Here’s a secret: Being a freelancer is hard. It takes more than just drive and determination to make it work, it takes time and patience, too. You have to learn how to market yourself, manage your own workload, keep track of your finances, and stick to deadlines (among many other things).
No matter how much experience you might have as an entrepreneur or business professional, being a successful freelancer also requires you to adapt your skills to the marketplace. Luckily for those just starting on their freelance journey, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help make the transition easier.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Master Your Niche: Specialize in a specific niche to stand out and attract high-paying clients. |
| 2. Build an Impressive Portfolio: Create a professional portfolio showcasing your best work to impress potential clients. |
| 3. Network and Collaborate: Connect with other freelancers and professionals in your industry to gain insights and collaborative opportunities. |
| 4. Diversify Income Streams: Explore various freelancing platforms and consider offering additional services to increase your earning potential. |
| 5. Continuous Skill Development: Invest in learning new skills and staying up-to-date with industry trends to remain competitive in the freelance market. |
Know Your Worth
As a freelancer, you are in the business of making money. And the first step to making money is knowing your worth.
How much should you charge? As a freelancer, it’s important to understand your value and know how much it costs to get that value out there.
You don’t want to undervalue yourself by making lowball offers or jobs that don’t pay enough for the effort and time involved. On the flip side, don’t overcharge either nobody likes feeling like they’re being ripped off!
Using our own experiences working with various clients throughout our careers as an example: We have both been offered $15/hour for writing work before (and no, we didn’t accept those offers).
In contrast, we recently received proposals from clients offering us $50/hour for writing tasks that took less than 8 hours total (and yes…we did take them).
When deciding what rate to charge for freelance work or hiring someone else’s services as part of your business plan knowing their expertise level relative to yours is probably going to make all difference between success or failure when starting.
Building a successful freelance career requires dedication and strategy. Learn how to craft an impressive Upwork portfolio that showcases your skills and attracts potential clients.
Prepare For Work At Home Distractions
If you’re going to work at home, there are some things you need to get right. First of all, make sure your workspace is free from distractions and interruptions. As tempting as it may be to have the TV on in the background while you work (or even better, Netflix), this will only serve as a distraction.
The same goes for cellphones they should stay in another room until after your set working hours are over. You don’t want people calling or texting you while you’re trying to concentrate; they can wait!
If possible, invest in a noise-canceling headset or use earplugs so that any outside noise doesn’t distract you from what matters most: getting those words written down before they disappear into thin air forever!
Or try using white noise machines if silence is something that would drive you crazy; these don’t just mask sounds but create them!
Get On Social Media (As A Freelancer)
Social media is a great way to get your name out there, find work and connect with clients. Social media is also a great way for you to network with other freelancers and learn about new trends in your industry.
With that being said, if you’re not using social media as part of your business strategy or personal branding, you’re missing out on an opportunity that could bring in some much-needed cash (and even more exposure).
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Learn To Say No
You are a valuable resource, and you must know your limits. If you say yes to every request, you will quickly find yourself overworked and unhappy. Learn how to say no with confidence and grace when someone asks for more than they’re willing to pay for your services (or even if they don’t want to pay at all).
Just because someone asks doesn’t mean that they deserve an answer. Not everyone who has an idea is able or willing to make it happen and while their enthusiasm might seem infectious, it doesn’t mean that they’ll make good business partners or clients.
Be especially wary of time-sucking projects like “I want my website built!” or “I want an entire social media strategy!”
Unless one of these things is directly related to what brings home the bacon for you as a freelancer (i.e., writing), politely decline these requests so that you can focus on projects that matter more in the long run.
Instead of wasting time debating whether Pluto should be considered a planet again (because believe me: once someone starts talking about Pluto being demoted from its status as a planet I WILL NOT STOP).
Make Yourself Available
Make yourself available. There are countless ways to make your availability known to prospective clients and projects, but here are a few:
Leave your email address in the footer of all of your websites, including any social media profiles you have and any freelance sites you’re registered on.
Be sure that it’s easy for people to contact you; if they need to go through an extra step like emailing a specific person then their first impression is more likely not to turn into anything else.
If possible, use a tool like Zapier or IFTTT so that emails automatically forward to an inbox dedicated solely for such messages (as opposed to using Gmail).
Make sure it’s clear what hours/days/months of the year you’re available during this will help ensure that clients don’t get frustrated when trying to work with someone who has sporadic availability throughout the year! Having said this though: don’t limit yourself too much either this can lead to another problem area which we’ll talk about next…
Transitioning into full-time freelance writing may seem daunting, but it’s possible with the right approach. Explore how to become a full-time freelance writer even with no prior experience and turn your passion for writing into a sustainable career.
Be A Freelancer Who Follows Through With Promises
We’ve all had the experience of hiring a freelance writer or designer and then receiving an e-mail from them that says, “I’m sorry, but I can’t follow through on this project. I need to quit my job so I can focus on creating my own business.”
The problem is that this kind of freelancer doesn’t follow through with the promises they make to their clients. They’re not reliable! The client has hired them to do something specific, and they haven’t delivered on their end of the deal yet because they don’t have enough work yet (or whatever).
It’s frustrating for both parties involved: for one thing, now your project isn’t getting done; for another thing and maybe more importantly you may not be able to trust those people again if you ever hire them again in future projects!
It’s important when running a freelance business online that you always keep your promises and follow through with what was promised from the start.*
Never Stop Learning
Set a goal and work toward it. If you want to be a freelance copywriter, then write as often as possible even if it’s just for fun.
When I first started freelancing, I set out on my own and learned everything I could about marketing and copywriting by reading books and articles online. From there, I took online courses on topics like SEO and web design (which was great because they were cheap).
I also set up an account on Fiverr so that I could start making money while practicing my skills (more on this later).
Once you’ve figured out what type of freelancer you want to be, take classes or workshops in your chosen field from other professionals who have been there before!
Network, Network, And Network Some More!
When you’re just starting as a freelancer, networking is one of the most important things you can do.
Find New Clients
Networking with other professionals will help you find clients and projects that suit your skills. You can meet people at local meetups or over social media (link). Just don’t be afraid to tell people about what you do – it’s not easy to get a clear idea of someone’s skills without asking!
Find New Jobs
The same goes for job boards. If there are local job listings in your area, why not check them out? And if not, maybe there are some online resources available that could offer opportunities closer to home (link).
Find New Opportunities
Your network will also help expand your horizons by introducing you to opportunities outside of what might normally come across your radar screen (link).
For example, if they know someone looking for a consultant on content management systems like Drupal or WordPress…they may be able to put in a good word on your behalf!
Or if they happen upon an opening at another firm that needs someone with experience handling project management tasks…that person could recommend YOU for their team!
Starting freelancing for the first time can be overwhelming, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out our top 11 tips for freelancing beginners to kickstart your freelance journey with confidence.
Keep A Portfolio Of Past Projects And Clients
For freelancers, keeping a portfolio is an essential part of the job. Your potential clients need to be able to look through your work and see how well you do what they need to be done. A portfolio can also help you when it comes time to find new clients or get more work from past clients.
Keeping a portfolio of your past projects and client base can seem like a daunting task at first, but once it’s set up, it will save you time and money in the long run. Your portfolio must be organized so that people can easily look through it without getting lost or confused by its structure or layout.
If possible, try not to make people search through multiple pages – if they have to search too much they may give up looking altogether! Lastly, make sure that everything is updated on their site so potential employers know what kind of work you’ve done recently;
This will help them feel confident in hiring someone who has been successful before with similar projects/tasks (and hopefully continue those successes).
Stay Organized And Keep Track Of Everything, Always
As a freelancer, you’ll be working on many projects at once. To make sure you don’t miss any deadlines or check in with your clients, it’s important to keep track of every single project and client.
It’s not uncommon for freelancers to use a variety of tools to stay organized: calendars, project management software like Asana or Trello (or both), spreadsheets that help them keep track of invoices and payments, and customer relationship management systems like Basecamp or Hubspot CRM.
The best thing about these types of apps is that they’re all free! Or if you’re looking for something more advanced and expensive than those options but still not too pricey you might want to consider some of these paid solutions.
Building a six-figure freelance career is achievable with the right strategies and mindset. Learn the essential steps to building a successful six-figure freelance career and take your freelancing income to new heights.
Learn The Art Of Pitching (And How To Do It Better)
Pitching is a skill that takes time to develop. It’s hard to get right, but if you want to be successful in your freelance career, it’s one worth learning.
A pitch is simply your sales pitch for your freelance services. You have to learn how to sell yourself and convince a potential client that you are the best person for the job on offer all within three paragraphs or so (a standard length for a pitch).
The first thing people need to know about pitching is why it matters so much in the first place. When you write a good pitch, potential clients will want more than just proof-of-concept work from you; they will be interested in hiring you full-time!
Take Advantage Of Free Twitter Chats And Facebook Groups For Freelancers
Twitter chats are a great way to network with other freelancers and get help from people who have been in your shoes.
They’re also a great source of leads, as many Twitter chats have viewers that are looking for freelancers. You can learn more about Twitter chats here.
Facebook groups are another great resource for freelancers, especially those who specialize in specific niches like marketing or copywriting, as there are groups devoted to these topics all over Facebook.
Like Twitter chats, some of these groups can be very helpful when it comes time to find new clients!
Create Your Website Or Blog
As you start to build your reputation as a freelancer, you’ll want to create a personal website. This is not just for bragging rights but also because it’s one of the most effective ways to get clients and earn more money as a freelancer.
- Why do I need my website?
- How do I build my website?
- Can’t someone just email me if they need my help with their project?
The answer is yes, someone can email you or contact you on Skype or some other platform instead of visiting your home page. But why would they do that when it’s so much easier and convenient to visit your business’ website and find out everything they need to know about what type of services are offered at what price point?
A lot of people don’t even realize how important having an online presence is until later in life when they’ve already been working by themselves for years and have no idea where all those prospective clients go! A website acts as an advertisement while being able to showcase the work done by each freelance worker (or agency).
You should always use social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, etc., but those aren’t enough alone unless one creates something unique about themselves first before posting anything else publicly available online.”
Conclusion
Freelancing is a great way to make money online, but it’s not always easy. There are some tips and tricks you can use to help you get started and be successful.
One of the most important things is to know your worth, so research how much other freelancers charge for similar work. It’s also important to stay organized and keep track of everything, from clients to projects and more!
Further Reading
Skillcrush: Earn More Money Freelancing for Beginners: Learn valuable tips and tricks to boost your freelancing income and take your career to the next level.
NerdWallet: How to Make Money: Explore various ways to make money, including freelancing opportunities and other income streams.
Feedough: How to Make Money Freelancing – A Beginner’s Guide: A comprehensive guide for beginners on how to start making money through freelancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is a way to make money by doing your own thing. You can get paid for writing, editing, design, video production, or any number of other things. You set your hours and determine how much you want to work.
How Do I Get Started?
If you already have some experience in the field you want to freelance in, start looking for clients who need help with that kind of work. If you don’t have any experience yet, look into online courses or local workshops to learn the basics before reaching out to potential clients.
You can also apply for jobs on websites like Upwork or People Per Hour these sites allow freelancers and customers to connect directly via their platform.
Is It Possible To Make Money Freelancing Online?
Absolutely! There are a lot of people who have found success doing this. The key is being able to find a niche and being able to do the work at a high level.
What Are The Best Ways To Make Money Freelancing Online?
There are multiple ways that you can do this, but one of the most common is through websites like Fiverr and Upwork. You can post projects there and get paid for them.
How Much Money Can I Make As A Freelance Writer?
That depends on what kind of writing you do, but as long as you’re willing to put in some effort, it’s possible to make $500-$1000 per month if you focus on getting work done quickly and well.
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.