Your freelance business is going to be better than ever. Trust us. And the first step in setting up your new business for success is to lay the groundwork and start on the right foot.
You want to build a foundation that will support you throughout your entrepreneurial career, long into the future. We’re here to help you with that:
In this piece, we’ll cover everything from choosing how you want to cover your business taxes to finding the perfect location for a home office-slash-coffee shop hybrid work zone. Let’s get started on building your dream!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Prioritize Time Management: Master the art of effective time management to boost productivity and meet deadlines efficiently. |
| 2. Build a Strong Portfolio: Showcase your best work in a modern portfolio to impress potential clients and secure projects. |
| 3. Embrace the Future of Work: Stay informed about the evolving work landscape and adapt to the changes for long-term success. |
| 4. Understand Freelancing Mistakes: Learn from common freelancing mistakes and avoid them to foster a thriving freelance career. |
| 5. Face Challenges Confidently: Don’t fear platform rules and bans; be informed and proactive to navigate challenges confidently. |
Get Organized
Use a calendar. The best way to stay organized is to plan your work and schedule tasks so that you can avoid the stress of having to do everything at once.
Make a to-do list. This list should be prioritized based on its importance; if something needs doing, write it down!
Get an office planner (or start using one). These can help you organize both time management and task management and they come in many forms: paper-based planners, desktop apps for smartphones or tablets, digital calendars that sync with your phone’s calendar app…the options are endless!
Avoiding common freelancing mistakes is essential for financial success. Learn how to steer clear of these pitfalls in our comprehensive guide on 10 Freelancing Mistakes that may be holding you back from achieving your freelancing goals.
Create A Website
Having a website is essential for any freelance business. It’s the first place most potential clients go to learn more about you and your work. There are several different ways you can create one:
Squarespace or Wix are great options if you don’t have much experience with web design, as they allow you to create simple websites with minimal effort.
Both platforms let you easily add photos, text, and other content such as blog posts and portfolios. (If you’re more tech-savvy, there are also drag-and-drop tools like WordPress.)
Use your domain name (e.g., marymillerwriter.com) so that people know exactly who they’re contacting! Make sure to include all contact info including phone numbers and social media links so people can reach out easily if needed.
Curate A Portfolio
Your portfolio is the first thing potential clients will see when they visit your website. It’s where you show off your best work and highlight what makes you a great freelancer. For that reason, it’s important to take some time to curate a portfolio that shows off your skills and gives people reasons to hire you for their projects.
To create an effective portfolio, start by deciding on the types of work that are most important for potential customers or clients to get hired by them again:
- Have several samples of written content with links back to the source (such as blog posts) if possible
- Include any awards or recognition received from previous jobs/projects
Once you have selected which projects should be included, make sure those items look good!
This means having clear headings with descriptive text around images plus keywords describing the project itself below each image so search engines can find these items easily when someone searches for something related to purposeful services like “social media marketing” etcetera.)
The landscape of work is constantly evolving, and staying ahead is crucial. Discover the trends shaping the future of work and how you can secure your place in it with our insights on the Future of Work.
Learn How To Market Yourself
Marketing yourself is a skill, and it can be learned by anyone willing to learn. It might seem intimidating at first, but once you have the basics down and get used to the process of marketing yourself, you’ll be able to create an online presence that helps grow your business!
Before we dive into how exactly this works, let’s look at some ways in which marketing yourself will set you up for success:
- Marketing yourself helps establish credibility among clients
- Marketing yourself allows clients more access (and more choice) when deciding who they want on their team
Understand Your Finances
Understand your finances. You need to understand what it costs you to run the business, and how much money you’ll need to earn to make a profit.
This includes your expenses and income, as well as any other financial goals that you may have, such as paying off debt or saving for retirement.
The easiest way to get this information is by looking at past years’ tax returns or using an online budgeting tool like Mint or YNAB (you can download YNAB for free).
Set Reasonable Rates And Boundaries
Setting rates and boundaries is one of the most challenging parts of starting a freelance business. To be successful, you need to set rates that will allow you to make a profit, but also help you stay competitive with the market.
The first thing you need to do is understand what others in your industry are charging. Determine if these rates are higher or lower than what other freelancers charge in your area.
If they’re higher, consider whether or not it’s worth raising your price point and losing some clients? If so, how much should you raise them? If not, how can you justify working for less than everyone else?
The second step is determining what kind of value your services bring to clients’ businesses this should help inform both pricing structures and professional boundaries (e.g., how many hours per week).
The third step involves assessing profitability; while this might seem obvious at first glance, there are many factors beyond just hourly rate which impact whether or not an opportunity will result in profit for either party involved (such as overhead costs associated with doing business).
Finally, remember that all things are equal, and don’t sell yourself short!
Showcasing your work effectively is vital in freelancing. Explore our step-by-step guide on Creating a Modern Portfolio to elevate your professional image and attract potential clients with ease.
Find A Mentor Or Support Network
In addition to setting up a business plan, finding a mentor or support network is crucial for your success as a freelancer. Whether you hire them or not, you must have someone who can provide guidance and advice throughout the process.
Someone who has been in your position before will be able to empathize with you and help guide you through potential roadblocks. They’ll also be able to offer insight into how to resolve issues that come up when working with clients (both good and bad).
A good mentor is someone who will listen to your concerns, provide feedback on how they might handle similar situations themselves, and give constructive criticism when necessary not just tell you what they would do without considering any of the particulars of your situation.
When looking for a mentor or support network member:
Find someone who has been successful in the field where yours lies; if possible try to find someone who has been both successful AND ethical in their work history (not necessarily easy).
This way they’ll have experience on both sides of working relationships with other professionals while helping guide us through ours ourselves!
Choose wisely! Because this person will most likely become an integral part of our lives during one very important period within our careers (i.e., starting), make sure he/she doesn’t have any major flaws before committing fully because once we’ve invested our time into something.
It’s hard not being able to see past those things later down the road even if there weren’t many problems initially; especially since we’re all human beings too so these things happen sometimes despite best intentions.”
Keep Up With Industry Trends And Events
Attend industry events. Take a look at the calendar of upcoming events and make sure you’re making time to attend as many as possible that are relevant to your field.
You’ll learn more about what’s going on in the industry, meet new people, and build relationships that can lead to work later on. Plus, it’s an opportunity for networking you never know who might be there!
When you’re not able to attend an event in person, look into watching recordings online or subscribing to newsletters from trade associations in your field so you don’t miss out on important news about advances in technology or major legislative changes.
Subscribe to blogs by experts in their fields (you can do this via RSS feeds), follow them on social media sites like Twitter and LinkedIn and comment regularly!
This will show them that they’re valued members of their communities too; they’ll appreciate knowing how much value they bring because this will encourage them to continue providing excellent advice while also helping generate leads for future projects together as colleagues with shared values.”
Build Other Skills To Be Competitive In The Market
There are many skills that you can learn to help you become a better freelancer. Here are some ideas:
Learn new software. If there’s one thing that will set you apart from other freelancers, you can use the latest technology and software efficiently. If you’re using older systems, consider switching them out for something better (or just learning how to use them more effectively).
Learn how to code. This can be a major time saver and allow your projects to go from good to great quickly. It also allows for higher-end work as well as being able to manage clients who don’t know what they want yet but want something cool anyway!
Balancing multiple projects and deadlines can be overwhelming for freelancers. Unleash the power of effective time management with our expert tips on Time Management for Freelancers to boost productivity and reduce stress.
Build A Business Plan (Yes, Really)
A business plan is a formal statement of your goals and intentions for your freelancing business. It helps you clarify why you’re launching your freelance career, what kind of work you’d like to be doing, who your ideal clients are, and how much money you want to make.
A good plan will also spell out the steps required to meet those goals and will include specific strategies for reaching them.
The process of putting together a complete business plan can take some time, but it’s worth it: not only does creating this document help give structure to all the information floating around in your head about what kind of work you want to do.
Where and how much clients are willing (and able) to pay for it…it also forces you into actionable steps that move toward success with each passing day.
Learn To Negotiate For Yourself And Your Work
Negotiating for yourself and your work is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and improved. Many freelancers are nervous about negotiating because it’s not something they’re used to doing or have done before in their careers.
But the truth is that most people negotiate all the time on their behalf or for others and most freelance business owners need to negotiate at some point during their career.
So why not get better at it? Here are some tips on how:
Start by asking questions. When you meet with potential clients or collaborators, ask them questions like “What do you feel this project is worth?” or “What would make this project successful?”
This will help them open up a dialogue around pricing, while also helping you understand what they expect from working with you (and if those expectations align with yours).
Do your research. If someone offers you a certain price based on your conversation above but there seems like there might be more room to haggle down the price later on down the line.
Consider researching what other freelancers charge for similar projects before agreeing on any terms upfront this way if negotiations do occur later due to budget concerns/a change of heart/etc.,
It will be easier for both parties involved as neither party has already agreed upon anything concretely set yet; instead, both parties can revisit these discussions later once everyone has had more time
Manage Your Time Wisely And Create Boundaries For Yourself (Yes, Really)
The best way to get things done is to set realistic goals and prioritize your tasks. You should ask yourself: what are the most important things I need to be working on right now? What’s the next step I need to take, and how long will it take me? Don’t be afraid of saying any when you’re faced with an opportunity that doesn’t align with your goals.
The worst thing you can do is procrastinate, or let distractions get in the way of getting work done. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube can easily suck up hours without you even realizing it so don’t keep these open while working!
If you feel like taking a break from staring at a computer screen for too long (or if there’s just nothing left for you to do), go for a walk outside instead! But make sure not to take any longer than needed after all: no one likes an overworked freelancer!
Put The Work In
To achieve success as a freelancer, you need to put in the work. You can set yourself up for success by working hard, working smart, and working with passion and purpose. To get started on this path of success:
Work hard. This is one of the most important pieces of advice about being a successful freelancer that I can give you. It’s not going to be easy you need to work hard every single day if you want your business to thrive!
But if you work hard enough and are committed enough, there will be no limit on what you can accomplish.
Work smart. Make sure that your efforts go into planning instead of just reacting when things come up and make sure that they do not go into creating unnecessary stress or frustration either!
Planning will help ensure greater productivity because it gives more opportunity for thinking through tasks beforehand rather than doing them haphazardly without thinking through all possible outcomes beforehand (which increases chances for error).
And taking care not to create additional issues due to poor planning also helps prevent unnecessary stress or frustration from building up over time (which also reduces overall productivity). So plan for success now!
Work with passion & purpose – Remember why this matters so much: You are going after something bigger than yourself! Think about how working at home makes us feel free – it gives us agency over our time again.”
Do These Things To Get Started On The Right Foot
The first step to starting a freelance writing business is to have the right mindset. If you’re thinking about going into business for yourself, it’s important to understand what it will take to succeed.
The good news is, even if you don’t think you have everything in place yet, there are still things that can be done now (such as working on your marketing skills) that will help bring your freelance writing business closer to success.
Here are some useful tips on how to get started with your new business:
Be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices – There’s no getting around this one! If you want your freelance writing business to succeed and be rewarding for both yourself and others, then being willing and able to go through challenges will help tremendously.
It’s okay not knowing everything immediately; that’s why having an open mind about learning new things is so key!
Upwork’s policies can be daunting, but understanding the rules is crucial. Find out why you shouldn’t fear a permanent ban and how to avoid common missteps in our guide on Upwork’s Permanent Ban to maintain a successful freelancing career.
Conclusion
If you’re just starting, you may have some bumps along the way. Be sure to talk about them with other freelancers or people who have already started a business.
The more information you can gather and the more people you can consult, the better off your freelance venture will be.
Further Reading
LawDepot Freelance Contract Guide: Get insights into creating a solid freelance contract to protect your interests and ensure a smooth working relationship with clients.
Hello Bombshell: How to Grow Your Freelance Business: Discover practical tips and strategies to scale and expand your freelance business for long-term success.
Webflow Blog: Freelance Business: Stay updated with the latest trends, tools, and resources for freelancers to enhance their business and stay ahead in the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best tools for freelancers:
- Google Docs. For all your project management and collaboration needs.
- Slack. A great way to keep in touch with team members and clients.
- Trello. A popular task management app that helps you stay organized.
What Are The Best Places To Find Clients?
You should be setting up your website that showcases your work, as well as any past projects or testimonials you have received from clients. Other than that, it’s important to get out there and network!
Meetup groups exist for every industry imaginable, so you can connect with people who share similar interests. You should also consider attending conferences related to your field of expertise.
This is an excellent way of connecting with other professionals in the industry and building relationships that could lead to potential business opportunities down the line (and who knows? Maybe even becoming a client!).
Finally, don’t forget about social media! Having an active presence on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn along with blogging regularly will help build awareness of what kind of services/products you offer; this will also help attract more potential leads from around the world
How Do I Set Up A Website?
It’s easy to get started with a simple WordPress blog. If you want more control over your site, try Squarespace or Wix. Many freelancers also build landing pages on their domain names, which can be useful if you’re planning on doing some marketing and branding work on the side.
What’s The Best Way To Find Work?
A lot of people start by posting their portfolios online for free. This is fine for when you’re starting as it gives potential clients an idea of what you’re capable of doing and how much they might pay for your services.
When you’ve got some experience under your belt and perhaps even a few clients it can be beneficial to charge fees upfront or through milestone payments so that both parties know what they’re getting into from the beginning.
Where Can I Find Mentorship?
One-on-one meetings with mentors are great for learning about everything from pricing strategies to project management best practices (and many other topics!).
A great place to start looking is at meetups like Women Who Code or RailsBridge where there will always be experts willing to share their expertise with others who need it most!
How Do I Start My Freelance Business?
The first step is to find a niche that you’re passionate about and can communicate with passion. Why? Because what you do has to be something that you love otherwise, it will be really hard to stick with it.
Then, think about how you can serve this niche in a way that adds value and helps them solve their problems. (For more on finding your niche, read How to Find Your Perfect Freelance Gig.)
How Do I Market Myself As An Independent Professional?
Make sure your website is well-designed, easy to navigate, and showcases your skills/experience so that clients can see what they’re getting before they even contact you.
Also, make sure all of your social media platforms are updated regularly with fresh content so potential clients see what kind of work you produce and get an idea of the vibe of your brand from seeing how often (or not) people interact with it online (and hopefully like or comment).
If possible try pitching some articles for popular blogs or websites related directly or indirectly to whatever niche(s) interests them most; this shows off both knowledge within specific areas and also willingness/ability when tackling new subjects without being afraid!
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.