Freelancing has been a dream of mine since I was in college, and now that I’ve had the chance to do it full-time, I couldn’t be happier. It’s not always easy, but the pros outweigh the cons.
Freelancing has allowed me to take control of my life, my finances, and my schedule in ways I never thought possible. The downside? There’s a lot to learn when you’re setting out on your own as a freelancer.
It took me years before I felt like I’d developed a good sense of how to find clients, how much to charge them for projects, and which gigs were worth pursuing. Luckily for you though, I’ve compiled all that wisdom here in one place!
So without further ado: Here are 15 tips from someone who learned from first-hand experience what it takes to succeed as a freelancer!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Embrace the Gig Economy: Embracing the gig economy allows millennials to explore diverse freelance opportunities and choose projects aligned with their skills and interests. |
| 2. Build a Strong Online Presence: Creating a compelling online portfolio and maintaining an active presence on freelancing platforms can attract potential clients and boost credibility. |
| 3. Network and Collaborate: Networking with other freelancers and professionals can lead to valuable collaborations, referrals, and new projects. |
| 4. Time Management is Key: Effective time management is crucial for balancing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. |
| 5. Continuously Upskill: Staying updated with industry trends and learning new skills ensures that millennials remain competitive in the freelance market. |
| 6. Set Clear Financial Goals: Establishing financial goals and budgeting helps millennials track their earnings and plan for the future. |
| 7. Diversify Income Streams: Relying on multiple income streams provides stability and minimizes the impact of fluctuations in freelancing opportunities. |
| 8. Focus on Client Relationships: Building strong relationships with clients fosters trust, repeat business, and positive referrals. |
| 9. Overcome Challenges with Resilience: Freelancing may come with uncertainties, but maintaining resilience and adaptability is essential for long-term success. |
| 10. Invest in Self-Promotion: Actively promoting services through social media, blogging, and networking events can expand the freelancing reach. |
| 11. Seek Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Welcoming client feedback and using it to improve skills and services is a growth-oriented approach. |
| 12. Understand Legal and Tax Obligations: Familiarizing oneself with legal contracts, taxes, and financial responsibilities ensures a smooth freelancing journey. |
| 13. Prioritize Work-Life Balance: Balancing work commitments with personal time and well-being contributes to sustained productivity and happiness. |
| 14. Save for Retirement: Setting aside savings for retirement is crucial, considering the absence of traditional employer-provided benefits. |
| 15. Stay Persistent and Patient: Building a successful full-time freelance career takes time, persistence, and dedication to achieving long-term goals. |
1. Develop A Portfolio
You’re probably thinking, “Wait, I thought this was a list of things you can do to make money as a freelancer!” Well, it is but developing a portfolio is critical for you to get paid.
For example, say you have an awesome logo design portfolio and show it off on your website. Do you know what will happen? People will hire you for more work because they know that you can deliver high-quality logos at an affordable price point.
But wait… What if people don’t find your website? Or how do they even know about it in the first place?
This is where social media comes into play again. Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are great places for sharing work samples.
And building relationships with potential clients who may need more services from someone like yourself down the road (and yes that means bringing in more cash!).
Embracing the freelance life means making the most of every opportunity. Check out these 13 tips for stuffing your face with ramen noodles while freelancing, so you can focus on your work without breaking the bank.
2. Build A Community
Finding a community that is a good fit for you is the first step to building a freelance life. Here are some tips:
Find Communities Online
There are many social media sites, forums, and groups available where you can meet like-minded people who are interested in what you have to say.
Find Communities Offline
If there aren’t any places nearby where freelancers meet up or talk shop, then consider organizing one yourself!
It’s not as hard as it seems just think of all the things your parents used to do when they got together with friends from church or high school (like bake cookies together).
Then take those activities and make them more adult-ish by adding beer into the mix. Now those things sound fun!
3. Build Your Presence Online
If you want to live your freelance life full-time, you’ll need a strong presence online. This can be done through many different channels, but the most important thing is that you have an accessible place where your audience can find you.
Start with a website. Your website should showcase all of your talents and skills in one place your portfolio. It could also feature blog posts about topics related to your work or other things that interest you (in addition to the “About” page).
Once people find their way to your site, encourage them to subscribe for updates via email newsletter or RSS feed so they’ll stay current on what’s happening in your world.
If building a personal presence online seems overwhelming, remember: It’s not about being perfect right away; it’s about taking baby steps and getting started today!
Choosing the right platform can be a game-changer for your freelance career. If you’re wondering whether to go with Upwork or Fiverr, our article on Is Upwork or Fiverr Right for You? will help you make an informed decision and kickstart your freelancing journey.
4. Start Small
You can’t expect to make a living right away, so don’t be too ambitious or expect too much of yourself. You need to start small and build up your portfolio and reputation to earn more money as you go along.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and feedback from others who have been successful in this field before you begin your journey as well!
Just remember, no one knows everything; even though they may have been doing things longer than you have, everyone was once where YOU are right now – unsure about what steps they should take next!
Don’t be afraid of asking for more work either while most freelancers would rather work on multiple projects at once than just one full-time job (when it comes down to it).
There are still times when good clients won’t take advantage of their skills at first because they think that someone else may do them better service than themselves could ever provide at such low cost/rate-per-hour rate!
It’s important not only for self-esteem sake but also because if clients see how hardworking we are then maybe someday soon our rates will increase based on demand alone (and trust me; this happens often enough).
5. Volunteer Your Time
Volunteering is a great way to get experience and exposure. It’s also a good way to get your name out there, build your network, and gain confidence. Plus, many organizations are looking for volunteers with specific skills or experience meaning they’re willing to pay you!
If you don’t have the time or the money to volunteer full time, consider taking on an occasional project at an organization in which you’re interested. How great would it be if someone paid you just because they needed extra help?
Feedback is the key to growth and success in the freelance world. Learn how to navigate client feedback on Upwork with our insightful guide on How to Make Sure You’re Getting the Best Client Feedback on Upwork, and use it to enhance your freelancing career.
6. Get A Mentor
A mentor is someone who has been there and done that. They can help you avoid common pitfalls and reach your goals faster, whether they are related to your career, business, or life in general.
Your mentor doesn’t have to be someone who is older than you or even more experienced in freelancing. Some of the best mentors are peers people who have been where you’re at now and can offer valuable insights based on their experiences.
And if it’s a question about finances that’s holding you back from leaping to full-time freelancing? Well, maybe someone else has already figured out how much money they need to earn to make ends meet and perhaps even how much time it takes for them to do so!
A good mentor will give advice based on what has worked for them in their own lives and careers; however, as we said earlier–not all mentoring relationships will be perfect fits for every person involved (or every situation).
If at any point during your mentoring relationship things begin feeling off-kilter ask yourself: What am I doing wrong? Is this person not right for me? Or could there be something deeper going on here?
7. Ask Yourself These Questions
As a freelance writer, you need to be able to stay motivated and focused on the task at hand. You also need to be organized so that you can keep track of your clients and the work they’ve assigned. Here are some questions that might help you figure out what’s best for your situation:
- What do I want to accomplish?
- What do I have to offer?
- What do I need to do to reach my goals?
- Who can help me make this happen?
- How will I stay motivated when things get difficult or boring (which they will)?
8. Think Outside The Box
We’re not saying that you should turn into a mad scientist and start building time machines in your basement. We’re just saying that if you feel like something is broken or not working, think outside the box before resorting to throwing out tradition.
Look at problems from different angles and look for unconventional solutions. If there’s an old way of doing things, challenge it: ask yourself if there’s a better way, an easier way, or even an equally effective but less expensive way!
9. Don’t Forget To Look Inside Yourself, Too!
While you may be focused on improving your career, don’t forget to look inside yourself, too! The best way to prepare for a future as a full-time freelancer is to start working on the pieces of your life that aren’t directly related to work.
For example:
Look for opportunities to improve your skills. Take classes or workshops that will help you learn new things and improve your current skillset. You should also be looking at opportunities that could help build up other aspects of yourself like networking or personal development.
This doesn’t mean just sitting down and reading books about these things though! It’s important not only because it will help with freelancing but because becoming better at those things can make everyone around you happier too!
Look for opportunities outside of work especially if they come up naturally while going through regular routines throughout each day (e.g., exercising).
For example, maybe there’s an exercise class near where I live every Monday night; if so then I’ll go ahead and sign up now.
So I have time later this week when my schedule gets jammed up with other stuff like meetings/meetings/more meetings/etcetera ad infinitum until infinity plus one day which is also known as death…
But never mind all that right now since we just got started talking about how awesome exercise classes are.
Africa offers tremendous opportunities for freelancers to thrive. If you’re considering starting your freelancing career in Africa, don’t miss these 15 tips on how to make it successful. They’ll equip you with valuable insights and strategies for a flourishing freelance journey.
10. Don’t Be Afraid To Make Mistakes
When you’re starting on your career path, it’s easy to feel like every decision you make will have serious consequences. But that’s just not true even if you mess up, it’s okay!
You’ll learn from the experience and become a better person for it, so try not to stress out over every little thing that happens along the way.
There are plenty of benefits beyond simply learning more about yourself:
According to [this study](www.payscale.com/career-news/2012/06/6-reasons-you-shouldnt_2h7), 92% of employees say being able to share their ideas with coworkers is important at work; 77% say they want more opportunities than just “yes or no.”
So if an idea doesn’t work out perfectly (and believe us when we say that won’t happen at first), don’t fret too much about it a different approach could yield better results next time!
11. Stay At Home If You Want! You Just Need Wi-Fi And A Dream
Now that you’ve gotten your mental-health game on point and have a solid freelance routine in place, why not take it one step further? You can work from anywhere!
No matter where you live, there are plenty of places to work while still maintaining your solo lifestyle. Here are some suggestions:
Stay at home. If this is an option for you, then stay at home! You don’t need Wi-Fi or even electricity just a dream and the motivation to keep going.
Go somewhere else. Many cafes offer free Wi-Fi (or let you use their outlets), as well as libraries and other public spaces that welcome freelancers with open arms.
Work while moving around! Take advantage of long commutes by listening to podcasts or music and making notes about what needs to be done next week/when lunchtime rolls around/etc.,
Or sit on buses/subways/trains and get some work done before heading back into the office later in the afternoon (or morning).
12. Be Prepared For Slow Periods And Unexpected Expenses
We all know that freelancing is going to be awesome and we’re confident you’ll love it. But don’t forget that there are also challenges with being a freelancer that you need to prepare for.
Freelancers have to be prepared for slow periods, which can happen despite your best efforts. The good news is, when you’re prepared mentally and financially, these slow periods won’t be as stressful as they would be if they caught you off guard.
You can help yourself out by planning so that if one project falls through or takes longer than expected, then another one will take its place (or at least help pay the bills).
Also keep in mind: unexpected expenses come with any job even those without benefits! As long as you’ve planned accordingly by saving money throughout the year instead of spending everything right away.
Then there’s no reason why a little bit of extra cash won’t get pulled out of savings during these times so things can keep moving smoothly… even if they do require an extra expense here or there.
Be flexible enough to adapt to new situations quickly; this will make people want to work with someone who’s experienced but still willing to try new things!
And finally: know your limits! If something feels like too much responsibility now then maybe wait until later when things aren’t quite so crazy around here before tackling those tasks head-on.
13. Look For Gigs That Pay Well And Make Sure To Track Your Time
Tracking time is important when you’re a freelancer because it’s the only way to make sure you’re getting paid fairly and billing the right amount of hours.
If your client pays $1 per hour, but they aren’t paying for any of your time outside of normal business hours (say, from 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm), then it’s important that you track that time as well so that you don’t get cheated out of money due to unrealistic expectations on their part.
Whether or not tracking time should be an ongoing habit depends on how much work you get from one client versus another and how many clients there are in total.
If a client is paying $100 per hour but only gives me one project per month, then I would probably just do them a favor by taking care of everything before submitting my invoice so that I don’t have to waste any time after billing them.
However, if this same client gave me 10 projects per month at $100 each then I would want to keep track of all those individual projects (and even create invoices) so that they could see exactly what they paid for with each invoice.”
The future of work is rapidly changing, and freelancing is at the forefront of this revolution. Explore the reasons behind this shift in our article on The Future of Work Will Be Freelance – Reasons, and discover how freelancing is reshaping the landscape of employment and career opportunities.
14. Look For New Opportunities When Things Start To Feel Stale
- When you start to feel like a routine has taken over your life, it’s time to shake things up. You may not want to move on from your current job or career path, but there are plenty of ways to stay challenged and interested in what you’re doing.
- Consider whether or not this is the right time for you to try something new. If so, look into local community colleges and online courses that will help you grow professionally.
- Don’t be afraid of change! Look at each new opportunity as an opportunity, no matter how small it may seem at first glance (or even second glance).
15. It’s Not Always Easy, But Freelancing Can Be Rewarding In More Ways Than One!
It’s not always easy, but freelancing can be rewarding in more ways than one!
As you start your journey down this path of entrepreneurship, it is important to know the ins and outs of freelancing.
There are many different aspects to consider before leaping to full-time freelancing. Not every business, project, or client is right for a solo gig. Before diving head first into your freelance career, here are 23 things you should know about working as a freelancer:
Conclusion
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve either taken the plunge and started freelancing or are considering it as an option. I hope that these tips will help, but keep in mind none of these things will happen overnight.
It takes time to build up a clientele, learn all of the ins and outs of running your own business, and manage all aspects of being self-employed. Hopefully though, following my advice will give you some perspective on how to make it work!
Further Reading
Millennials More Interested in Freelance Careers: This article discusses the growing interest of millennials in pursuing freelance careers, exploring the reasons behind this trend and its implications for the future job market.
Freelance Life at Work: Dive into the realities of the freelance life at work with this insightful resource. Gain valuable insights into the challenges and perks that come with freelancing as a career choice.
How a Millennial Who Quit Her Job Rather Than Return to In-Person Work Ended Up: This story sheds light on the journey of a millennial who decided to quit her job and explore freelancing as an alternative. Discover the experiences and outcomes of her decision.
FAQs
What are the advantages of freelancing for millennials?
Freelancing offers millennials greater flexibility in their work schedules, the ability to pursue their passions, and the potential to earn more based on their skills and performance.
How do millennials find freelance opportunities?
Millennials can find freelance opportunities through online platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, networking within their industry, and leveraging social media and personal websites to showcase their skills.
Is freelancing a viable long-term career option for millennials?
Yes, freelancing can be a viable long-term career option for millennials, especially with the rise of remote work and the gig economy, offering a wide range of opportunities in various industries.
What challenges do millennials face in the freelance world?
Some challenges include inconsistent income, managing work-life balance, acquiring clients, handling taxes and finances, and dealing with competition in the freelance market.
How can millennials ensure success in their freelance careers?
To ensure success, millennials can focus on building a strong portfolio, developing their skills continually, providing excellent customer service, networking, and being proactive in seeking new opportunities.
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.