Thanks Sharon. 🙂

For me it wasn’t so much the topics, but more knowing I was using my skills and expertise to benefit others more than myself. If I wanted that, I’d have taken a full-time position somewhere long ago. It’s not in my DNA for a reason.

So much of my freelance work is hidden (ghostwriting, consulting, research involvement, and traditionally uncredited writing like press releases).

It started to hit hard a few years back when a newer freelancer reached out privately to complain about advice on my site when they said it looked like I didn’t actually do anything anymore… because they couldn’t see the work that dominated my time while my own sites were always the first to take a backseat. It was insulting, especially when they could have simply asked.

This was also at a time when the insta-expert crowd started dominating the freelance writing community with shitty membership sites (which still drive new writers to me after they feel screwed out of their money for nothing) and newer bloggers ripping off more experienced pros (and still heavily benefitting from that to this day).

I felt like I was letting the people I created these resources for down. And it felt hopeless to combat that kind of bullshit when I couldn’t be a visible voice in the way I used to, and with so many experienced colleagues going quieter in that time too. So every client project demanding my time not only cost me in relation to steadier income streams, but they removed a good bit of the influence I used to have.

This year, in a way, feels like “going home.” I love the act of building, and re-building is even more exciting because it’s being fueled by years of utter rage. That’s driven some behind-the-scenes research into professional passion areas, and now I finally get to channel some of it into more public projects again. It’s one part creating and one part fighting back against bullshit artists who have been screwing over newer freelancers and such, especially during the uncertain times we’ve all been living through. And I am beyond excited for that.

Seeing you transition to work you’re so passionate about is inspiring Sharon. And I think over this past year in particular, getting to watch your journey from a distance helped give me the confidence to say “f* it, it’s time.” So thank you for that.

Yikes. I think I know which one you’re talking about. He’s not the one I meant in the post, but I’d forgotten about past conversations on that one. Three times a day is a bit much for any marketing messages. And the home mailer after you’d already unsubscribed from emails isn’t just intrusive, it’s downright creepy! Eww. I’m with you. No thanks.

There were a few freelancers over the years who have done this, and I did the same thing your newer writer did — unsubscribed, unfollowed, and in one case, blocked. Two of these freelancers were people I knew and liked. But when you see yet another note coming in and you groan, you know it’s too much.

One freelancer had a great course I’d taken. However, I regretted it after months of what amounted to sales spam. Every day there was an email. They peppered their emails with occasional “free” advice, which was the only reason to open it. But even with that, I just started deleting. Then, after three emails came in on the same freaking day, I unsubcribed.

And that’s when, a month later, that freelancer sent me a sales pitch in my home mailbox. To an address I’d never shared. I was totally done. Not only will I never buy another thing from them, I’ll never recommend them.

I get the “warm lead” sales tactic. Yes, it’s great to capitalize on that. But if they don’t buy right away, pestering the hell out of them for the next three months every day (EVERY day) isn’t going to change their minds. And sending them a sales letter to their home address definitely won’t do it. It wouldn’t be so bad, but this person was selling marketing courses.

No thanks.

I know you mean well by them, so thanks for your thoughts.

Regards
Sahat Francius