancers and aspiring freelancers. Each book will give you a bird’s eye view about freelancing from the minds of tenured professionals.
The Freelancer’s Bible
First up, we have The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz and Toni Sciarra Poynter. This 497-page book provides its readers with many heads up of what to expect as a freelancer. That includes the level of job security, how freelancers pay taxes, how freelancers manage time, and many others.
Almost everything you must know about the freelance economy and freelance lifestyle is in this book. The authors didn’t call it The Freelancer’s Bible for no reason. This book garnered positive reviews from various websites, and we encourage you to get a copy of it.
The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing
Award-winning journalist Zachary Petit wrote The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing to help aspiring freelance writers. Writing is one of the in-demand and competitive jobs in freelancing. So, if you’ll choose it as your freelance niche, you should consider reading this book.
The book will show you tips about writing all kinds of literature, such as blogs and articles. It also teaches you the importance of doing good research to write with credibility and engage the audience. Not only that, but the author also included subtopics to help freelance writers negotiate contracts with trusted clients. As you can see, the book indeed stays true to its title of being an essential guide. Plus, this book received positive feedback from its readers and has a rating of 4.33 out of 5 in Goodreads.com.
Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business
If you want to become a freelance animator, graphic designer, videographer, or photographer, then this book is for you. Authored by Joy Deangdeelert Cho and Meg Mateo Ilasco, this book will teach you how to make more money and achieve a steady income by pursuing your passion. According to a fan review of the book in Goodreads.com, “it’s a perfect starter guide for an artist on the verge of a career.”
Arts and design are also an in-demand field in freelancing. Many clients search and hire freelance artists or designers on freelance websites and social media. This book can help you use the full potential of your artistic portfolio and make your freelance business successful. It also talks about the legal aspects of starting your business with an in-depth analysis. With a 4.3 out of 5 rating in Barnes & Noble, this book will be worth your time and money.
My So-Called Freelance Life
My So-Called Freelance Life is a book for women who want to escape their day job and become freelancers. Although the author, Michelle Goodman, wrote the book for female readers, men who also want the freelance life can learn many things while reading it. After all, the book is a how-to guide in traversing the freelancing wilderness.
To no surprise, My So-Called Freelance Life has a more feminine theme and tone, but it’s entertaining to read regardless of your gender. The book has the right dose of humor, which keeps its readers hooked and planted on their couch for hours. The author also cited some of her experiences as a creative worker to give readers a better understanding. My So-Called Freelance Life received rave reviews from multiple book review websites.
This Year Will Be Different: The Insightful Guide to Becoming a Freelancer
This Year Will Be Different is authored by Diana Ovezea and Monika Kanokova. This book is filled with tips for freelance workers that are useful once you start freelancing. It’s also packed with real-life stories and interviews with veteran freelancers who are financially stable. These freelancers are mostly photographers, designers, bloggers, and consultants.
So, no matter what your freelance work is, you’ll learn many things with this book. This Year Will Be Different is a book that’s tailor-made for all types of freelancers and self-employed individuals. We encourage you to add this book to your checklist.
Everybody Writes
Everybody Writes is another book intended for aspiring writers. If you happen to be one, own this book along with The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing.
Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs, is the author of Everybody Writes. She is an expert in content writing, and her book is solid proof of that. Everybody Writes teaches writers how to create content that can boost product promotion, attract customers, and reach a wider audience. If you can apply Ann Handley’s teachings through her book, you could become a sought-after freelance writer in no time. That will help you get referrals and more work.
The Anti 9 to 5 Guide
The Anti 9 to 5 Guide is another book by Michelle Goodman. This book is also a guide, which focuses more on the jump from a traditional job to a freelance career. Just like My So-Called Freelance Life, The Anti 9 to 5 Guide’s target readers are women, but men will find it interesting and informative too, nonetheless.
The book shows how you should plan your shift to freelancing. The author emphasized the importance of pursuing your passion and making sound decisions to make it big as a freelancer. By reading this book, you could get excited to leave the gloomy walls of your office cubicle and join the freelance economy.
Get Clients Now!
In freelancing, one of the challenges is tracking clients. Yes, there are many clients in the freelance market, but there are many freelancers as well. That means you’ll encounter competition in sending proposals to clients and getting their attention. For that reason, we recommend you to read Get Clients Now! by C.J. Hayden.
Get Clients Now! is a book that helps all kinds of professionals and businesses to grow their clientele. You’ll learn various marketing strategies, networking methods, and other techniques to help you get clients. Get Clients Now! is well received by long-time professionals and successful people in the business.
Rework
If you’re a person who wants to do things differently, you should purchase Rework and add it to your bookshelf. Co-written by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried, this book teaches readers unorthodox yet effective ways to quicken the growth of your business.
When you read this book, you have to be open-minded to the authors’ suggestions. Rework will make you think outside the box and stray away from traditions. The book will remind you to walk the talk and eradicate all habits of procrastination. In our opinion, this book is for freelancers and entrepreneurs who are pure hustlers and hungry for success.
Six-Figure Freelancing
As a freelancer, talking about money is a language that you should know how to speak well. If otherwise, your financial growth will remain stagnant and could even go down. Because of that, we strongly recommend you to read Six-Figure Freelancing by Kelly James-Enger.
This book will teach you the tricks to gain a competitive edge in the freelance industry. The author elaborately explained multiple strategies in maximizing profit within short periods. Every chapter of this book is insightful and gets better as you turn each page. By applying the teachings of Six-Figure Freelancing, you might end up becoming a freelancer with a six-digit regular income.
All of these books are readily available to purchase online. Don’t think of these books as costs when you buy them. Money spent on learning and discovery is an investment. And as a freelancer, you should always make room on your schedule to read books and absorb knowledge.
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