Many friends and family don't really “get” the online freelancer thing. And what can I tell them?
Since I work online (and sometimes feel like I live online), I tend to find myself in this happy bubble where people know what I do. I hang around with other online creators when I start feeling lonely and isolated.
I read news about writing and stay connected to video and podcast creators.
But when I talk to people in the “real” world about what I do as an online freelancer, they are flummoxed. To so many, professional online content creation isn't a Thing. Why would bloggers hire staff writers? Can you make a living writing online? Or podcasting? Or making videos?
And, of course, there is the respect factor. Having an online career isn't exactly seen as legitimate by many people out there in the “real” world. It's something that you do on the side, or while you're trying to get a “real” job.
Explaining Myself as an Online Freelancer
Some aspects of my work as an online freelancer are fairly easy to explain. I create content for websites. People understand the need for company profiles and “about” pages. It can get a little complicated sometimes, but most people understand the idea of creating content online. Even if they're not sure exactly how I make money.
Through the years, I've had various online freelancer gigs:
- Write for various publications, including Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Encyclopedia Britannica, and TIME.
- Produce podcasts for different clients, including co-hosting the Money Talks News Podcast.
- Speaking gigs with industry groups, including present workshops, seminars, and even keynote speeches.
- Spokesperson and consumer education work, representing national companies in media and even offering workshops on behalf of major brands.
- Books and courses that account for my own ongoing income. I have the second edition of my book on freelance writing online, a Kindle vella on being single, and mini-courses about savings priorities and building a travel fund.
I'm not embarrassed about my career path as a professional blogger. But it is sometimes hard to explain to those who don't take the online world for granted as I do.
So I've made it a point to think about what I do in terms others can understand. The good news is that it's becoming easier to do as more people make the Internet a source of income.
What about you? How do you explain your online work to those living offline?
Image source: The Oatmeal
