Why solo PR pros despise being called ‘freelancers’

Don’t call a solo PR pro a freelancer.

Not all solo public relations professionals may feel this way about the word, but more than a few do.

Call them solos, independents, business owners or even consultants, but unless you want to get their blood pressure up, don’t call them freelancers.

When some PR pros hear the word “freelancer,” they often think (fair or not) of an individual known for being good at one thing and only doing that one thing, either part-time or full-time, and often in between full-time jobs. On the cost side, they are perceived (again fair or not) of being the “cheap” option.

I recently had a conversation with someone who sees herself only as a freelancer. She charges very little for her time and complains quite a bit about the types of assignments she gets, the little amount of money she makes and the nature of the work. She sees herself as a contract employee and not an independent business owner.

This is all about mindset.

How to position your value

Generally speaking, freelancers may see their role as selling a service for time spent and producing a deliverable, such as an article, a news placement or a series of social media posts.