A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Freelance Business
- The Basics to Being a Freelancer
- Creating a Business Plan and Choosing Goals
- Legal Stuff: Taxes, Ethics, & Contracts
- How to Start with Little Experience
- Places to Find Freelance Work
- Advertising & Creating a Portfolio
- Valuing Your Work & Time
- Scaling Your Business
Being a freelancer is one of the most liberating career paths. It is also one of the toughest. Starting a freelance business is not just as simple as waking up in the morning, rolling out of bed, and opening your laptop.
Freelancing is not just an easy way to monetize your hobbies, nor is it easier than a “proper” job. Nevertheless, freelance work can be some of the most rewarding work you ever do.
One of the most significant things to remember when becoming a freelancer is that the worst thing someone can say to you is, “No.” You need to put yourself out there. There is no shame in being rejected, but there is some shame in not trying in the first place. You may have to reach out to people because you can’t count on work always coming to you, so a lot of your job will be in seeking out new contacts and opportunities.
Freelance work can be done part-time alongside your existing employment or responsibilities, but if the work is something you find you have a great passion for, it can be grown into a full-time business over time.
This mini-course will provide tools and guidance for becoming a successful freelancer. It will tackle common problems and answer the most common questions that new freelancers have.
The first section outlines the basic foundations required to start a freelance career. It will ask you some questions and force you to think about your ideal life. This will make you think about whether a freelance business is the right path for you and will give you some hints on structuring your new lifestyle.
It will emphasize the fact that a plan is essential, as a freelance business is not just something you can make up as you go along. Effectively researching and planning before you begin will be the hallmark of success, to ensure that you understand your service, your industry, and your audience properly, first.
After discussing planning, goal setting, and legalities, we will then talk about how essential a portfolio is. It will also go on to provide some tips on how to fill it out effectively to attract your target audience.
We will then discuss how you can start working without much experience, and also delve into the positives and negatives of different platforms and places to find freelance work.
At the conclusion, we’ll suggest some forms of business expansion, because once you have reached a level of success, opportunities will exist to upscale it.
So, let’s get started exploring the possibilities a freelance business has to offer you.
Chapter 1:
The Basics to Being a Freelancer
The fundamental details of a freelance business plan will be outlined in the next chapter; however, it’s important to understand from the outset that, as a freelancer, you will also be a business owner. You will be responsible for all elements of your business, which is why you need to have a solid understanding of what it means to be a freelancer.
Is a freelance career right for you?
Chances are that if you have the drive and motivation to have found and chosen to learn from this course, it is. Starting a freelance business requires courage, initiative, and investment, so being proactive about seeking and exploring new possibilities will work strongly in your favor.
What skills do you have?
First of all, you need to start by thinking about what skills you have. These skills are likely things you have gained throughout your life and career. Your freelance business will be most successful if you play to your strengths and skills. It can include, of course, any education and training you have received, as well as thing that you excel in.
What interests you?
In addition to your skills, you also need to recognize what interests you. What are your passions and your interests? What kind of work do you enjoy?
What about your free time and hobbies? What do you really gravitate toward doing, and what do you most enjoy?
Your business will be most successful if you are doing work that you are genuinely passionate about.
Most importantly, what kind of work makes you happy?
You should think about and reflect upon the past projects that you have most enjoyed. What elements of your past work have you enjoyed? Is it in the customer service department or the collaborative effort of a team or something else entirely?
Or, if you have been stuck doing work that you hate, reflect on why and determine what you can do to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
Concentrating on work that makes you happy will improve your quality of life and give you a spark that will give you an advantage in your marketplace.
What will your service be?
As well as determining what you will do, you also need to determine what you will not do. This will ensure that you are only doing quality work in areas of your expertise that you want to do.
When you begin freelancing, you should really think about what you actually want to do. You may have a vague idea of the industry or area, but you should think about what kind of work you specifically want to do. It should lie at the intersection of your skills and passions. This will be the key to the success of your business.
Freelance Work Ideas
There are many freelance business opportunities that can be tailored to your skills and interests. Chances are you already have an idea of what you would like to do, but here is a list of possibilities to consider:
- Writing
- Copywriting
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Blogging
- Journalism
- Ghost-Writing
- Content Writing
- Web Development
- Website Design
- Website Creation
- Programming
- Graphic Design
- Photography
- Transcription
- Translation
- Teaching
- Tutoring
- Marketing
- Content Creation
- Brand Management
- Search Engine Optimization
- Data Entry
- Administration
- Bookkeeping
- Virtual Assistant
Once you have an overall idea of what you would like do, you can narrow it down to a specific niche. This is not something you need to do immediately, but it is something you should keep in mind as you grow your business. Specialization is essential to business growth, but your niche can evolve as your direction changes.
Who are your clients?
Once you know what your business will be, you’ll need to consider who your target market will be. Clients will be discussed in more detail later, but you should be considering who your target audience will be as you plan your business.
It is important to remember that, in terms of clients, you should be aiming for quality over quantity. While it can be tempting to take any and all clients you encounter, especially when you are starting out, you should know that you are allowed to say no. If someone is rude or trying to rip you off, move on. There are plenty more out there. Allocate your time to clients and projects that you enjoy and believe in. In particular, it is recommended that you try to gain long-term clients.
One of your primary business goals should be to retain quality clients and build good relationships with them, for better long-term stability and lower marketing costs.
Hidden Costs
There may be hidden upfront business costs that you will need to invest in. Obviously, this is dependent on your industry and things you already own, but nevertheless, there are things that you need to consider.
Will you need new software or technology? How about office equipment? Can you work from home or do you need to rent somewhere? If you are thinking about using a coffee shop as an office, remember to budget in the coffees!
Working these out in advance is the best way to not get caught with unexpected expenses.
Motivation
Having a freelance business requires motivation and discipline. You will no longer have a boss hovering around demanding that you work harder; you are now that boss. Being self-motivated and having good time management skills are quintessential traits of successful freelancers.
It also cannot be stated enough that you need to know your worth. If you feel undervalued or underappreciated, you will also likely feel unmotivated.
Figure out what motivational strategies work for you and utilize them to achieve your goals.
Chapter 2:
Creating a Business Plan and Choosing Your Goals
A business plan is essential for any business, freelance ventures included. You don’t have to have a complex fifty-page document filled with tables, charts, and calculations (unless you really want one and will find that helpful for yourself). It’s sufficient enough to start out with a short collection of goals that you can refer back to.
If you search for business plan templates, you will see options with complicated sections that are not all applicable to freelancers. Instead, think about the main goals that you have for your business and your life, and then center your plan around these.
Your business plan and goals should be adjusted as your business changes and grows. Set aside time periodically to review and update your goals.
Things to Consider Before Starting
Before creating a business plan, you need to think about what your goals are for your business. Take the time to be introspective and really consider why you want to start a freelance business. Doing so will help you maximize your abilities and prospects.
Do you just want to freelance on the side? Or will you aim to expand it into a full-time career?
Why do you want to be a freelancer? To get rid of a commute? To be your own boss? To supplement your other income? For a better work/life balance?
You need to get to the bottom of what your motivation is for going freelance, and then transform it into goals.
Basically, what do you want to get out of being a freelancer? Write down anything and everything that comes to mind, and find ways to integrate it into your planning.
Cost of Living
You will also need to figure out how much money you need to make to survive. This is, naturally, often based on your income from any other work you have done.
Some people find themselves taking a pay cut when transitioning into freelance work. You need to make sure that you can withstand this and plan for it in advance.
Once you have figured out what your ideal level of income is, you can start to determine prices for your products and services. Your cost of living and desired income level will impact the hours you will be working and how many projects you will be taking on.
It is also important to remember that adapting from receiving a regular paycheck to being a freelancer and getting paid intermittently (and sometimes having to chase clients who refuse to pay) can be difficult.
Outlining what your desired wage will be in your business plan is something that you can return to every so often to check that you are on track with your progress. If you find that you aren’t, you can try to understand why and consider readjusting your goals.
Research
You need to research your industry and your competition. You cannot just start up and expect success. There are a lot of other freelancers out there, and you need to set yourself apart from them. The best way to do this is to understand them.
You should research your competition. Learn to see what they are doing, where they exist online, and what mistakes they are making. You can emulate positive aspects of their marketing and branding for your own freelance business, and improve upon any mistakes you see them making.
Additionally, you need to do this research on a periodic basis. You do not want your services to become out of date or redundant. Every so often, set aside some time to check in on your competition and see how their business is progressing, and make sure that yours is, too.
Creating Your Brand
At some point in the development of your freelance business, you will need to determine a personal brand. Your brand is how your target clientele will view your business. It makes you seem professional and authoritative. A good brand is an indication of business success.
And element of your brand is how it appears visually. This will include things like your business name, your logo, aesthetic design elements, and how your website or portfolio is stylized.
The overall goals and missions of your business can be defined and outlined in your branding.
Where to Find Clients
You need to learn about and understand your target market. Once you have determined what you want your business to be, you need to determine whether there are enough clients out there to sustain it. While there usually is a market for pretty much everything, it is still a good idea to make sure that there are enough clients who will be interested in your services.
You should work out demographically who your target market is, and then try to understand their behavior. At the very least, you need to figure out where they would look for you. What is their internet use like? Where would they look for a freelancer?
This is key. Without customers, your business will not succeed. You should endeavor to understand your audience precisely. This way you can target your services to them in a way that they will specifically enjoy and utilize.
Once you have a business plan, what should you do with it?
Your business plan should be something that you can return to when you find yourself stuck. Help your future self out and save them some trouble by giving them some inspiration.
You can include a list of potential client ideas and places to find clients. If you are in a dry spell of work, refer back to these and reach out to pitch them.
Make a list of your dream projects. If you have some spare time, you could work on them to re-inspire yourself and build your portfolio. Alternatively, reach out to some potential clients and pitch your ideas.
You can also come up with a list of marketing strategies to implement when work is slow. Finding new places or methods to target your clients is a fantastic thing to do. It will expand your business and increase your client pool.
Including an assortment of “things to do when you don’t know what to do” is a must-have in any business plan. It can be easy to come up with a list of things that you need to do when your motivation level is high before you begin. Then, once you have started work and might start feeling a little lost, you can refer back to this list to re-ignite the spark you have for your freelance business.
You should further define your business plan to simple mission statements or goals. Some people find it beneficial to keep these at hand, somewhere you can easily refer to them. They could be aspirations or statements for how you want to conduct yourself. Remind yourself of these regularly to ensure that your business is heading in the way that you want.
It is also essential that you remember that your plan can be updated whenever you like. Businesses are not stagnant objects. They should progress and grow, so you can update your plan whenever you feel the need to. A harbinger of failure for a freelance business is that it doesn’t grow or change with the times.
Chapter 3:
The Legal Stuff: Taxes, Ethics, and Contracts
The legal stuff is boring. There, we said it, so you don’t have to! It can be confusing and tedious and, truthfully, reading legal advice can be a great precursor to a nap. Nevertheless, it is so incredibly important to make sure that your business is operating legally. While understanding the legal elements of freelance work can be a headache now, it is nothing compared to how you would be feeling if you find yourself in trouble.
When starting a freelance business, one of the things that you will need to become familiar with is the legal requirements for your industry, but also for the region you live in.
However, here is a disclaimer: This course is not able to provide you with specific legal advice.
It will be giving some guidelines of things to think about, but it is not an exhaustive list. Laws and regulations differ from place to place and can change at any time, so you must take the responsibility upon yourself to research this area properly and/or find qualified professional help to assist you. If you don’t know where to start, check your local library to find out what community resources are available for small business start-up, planning, and management.
Legalities
The legal components that are applicable to freelance businesses differ from state to state, so you must do your research locally and thoroughly. But in general, you will need to consider filing for taxes and business registration, including company structure and ownership.
You may also need to take out additional insurance. If you plan on working from home, some home insurance plans do not cover businesses, so you may have to take out additional business insurance. Check with your provider and see what is available for you.
Some other things that you many need to investigate include intellectual property law, exclusivity clauses, and how credit will be awarded. You should also investigate data protection concepts, as well as how to cope with conflicts of interest.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. It will be well worth your time to do extensive research into the legal requirements of freelance enterprises in your location and industry. When it comes to the law, being proactive is always better than being reactive.
Business Ethics
There is, of course, a difference between things that are legal and things that are ethical. Just because something may be legally permissible, it doesn’t mean that it is ethical or morally acceptable.
While it may seem tempting at times to cut corners or ignore certain things, but when you are the owner of a freelance business, the consequences will all come down on you. Your behavior and reputation will make or break you, and, subsequently, your business could be put at risk.
It goes without saying that regular business ethics and expectations also apply to freelancers. This means that you should pride yourself on being dependable, productive, open-minded, and compliant, as well as exhibiting integrity and loyalty.
You will need to keep communication open and honest. You should always keep your clients up to date with your progress and keep them in the loop. You should think of yourself as working with clients, not for them.
Don’t give unrealistic expectations about project due dates. It is far better to give yourself a longer deadline and finish early than to not complete on time. If something is unclear or you are unsure about anything, ask questions. Don’t be afraid, and and don’t just struggle through on your own.
Additionally, do not steal or plagiarize, and make sure that you are honest at all times. Remember, you are still a professional even if you’re not working from a formal office environment. You shouldn’t act casually as if you’re absent-mindedly going through the day in your pajamas. Maintaining professionalism will do a lot to set you apart from much of your competition.
Contracts
Contracts make clear exactly what you and your clients expect from one another. For example, they can outline the terms of your work, the number of edits or revisions you will apply, or payment expectations.
Contracts should always outline the details of the work that you’ll be completing. This is essential so that your client cannot demand additional work or accuse you of not providing what was asked for. Outlining clearly and precisely what work you will be completing, in what capacity, and by when, is essential to ensuring that you and your client are on the same page from the start. You should also outline the timeframe of the projects, including any deadlines and milestones.
And of course, the contract should include the terms of payment. Will you be paid hourly or a lump sum? Will it be paid in parts or once the project is completed? How will the payment be remitted to you?
You could just write up a list of your terms and conditions to send to your clients, or link them to a webpage outlining your terms of service. You do not necessarily need to create a unique one for each client unless your particular service requires it, but you can use a template.
Contracts can be used to protect you from clients that might try to take advantage of you, but predatory freelance practices exist too, so they are also equally important for the protection and peace of mind of your ethical clients as well. The type of client who cares about contractual obligations is usually one who will be an asset to do business with, so don’t view this step as an inconvenience.
If you use contracts properly, they can save you from preventable trouble with legalities. Ensuring that your terms of service, requirements, and expectations are clearly outlined is of pivotal importance.
Chapter 4:
How to Start Working with Little Experience
One of the biggest challenges that many new freelancers face is finding work. It can seem daunting to transition to a form of work that is uneven and, sometimes, inconsistent. You probably have existing skills from your work history that can be applied to your new freelance venture, but you may not have much experience.
This chapter will discuss some of the best methods for starting freelance work when you don’t yet have much experience.
Gaining Experience First
Many freelancers would not recommend shifting from full-time “regular” work to becoming a full-time freelancer. Ideally, you shouldn’t quit your current job for freelance right away.
Gaining experience will probably be your first goal as a freelancer, and it can be something that is done on the side to other work. You can build experience in your spare time, and then once you feel secure in your work and the number of your clients, start switching over towards full-time.
There is no shame in starting out part-time. For some people, it’s even preferred. It allows you an insight into the lifestyle and responsibility of the work involved while still having the security of another source of income.
Working for Free
It can be tempting at times to work for free in order to build experience. It can be an incredibly beneficial way to gain experience to fill your portfolio and maybe it something that will work for you, but it’s not an effective method for everyone.
There are some things to be careful about when working for free. Paying clients who find out about free work done for others may express an attitude of, “Well, you worked for them for free. What about me?” which can be hard to escape. There is a fine line between working for free to gain experience and devaluing your skills.
Remember, at the end of the day, exposure does not pay the bills. If it is financially viable for you to work for free to build your portfolio, then by all means, consider it. But be careful of working for free for the benefit of exposure. After all, you cannot dine on exposure alone.
Work for Less
While working for free may not be suitable, you will probably end up working for a discounted wage for a while to compensate for your lack of experience. This is something that you should do. It will help you to gain reviews and clients, as well as experience and additions to your portfolio.
When you do something for less than its value, it will also help you to appreciate the value more. You may decide that, after working for a lower wage than you would like, that the overall value of your work is higher and readjust your final prices accordingly.
Working for a lower price will also help you to adjust to the lifestyle changes needed to accommodate your work, and to gain the personal knowledge of how long it really takes you to complete a project. It is a good introduction to freelance life.
Gaining Clients
One of the primary goals of any business should be client retention, but when you are just starting out, there’s a chance you don’t have any clients yet, so your first order of business will have to be about changing that!
Any interaction or work that you have should have the goal of building a long-lasting client relationship. Additionally, you can ask satisfied clients to recommend your services to other people.
By knowing and understanding your target audience, you can find clients. You should try to build up a database of clients that you can target and retain.
Cold Contacting and Pitching
While often frowned upon in sales, for freelancers this can be a savior. Sometimes contacting clients shows initiative and puts your brand out in a positive way.
Learn how to pitch your services. Find possible clients, research them, and then send them an irresistible pitch.
Putting yourself out there, especially if you are offering a discounted price, is a great way to gain experience. It can also help you build long-lasting client relationships.
Be Confident
At the end of the day, confidence is key.
If you seem unsure or unconvinced of your business, then your audience will be, too.
If you need more personal confidence in what you have to offer, consider taking a course in your area. This will bolster your professionalism, as well as making you seem more serious, skilled, and qualified.
However, if it’s the business side of freelancing that you are unsure of, finding a mentor could be a fantastic option for you. In particular, if you find a mentor or join a network of freelancers that are similar to you, they can help you to navigate the administrative tasks of your business and provide you with relevant, specific advice.
Chapter 5:
Places to Find Freelance Work
There are many places where freelancers can find work. Many websites exist for this very purpose. There are some that cater to freelance work as a whole, and there are other, more niche sites that are specific to certain industries. Do some exploration and research to determine what kind of platform will be best for your service. A good rule of thumb can be to look for work in places where your target clientele hangs out.
You need to remember that time spent finding work is time that could better be spent working. Once you have a good strategy for finding work, you should continue it. But if it is too time consuming or doesn’t produce good results, then try another method.
Profiles
Before outlining some locations for finding freelance work, it is important to consider your profile. All these platforms will require that you create a profile, which will have your name, skills qualifications, etc, as well as a portfolio. It is essential that you fill out these profiles to the best of your ability. Incomplete profiles look unprofessional and will likely lose you jobs.
Upwork
On the platform Upwork, clients post job listings, which usually include the details of the project and what they would like their freelancer to be like. Freelancers then bid and submit proposals, detailing why they would be the best person for the job. The client then chooses the best freelancer for the job.
Platforms like this are some of the most cited and most common methods for finding freelance work, for good reason. They are an easy and accessible way to find work. These centralized platforms are well-respected and used frequently by many kinds of people.
Benefits of platforms such as these include the ease of use and the fact that both clients and freelancers are bound by the same terms of use. Platforms take payment from clients and release it to the freelancer once both users have verified that the work is complete. The platform ensures that the content is delivered and payment is received.
However, there are also some downsides to these platforms. The first is that the platform often takes a percentage of the payment to cover website fees and for facilitating the match. These can add up over time and mean that you are getting paid less than you deserve. Another issue is that such sites encourage a “race to the bottom” mentality. This means that freelancers often lower their prices for a competitive advantage, which in turn forces others to lower their prices as well. On platforms like Upwork, some clients are not entirely clear on the value of a freelancer (or cannot afford one) so they sometimes opt for a cheaper option.
There are downsides and upsides to such websites, and ultimately it will come down to personal preference and abilities. They may work for your business or they may not, but they are an incredibly accessible way for freelancers to find clients, even if you don’t choose to use them forever.
Freelancer
Freelancer is a website like Upwork. This platform is also available to freelancers and clients of all kinds, with job listings in many different areas.
Freelancer highlights the benefits of clients being able to view freelancer portfolios before accepting to work on a job together.
This kind of platform also features an in-built chat feature. This is an easy way to be able to interact with the other party on the platform. This keeps the jobs and the conversation, as well as project updates, on the platform and does not cross over to other platforms.
Again, however, such sites are known for sometimes being low paying, with freelancers fighting to undercut each other’s prices in order to gain work.
Fiverr
Fiverr is another option for freelance platforms. It is, however, somewhat geared toward smaller jobs, and has a different posting method. In addition to the traditional method of clients posting jobs for freelancers to submit proposals, the reverse also happens, too.
Rather than a client posting, “I would like someone to design me a logo,” freelancers are also able to post, “I design logos.” Clients can then look through freelancers’ offerings to find people to work with, instead of the other way around. This is a unique and useful thing, especially if you’re service is unique.
Fiverr has a different attitude toward pricing for this reason. Clients can see upfront what their budget will get them when they browse project offerings. There is, of course, still competition, but you are more in control of what you will charge for your services.
Guru
Guru is a “higher end” freelance work site, targeting expert freelancers and clients for higher quality work. It advertises itself as a more “legitimate” website, and prides itself on the quality of the freelancers it features.
It also has a different payment system. Most freelance sites take payment from the client and hold it until the project is verified complete, after which it then releases the funds to the freelancer. Guru is different in that in addition to this traditional, fixed price payment system, it offers a variety of other options, including hourly rates (using their own time-tracking software) and recurring payments for long-term projects.
Toptal
Toptal, named for the phrase “top talent,” aims to provide just that. Before being able to use the website, there is a vetting process that includes experience verification and an interview.
Being on such a reputable platform is a great way to attract legitimate, high-paying clients. It will cement you as an authority and a high-quality business owner.
iFreelance
Alternatively, iFreelance is a membership-driven site. Rather than the freelancers forgoing a portion of each project they complete as host fees to the website, there is instead a fixed monthly fee and no cut taken from your earning. This can be useful if you are able to get a high number of listings to make it more cost-effective for you.
LinkedIn is a professional networking website that people mostly only update when they get a new job. However, LinkedIn is full of opportunities. Some recruiters trawl this platform to find people that are open to opportunities to try and connect with people in their area.
If nothing else, LinkedIn is a good way to build a network of other freelancers or potential clients in your industry. By filling out your profile, showcasing your work, and providing updates on your projects and business, you are opening your business to the eyes of other people who may be looking for exactly what you are promoting.
In essence, do not overlook LinkedIn (or even other social media platforms). They take time to set up, but you never know what could come of it. It is a small upfront time investment that could attract numerous clients and add immense value to your freelance business.
Pitching
Another method of finding freelance work is to find a person or organization and pitch your services to them.
When pitching, you should be personalizing your emails, and more importantly, make sure that you are contacting the correct person. You should make sure that you do your research into the company and ensure that you are offering them something irresistible.
The most important part of pitching is to make sure that your pitch is good. Companies frequently receive an abundance of promotional emails, offers, and pitches, so you need to stand out from the rest and really showcase what you have to offer.
Chapter 6:
How to Advertise and Create a Portfolio
Having a high-quality portfolio is essential to being a successful freelancer. As well as showing your clients what you can do, your portfolio is a great way to add value to your business. It is the best and strongest advertisement for your services.
First, what is a portfolio?
In the modern age of technology, a portfolio can simply be a website that shows elements of your work. It is a freelancer’s version of a resume. It should show your skills and education, as well as your experience. You can showcase things that you have done in the past here, too.
Building a Portfolio
Clients will not want to work with someone who cannot verify the quality of their work. Showing off what you’re capable of is also a fantastic ways to offset any lacking experience. While you may have less experience than other freelancers, if the quality of your work is better than average, then it will be incredibly advantageous to your business.
But how do you will a portfolio with little experience? The simple answer is to get some. Working for free is an often-suggested method of doing this, but it is not for everyone. If you can financially withstand doing some free labor, then by all means consider it. However, in the future, remember that exposure does not pay the bills. Some also believe that working for free can devalue the perception of your work, but it is undeniably a good way to start getting your name out there.
Working for a discount is something you will probably have to do while you are still establishing a reputation for yourself. You could pick up some smaller projects on freelance gig sites to gain some experience.
Also consider doing some passion projects. Do some projects that you are excited about so that your passion can show through in your portfolio.
What should you put in a portfolio?
Your portfolio should show examples of your work, as well as your skills, education, experience, and what your business actually is.
Your freelance portfolio does not have to have a billion completed projects. This could be overwhelming to clients, and chances are they wouldn’t look at them all.
Instead, focus on select, high-quality completed projects that show the depth and scale of your services. Additionally, you can include excerpts of projects. This will also show off your skills, yet not take too long to do so.
Profiles on Websites
When signing up for profiles, particularly freelance work platforms, it is essential that you fill out all of the information. Any boxes or forms that the website has that you can utilize to showcase your skills, experience, or examples, should be comprehensively filled out. Clients will be checking these extensively and likely comparing you to your competition.
Your Own Website
As well as examples of your work, your website should also have your contact information. It is also worth noting that you shouldn’t neglect listing your prior experience. While some new freelancers feel the need to prove themselves in the freelance sphere, including relevant past job experience will further highlight you in a positive light.
Some freelancers elect to have their rates and packages available on their website. This will make it clear to future clients what they can expect from your work.
Important sections to have on your website include: about, services, portfolio, testimonials, and contact.
Social Media
You should also have a social media presence. As many people these days use some form of social media, having your own accounts and using them to interact with your industry is a good method of getting your brand out there.
Starting a blog to share your content is also an effective portfolio-building (as well as marketing) method. You can then cross-share your content to your social media accounts to increase your reach with less labor.
Take some time to find the platforms that your clients use and create a presence on those sites. Making yourself easily found online and having an accessible portfolio is key.
Chapter 7:
Valuing Your Work and Your Time
Pricing can be something that is difficult for freelancers to determine. You will want to value your time appropriately, yet still be affordable for your target clients.
Some clients will expect you to deliver the moon while only being willing to pay for a garden rock, so you have be on guard against people who might try to take advantage of you while still being competitive enough to attract legitimate work opportunities.
It is important to choose a price that you feel is fair and comfortable for what you have to offer. At the end of the day, you have your own expenses to pay and you deserve to be compensated for your labor.
Choosing a Niche
Sometimes budding freelancers seem to think that being less specific about their work will get them more work, but this is not always the case. For example, saying general content writer vs saying finance content writer.
While the general approach may qualify you for more kinds of work, being more specialized sounds more professional and will instill more confidence in your prospects’ estimation of you.
Having a niche means that you can charge a premium price for a specified service. You do not have to define your niche right away, but it is something to consider as your business grows.
Time Management
While this can seem like a no-brainer, time management is essential to successful freelance work. Naturally, time management will play a part in your pricing. It is, of course, not very reasonable to charge your clients for the cost of your own procrastination. Charge your clients in such a way that makes sense for you, yet still aim to be as productive as possible.
There is a risk of taking too much advantage of flexibility and using it as an excuse to relax and procrastinate. Having dedicated days off and setting clear times to relax or have leisure time is the best way to increase your productivity.
Some freelancers choose to charge an hourly rate, while others prefer a set project fee. It is completely up to you, so long as you can find clients who benefit from the arrangement, too.
Think about the hours of the day that you would ideally be working, and then structure your income and working hours to suit this.
You also need to be motivated and disciplined. There are many different time management and organizational techniques that can be implemented. Lists and calendars are invaluable tools. Setting deadlines for yourself, as well as giving regular project updates to your clients is a good way to stay on task.
Having a clear structure for your day, dividing your tasks into subtasks, and setting timers are all small ways to manage your time better. Figure out which times of day you are most productive and schedule your high-energy tasks that require the most effort then, and then fill in your less intense tasks when your energy is lower or when your more demanding tasks are all out of the way.
In essence, find what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to freelance work. You get back what you put in, but there’s a lot of flexibility in how you can be putting in.
Value Your Time
As the expression goes, time is money. You deserve to be paid well for your work. Do not undervalue your services.
Make sure you have done some research into what your similar competitors are charging, and even look into what “regular” workers would charge for the same product. If you are spending extra time on your projects or doing things outside the normal scope of your work, then you should negotiate pay increases.
If clients approach you asking you to work for less or for free, use your best judgement. You do not have to if there’s no benefit to you in the situation. You have no obligation to work for any less than you feel that you’re worth.
Always remember, you are a professional and have valuable skills and experience to offer, and you deserve to paid for these things. Don’t forget to think about your long-term financial goals, too.
Chapter 8:
Scaling Your Business
A misconception about freelance work is the idea that it is somehow not a “real” business. While, to being with, it might seem like just you and your laptop against the world, your business can grown
It is important not to jump into too much too quickly. If you attempt to take on too much, you may end up failing. To begin with, focus on consistency and finding your feet.
Once you are comfortable and confident, you will be able to grow your business further. It will take some time and effort to plan ahead, though. This chapter will outline some ideas for scaling your freelance business.
Full-Time Freelance
If you started off part-time and have been able to increase your work enough to start approaching full-time hours, perhaps you will be able to start considering a full-time freelance lifestyle soon. However, it is worth waiting until you are secure in the long-term reliability of your clients, work, and income level before you leave your old job.
Hiring a Team
You can hire others and build a team. Being freelance doesn’t mean you have to be alone. You can hire others to work with you and for your clients. Perhaps you could expand your business offerings or simply have more people doing the same kind of work as you.
Subcontract
If you don’t want to hire others to work for your business in the content creation or service providing, you could instead outsource other elements of your business.
Perhaps you need help with your business admin or organization. You could hire a virtual assistant to deal with marketing, emails, or contacting your clients. Alternatively, you could hire an accountant or someone else to help with your taxes. There are numerous services you can subcontract for, and this could free up some time and energy for you.
Niche Specialization
By narrowing your freelance service down to a niche, you will be better suited for your clients. For example, a client who is looking for a finance writer would rather hire someone who is a specialist in finance writing rather than just a general writer. Additionally, you are often able to charge more for a specialized service.
Building a Brand
Once you are more established, you should make an effort to create a cohesive brand. This is a huge value-add to any business, as it makes you more reputable and authoritative.
It is not essential for all freelancers, but it is something that a potential client would find themselves attracted to. Often when clients hire a freelancer, they want to work with a particular person, not just a random business, so make sure they see that with you.
Adding New Services
Another form of business expansion could be adding new services to your business. Perhaps you could add new elements to your package deals or focus on different elements of your industry.
Your business should never be static. Make sure that you are keeping up with the kind of services that you clients are demanding.
Price Increases
At the very least, once you have gained a good bit of experience, skills, and reputation, you should increase your prices. You have worked hard, you deserve it!
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several important things to consider when you are starting a freelance business.
Of these, creating an outstanding portfolio should be at the top of your list. Ultimately, your portfolio will be the strongest form of advertising.
To begin a freelance business effectively, you first need to figure out your service and your audience. You need to make sure that your audience can find your business and that your services are relevant and attractive to them. Take on projects in order to build your skills, experience, and credibility.
Don’t forget to focus on the business side of your business, and make sure that you are operating as a legal entity. And once you are ready to start working full-time, work out where the best to find your clients are, and then frequent them and advertise properly. You have the flexibility to work however you choose, so you should take advantage of that.
Once you have a strong foundation for your business, scale it up! You are the boss, and you get to decide how and when it operates.
Most of all, enjoy your business. Freelance work is tough, but the benefits are truly unparalleled. There are few other kinds of work where you will get as much freedom to live the life that you choose.
In all honesty, as long as you pay attention to your industry, keep up to date with trends, and monitor your progress, your freelance business will have longevity. If you take the time and effort to make a business plan and then update your plan as your business evolves, then you will probably be successful in reaching your goals.
Freelance work is some of the most liberating and rewarding work out there, but it is not easy so put in the effort to ensure your success.