Save Money by Investing in Expert Help

Investing in expert help may seem like a luxury when you’re trying to build or sustain your freelance business but this will actually save you money in the long term. Experts can help you get clients, manage your business, enhance your skills, and ultimately, boost your income.

Trying to figure out how to run a successful freelance business on your own takes a lot of time and is stressful. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your freelance career to the next level, you’ll save money, worry less, and build your confidence by investing in expert help.

Get More of Your Greatest Asset: Time

“By learning what works right off the bat, you save money in the form of your time that you would have spent figuring it out on your own,” says Morgan Leafe, MD. “As a freelancer, time is money and you don’t make any money for time spent not working. So it’s in your best interest to keep your business running as smoothly as possible.” Morgan provides career counseling for physicians who want to transition into medical writing.

When I wanted to learn about AI in medical writing, for example, I found a great course: Introduction to Medical Writing and Artificial Intelligence from Michelle Guillemard at Health Writer Hub. Instead of spending months trying to figure out how I should and shouldn’t be using AI in my work and probably not learning what I needed to learn, this small investment taught me what I needed to know efficiently and effectively. I also got lots of resources to use and links to more experts on AI who I could follow and learn from.

Spend Now, Save Later

“Many freelancers are trying to establish their business on a budget. But then they spend a lot of time (the greatest asset) to try to figure it out on their own,” says Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS.

“I have learned that spending a little money upfront can save you many, many hours of time and come back in large dividends later,” says Crystal. “The best mindset you can have is to think of these opportunities as investments, not just costs.” Crystal runs Redwood Ink, which helps researchers and other professional writers transform complex scientific and medical language into clear, concise, and compelling writing.

Focus Your Business and Prevent Common Problems

Most freelancers don’t know much about running a freelance business when they start out. This often leads to a lot of wasted time.

“Expert help will help you learn what to avoid, how to prioritize, and the importance of developing a strategy for your business. You’ll feel more confident and be able to lean into your strengths,” says Alexandra (Alex) Howson, PhD, CHCP, FACEhp. Alex is the founder of WriteCME Pro, a professional development and resource hub for medical writers who specialize in CME writing, and host of the Write Medicine podcast.

Investing in expert help will also help you prevent common freelance problems. “Some problems end up costing more to fix than it would have to do it correctly the first time,” says Abigale Miller, MSc. For example, if you don’t understand bookkeeping processes and tax rules in advance, you probably won’t be keeping good records of invoices, payments, and receipts. “At year-end, you’ll be scrambling to dig up receipts from nine months ago that you didn’t know you had to save,” she says. Abigale hosts The Anthill, a virtual coworking community for medical writers.

Invest in Your Success

Experts who’ve been in your shoes can help you overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and build a successful and sustainable freelance business. You’ll be able to build your business faster, without learning by trial and error, and with a lot less stress.

invest in expert help

“The main reason to invest in expert help is to save time and headache,” says Abigale. “You can learn a tested approach to some aspect of building your business, and find out aspects of running a business you may not have thought of.”

While there’s no guarantee that an investment in expert help will pay off, it is much more efficient than trying to do it all on your own. “Medical writers are smart people who mostly think they can figure things out. They can and they will. But that process can be painful, cause losses, and take longer than it needs to,” says Alex. “Your progress will be piecemeal and meandering. An expert will help you develop a strategy and a plan to execute your strategy.”

Growing your network is a key benefit of most expert help. Networking is one of the best and easiest ways for freelancers to get the clients they deserve. “Investing in expert help also provides connections in the field–both to the instructor and other students–and this can come in handy as your career advances,” says Abigale.

Learn more about investing in expert help
How Expert Help Will Fuel Your Freelance Success

Decide What Type of Expert Help You Need

Online courses, coaching, and membership communities are common types of expert help. These cover many aspects of freelancing, including enhancing your skills, managing and marketing your freelance business, and learning about the freelance marketplace.

“There are many types of experts available for freelancers,” says Morgan. “The first step is figuring out what you need most. Clients? Writing skills? Business guidance? If your answer is all of the above, pick one place to start.”

“Getting expert help with the area of your business that is causing you the most stress will save you time and money in the long run, and most importantly, build your confidence and make your day-to-day work easier,” she says.

While a course, coaching, or a membership community may focus more on one aspect of freelancing than others, the content often overlaps. All of these include professional guidance from the expert, which is often customized to your freelance business, your goals, and your needs.

Build Skills and Seize New Opportunities

Experts can help you build skills in your freelance field, explore new opportunities, and prepare to seize those opportunities.

WriteMedicine, for example, focuses on CME writing. Alex offers self-paced courses and WriteCME Pro, a membership community. Courses include Next Level Needs Assessments and and Crafting Patient Cases. WriteCME Pro combines education, resources, and access to a community of like-minded writers all in one place.

Redwood Ink focuses on building writing skills. Courses include Scientific Writing Simplified and the Inclusive Language Course. Crystal also offers personalized coaching on the craft of writing and managing the writing process.

Learn How to Get the Clients You Deserve

Building your skills and learning how to market your freelance business will both help you build and sustain your freelance business. In today’s crowded freelance marketplace, freelancers who stand out will attract bigger, better clients. The Mighty Marketer helps freelancers stand out in a sea of freelancers through client-focused marketing.

Courses focus on what works best in marketing a freelance business. Coaching is customized to your business, your goals, and your challenges to help you get to where you want to go.

Get Personalized Business Coaching

Some experts focus on other aspects of running a freelance business or working in a specific industry. These coaches provide invaluable insights and strategies to help you chart your career path and set and achieve goals. Also, they help you conquer challenges.

Morgan provides career counseling for physicians who want to transition into medical writing. She also helps them write LinkedIn profiles and resumes that will help them highlight their relevant skills and experience. This helps new physician medical writers either build a freelance business or get a job in medical writing.

Get a Little Bit of Everything

As a membership community, The Anthill focuses on peer learning and support, with expert guidance from Abigale. Members meet regularly virtually. They network and share their experiences, knowledge, and challenges.

Make the Most of Investing in Expert Help

Once you do invest in expert help, make sure that you get the most out of it.

invest in expert help

“The most important step is to take action,” says Crystal. “Consuming information in courses or discussing things in coaching can only go so far. Taking action with application is the key to turning understanding into knowledge and expertise.”

Taking action and doing the work are crucial. My course webpage tells freelancers that the course will only work for them if they’re ready to commit to doing the work to build their freelance businesses.

“You will only get out of a course or coaching session what you put into it,” says Morgan. “You are investing in something to guide you, not an employee or contractor to do the work for you.”

“Fully participate in the course, program, or community. These are built to help you develop your own skills, not to do it all for you,” says Abigale. “Complete whatever work is assigned, join in to events, ask questions, and apply the lessons in real time in your business.”

Abigale also notes the importance of networking. “Connect with everyone you meet. Keep in touch with the instructor and other students or participants in the program.”

Invest in Yourself

By investing in expert help, you leverage the insights and skills of experts who can help you get clients, manage your business, and enhance your skills. Spending some money now will save you a lot of time and help you avoid the stress and uncertainty of trying to figure out everything on your own. With more time for client work, you’ll boost your income.

“Investments in yourself are the best investments you can make,” says Crystal.

About the Featured Experts

Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS, Redwood Ink

Crystal is an editor, educator, and coach who helps scientists, clinicians, and other professional writers communicate with clear, concise, and compelling writing. In 2017, she founded Redwood Ink to equip researchers and other professional writers with the principles, resources, and systems they need to write compelling manuscripts and grants that strive to improve health and health care.

Crystal’s LinkedIn profile

Abigale Miller, MSc., The Anthill

The Anthill is a tight-knit group of members who support each other through the ups and downs of running a freelance business. We celebrate, commiserate, and troubleshoot. And it’s fun! The community includes:

An online platform for questions, resources, and chats
Regular calls for discussions about issues in medical writing and freelancing
Events like weekly planning and book club
Coworking time.

Abigale’s LinkedIn profile

Alexandra (Alex) Howson, PhD, CHCP, FACEhs, *Write CME Pro***

Membership in WriteCME Pro provides strategic guidance, a clear framework for success, and a deep understanding of the CME landscape through ongoing support, access to industry experts, and practical skill-building sprints. Members meet at least three times a month for group coaching, portfolio building, and expert perspective sessions. Members also get personalized guidance from Alex via Voxer.

Alex’s LinkedIn profile

Morgan Leafe, MD

Morgan offers career counseling for physicians who are interested in pursuing a career in medical writing. She helps aspiring physician medical writers accelerate their careers by offering clear and concise guidance on the medical writing field.

Morgan’s LinkedIn profile

Lori De Milto, The Mighty Marketer

The Mighty Marketer helps freelancers get the clients they deserve. Lori uses a proven process, based on what works best for freelancers, to help other freelancers build stable, successful freelance businesses. She shares this process through the Freelance Success Blog, how-to guides, and courses.

Lori’s LinkedIn profile

Lori’s freelance website