Freelancing is a great way to make money in today’s economy. It gives you the freedom to set your own schedule and make as much or as little money as you want. What’s not to love about that? Well, for many people (especially millennials), there are a few things.
The freelance economy can be tough to navigate, and it takes time and experience before you’ll be able to build up a reliable client base. That said, with the right mindset and preparation, freelancing can work for just about anyone.
But before you commit your time and energy into this career path, here are some things you should consider first:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Embrace the Freelance Lifestyle |
| 2. Understand the Gig Economy |
| 3. Develop a Strong Online Presence |
| 4. Focus on Building a Diverse Skill Set |
| 5. Network and Build Professional Relationships |
| 6. Set Clear Goals and Prioritize Tasks |
| 7. Prepare for Financial Instability |
| 8. Stay Updated with Industry Trends |
| 9. Learn to Market and Promote Yourself |
| 10. Be Open to Continuous Learning |
| 11. Balance Work and Personal Life |
| 12. Emphasize Time Management and Discipline |
1. Your Goals
One of the most important considerations is your goals. What do you want to make? How much time do you have to work? Are there other priorities in your life aside from freelance work, such as family or school?
Are there specific skills that you’re going to need in order to begin freelancing, and if so, what are they (i.e., HTML5)? Can you get help with these skills from a friend or mentor?
A good place to start when considering goals is by thinking about what the end result would look like: how much money would be enough for me; when will this project be “done;” what kind of lifestyle do I want after that point.
Then figure out how long it will take and then double that number!
When stepping into the freelance world, understanding the unique dynamics is crucial for success. Explore the 13 ways we are different in the freelance world to navigate your way through this exciting journey.
2. Your Budget
Not everyone has a ton of money to work with. The good news is that even if you don’t have much in savings, it’s possible to make a living as a freelancer.
You simply need to be disciplined about your budgeting and prioritize saving up more cash so that you can invest in yourself and your business.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How much money do I have saved up?
- Do I need at least $300-$500 per month or $3,000-$5,000 per year (or something similar)?
- What will my monthly expenses be once I’m working full-time as a freelancer? Will, they exceed what I’m currently spending on rent/utilities/food/etc.? If so, how much more am I going to need each month?
- How much money do I want or need to invest in myself over the next six months (or longer)?
How many classes should I take this year so that by next year my skills are good enough for me to compete for higher-paying jobs?
And how much will those classes cost me? Shouldn’t all of these things factor into my overall financial plan for becoming self-employed especially since taking time off from work will likely mean losing potential income during that period!
3. Your Schedule
Your schedule is one of the most important factors in deciding whether or not you can freelance successfully. In addition to your time, there are other things to consider as well:
- How much time do you have available?
- How much time do you have to devote to freelancing?
- How much time do you have for other things, such as friends and family who might also need some attention?
- How much time will it take to sleep? If this seems like an odd question, bear with me as a freelancer whose business depends on her brainpower, I must get enough rest so that my creativity isn’t sapped by exhaustion.
This means that if I don’t allow myself enough sleep during the weekdays (or weekends), then I’m going to feel downright awful while working and risk making mistakes that could cost me money!
- And finally: How often do you eat meals because they’re delicious rather than because they give energy back into our bodies after spending all day being awesome at work?”
Don’t let myths hold you back from embracing the freelance lifestyle. Unravel the truth about freelancing and millennials in our article on Millennials and Freelancing: 8 Myths Debunked to make informed career decisions.
4. Your Identity
Once you’ve figured out what your brand is, it’s time to define who you’re speaking to. Think of this as defining your niche and finding the perfect audience for your work.
You might be tempted to spread yourself too thin and reach out to everyone under the sun, but this isn’t a good idea when it comes to freelancing.
For example, if one of your goals is getting hired by The New York Times as a staff writer, it would be better not to pitch stories about how much fun it is for millennials in their 20s living in Brooklyn and dating apps (which don’t even exist anymore).
If possible, try developing specific niches within those topics that are more relevant than others for example Millennials who want advice on making coffee shop purchases or writing a resume; millennials who want advice on dating apps; etc.
Offer something unique from other writers so people will go straight for YOUR article instead of another one that covers similar material.
5. Your Passion
When it comes to being a freelancer, passion is a huge part of the equation. A passion for your work will help you get through the tough times, stand out from the crowd and help you be more productive.
When you have a strong desire for what you’re doing, it drives you to push yourself harder than if there wasn’t much of an attachment. You know when things are going well because the result is something that makes your heart sing!
Are you a millennial seeking to transition into full-time freelancing? Explore the 15 ways millennials can live the freelance life full-time to discover strategies for a successful freelancing career.
6. Your Family
Your family will be affected by your decision to freelance, so make sure they are supportive of it.
Your family may be concerned about the risk you’re taking and want you to reconsider. However, if they are supportive and understand that freelancing is not just a whim, but rather a serious choice to take control of your career, they should be fine with it.
Remember that being in control doesn’t mean doing what other people tell you it means having your reasons for making decisions about your life and career.
Make sure those closest to you understand exactly what freelancing entails so there are no surprises down the road. It might help to explain how much freedom this type of work offers as well as the long hours required and why those things matter so much to you.
In explaining why these aspects of freelance life appeal so much don’t change their minds about whether or not this path is right for them (or if they still think it’s too risky), then perhaps moving forward without their support isn’t worth it at all!
7. Your Support System
This is the hardest part. You need to be able to rely on your friends and family for support. They are going to be the ones who give you advice, listen to you cry, and tell you it’s okay when things don’t work out exactly how they were supposed to.
They will also probably be the ones who finally convince you that maybe freelancing isn’t right for you after all but that’s okay!
It’s important that we are honest about our feelings with those around us: we shouldn’t feel ashamed if something isn’t working out or if we want more from our freelance life than what we’re getting out of it right now.
That said, I think it’s equally important not to spread negativity around others without giving them an opportunity for input first;
There are many situations where a friend might have some tips or suggestions on how they overcame similar challenges in their career path (and thus can provide valuable insight).
Making the leap from a full-time job to freelancing can be daunting but also rewarding. Read about one freelancer’s journey in Why I Quit My Full-Time Job to Start Freelancing and gain insights into the freelance world.
8. Your Experience
Experience is important for freelancers, especially because it’s one of the biggest factors that clients consider when hiring freelancers.
Many clients look for people with experience in certain industries or fields, and they want to know that you have done this type of work before you know what you’re doing and how to do it well.
It may seem like your lack of experience should be an obstacle to getting jobs as a freelancer, but it actually can help you! You’ll learn by doing and pick up new skills along the way as long as you are willing to put in the work.
The more experience you have under your belt when starting as a freelancer, the better off you will be down the road because eventually those skills will become second nature and help boost your career even further!
9. Your Desire To Learn New Things
It’s important to remember that if you want to freelance, you’ll need to learn new skills. Even if this means taking classes or getting a mentor, you must be willing to do so. If not, there are plenty of other jobs out there that might suit your needs better than freelancing will.
You also need to be flexible and able to adapt when the situation calls for it. Freelancing is often unpredictable; things come up unexpectedly, deadlines get moved around, etc.
So being able to roll with whatever happens will help keep your stress levels down and ensure that nothing sets off an episode of rage-induced anxiety!
10. Your Presence On Social Media
Social media is a great way to outsource your marketing efforts and build your brand. Social media can help you find freelance work, too. If you want to make the most of social media, take some time to reflect on what works best for you and practice using it consistently.
Using social media as a freelancer: When you’re looking at using social media for building your freelance business as a way of increasing visibility, remember that each platform has its own etiquette rules and regulations.
Do some research on how people tend to use each network so that when anyone asks about them, they know exactly what kinds of questions one might expect from potential clients who have already contacted them through LinkedIn or Facebook Messenger, or even by phone!
This way they won’t be caught off guard when someone calls them up out of nowhere with an unexpected question about their background or experience level.
11. Your Digital Footprint
When you’re freelancing, your digital footprint is a lot more important than you might think.
The potential employers who are looking at your online profiles may not be as interested in seeing how often you go out for drinks with friends as they are in finding out whether or not you have a good work ethic.
To make sure that the things posted on social media and other websites convey the right message about yourself, here are some tips:
Choose carefully what content goes into a portfolio or resume. For example, if there’s any content that could be construed negatively, don’t include it!
This goes along with the last point if there’s something negative about your experience that doesn’t reflect well on yourself or others involved (even if it was due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control), then don’t include it in a portfolio or resume!
Don’t post anything offensive or controversial online unless necessary (and even then think twice before doing so).
Learn from the experiences of seasoned freelancers with our collection of 14 tips for the millennial freelancer. These valuable tips can help you thrive in the world of freelancing and achieve your career goals.
12. Your Portfolio Of Work Or Samples To Show Potential Clients/
It’s not enough to just write your name, email address, and phone number on the top of the page. You need to show off your skills in your portfolio.
So what should you include? Well, that’s up to you. Maybe it’s a blog post about how to make the most out of your gym membership or a video tutorial on how to fold fitted sheets perfectly every time.
It could be a listicle on travel tips from someone who has just returned from their first solo trip around Europe (yes, I did that).
Or maybe it’s an article explaining why millennials are better at managing money than previous generations were and why they should think twice before giving up their careers for freelance work (I also wrote this one).
Whatever it is, make sure it showcases some aspect of your skill set and interests that potential clients might find valuable.
Conclusion
That’s why we wrote this post, and that’s why we hope you found it so helpful! We want to support you on your journey as a freelancer, whether you’re brand new or a veteran.
We know it can be hard when starting it can be easy to feel like no one is listening to you or taking your ideas seriously.
But remember that what makes freelancing great is the freedom it gives each of us. You are in charge of how much time you spend on projects, what those projects look like and what they get paid for doing them.
Further Reading
6 Things to Remember When Managing Millennial Freelancers: Discover essential tips for effectively managing millennial freelancers and fostering a productive work relationship.
Five Reasons Why Millennials Are Choosing Freelancing Over 9-to-5 Jobs: Understand the motivations behind millennials’ preference for freelancing and how it impacts the modern workforce.
Networking Tips for Freelancers: Learn valuable networking strategies specifically tailored to freelancers to expand your professional opportunities.
FAQs
What are the advantages of hiring millennial freelancers?
Hiring millennial freelancers can bring fresh perspectives, tech-savviness, and adaptability to your projects.
How do freelancers benefit from networking?
Networking allows freelancers to build valuable connections, gain referrals, and access potential job opportunities.
Are there any downsides to freelancing as a millennial?
While freelancing offers flexibility, it may lack stability and employee benefits that traditional jobs provide.
How can employers effectively manage millennial freelancers?
To manage millennial freelancers successfully, employers should prioritize clear communication and offer feedback regularly.
What drives millennials to choose freelancing over traditional jobs?
Millennials often prefer freelancing due to the freedom to choose projects, work-life balance, and the opportunity to pursue their passions.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.