So, you want to join the lucrative freelance world and work fewer hours while making more money? Get your expectations in check and prepare yourself for a rocky journey. In some ways, working freelance can be more rewarding than working a 9-to-5 job. But, in other ways…
You’ll be surprised at how challenging it is to work independently. Some people have the misconception that all you need is a computer and access to the internet to make money. But it simply isn’t the case. The adage “fake it till you make it” was probably written by a freelancer.
The road to success as a freelancer is paved with hard work, study, and perseverance. To help prepare you before you take that leap, here are 8 Tips to Have a Successful Freelance Career.
Focus on what you’re good at.
As a self-employed individual, you have the freedom to pursue whatever interests you. To make a living as a freelancer, market skills that others will pay you to do. The ability to earn money from your hard work depends on your level of expertise. However, clients won’t hire you until they acknowledge your ability to deliver results.
You’ll need proof that you can deliver high-quality results, so a portfolio is the best way to prove it. Unless you have samples from past jobs, there won’t be much for you to show off your abilities when starting as a freelancer. Focus on what you do best while you build your career.
Use a company that outsources Freelancers.
This tip is your shortcut to success. Scour the web and you’ll find many job-placement companies that could work for you. Salesforce, Upwork, Gigster, Fiverr, and Outsource are just a few. Sign-up, kick-start your freelance career, and build from there.
Set your prices competitively and adjust as needed.
Research what others are charging for the same service you offer, then set your price. It’s best to charge a little below the average rate when you’re new. Freelancers typically use two pricing models: hourly, and fixed price.
Hourly Rates
The hourly rate model is the most popular choice among beginning freelancers. Determine your hourly rate, then multiply it by the total number of hours spent on the project.
Fixed Pricing (per-project)
With a fixed price, you will receive a single payment upon completing the job. Payment reflects the quality of work produced rather than the number of hours put in.
Define your Brand.
To be successful as a freelancer, you need to define yourself. As the sole proprietor, you are your brand. Start with your resume or job experience and have plenty of samples to show prospective clients. You can also have a personal website and a strong LinkedIn profile.
When you brand yourself, the goal is to appear to be an expert in your field. Some clients won’t hire freelancers if they lack the degrees, credentials, or certificates the client requires. So, if you have them, show them off! You’ll accrue more work as you build your reputation.
Manage your projects well.
Most freelancers work on more than one project at a time, so they need strong project management skills to stay on task. Schedule your deadlines realistically and arrange your jobs accordingly. Remember that you are the only one who can make sure you meet the client’s deadline. It gets easier to be self-disciplined the more you do it.
Use contracts to protect yourself.
Use a formal contract for your jobs to avoid confusion about payment, deadlines, and what to do if there is a problem. While everyone hopes their freelancing gig goes off without a hitch, having a contract in place is the prudent thing to do.
Don’t let rejection stop you.
Let’s be honest, you can’t expect to get every job you apply for. Any person working for themselves can expect to face rejection and sadness in their career. It’s natural to question your abilities, but if you’re truly skilled at what you do, the number of times you succeed will far outnumber the times you fail.
Know your limitations.
Burnout is a problem for freelancers, and it’s difficult to shake. Working for yourself can be very stressful. Fight the urge to take on more work than you can handle. Conversely, don’t take too much time off. It may take some time to create a new work-life balance, but eventually, it will be worth it.
Final Thoughts
To be successful as a freelancer, you need to know a lot about your chosen field, be able to think creatively, and change quickly. These suggestions will be helpful as you map out your freelance career and work toward your new objectives. We wish you the best of luck!
