This week we’re going to cover a question you’re going to want to make your best friend, because it can save you from a lot of the long-term challenges too many freelancers face.

One of the reasons freelancing can be hard to earn a fulltime income from, even just to start, is money.

When I started out, I’d hear stories of freelancers working 10 and 12-hour days for less than they were making in a regular job just to make ends meet. Of course they ended up discouraged and running back to the false security of employment.

When I saw those stories though, I’d sit and listen to the advice more experienced freelancers would give and it was invariably “leave the low-paying work behind and go where the money is.”

Never stop asking this question.

I don’t care if you’re freelancing on the side, pursuing a passion, or trying to build a 7-figure agency, you need to constantly be curious about where your skill’s being paid well so you can develop your abilities and properly network with other freelancers.

It might be in a certain niche (something like finance where there’s a lot of cash flowing). It might be in a particular product (something like case studies that are used to move product). It might be in a specific application (something like direct response and sales where it’s clear that your work drives business).

The money question is a broad one, and you’ll honestly never get the same answer or even an exact one. The point though, isn’t so much to answer the question as it is to develop a mental habit.

It really isn’t that hard to keep up with where the money is.

The first is to follow and keep up with other freelancers who do what you do. Follow them on Twitter, subscribe to their newsletters and check their rate sheets every now and again to see what they’re charging and getting paid.

The second is to connect with communities. I can’t stress this one enough…BlackFreelance shouldn’t be your only outlet out here in these freelance streets.

I’m in at least two communities on top of this one at any given time and it’s where I learn the most about the specifics of my skillset. (Side note: I keep track of any skill-specific communities I run across under each skill under the “Get to Know Your Skillset” dropdown on the main site.)

I know this is uncomfortable for some of us who might be less income oriented, but it’s absolutely necessary if your goal is to build a freelance business that gets beyond the struggle and makes your life better.

Megan