The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About Freelancing

If you’ve ever wanted to be your own boss and pursue a passion project, you might have considered freelancing. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Freelancing is a great way to test out a new career direction or learn new skills. 

But with the freedom of freelancing comes uncertainty, especially for those of us who are used to the structure and security that comes from working full time for someone else. So, before you jump into all things freelance, here’s the most important thing you need to know:

Takeaway
Always prioritize building a strong portfolio.
Understand the changing landscape of freelancing.
Embrace effective time management strategies.
Learn from common freelancing mistakes.
Overcome challenges specific to your generation.

Freelancing Isn’t Just A Career Choice, It’s A Lifestyle

It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. Freelancing is more than just a way to make money it’s the lifestyle that makes you feel fulfilled. You’ll be working all day and night, so you need to make sure your schedule is balanced with your personal life. 

If you’re single, this should be no problem! But if you’re married or have children, this may require some negotiation with your family members as well as yourself (you know what I mean).

Freelancing requires discipline and patience. It requires organization skills like never before because there are always new projects coming in from different clients which means more hours spent on work-related tasks instead of spending time with friends/family/significant others etc…

If these words resonate with you then congratulations! Freelancing is definitely for YOU but doesn’t get too excited yet because freelancing isn’t for everyone.

As a freelancer, it’s crucial to steer clear of common pitfalls that can hinder your success. Learn how to avoid these mistakes and take your freelancing career to new heights with our guide on 10 Freelancing Mistakes That Are Keeping You Broke.

The Hardest Part Of Freelance Is Probably The Beginning

Freelancing is not just a career choice, but it’s also a lifestyle. It’s difficult to start with no income coming in and having to rely on savings or family support. You may have some clients who pay late or not at all, which only adds to your stress levels because you have no safety net at this point.

In fact, for most freelancers, this is where they start their journey to becoming successful on their terms: by learning how to persevere through these challenges early on in their career so that they can get past them and into more lucrative work later down the line (which will likely come from word-of-mouth referrals).

You Will Always Have To Juggle Your Time Between Work And Life

Now that you know more about the world of freelancing, it’s time to start your own business.

The first thing you need to do is ask yourself some questions: Do I have the right skills? Am I willing to take on clients and projects that are less than ideal? How much time am I willing to devote each month toward marketing my services? 

Can I work independently in an office setting or do I need total quiet with no one else around me when working at home? Does this sound like something that would make me happy doing for 40 hours a week, every week of my life forevermore (or until someone offers me a better-paying job)?

If your answers are yes, then great! Here’s how we recommend getting started:

Ask yourself these questions every day for three weeks straight before making any decisions about whether or not this is what you want to do with your life. Then take some deep breaths and think about it again for another three weeks just because we care about our readers so much.

You Have To Live On A Budget

Budgeting. It’s something that lots of people struggle with, but it’s also incredibly important. A good budget helps you make choices and stay on track so you can pay your bills and make it to the next payday.

When I first started freelancing, everything seemed like a cheap thrill I could buy lunch at work! My employer was even paying for my cell phone! 

But then I took a look at my bank account and realized those things weren’t free after all; they were being deducted from my paycheck before I ever saw the money (and then some). The lesson here is that if savings are important to you or if you want to pay off debt or save for an emergency fund then start budgeting now.

The future of work is evolving rapidly, and it’s essential to adapt to stay ahead. Discover how you can navigate the changing landscape and secure your place in the workforce by reading our article on How the Future of Work is Changing and How to Get a Piece of It.

As Your Boss, You Have To Learn To Take Care Of Yourself

The most important thing to know about freelancing is that you have to be your boss. As a freelancer, you are your boss. There’s no one to tell you what to do or when to do it and there’s no one who can fire you if you don’t meet expectations or fail at something. 

You have to take care of yourself and be self-disciplined enough not only to get things done but also to keep the business going in general which includes marketing yourself, continuing education and training classes (I recommend Skillshare!), networking with other people in your field, etc. and all while working on projects that interest or excite you!

If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry: It gets easier as time goes on because there are good resources out there for beginners like myself; just make sure whatever course/training program/mentor you choose meets all three criteria below:

Has good reviews online from other people who’ve tried them out first before recommending them; 2) Provides helpful information specifically geared towards freelancers; 3) Is affordable enough so anyone can afford their services without having their budget stretched too thin (there’s nothing worse than finding something useful only after realizing how expensive it is).

Work-Life Balance Becomes Even More Important When Freelancing

Once you start working for yourself, work-life balance becomes even more important. It’s easy to get absorbed in the job and forget about everything else but the most successful freelancers are those who take time off when they need it and make sure to spend time with family and friends outside of work.

The hardest part of freelancing is probably getting your first client or contract. You have no idea how much time you’ll have or what kind of profit margin it can bring you until you try it out, so it may seem like a big risk at first glance. But don’t let this discourage you!

If something isn’t working out the way you want it to after five years, consider trying something else instead (maybe consulting). If there are other things besides writing that interest me then maybe I’ll pursue those instead (like photography). If nothing comes along then I guess I’ll just find another way around this problem (tenure track positions may become available soon).

You Will Always Have To Keep Networking And Finding New Work

The thing is, even if you do have a steady stream of work, it won’t last.

As a freelancer and owner of your own business, you are constantly on the lookout for new opportunities. 

You need to keep networking and finding new work. This is especially true if you’re only doing freelance writing or design work in your spare time you have no employer to provide health insurance or retirement savings so this side gig must become self-sustaining as soon as possible.

A well-crafted portfolio can be a game-changer for freelancers. Learn how to create a modern and impressive portfolio that showcases your skills effectively in our comprehensive guide on Creating a Modern Portfolio Has Never Been Easier.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

I know, it’s scary. You’ve already invested a lot of time and energy into your business and now you feel like you’re on the cusp of something big. You don’t want to rock the boat or lose what you have worked so hard for. 

You think if you ask for help from others, they might take advantage of your vulnerability or even worse, steal from you.

But guess what? That’s not how it works! The most successful freelancers are not afraid to admit that they need help sometimes. Most successful freelancers will tell you that asking for feedback and advice from their peers is one of the best tools in their arsenal when trying to grow their businesses.

So go ahead go out there and find someone who can give you some advice on how best to serve your clients or help with your marketing strategies! Chances are that person will be more than happy to help because they too have been there before (and may still be).

Generation Z freelancers often encounter a particular challenge that hampers their progress. Discover what this mistake is and how you can overcome it to thrive as a freelancer in our insightful post on The Biggest Freelancing Mistake That Gen Z Make.

Freelancing Is A Great Way To Get Creative With Your Career, But It Does Require Discipline, Patience, Organization, And Good Self-Care Practices

A freelancer is a person who works for themselves, rather than for a company. Freelancing is a great way to get creative with your career, but it does require discipline, patience, organization, and good self-care practices.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you start your journey:

Freelancing is not for everyone. There’s no shame in wanting to work at a job where you can receive benefits and have set hours every day. If that’s what you want out of life and career right now, then go get it! 

If working as a freelancer isn’t right for you at this time or ever during your lifetime (and others feel this way), then don’t waste any more time thinking about it all day long because that’s what will happen if the thought keeps coming up! 

Instead, just focus on finding the best-fit career path by asking yourself questions like “What do I enjoy doing?” “How do I want my work environment/environmental conditions to look like?” And finally… “Am I willing to put forth effort towards building my business?”

Time is a valuable asset for freelancers, and effective time management can significantly impact your productivity. Explore essential time management techniques tailored for freelancers in our article on Time Management Tips for Freelancers.

Conclusion

Freelancing isn’t easy, but if you have the right mindset, it can be very rewarding.

Further Reading

Business News Daily – Freelancer Tips: Explore essential tips and advice for freelancers to enhance their success in the gig economy.

The Undercover Recruiter – Guide to Freelancing: A comprehensive guide that provides valuable insights and resources for individuals considering freelancing as a career path.

99designs Blog – 7 Things to Know About Freelancing: Learn seven crucial aspects of freelancing that every freelancer should know to thrive in the competitive market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About Freelancing?

Freelancing is all about building relationships with people. The more connections you have, the better your chances of getting hired and staying busy. A lot of professional networking happens online but it’s not just LinkedIn; there are many other online platforms where you can meet and connect with potential clients, collaborators, and mentors. 

I recommend going to some local meet-ups or conferences where people who share similar interests gather in person (I keep track of these on my website). 

You could also try attending local business events in your areas such as Chamber of Commerce meetings or networking events sponsored by local chambers or universities (try searching “chamber of commerce + [your city]”).

How Do You Make Money As A Freelancer?

Once you find your niche market, there are many different ways for making money as a freelancer including selling products/services directly through an e-commerce site like Etsy or eBay; selling subscriptions via an online platform such as Patreon; creating courses that can be sold on Udemy, etc., 

The key here is knowing how much time it takes for each project type so that when pricing out how much money will come from each one you don’t end up underpricing yourself!

The most common question I get about freelancing is: what’s the most important thing you need to know about freelancing?

The answer is this freelancing isn’t just a source of income, but also an opportunity to rethink how we work and live. It’s a chance for us all to be more productive, more creative, and more entrepreneurial than we would have otherwise been able to be.

The second most common question I get asked is: what are some of the most common mistakes people make when they start freelancing?

I’ve seen many of my clients make these mistakes when they first begin their endeavor: they don’t market themselves enough; they don’t have a clear understanding of the problem they’re solving for their clients, or they aren’t willing to put in the time it takes to find new jobs each month (and that last one can kill your freelance business).

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the act of contracting with clients to complete specific projects. The client pays you, and you produce a product or service for them. 

How Do I Become A Freelancer?

There are three ways to become a freelance writer:

Find work on your own. You can find jobs through websites like Upwork and Fiverr, or by asking friends who work in the industry if they know anyone who needs help with certain projects (to avoid competition).

How Do I Get Paid?

Most clients pay between $0.01-$1 per word for articles, depending on their length and complexity. 

This means that if your article is 500 words long, it could be worth up to $5! This can seem like very little money at first glance but if you think about how much time it took for you to write that 500-word piece (and how much effort), suddenly it doesn’t seem so bad anymore! 

Think about how much time it would take someone else just reading those same 500 words out loud into their phone’s recorder app…not even taking into account editing before publishing or anything else involved with getting these words published online!