Clare Green, Media and Communications Officer at the Francis Crick Institute and Stempra committee member shares practical tips from three experienced comms freelancers.
Going freelance in communications can be daunting: navigating new terrain, finding a niche and working out how to approach new clients. Last month’s Stempra webinar delved into the topic and showcased three seasoned freelancers’ experiences and advice.
Event Chair Inês Crespo splits her time between the University of Glasgow, FRESCI and the Stempra committee – one panellist’s experience inspired her own jump into freelancing!
Kicking things off was Katrina Wesencraft, who works four days at the University of Glasgow and freelances for one. Katrina enjoys the flexibility of freelancing alongside the security of annual leave and a pension that comes with paid employment.
Henry Scowcroft followed, who moved into freelance science writing after communications and digital roles at Cancer Research UK and three years leading the comms team at Alzheimer’s Research UK. He felt the time was right to go freelance and loves returning to science writing, working on more diverse projects and the flexibility it gives for family life.
Last but no means least, Sam Burne James challenged the idea that there is one type of a ‘freelancer’, stating that the pros and cons depend on you and the people you work with. He also questioned some big myths about being freelance – yes, there are peaks and troughs, but there also is in full‑time employment. He’sbeen freelancing for over six years, after working as a business‑focused journalist and in the press office at NICE.
Top tips
- Networking is crucial: get to conferences or events and keep in touch with people via platforms like LinkedIn.
- Freelancing can be daunting, but it can give you the chance to work on new and varied projects when paid employment might be more restrictive.
- There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ way to be freelance. Many different working patterns exist, depending on both the freelancer and the client.
How do you find your clients?
- Katrina mainly finds clients through word-of-mouth or friends’ networks. At the start, she optimised how her website would be found, was active on LinkedIn and signed up for newsletters to find opportunities.
- Henry agrees that LinkedIn has been invaluable. He shares previous projects he’s worked on or pieces of writing, showing people what he could do for them. He has also approached his network of ex-colleagues for new work.
- Sam began by sending targeted LinkedIn messages, which led to a six‑year relationship with one client. He values having a specific plan for who and when he’s working with them. Sam also found work through writing blog posts or attending events.
Do you have a contract with people you work with?
- Sam generally doesn’t, preferring to agree terms over email. He stresses that if you set up an agency, formal contracts become more important.
- Katrina prefers contracts after experiencing issues with payment and now helps new freelancers with contracts or late payments.
- Henry says it’s very client-specific. Some ask him to sign an NDA or have an insurance policy, whereas others are happy to stick to email.
How do you work out your rates?
- Katrina prefers project fees over an hourly fee, which could be more economical in terms of her time and money. This requires working out how long it takes to do certain tasks.
- Henry benchmarked his fees with other freelancers and typically charges a day rate. He stresses the importance of taking projects you might love that are a bit below your day rate; these could also lead to new opportunities.
- Sam says learning to be confident to talk about money is essential. It’s important to build up a buffer at the start and remember to factor in paying tax at the end of the year.
Do you miss the community in employed work?
- Katrina feels a part of communities like sci-comms groups and has made genuine friends via social media, which has led to some new work.
- Henry goes into a client’s office one day a week, which helps with the social side. He feels well adapted to home working after the pandemic.
- Sam doesn’t miss commuting, but does believe you can get lonely as a freelancer. If you are very sociable, it’s wise to look for jobs that offer you the chance to work with the team directly.
Thanks to our panellists for their insights and showing freelance life comes in many shapes.