This document provides information and advice for remote freelance work. It discusses Edward Meehan's career journey, inspiration resources for freelancers, the differences between freelancing and contracting, freelancing statistics in the US, challenges of finding work and clients as a freelancer, and tips for defining services, finding good clients, and remote freelancing success in Hawaii specifically.

1. Remote Working
Refresh Hilo 9/8/15

2. Edward Meehan
● Started career in 2004
● freelanced on side to make extra money
● 2006 first attempt at full time freelance
● 2013 second attempt at full time freelance
● 2015 redefining my freelance

3. Inspiration Resources*
4-Hour Workweek - Tim Ferriss
Rework - Jason Fried & David Hansson
The Virgin Way - Richard Branson
Delivering Happiness - Tony Hsieh
* results may very, find your own inspiration

4. Freelance & Contracting
Freelancers find their own work and handle own
business. 1099
Contractors employed by staffing agency that finds
them jobs. W-4
Freelancers can be contractors (independent contractor)

5. Freelance Stats
The Good
53 million Americans (34% of U.S. workforce) are
freelancers
$715 billion in freelance earnings
The Bad
No survey on remote freelancers (yet)
Yahoo retracted remote working policy in 2013
Poor communication and lack of experts top challenges
facing remote teams

6. The struggle is real!
1. Finding clients that will pay you what you’re worth
2. Finding enough work to pay the bills
3. Finding time to do all the business stuff: bookkeeping,
accounts payable, accounts receivable
Sound familiar?

7. The struggle is real! In Hawaii!
1. No tech temp agencies on the Big Island
2. Few large companies or agencies to gain experience
with on the Big Island
3. Local economy struggles to stimulate new business
What is a freelancer to do?

8. Remote!
Being a remote freelancer or contractor in Hawaii
helps stimulate the local economy.
People love Hawaii! Don’t overlook the advantage of
living in a vacation destination.
Central to North America, Asia, Australia.

9. Let’s get started!
1. Define your services
2. Find good clients
3. Tips

10. Define your services, better!
don’t be a jack of all trades
find a niche
better understand your target audience
build a reputation
list problems solved VS list abilities
Demonstrate value, show personality.

11. Example
I design websites for
clients using the latest
design trends and
techniques.
I design custom landing
pages for lead generation
marketing campaigns.
VS
One demonstrates ability while the other demonstrates value. If you're a
designer, your ability to design is implied, tell me what problems you are
solving with your designs.

12. Discussion
Let’s take a short coffee/water break

13. Find Good Clients
Define Good Client
Aim small, miss small
Trust your instincts

14. Define Good Client
build a list of attributes that define your good client.
Base it on people you know, businesses you are
familiar with.
create a list of businesses types that match:
organic foods wholesaler, eco tourism operators
do they currently use your type of services?
do they value them?
Goal - Find business type that value your services

15. Aim small, miss small
You should have a list of business types, now you need
to find the people.
LinkedIn, Industry Blogs,Company Blogs
Do your research, department names and titles. Who
would most likely be in charge of making the decision
to hire you? Find out, Search.

16. Try again, fail again, fail better!
Just do it!

17. Trust your instincts
Build value before talking dollars
If price or time is main concern… run!
Don’t be a hero!
If you have any doubt, ask for a retainer.

18. Tips
practice good communication
be available when you say you will
pay yourself a salary
prepare for slow times, they will come
find a comfortable place to work
no work, hit your goal… go play
the fear will fade with time

19. Other Resources
www.authenticjobs.com
http://jobs.smashingmagazine.com
https://weworkremotely.com
https://www.freelancelift.com
http://jake-jorgovan.com