The freelancing industry is continuously growing and will only continue to grow at a rapid pace.
Freelancers are self-employed. They work independently and are not under a company. They offer specific services and their clients pay them with a fee.
So, in this vast and competitive work environment, how will you succeed as a freelancer? Whether you’re an old-timer or a newbie in the freelancing gig, the following tips will surely be of help.
Connect, connect, connect
Let everyone know that you’re a freelancer. Connect with former colleagues and other professionals. Send a message, make a call, set up your own business page, create social media accounts for more online presence — utilize all means to connect.
By having a wide range of connections, you will not only gain potential clients, but this will also help you nourish your relationships with the people around you. Who knows, you might need help from them in the future — and vice versa.
If you’re still unsure about reaching out to other people, you can start off with something small. Start building professional connections with the people you know, then slowly broaden your scope.
Finding clients is a tiresome feat, but if you try working with people you’ve known for quite some time now, you might have a better chance of gaining clients and landing freelancing gigs, and even if they decide not to hire you, there’s a high probability that they will refer you to their acquaintances and colleagues who may be in need of your expertise.
Even if you’ve been in the freelancing game for a long time now, that doesn’t mean you have to stop building your network. Continue creating new connections and cherish the ones you currently have. You’ll never know who may need your service.
Don’t sell yourself short
As a freelancer, you must know your worth.
Putting a price on your service may be quite difficult and confusing when you’re first starting out. Even as an old-timer, you may still experience having second thoughts about your professional rates, but you must never sell yourself short.
Build your confidence in your knowledge and skills by becoming an expert in your chosen field. Study up on your field of expertise. Continue pushing yourself to do better.
Investing in yourself can be costly and time-consuming, but at the end of the day, you gain from improving yourself. The better you become, the more clients you’ll attract.
You could be a graphic artist, a writer, a gym coach, a tutor — it really doesn’t matter, as long as you’ve found something you are good at, invest in it.
By focusing on one particular area of expertise, you will be able to gauge the value of your knowledge and skills clearly, which will help you meet the needs of the clients in your niche.
Be bold
We’ve always been told to think outside the box, but how about removing the box entirely?
As a freelancer, you’re not bound to many constraints. Essentially, you get to choose how, when, and where to work. This field is what you’re good at. It can be less tiring. You’re comfortable doing it. But constantly staying in your comfort zone may pose a problem in the long run.
Playing it safe doesn’t always give you the best results. To succeed in the freelancing game where there are many experts, you must put yourself out there and make yourself known regarding your area of expertise.
Set a few ambitious goals to start off with. Do your clients ask for a pretty big task? Do it. Do you want to create your own business website? Do it. Do you think working abroad will do you good? Do it. Of course, it may seem daunting at first, but you’ll never know what could happen unless you’ve actually tried.
But then again, no matter how ambitious your goals may be, if you do these things half-heartedly, then you’re probably bound to fail. It all boils down to how much you’re willing to persevere.
Once you’ve set your mind on a certain goal, make sure to see it through. Push yourself to achieve it and do your best whatever that goal may be.
Use the right tools
If you want to succeed as a freelancer, being efficient and productive is a must.
No matter what kind of work you do, at one point or another, you will be handling different kinds of documents and paperwork. Using digital tools will be of great help when it comes to creating and managing your documents at work.
One tool you can use to be more efficient as a freelancer is a PDF editor. It is a digital tool that can help you open and edit electronic documents.
Instead of keeping heaps of paper stacked on your desk and writing on them manually, you can utilize a PDF editor to do all of your editing, collaborating, and sharing online.
Another useful tool you can use in your freelancing career is an electronic signature application. An electronic signature is the digital version of a traditional ink-on-paper signature.
Over the years, many businesses and self-employed professionals have been going paperless and are now using electronic signatures. By turning to electronic signatures, you will be able to manage your transactions with your clients much easier and much more efficiently.
Do your research
The field of freelancing, just like other fields of work, is full of competition. By doing research, you will be able to obtain information about your competitors. This will help you differentiate yourself from them and strengthen your own brand.
Making friends and building connections with your competitors are wise strategies. By doing this, you will be able to share and trade information with each other.
Making friends with your competitors is better than making enemies. By building connections, you will have people to talk to about work.
Doing research will help give you an idea of your niche’s current needs. Knowing about your clients’ needs is an advantage in freelancing. You will be able to serve them better this way. In return, they’ll give you great feedback for your great service.
Constantly knowing the trends regarding your field, your clients, and your overall work environment is crucial if you want to succeed as a freelancer. Reading articles, social media posts, and news, and listening to the people in your network will help you gain useful knowledge and skills.
By practicing these four tips, your road to becoming a successful freelancer will be a fruitful and rewarding one.
