Proven Ways To Level Up Your Freelance Career

Freelancing is becoming an increasingly popular career option for people all around the world.

You get to set your own hours, don’t have to deal with a boss breathing down your neck, and can work from anywhere.

But if you think that freelancing is all about rolling out of bed in your pajamas, working in your underwear, and setting up shop at a beach-side cafe for some non-taxable income, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

Being a successful freelancer takes hard work, dedication, and an eye for detail that just won’t quit. Here are 25 ways to level up your freelance career:

5 PROVEN UPWORK TIPS To Help You Win Jobs (FAST)

Takeaways
1. Continual skill development is crucial for freelancers to stay competitive and enhance their value in the market.
2. Building a strong professional network can lead to valuable opportunities, referrals, and collaborations.
3. Effective time management and productivity strategies are essential for maximizing freelance output and maintaining work-life balance.
4. Pricing your services strategically, based on market rates and your expertise, can help you attract clients and increase your earnings.
5. Investing in self-promotion and marketing efforts can significantly impact your visibility, credibility, and client acquisition.
6. Providing exceptional customer service and maintaining positive relationships with clients can lead to repeat business and referrals.
7. Diversifying your client base and income streams can provide stability and mitigate risks associated with freelancing.
8. Embracing a growth mindset and being open to learning from challenges and failures can foster professional development and resilience.
9. Balancing personal and professional goals, self-care, and avoiding burnout are crucial aspects of maintaining a sustainable freelance career.
10. Staying updated on industry trends and adapting to technological advancements can position you as an expert in your field.

Table of Contents

Spend Money On Good Equipment

Good equipment is an investment in your future. It will make your work easier, faster and better. You’ll be more productive and earn more money.

Buying good equipment is like buying a house: it should be something that you can live with for many years to come.

Don’t buy the cheapest equipment you can find! Don’t even think about buying cheap equipment unless it’s necessary (and even then, make sure it’s still high quality).

The reason why I say this is because cheap gear often ends up being costly in the long run because of repairs or replacement costs over time.

On top of that, cheap stuff tends not to last as long as quality products; sometimes it breaks down within months!

As well as this, if something does go wrong with your laptop/camera/mic etc., who knows whether or not you’ll get any help from the company? It may sound silly but trust me on this one avoid buying cheap tech at all costs!

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a user experience researcher? Our comprehensive guide on becoming a user experience researcher will provide you with valuable insights and tips to kickstart your freelance journey in this field.

Get Up

It’s time to get up. The sun is shining, and your bed is calling you back for another day of rest.

But if you want to level up your freelance career, then this is the time to fight against that urge and start working hard.

Start by getting up at 5:00 AM every morning (or earlier).

You might think that waking up early means sacrificing precious sleep and giving in to an unhealthy lifestyle, but in fact, the opposite is true:

Waking up early will give you more energy throughout the day while also helping you accomplish more than those who sleep later.

It’s important not just on weekdays, but also on weekends and even holidays! When we’re off work these days people tend not only to relax but also sleep in late into them as well.

We don’t recommend doing this because it’ll prevent any chance of working towards a promotion or any other type of goal for yourself

Don’t Work From Your Bed

Don’t work from your bed. Don’t work from your couch. Don’t work from your kitchen table, or even on the floor of your living room by the coffee table in front of the TV.

I can already hear you saying “but what if I’m tired and just want to sit down?” That’s fine! Just don’t bring any work with you when sitting down is all you have in mind just relax.

Take a break, watch some television or read a book while sitting comfortably in bed or on another couch nearby.

If there are tasks that need completing urgently, do them right away and get them out of the way so that they don’t distract you later (or risk falling asleep on top of them).

Want to boost your earning potential as a freelancer? Check out our article on the top 10 freelance skills to charge more and discover the in-demand skills that can help you command higher rates and attract high-paying clients.

Don’t Get Caught Up In The Hustle

You don’t have to be working 24/7, seven days a week. It’s okay to take a break even if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

You might think that taking time off is going to make all your deadlines come due at once, but it rarely works that way.

People tend to get assignments done faster when they’re relaxed and happy, so why not give yourself some breathing room?

If possible (and if you can afford it), consider taking some vacation time every year. If you work remotely or have the flexibility in your schedule, try taking a longer holiday than usual and spending your days off in another country!

Or maybe it’s just an easy weekend away at home with friends or family; whatever makes you happy will keep productivity up while also giving yourself balance and perspective on life outside of work.

Find A Mentor

One of the best things you can do for your career is to find a mentor. “Mentorship is important because it allows you to learn from other people’s experiences,” says Sarah Brubach, founder, and CEO of The Creative Group.

“When someone has been in your shoes before and has been successful, they can give you advice that will help make your journey smoother. It also gives them credibility when they talk about how to be successful in freelancing.”

If you don’t have any mentors right now or think that having one could benefit your business, don’t worry! We have some ideas on where to start looking:

Optimize Your Schedule For Increased Efficiency

While you may have heard the saying, “The early bird catches the worm,” there’s a lot more to being productive than simply getting up earlier.

Your work schedule can be optimized in a variety of ways that will make it easier for you to get things done both quickly and efficiently.

To start with, setting goals for yourself both long-term and short-term goals are important when it comes to optimizing your schedule for increased efficiency.

Having these goals written down on paper gives them added weight and meaning, which can help keep them at the forefront of your mind as you go through each day.

Additionally, try developing a routine that works best for you as part of this process of optimizing your schedule for increased efficiency.

This can include things like waking up early every morning or eating lunch at around noon every day (or any other time).

Having this routine set in place from the beginning will help ensure that nothing gets overlooked when it comes time for completing tasks later on down the line!

Be A Flexible Freelance Employee

You’re a freelance employee, which means you’re doing your job remotely. This means you have no boss to tell you what to do and when.

Instead, you need to be able to work on your initiative to succeed.

Here are some things that will help:

Be flexible about clients. Even if the client is paying well, there may be other reasons why they aren’t working out for you as an employer.

Maybe they don’t pay on time or they don’t respect your time commitments! If this happens often enough.

It can put a damper on your freelancing career and make it hard for anyone else to trust what kind of workers are (or aren’t).

So keep an open mind when it comes down to choosing one over another even if something seems like “the perfect fit” at first glance!

Don’t Take On Small Fish Clients

Take a look at your client list. Are there any names you recognize? Do they sound like small companies that aren’t going to be around for long?

If so, it may be time to part ways. You don’t need these types of clients in your portfolio and they can do more harm than good when it comes to building a strong reputation and growing your freelance career.

If you aspire to become a freelance designer, our in-depth guide on how to become a freelance designer will provide you with actionable steps, tips, and resources to establish yourself in the competitive world of design freelancing.

Hire An Accountant

Hiring an accountant is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself as a freelancer.

Not only will they help you with the boring stuff like filing your taxes, but they’ll also make sure that you’re following all the rules and laws that govern freelancers in your country.

Plus, if anything goes wrong (it never does), it’s good to have someone who knows what they’re doing on your side!

The best way to find an accountant is simply by asking around at networking events or through friends and family members who are already working with one.

If this doesn’t work out, there are plenty of online options where you can find recommendations from other people just like yourself.

Just make sure whatever site(s) you choose for this purpose has good reviews so that no one gets scammed!

Become An Expert In Your Niche

As a freelance writer, you have more flexibility than ever before to choose what you write about. If you want to be known as the “go-to” person for X topic, start by learning everything there is to know about that subject and then share what you’ve learned with others.

You can do this by joining online forums, reading up on the latest research or industry news, or asking questions on Quora (which is a great way to connect with experts in your field).

Set Goals And Timelines

If it’s not clear yet how becoming an expert will help grow your business as well as your income potential (and let’s face it it probably isn’t), let me explain:

Knowing how much time investment goes into each project will allow you to price those projects accordingly without breaking them down into tiny tasks just so they’ll seem easier than they are;

Understanding why certain projects appeal more strongly than others will help determine which ones deserve higher rates;

Being able to recognize trends within one particular industry will give insight into which niches are most likely lucrative for freelancers today versus tomorrow’s market opportunities;

Using metrics such as benchmarking stats from other successful writers/companies helps keep track of progress along with measuring success over time this way when clients ask “what makes this project different from any other?” we have data points ready at hand!

Don’t Let Fear Rule Your Decision-Making Process

Let me rephrase that: Stop letting fear rule the decisions that you make about your career. Instead of being ruled by fear, use it as a stepping stone for success.

Here are some ways to do just that:

Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from trying new things in your career. Failure is simply feedback it shows us what we don’t know so we can learn how to do it right next time!

That’s why I encourage all entrepreneurs to fail fast and fail often before launching their startup businesses or freelancing careers into full force.

Don’t let the fear of success stop you from trying new things in your career either; because if we don’t know our goals then how can we achieve them?

The same applies here too: set goals for yourself so that when they come true (or even if they don’t), at least there was the intention behind them instead of just hoping everything works out on its own without any planning whatsoever!

The key here is setting those goals ahead of time so that when something does come true later down the line like winning an award nomination then nothing will surprise us anymore after already having prepared ourselves mentally beforehand.”

Have A Web Presence That Stands Out From The Pack

Having a website is critical for any freelancer, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Your website should be easy to navigate, easy to read, and easy on the eyes.

It should also stand out from other websites in your field so make sure you’re including all of these essentials:

Mobile-friendliness. You don’t want potential clients being turned off by an outdated or hard-to-use site when they try to access it from their phone or tablet.

Make sure your site works well on smaller screens as well as large ones.

Easy navigation. Don’t force users down a narrow path and expect them to find their way back out again with little help from you.

Make sure there are clear links between pages so that users can easily get where they need without having to search for them manually (and without getting lost).

Looking to increase your earnings as a freelancer? Learn about the essential freelancing skills that can help you achieve your financial goals. Check out our article on freelancing skills that will help you earn more and take your freelance career to the next level.

Upgrade To Business-Class Internet To Maximize Speed And Reliability

To get the most out of your online work, it’s important to have a reliable, high-speed internet connection.

You’ll be able to download files quickly and easily, stream videos without buffering, and take advantage of the cloud by syncing your devices.

If you’re looking for ways to level up your freelance career then upgrading to business-class internet is an easy win.

Take Advantage Of Your Local Business Community

In addition to your local business community, there are a ton of other ways to build connections and improve your skills.

You can also use networking events, local business organizations, local business blogs, local business publications and websites as well as directories and groups.

Don’t forget about the power of in-person meetings! Meetups are great for this because they’re free and usually take place in a comfortable environment where it’s easy to talk with people one-on-one.

Build Strong Relationships With Clients

Building strong relationships with your clients is an important part of the freelance process. You want them to trust you and like working with you.

This means being reliable and providing good work. But this can also be difficult when there are other pressures on your clients’ time and attention.

There are many ways to build strong relationships with clients, including:

Being reliable (turning things around quickly)
Providing high-quality work that meets their needs
Make sure they know how much value they get from working with you

Make Sure You Have Adequate Insurance Coverage

If you’re not properly insured, your business could suffer.

You should have liability insurance, which covers you in case someone sues you for something that happens during your work.

For example, if an employee injures himself at work and sues for damages because of it, liability insurance would protect his settlement from going through your accounts first.

Make sure that any other policies you take out also include a strong personal umbrella policy.

This protects against things like medical bills or property damage over and above what is covered by regular policies such as homeowners’ insurance or auto coverage.

The cost of insuring yourself should never be more than 2% to 3% of what you earn from freelancing each year;

After all, it’s important to have some money left over at the end of every month to put towards other important costs like paying down debt or saving up for retirement!

Put Up A Website Asap Even If It’s Just One Page

The first step to leveling up your freelance career is to have a website. While it may seem like overkill.

Having a website can be extremely helpful when you’re trying to get new clients or even just looking for work in general. Your website should include the following:

Your name
A brief bio about yourself and what you do (and maybe some awards or accolades)
A list of your experience/skills
An example portfolio piece or two from previous projects (if applicable)

Give Back To Charities By Donating Services Or Money

Giving back is one of the best ways to boost your professional image and skills. You can do this by:

Donating services or money to charities. For example, you could offer pro bono hours of work, or even donate in someone’s name as a gift.
Volunteering your time at events and fundraisers associated with your organization of choice.

Takeaway: Set Yourself Apart From Other Freelance Workers To Gain A Competitive Edge

So, how do you set yourself apart from all the other freelance workers? How do you make your proposal more appealing and your services more valuable than those of others in your field?

Focus on what makes you unique. Focus on what you can do that other can’t. Focus on what will make clients want to hire you instead of someone else.

Are you a freelancer looking to streamline your workflow and save time? Discover a curated list of time-saving tools that can enhance your productivity. Explore our article on 17 time-saving tools to streamline your freelance workflow and optimize your work processes today.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to establishing yourself as an invaluable freelancer and creating a profitable career path.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to other freelancers and local businesses you never know where those connections might lead.

Just remember that even if you have the best equipment, a firm handshake, and a killer website, nothing will get you very far until you gain some real experience and start making clients happy. So go forth, my friend, and good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Work From Home?

Yes! We’re a remote team, so you can work from anywhere. Just make sure you have a good internet connection and a quiet space to work in.

Do I Need Experience?

You do not need to have any prior experience, but we recommend that you have at least one year of experience in your field before applying. That way you’ll be able to hit the ground running on day one.

Do I Need An MBA?

No! You don’t need an MBA to apply for this position, but we do require that applicants have at least two years of experience working in their field of choice before applying.

What Is The Best Way To Get More Clients?

The first step is to make sure your portfolio looks amazing. Your portfolio should be a reflection of your knowledge and abilities, and it should showcase the best of what you have to offer.

An important thing to note about building a freelance career is that not all clients will be right for you.

There will be some that are too demanding or don’t pay enough, or just aren’t a good fit. It’s important to know when to walk away from a project if it isn’t going well and that may mean leaving some money on the table to protect your future success.

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.