How to Succeed with Freelancing

How to Succeed with Freelancing

by Manish Singh

If you have the right skill set, you can make it as a freelancer. It isn’t simple, though, as it requires far more than the skill you’re selling. If you’re a photographer, for example, you can’t just take great shots – you must also be able to converse well with clients and market yourself.

While it might be difficult to break into, freelancing can prove both lucrative and exciting. Want to reach that point? Read on to learn how to succeed with freelancing.

Set Up a Great Office Space

Many people picture freelancers working from the sofa all day, but this isn’t necessarily true. While some prefer to work like that, most freelancers benefit from setting up a great office space. That way, they can separate their relaxation space from their work area. So, if you want to make it as a freelancer, consider creating an office at home. You could even go one step further by using hot desks at www.thebrew.co.uk. Not only does it provide a work environment, but it also provides the opportunity to network!

Keep a Weekly Schedule

One of the hardest parts of being a freelancer is keeping track of all your clients and keeping up with deadlines. It’s a must that you do so, though, as otherwise, you risk losing work and negatively impacting your reputation. To do this, create a weekly schedule at the beginning of each week and stick to it. It might shift throughout the week and need adjusting, and that’s OK – as long as you have a guideline schedule to work with, you’re more likely to stay on top of your work.

Improve Your Online Communication Skills

These days, most freelancing jobs are set up online, which means you need to improve how you communicate over the web. Whether you are emailing or video calling a client, you need to be able to communicate in a clear, friendly, and polite manner. If they like the way you come across, they are more likely to use your services again!

Boost Your Online Presence

An online presence is a must for freelancers. First of all, you should have a website that is visually appealing and easy to use. It should showcase examples of your previous work so that potential clients know your work is high-quality. On top of that, you should utilize social media as much as possible, which means making profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and any other networks that will best boost your online presence.

Stick to a Niche

A common error made in freelancing is spreading yourself too thin. Rather than pitting yourself against thousands of other freelancers offering the same services, hone in on a niche in order to appeal to a select group of people. While that niche might not include everyone, it will mean that they are more likely to use your services because you specialize in exactly what they want.

Invest in Great Equipment

As an employee, you are often provided with office equipment, but as a freelancer, you must buy it for yourself. If you’re a freelance copywriter, make sure you own a good laptop/computer alongside high-speed internet. If you’re a freelance photographer, put your money toward excellent cameras alongside a great computer. Whatever you use for your freelancing work, make sure it’s the best quality you can afford.

Structure Your Day

As a freelancer, it is easy to fall into the habit of working whenever you feel like it, but this could end up leaving you with unfinished workloads and a disorganized mind. For this reason, it’s important to structure your day and work within a set window much like you would if you worked for an employer. If you find this difficult while working at home, try working in a café or at a hot desk.

Know Your Limits

During your first few months (or even years) as a freelancer, you might pick up any job just because you want to get paid. It’s understandable – when you don’t have several clients asking for your work, any work will do. It’s crucial to set limits and not let clients take advantage of your time, though, as you could end up selling yourself short. Plus, instead of spending time on a client who asks for too much and doesn’t pay enough, you could put the work into finding good clients who respect your limits and don’t try to haggle your prices.

Keep Learning Skills

No matter how talented you are at web design, writing, or animation, there is always room to learn more. Whether you want to brush up on your current talents or learn a new skill to offer clients, by always learning more, you actively boost your freelancing’s worth. If you’re a photographer, for example, taking a course in videography could help you branch out and take videos for clients, too.

Freelancing isn’t for everyone, but for those who have the drive, passion, and skills, it can be a great pursuit.

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