Working for yourself can be a very rewarding experience. It offers you the chance to do something that you enjoy, and it gives you control over your day-to-day working schedule and future career prospects.
However, many people who dream of freelancing don’t follow through with their ambitions because they’re unsure where to start or what to expect.
If you’ve got dreams of one day working for yourself, then here are some great tips that will help get you started on your journey toward independence:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embrace freelancing as a path to independence. |
| Build a strong professional network. |
| Focus on developing valuable freelancing skills. |
| Prioritize time management and discipline. |
| Utilize online platforms for job opportunities. |
| Seek financial advice and plan for taxes. |
| Stay adaptable to the changing work landscape. |
| Invest in continuous learning and upskilling. |
| Strive for work-life balance in freelancing. |
| Believe in your ability to succeed as a freelancer. |
Identity Down Your Key Skills And What You Want To Do
Before you can freelance, you need to be clear on your skills and what you want to do. This is a process of self-discovery that will take time, but it’s important to know yourself well enough so that when the right opportunity comes along, it feels like a perfect match.
What do I love? The first step in defining your freelance career trajectory is figuring out what makes your heart soar. Is it the idea of being an entrepreneur? Or could you see yourself working remotely from home with flexible hours and no dress code?
Some people would rather sit in front of their computer all day than interact with people at all and that’s okay! It may sound counterintuitive when thinking about creating an independent income stream, but socializing isn’t something that drives motivation for earning money.
Then maybe freelancing isn’t for you. What am I good at? Once you’ve identified why working independently appeals so strongly (or even not-so-strongly), take stock of what skills got us here today and how those could translate into making money as a freelancer.
What do I want to learn about next? As important as knowing where we’re going is understanding where we are now because without knowing where we stand today, there’s no way to get anywhere else!
If anything is missing from our skill set or knowledge base right now that would help us reach our goal destination more efficiently or effectively then make sure it gets added quickly.
Do I have any specialties or areas of interest other than writing/blogging/designing websites etcetera? More often than not these days most people have several different skills they’d like their clients/customers etcetera
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Decide On A Daily Routine
First, you’re going to need to decide on your daily routine. Are you an early bird who’s up at 6 AM and ready to start working?
Or are you more of a night owl who likes to start working after everyone else has gone home? The important thing is that you make sure your schedule suits your needs. If it doesn’t, then change it!
Make sure the hours you are available are clear. If people want to contact you when they need help, let them know what times they can expect a response from you.
Some freelancers work during office hours and others work in the evenings or on weekends; some go back and forth between both schedules based on their needs (for example one week during regular business hours; another week working from home).
Whatever works best for YOU should be communicated clearly so there aren’t any misunderstandings about when someone can reach out for help with something important.
Create An Office Space At Home
According to the National Workstation and Furniture Association, staying focused is one of the most important things you can do when working remotely. If your work area is cluttered with distractions, it’s unlikely that you will be able to focus on your work.
The ideal home office setup includes enough space for a desk, chair, and computer monitor or laptop. It should also have ample lighting so that you can see what you’re doing while typing away on the computer keyboard.
If possible, try to find a room in your house that’s near a window so that natural light can fill up your workspace without having to rely solely on artificial lights.
Such as overhead fluorescent light fixtures or table lamps/floor lamps with incandescent bulbs (which tend not only generate heat but also create glare).
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Set Up A Website/Blog To Show Your Expertise
Once you’ve got your social media presence down pat, it’s time to consider setting up a website.
Your website will serve as a portfolio of sorts, where potential clients can see samples of your work and what you’re capable of doing. Thankfully, these days it’s much easier than ever before to create a professional website.
If you don’t have the skills or experience necessary to build one yourself, there are many services.
Such as Squarespace (the one I use) allows people without coding knowledge to build their site with very little effort required on their end and they’re relatively affordable too!
Your site should be easy for visitors to navigate through and find what they’re looking for quickly. A good domain name is also essential;
Make sure it’s easy for someone who may not know much about computers to remember for example “philipjordanwebsite” sounds like gibberish but if I told someone my business was called “PhilipJordanWebsites,” there’s no way they’d forget!
And finally, make sure your site loads quickly because nobody wants to wait forever just so they can look at some pictures of cats on Tumblr; Twitter feeds take too long already!”
Use Social Media As A Platform
One of the most important things you can do as a freelancer is to make sure that your social media presence is as professional, consistent, and helpful as possible. First of all, I would suggest posting regularly so that potential clients can keep up with your work.
Make sure to post about what you’re working on, or even let people know if you’ve got openings for new projects.
Secondly (and very importantly), use hashtags when appropriate and add them in relevant places where necessary (for example: don’t just put them at the end). You want people who may not have heard of your brand before to be able to find it through search engines!
Additionally, use tags wherever appropriate so people will see which other accounts are connected with yours. Finally but certainly not least make sure that everything related to your account looks professional:
The profile picture and bio should both be clear enough so viewers can get an idea of who they’re talking to without having read anything firsthand yet; the email address should also reflect professionalism rather than personal preference when possible (e-mail@gmail instead).
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Look For Work Through Freelance Job Marketplaces
The first step to finding freelance work is to look for it. There are many freelance job marketplaces out there, some of which are very specific or have their unique requirements, while others are more general and open to everyone.
Freelancing can also be a great way to try something new without making a huge commitment, so it’s important to find the right size for your needs.
Find Clients Yourself Through Email Marketing And Cold Calling
Now that you have a basic understanding of the freelancing lifestyle, it’s time to get down to business. There are several different ways for you to find clients and grow your business as a freelancer.
Create a mailing list using MailChimp or Aweber, then use this list as an asset to promote your services.
You can also leverage email marketing by creating an off-the-shelf template that contains content about what makes your company unique, along with some information about how their product will be shipped, etc.
This way when new prospects visit their website they’ll see the value of working with them because they will know exactly what they’re getting into.
Use CRM tools like Salesforce or HubSpot (CRMs). These platforms allow users to track all interactions between themselves and their customers so they can build rapport over time while also keeping track of who needs what type of service/product at any given moment in time!
If someone visits one page on LinkedIn but never returns after clicking through links within this page then consider sending them emails containing helpful insights related to whatever topic(s) interested them initially.
Target Potential Customers Who Could Use Your Services
When you’re starting, it can be tempting to just go for the highest bidder. But this is a mistake that you’ll regret later on in your career. Your “ideal client” is someone who needs what you have to offer, and will be willing to pay for it.
As a young business owner, many people might need your services but not all of them are going to be good fits for you as far as their needs or desires.
For example: if someone has an established business and wants help with marketing strategy, they may not want an inexperienced freelancer working on their project;
Or if someone doesn’t have any experience with social media but wants help managing their brand’s Instagram profile, then again not the best fit for either party involved!
So how do we find our ideal clients? One way is by asking ourselves some questions about them: What do they need from us? Who are they? What makes them tick (and why)? How do they make decisions?
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Think About Doing Some Free Work To Build Up Experience
It is always a good idea to do some free work for clients and get the experience of doing the work. You will also get to know how working with clients feels, which can help you decide if this is something that you want to pursue further.
You should also consider getting some experience working with a team and client. This can help you determine if freelancing full-time is right for you, or if there are better options available (such as consulting).
Make Sure You’re Charging Enough For Your Work
When you’re first starting, there’s no need to give away every job for free. By charging a low fee or even working for free (a practice known as “free labor”), you run the risk of burning out quickly and devaluing your skills in the long run.
You also risk losing credibility with future clients who may think that if they were paying you well enough, then perhaps they wouldn’t have been left hanging with an incomplete project or inferior quality work that doesn’t reflect your full potential.
Instead of going down this route and doing whatever it takes just to get some clients on board, consider starting by charging based on what others are charging in your area and then gradually increasing those rates over time.
Once trust has been established between you and each client as well as between them and other freelancers in your field who can help set standards when pricing comes up during meetings about new projects
Never Be Afraid To Ask Questions Or Request Feedback
This is one of the most important things you can do when freelancing, and it applies whether you’re working with a team or on your own. If you don’t get clarification on something, ask for it. If there’s something about a project or situation that makes no sense to you, ask about it!
A lot of times people are too shy and/or scared of being perceived as stupid (and yes, I’ve been there), so they avoid asking questions altogether until they ultimately end up making mistakes that could have been avoided had they just asked in the first place.
The same goes for feedback: when someone gives me feedback on something I’ve done—whether it’s related to code or writing I’m always grateful because I know that person just took time out of their day to help me improve at my job.
But sometimes even then people aren’t sure how exactly they should go about getting this kind of information from others; some people say they’re fine getting an email while others prefer Slack messages over email chain letters…
Whatever your preference may be when requesting feedback from others just make sure before doing it.
So that both parties understand exactly what types of communication methods will be used during this process, which brings me back around the full circle where I left off earlier today: never stop learning!
Meet People Face To Face Instead Of Just Online
One of the most important things you can do as a freelancer is meet people face-to-face, and build relationships with them.
You will want to network, build trust, and develop your reputation for people to hire you.
That means attending events where professionals gather together, not just online but also in person.
Don’t be afraid of networking! Networking events are great places to meet potential clients and new friends who are knowledgeable about what you do and can help you out along the way as well.
Network With Other Freelancers In The Same Industry
When you’re a freelancer, it’s important to network with other freelancers in your industry. This can help you find jobs, learn from others’ experiences working on similar projects and feel like you’re part of a community.
You might also want to consider joining an industry association so that you can attend events and network with other members of the group.
Many associations provide training sessions where they teach their members about trends in their field and how to achieve success as a freelancer or small business owner.
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Conclusion
We hope that this two-part article about what it takes to be a successful millennial freelancer was helpful and that you’re feeling inspired and excited to work for yourself!
If you’re still unsure whether becoming a freelancer is the right move for you, there are tons of resources online (like this other great post we found on the topic) that can help you understand the pros, cons, and steps involved in going independent.
We wish you luck in your journey towards freelance freedom!
Further Reading
The Future is Freelance: How to Optimize Independent WorkDiscover the trends and strategies for optimizing independent work in the future, exploring the benefits and challenges of freelancing.
How Millennials Can Build WealthLearn practical tips and financial advice to help millennials build wealth and achieve financial independence.
6 Things to Remember When Managing Millennial FreelancersGain insights into effectively managing millennial freelancers with these six key considerations and best practices.
FAQs
What are the advantages of freelancing for millennials?
Freelancing offers millennials the flexibility to control their work schedules, pursue their passions, and potentially earn higher income based on their skills and performance.
How can millennials overcome challenges in the freelancing industry?
To overcome challenges in freelancing, millennials can invest in upskilling, build a strong professional network, manage time efficiently, and maintain financial discipline.
What are some essential skills for millennial freelancers to thrive?
Millennial freelancers can thrive by honing skills such as effective communication, project management, adaptability, marketing, and self-discipline.
How do millennials handle taxes and financial planning as freelancers?
To manage taxes and financial planning, millennials should maintain accurate records of income and expenses, set aside funds for taxes, and seek advice from financial professionals.
What resources are available for millennials interested in freelancing?
There are various online platforms, courses, and communities tailored for millennial freelancers, providing guidance, job opportunities, and support throughout their freelancing journey.
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.