It is however important to know that you do not need to fear changing you area of focus as a freelancer. Many freelancers start doing something and through the journey of freelancing they discover that they are actually good and love something entirely different. Know that you can always change no matter what. Reflect on what you’re good at. Just about every type of skill can be turned into a freelancing opportunity. Keep in mind that you’re “secondary” skills, like researching and writing, for example, can be just as useful as a specific set of skills unique to a profession (e. g. , graphic designer or computer programming). If you know you’re a strong writer, then you could develop a freelance writing business. It’s very easy to believe that you don’t have the necessary skills or experience, but in fact you actually need very little experience in order to get started freelancing. Instead, believe in your abilities and focus on producing good work. [3] X Research source
Your brand should clearly communicate what you do that is special and what you offer that is worth buying. Try to narrow your focus to a specific industry. For example, if you decide you want to do freelance writing, you might only decide to write for online travel sites and business and thus be a freelance travel writer. Or you might decide you want to write for business and corporate websites. Specializing within the field (in this case, the very broad field of writing) will make you more attractive to potential clients because it shows you have a particular rather than a generic set of skills, also known as a niche. [5] X Research source
Generating submissions for your portfolio takes time and resources. If you have no paid assignments or previous work to put in a portfolio, create some by offering your services pro bono or taking your free time to produce some. [7] X Research source Remember that more is not always better. Although volume can be good and help with self-promotion, it’s also important to try to incorporate some bigger and higher profile jobs, rather than just building a portfolio full of the smallest and least lucrative projects. If you want to make big money by working with high-paying clients, then you need to show those clients that you can produce the kind of work they’re looking for. Again, consider offering pro bono when you’re first starting out. [8] X Research source Don’t launch your freelancing career until you’ve actually created the products or provided the services you plan to sell. Having the portfolio shows clients that you’ve actually done what you’re telling them you can do. [9] X Research source
Consider talking to friends (in real life or online) who’ve earned money freelancing about the business ins and outs. You could also consult a number of books and online sites about how to start up a business from the ground. Although it might seem premature to worry about the “business” of your freelance work, having a business model with goals, deliverables, benchmarks, and so on can help you determine the scope and scale of your freelancing operation. A clear business model, and transparent accounts and books, will also show clients that you’re the real deal - a professional freelancer and not just someone working in their pajamas at home.
Set prices for the services or products you offer. Figure out if you charge an hourly rate or per piece/product. Be ready to explain how you charge for what you’re offering (i. e. , the breakdown). Create invoice templates. Using a word-processing tool (like Microsoft Excel, for example), design an invoice that has all of the important information (service rendered, cost, payment, addresses of the payee and payer, etc. ). Establish an accounting plan and consider opening up a business bank account. Often banks have special services and fees for business bank accounts. Look into how much you should be charging and setting aside for taxes.
Try the 10-before-10 rule; pitch to 10 potential clients before 10 in the morning during the work week. [14] X Research source If you’re still working other jobs, set aside some of your free time to starting building up a client network that you can draw on in the future. You should know who your target clients are if you’ve branded yourself properly. Remember that businesses want to work with freelancers who seem like their services/products were designed just for the needs of those businesses. The concept of specialization, mentioned above, creates this sense. [15] X Research source You could also try using a freelance market. There are several online freelance marketplaces like Elance and oDesk, where you can offer your services and look up and pitch to clients. These can be very useful for freelancers just starting out. [16] X Research source
One useful way to start seeing freelancing as a viable option is to being the process of legitimizing it. Come up with a name for your business and a logo or font-type. Once you start creating the vision, it becomes easier to realize that this a real business you’re launching. Start the process by establishing a business name and creating a vision for your company brand.
Keep in mind that a lot of the steps in Part 1 can be undertaken while you are still working at your day job. Focus on setting the ground plan for freelancing while still earning a stable income and you’ll feel more confident and comfortable taking the leap.
Make sure to plan for slow periods, whether that meanings changing prices or having a savings plan. The more you freelance, you’ll be able to identify trends and peak and slow periods. Ultimately, you’ll be able to anticipate when things slow for you and you’ll stop getting worried because this will be routine. [19] X Research source and you can start to expect the drought and prepare. But it takes a while to get there.
Engage in daily and weekly reflection about the work you’ve done to make sur you’re hitting your targets. If you’re not, then you need to have a serious look at your work habits and system. Other people - such as editors or mentors if you’re a freelance writer, for example - can also help provide accountability. At the end of the day, however you’re the boss so be the boss.
Make sure to get business cards made so you can hand them out whenever you bump into someone and start chatting. These are an old - but still relevant - way to get your name out there.
You could also meet up with other freelancers for lunch or coffee to discuss problems, concerns, and other topics. There are a number of local business networking groups that can help connect people who work for themselves and usually remotely. [24] X Research source There are also little things you can do to relieve feelings of isolation. Call someone, instead of sending an email, for example. [25] X Research source
