Becoming A Freelancer: Advice From 4 Years' Experience

So you’ve decided to take the leap and become a freelancer! Congratulations. It’s an exciting and scary time, but you can do it. Here are some of the things I wish somebody had told me when I was getting started out as a freelancer four years ago…

How to Become a Freelancer \ Freelancing Tips for Beginners

Takeaways
1. Avoid common freelancing mistakes to improve your financial success.
2. Master time management to balance productivity and freedom.
3. Explore opportunities in the advertising industry as a freelance writer.
4. Use honest strategies to attract clients on freelancing platforms.
5. Develop essential skills to become a valuable and sought-after freelancer.

Table of Contents

1. Know Your Stuff

A freelancer’s business is never static. It has to keep changing and growing, so you have to think about where you want your business to be in a few years. What is going to make your clients happy? How can you help them?

If you do this right, then over four years which doesn’t seem like that long when I think back on it you should see that growth continues and even accelerate at times.

As a freelancer, it’s crucial to navigate potential pitfalls to thrive in the gig economy. Our article on 10 Freelancing Mistakes That Are Keeping You Broke highlights common blunders to steer clear of, ensuring a financially rewarding freelancing journey.

2. Get The Best Equipment

Get the best equipment you can afford.

A good computer, chair, desk, and monitor are essential. The cheapest way to get them is second-hand – check eBay and Gumtree for deals.

If you use a laptop or tablet as your main workstation make sure it has at least 4GB of RAM – anything less will slow down your workflow considerably if you’re doing any kind of video editing or photo manipulation.

If possible, invest in a mechanical keyboard (like one from Corsair) rather than an ordinary membrane model; they’re more responsive and reliable when used for long periods.

For monitors I recommend LG IPS panels – they have great color reproduction and wide viewing angles so won’t distort when looking at them from different angles around the room/office space!

3. Find A Workspace That Works For You

It’s important to have a good workspace. When freelancing, it’s tempting to use the kitchen table as your office space, but this isn’t ideal for many reasons: you might get distracted by household chores or other family members; the internet connection could be slow; you might not have access to a printer if needed.

Searching for the perfect work from a home office can seem daunting at first there are so many options out there! But don’t worry! Here are some things to consider when looking for the right place:

Good Internet Connection

Quietness (especially if you plan on doing phone calls)

A comfortable chair and desk lighting

Time management is the key to success in freelancing. Discover effective strategies in our post on Time Management Tips for Freelancers, and learn how to balance productivity with the freedom of being your own boss.

4. Set Yourself Up For Success

Take a break

Have a routine

Make sure you have the right tools

Have a workspace that works for you and your personality. This is important! You’ll be spending lots of time there, so make sure it’s comfortable and relaxing.

Try to get on top of your workload before something urgent comes up (like when one of your clients suddenly needs a rush job) as this can leave you stressed out and/or falling behind on other projects.

It’s important not to burn yourself out with too many jobs at once because then customers will lose confidence in their freelancer, which could mean losing business altogether.

I always tell my clients that if there are any problems with completing tasks within the agreed deadline then I will let them know as soon as possible so we can work together on solving these issues before they become more serious problems later down the line.”

5. Create A Website, But Don’t Worry About It Too Much

Once you’re ready to get started, it’s time to create your website. This is the first thing people will see when they Google your name and figure out how much you charge for freelance work. It needs to be professional, clean, and easy to navigate.

You want it to look good on mobile devices as well (use responsive design). Make sure that you have a blog on there with new posts every so often. You should also include a contact page that includes links back to social media profiles or email addresses if someone wants more information about working with you or hiring you for something specific.

Finally, have a portfolio section where potential employers can see some of the work that has been done by other clients in the past so they know what kind of quality they can expect from working with them!

Want to break into the exciting world of advertising as a freelance writer? Check out our guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Advertising Industry for valuable insights and tips to make your mark in this competitive field.

6. Write About What You Know

The best way to write about what you know is to write about what you are passionate about. This will make the writing process easier and more enjoyable. Writing about something that excites you will be easier than writing about something that does not interest you but that others might find interesting.

Writing about what you are good at may seem like the obvious choice for anyone who wants to become a freelance writer, but it’s important not to fall into this trap. When starting as a freelancer.

It can be tempting to try and write everything from travel guides to poetry to get samples under your belt but if any of these pieces flop (and they will), then they’ll have little impact on your portfolio or reputation as an experienced writer because no one has seen them before!

If there’s anything else I’ve learned after four years of full-time freelancing, it’s this:

7. If You’re A Copywriter, Write Copy!

If you want to be a freelance writer, or just get better at writing in general, then you must write. The best way to improve the quality of your writing is through practice and real-world experience. The only way I’ve ever learned anything was by doing it.

When I first started as a freelancer, I didn’t have any clients so most days were spent reading articles online and practicing my craft by writing emails for friends and family members (and myself).

Writing for yourself also helps people see who you are as an individual which can lead them to trust and respect what comes out of your fingers. Whether it be blog posts on your website or emails with friends – just start typing!

8. Focus On What You Want To Do, Not What You Don’t Want To Do

When I first started out freelancing, I thought that the only way for me to make money was through writing about things that I had no interest in whatsoever and I was right! But after a while, this became tedious for both me and my readers.

It took me several years before I finally realized that if anything, this approach led to more hate mail than anything else (even though the topics were often controversial).

So instead of thinking of things as “I have nothing against this subject” or “this subject isn’t worth my time” or even “this topic is boring but needs an article written about it anyway” start thinking more positively:

“I think this subject would be cool if done right…how can we make this happen?” This way of thinking will help ensure that your work stays fun!

Building a reputable profile on Upwork requires honesty and integrity. Learn effective and ethical techniques in our article, How to Get More Clients on Upwork Without Lying, Cheating, or Stealing, and establish long-lasting relationships with clients.

9. Be More Specific Instead Of “I Want To Be A Writer”, Say “I Want To Be A Journalist” Or “I Want To Write Books”

You may have been told to be specific when filling out an application, but this is also important when you’re trying to find a job or client.

When you say that you want to be a writer, what does that mean? Do you want to write for magazines and newspapers? Would writing books appeal more than blogging? Will technical writing be more your thing than creative writing (or are they interchangeable)?

If so, which aspects of the different types of writing appeal most: style, subject matter, or audience?

10. Sign Up With All The Freelancing Sites (Upwork Et Al) Even If You Never Use Them Again

A lot of people don’t know this, but there are a lot of other freelancing sites out there besides Upwork. The thing is, none of them will ever be as successful as Upwork, and none of them are as well-known or used by employers and clients. But you should still sign up for all the sites below for the following reasons:

You can use them to find work

You can use them to find clients

You can use them to build your network (and your brand)

You can use them to find collaborators (for example, if you want another designer on board but don’t want to hire someone full time)

If things go well with one client on Upwork, then maybe they’ll hire additional help from another site like Guru or Toptal (the latter being exclusive only for developers).

11. Make Sure Your Profile Is As Good As It Can Be And Make It Clear

If there’s one thing freelancers are working hard to establish, it’s their reputation. Your profile is an important part of that, so if you don’t have a great one yet, start working on it now! And remember: what other people see when they look at your profile should match up with how you want them to see you in real life so make sure it does!

12. Treat Every Job Interview / Meeting Like An Audition Dress Professionally And Be Pleasant

Be prepared to do the work before you get the job

Learn how to use social media for promotion

Be helpful on your blog or website by answering questions from visitors, giving advice on personal development, making videos about things that interest them (work from home ideas), etc., so people can learn more about what freelancing is all about

Be professional in all aspects of your business: contracts, invoices, and communications with clients; keep track of expenses carefully so nothing slips through the cracks when filing taxes down the road

As a freelancer, having the right skills can set you apart in the market. Our post on 11 Skills That Make You a Valuable Freelancer explores key competencies that will boost your earning potential and make you a sought-after professional.

Conclusion

If you’ve read through this list and are still thinking of becoming a freelancer, then I’d encourage you to take the plunge. The freedom and flexibility that come with working for yourself are priceless, and being able to set your hours and choose your projects makes it all worth it!

At the same time, there’s no shame in admitting that it might not be right for everyone. And if that’s the case if you’ve tried freelancing but found it too stressful or not what you expected don’t let anyone make you feel like less of a person because of this choice.

You did your best, worked hard at something new, and discovered what wasn’t right for you; now you can try something else instead!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard To Become A Freelancer?

I started my freelancing career as a side hustle, so I didn’t have to quit my job. But yes, it can be difficult if you’re going full-time and leaving your current job. Make sure you have enough savings and other income sources in place before jumping into the gig economy. How do I know what kind of gigs to take?

As much as possible, stick to gigs that align with your skillset and experience. For example, if you’re an accountant and have accounting experience but don’t have any experience with marketing or design, then working on a marketing campaign would probably be outside of your wheelhouse.

If you’re good at writing copy but not so great at designing graphics, you may want to work on some copywriting gigs first before trying out graphic design projects.

What’s The Best Way For Me To Get Clients?

It’s important (and helpful) for freelancers to build their client base by reaching out directly via email or phone calls. You can also reach out through social media platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook Messenger; however, this isn’t always successful because most companies prefer receiving emails over social media messages.

What Is The Best Way To Get Into Freelancing?

In my experience, the best way to get into freelancing is to start by doing it for free. If you can find someone who will pay you for your work, great! But if not, don’t worry about it just do it for free and make sure you’re getting as much out of the experience as possible.

What Should I Charge Per Hour?

There are so many variables that go into determining what you should charge per hour that it’s impossible to say definitively. What I can tell you is that if you feel like your rate is too low, then raise it! You are the only one who knows what’s right for your business, so trust yourself and go for it.

How Do I Know If This Career Path Is Right For Me?

If you love doing something no matter how difficult or tedious, then it might be right for you. The key question here is “do I enjoy doing this?” if so then keep going if not then maybe consider another path instead of continuing with this one

Costantine Edward

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.

Becoming A Freelancer: Advice From 4 Years’ Experience