Freelancing is a lot of work. It requires you to be versatile and open-minded, and it’s not always easy depending on what you’re doing. But if you can land just one client, that’s all it takes. For example, before I started writing articles for Medium, I was trying to find clients who would pay me to write articles for them.
After sending out dozens of cold emails and getting nothing but crickets back in return, I gave up on the idea of landing a client through email. Then one day I overheard someone talking about how they had recently hired a writer for their blog.
They went on to tell me that the writer was good at what he did and that they were paying him $500 per article (which was way above my asking price). So I took some advice from my friend and decided to send an email offering my services as a writer for his company’s blog. When he got back to me with an acceptance letter saying yes!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embrace the freedom of freelancing |
| Find your passion and niche in the freelance industry |
| Develop essential skills and expertise to stand out |
| Establish a strong online presence and portfolio |
| Network and connect with potential clients |
| Set clear goals and manage your time effectively |
| Master the art of proposal writing and pricing |
| Continuously learn and adapt to industry changes |
| Emphasize the value you bring to clients |
| Prioritize self-care and work-life balance |
The Freelancer’s Guide To Freelancing
You’re a freelancer. That means you have the freedom to pick and choose your clients, set your hours, and work from wherever you want. It’s a great job for people who don’t mind long stretches of uninterrupted time with no one to talk to but themselves!
But there are also downsides:
You’re responsible for finding all your work (or finding someone else who’ll do it for you).
You have to keep track of all those invoices yourself. No one else is going to be looking out for them you’ll just be getting paid later than everyone else who’s been doing this longer than you have been alive.
If you’re passionate about writing and interested in exploring the gambling industry, our guide on how to become a freelance writer in the gambling industry can provide valuable insights and tips to get started in this niche.
The Setup
Before you can start your freelance business, there are a few things you’ll need.
A reliable computer that’s been recently updated and is running smoothly. If the computer is older than five years, it might be time for an upgrade especially if your current machine is slowing down your workflow or crashing unexpectedly (or both).
A good internet connection. This may seem obvious but having a solid wireless connection with few interruptions will ensure that clients can reach you without issue.
A comfortable workspace. In addition to a desk or table and chair, having adequate lighting will help keep eyes from straining when working long hours on projects at night. Having everything within reach also allows us to focus on work rather than standing up every time we need something new!
Stay Organized
Even though you’re a freelancer, staying organized is still essential. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and forget important deadlines, especially if you’re juggling multiple clients at once.
I recommend keeping an electronic calendar (such as Google Calendar) that you can access from anywhere with internet access. This way you always know what’s coming up next. Or try setting reminders for yourself on your phone or computer so that you don’t miss anything important!
If A Client Is Late, You’re Late
If you’re late to deliver a product, service, or invoice your client, you will lose money. The best way to avoid this is to keep on top of your schedule and make sure that everything is delivered on time. If a client needs something by Tuesday and it’s Thursday now, check with them again and let them know what’s going on before they start worrying about the delay.
If you need help managing multiple projects at once or keeping track of deadlines with clients, try using a project management tool like Asana or Trello.
Want to boost your earning potential as a freelancer? Check out our article on top 10 freelance skills to charge more to discover the in-demand skills that can help you command higher rates and stand out in the competitive freelance market.
Return Calls And Emails Asap
You should respond to emails within 24 hours. Don’t let your inbox pile up, or allow it to become a to-do list for yourself. Your email is not an open tab on your browser that says “Reply later.” It’s not a giant folder of unsorted documents on your desktop with the label “Respond later.”
If you’re going to respond within 24 hours, you have to be ruthless about it that means deleting emails as soon as they come in if they aren’t relevant or don’t require immediate attention (and then deleting them from my phone too).
I always try to get through at least one screen of messages before bed each night and one more screen when I wake up in the morning—this helps me stay on top of things and reply quickly when someone needs urgent assistance.
Keep Copies Of Everything
As a freelance writer, you’re going to be doing a lot of writing. You will also be doing a lot of business and I do mean business. There’s so much that goes into being a freelancer, and part of it is keeping good documentation for the IRS, your clients, and yourself.
Keep copies of everything: receipts, contracts, client emails, and more. Scan them into an organized file folder on your computer or save them as PDFs in Google Drive (or whatever cloud storage you prefer).
Keep backups! It’s always good practice to keep at least two copies of everything important (at least one local backup plus an offsite backup).
Make sure your computer has an automatic backup if possible; otherwise check in regularly to make sure there are no errors with the backup system.
If possible use an online service such as Carbonite or Mozy these services automatically back up files on your computer remotely so even if something happens at home you won’t lose anything important!
Your Website Is Your Best Marketing Tool
There are many ways to get clients, but the best one is through your website. It’s an important part of your business and it should be easy for anyone to find.
Your website should include:
- Contact information such as an email address or a mailing address where clients can contact you.
- A summary of what you do (for example, “I design websites that look great on any device”).
Your Skills (I.E., “I Specialize In Minimalist Designs”)
You also want to make sure that your website works well on mobile devices so that people who are looking for web designers will be able to find yours easily if they’re searching from their phone without a desktop computer nearby!
If you have a passion for design and want to venture into freelancing, our comprehensive guide on how to become a freelance designer offers valuable advice on building a successful career, finding clients, and showcasing your design portfolio.
Tell Your Friends What You Do And Ask If They Need Help
Make sure you tell your friends what you do, and ask if they need help. It’s easy to forget about this when you’re busy working, but networking with clients is one of the best ways to get new business.
You may also want to approach strangers who are looking for services similar to yours and ask if they would like a free consultation or quote. Don’t be afraid! You might not get any work from it right away, but it’s always good practice to reach out to potential customers in person and let them know what kind of work you can do for them.
If anyone knows someone else who might need your services, ask them if they could make an introduction for you (and add a referral fee into your contract). The more people who know about what kind of services you provide, the better chance there is that someone will hire those services!
Create A Sales Funnel With High-Quality Content
A sales funnel is a structured way to guide your potential customers through the buying process. It’s a big topic and I’d recommend reading more about it, but the gist is this: you start by creating content that helps people with their problems and gives them value.
Then, you use that content to build trust and credibility with your audience so they’re more likely to buy from you in the future. You can use sales funnels as part of your marketing strategy whether or not you’re selling directly to customers.
The first step in creating a sales funnel is finding out what pain points your target audience has what questions they have and what problems they want to be solved.
Next, create high-quality content that answers those questions and solves those problems by focusing on the customer’s needs first instead of trying to sell them something right away (which might turn off potential buyers).
Finally, give people reasons why they should trust that their problem will be solved once they purchase whatever service or product it is that fits best within their budget (and don’t forget about shipping!).
Be The Yes Man (Or Woman)
You don’t have to be a yes man, but you should be the Yes Man. Being open to opportunities will help you grow your business and improve your life.
Do say yes when:
- A new opportunity presents itself
- Someone wants to work with you on something cool and exciting
- A friend asks for your time or helps with their project
Do not say no when:
- You’re too busy to do something fun in your free time (you’ll never get ahead if you’re always working)
- Don’t let fear stop you from making that cold call or sending that email. (Don’t be afraid to say no.)
- It’s easy to get afraid in your freelance career. You might fear:
- Saying no when you’re asked to take on more work than you can handle.
Writing effective freelance proposals is crucial to winning clients and securing projects. Learn how to craft persuasive proposals that increase your chances of success with our article on how to write a freelance proposal that doesn’t get you rejected.
Asking For Help, Even When It’s Clear That You Need It
Asking for a raise or promotion, because you don’t want to appear greedy or self-centered.
But let me tell you something: the only thing worse than those fears is letting them stop you from doing what needs to be done! If a prospect wants more hours out of you than makes sense given their budget, then say no!
If someone asks if they can borrow your computer while they wait for their tech guy (who isn’t showing up), tell them no! And if someone offers a promotion but it doesn’t come with more money or responsibility and they haven’t been treating their employees well lately…then don’t say yes just because they said so!
If anything ever scares or intimidates you at all whether it’s asking for help, asking for advice from others who know more than us about our industry (and there are lots out there) or even just admitting that we don’t know everything about ourselves and our business don’t let fear stop us from making these things happen.
Don’t Be Afraid To Say No
You may be surprised by how many people are scared of saying this word in the business world, but as a freelancer, you must learn to embrace it. It can sound harsh at first and make you feel vulnerable, but don’t let that stop you from doing what’s right for your client and yourself. You’ll feel much better about yourself if you do!
I’ve talked about this before when I wrote about my experience with ghostwriting (which I love), but I think it deserves its section here too: Don’t be afraid to say no when someone asks YOU for help with something that does not align with YOUR goals or values as a person or professional.
Discover how freelancing can provide you with the freedom to travel and manage your time effectively. Read about personal experiences and insights in our article on how freelancing gave me the gift of time and travel, and learn how you can embrace the digital nomad lifestyle.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a brief guide to getting started as a freelancer. There are lots of resources out there but I thought by sharing this little bit I could help encourage people who think they might want to give it a try or even help those who have taken that leap and need some guidance.
It’s not easy, but if you follow these steps then hopefully you can avoid some of the pitfalls and make your life as an entrepreneur just that little bit easier!
Further Reading
Freelancer Guide: Explore this comprehensive freelancer guide to gain valuable insights into various aspects of freelancing, including finding clients, setting rates, and managing your freelance business effectively.
Start a Freelance Business: Learn how to start your freelance business on the right foot with this informative article that covers topics such as legal considerations, financial management, and marketing strategies for freelancers.
User Guide to Becoming a Freelancer in 2022: Stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in freelancing with this user guide, specifically tailored to help aspiring freelancers navigate the challenges and opportunities of the freelance industry in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If I’m Ready To Freelance?
You’re ready to freelance if you want to be your boss. Freelancing is a great way to work for yourself and set your hours, but it also means that you have to take on a lot of responsibility. If you’re looking for a career change and want more freedom, freelancing might be right for you!
Is There An Age Limit For Freelancing?
There are no age limits for freelancers! Some jobs are only open to people over 18 years old, so make sure that your contract includes all the information about what kind of work can be done by someone under 18 years old.
Do I Need Any Special Equipment?
Most jobs don’t require special equipment just your computer and internet connection! However, some companies will have specific requirements (like needing a scanner or headset), so make sure you read through all of the details before signing on with them.
What Is The Difference Between This Guide And [Similar Guide]?
This guide was created with a specific focus on how to navigate the freelance world as someone who has never done it before. [similar guide] is more focused on the actual skills of freelancing, while this one focuses on what you need to know about the business side of things.
What are the essential legal considerations for freelancers?
As a freelancer, it’s important to understand legal aspects such as tax obligations, contracts, intellectual property rights, and any necessary licenses or permits required for your specific freelance business.
How do I determine my freelance rates?
Determining your freelance rates involves considering factors like your experience, expertise, market demand, competition, and the value you provide to clients. Researching industry standards and conducting market analysis can help you establish competitive rates.
How can I effectively manage my freelance projects and deadlines?
To manage your freelance projects and deadlines efficiently, you can utilize project management tools, create a well-defined schedule, prioritize tasks, communicate effectively with clients, and set realistic expectations for project timelines.
What are some effective marketing strategies for freelancers?
Effective marketing strategies for freelancers include building a strong online presence through a professional website and social media profiles, utilizing content marketing, leveraging testimonials and referrals, and actively networking within your industry or target market.
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.