This post is collaborative but all opinions are my own
Being a freelancer can be both incredibly rewarding and incredibly challenging. It takes focus, dedication, and a willingness to take risks. With so many different aspects, it can be hard to know where to start and how best to set yourself up for success. But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to do. It’s all about being prepared, doing your research, and ensuring the drive and dedication it takes to pull it all together. Here are my tips for becoming a freelancer and the things you need to know before starting!
Photo by 91 Magazine
Set Goals
The first step in achieving any goal is setting one. Taking the time to think about what you want to accomplish and how you want your freelance career to progress will help guide you toward success. As with any goal, set yourself measurable goals so that you can track your progress and ensure that you are on the right path. Whether you want to double your income or write an article for a major publication, make sure your goals are achievable but also challenging enough that they push you out of your comfort zone.
Have Discipline
One of the biggest challenges of working as a freelancer is staying motivated when there isn’t someone else telling you what work needs to be done. Having discipline is key. Establish daily routines that prioritize productivity over procrastination and stick to them. Creating structure in your day-to-day operations will help keep things running smoothly and ensure that deadlines are met on time.
Network
Networking is essential for any business owner or freelancer. It’s the key ingredient in developing relationships with potential clients or partners who could help grow your business down the line. Make sure to attend events related to your industry, join networking groups online, or simply reach out by email or phone if someone catches your eye—you never know who might be interested in working together.
Build Your Brand
Growing your brand is essential for any business owner, but especially so for freelancers since this is often their only source of income (for now). Establishing an online presence through social media accounts and a website or blog gives potential customers direct access to who you are as a person and professional. This will only add credibility to your business when pitching work opportunities or selling products and services directly from these platforms. Additionally, use content marketing strategies such as writing blog posts related to topics within your industry or creating videos introducing yourself and what services and products you offer. This will show potential customers that they can trust you with their business endeavours based on the quality of content provided through these channels.
Invest in Yourself
As a freelancer, investments come in many forms. From purchasing new software or equipment that may help increase productivity levels to signing up for courses and webinars related directly or indirectly to work being provided such as phishing training to protect your business or a digital marketing course to help you grow. All these investments will pay off long-term even if they seem costly upfront.
Manage Your Finances
When it comes down to it, money matters. Understanding cash flow basics like budgeting expenses vs income earned each month along with tracking all payments made (and received) will be crucial to keeping finances stable throughout the journey as a freelance entrepreneur. Additionally, create separate bank accounts dedicated solely towards tax payments and other miscellaneous fees associated with being a self-employed individual. This way money stays organized and easily accessible when needed most.
Set Up Systems
Working as a freelancer can be extremely rewarding and lucrative, but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges. Having systems in place and remaining organized are key components of success. The structure is important for staying on top of your workload and meeting deadlines, or in other words, running a successful business. From maintaining records for accounting to having a scheduling calendar that both you and your clients can access, having systems in place will allow each job you take on to run more smoothly. Furthermore, creating organisational methods when it comes to writing invoices and budgeting outlines helps set expectations regarding payment terms between both parties which can prevent financial disputes down the road.
Hire Some Help
As a freelancer, having help by your side can be essential to completing projects in a timely and efficient manner. Hiring a virtual assistant, editor, or graphic designer can help alleviate some of the stress that comes with taking on too many tasks at once. They can provide valuable assistance with creating content, designing promotional material, or managing emails and calendar appointments. Hiring these professionals may be overwhelming at first, but that bit of extra help may prove to be highly beneficial in helping you stay organized and maximize your productivity during your working hours.
Diversify Your Income Streams
Don’t put all of your eggs into one basket. Diversifying sources of income helps protect against fluctuations that may occur due to unexpected changes within certain markets. For example, offering additional services outside core specialisations such as web design and copywriting combo packages could potentially lead to more clients seeking an “all-in-one solutions provider” instead of having to hire separate individuals to do each task individually.
Know Your Worth
It’s also important not to sell yourself short by undercharging clients just because feel intimidated by the competition. Always remember the value you bring to the table and strive to price accordingly. Showcasing your unique skillset differentiates you from others doing the same type of work, while still remaining competitively priced. In the end, it’s always important to stand your ground confidently knowing you’re worth every penny!
