Freelancing can be challenging, especially when you’re new to the business. Even if you have experience and skill, there are things about freelancing that can throw even the most seasoned professional off-balance. New freelancers are advised to follow these eight tips for new freelancers who want to make it big in their field and make the most of the opportunities freelancing offers them.
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Know your strengths and weaknesses
No one knows everything. You need to understand your strengths and weaknesses as a writer and freelance business person, so you can decide what services you’ll offer and how you can differentiate yourself from other freelancers. For example, if you’re strong at proofreading but not good at writing SEO-friendly articles, start offering your services in areas where you shine.
There’s no point in wasting time trying to round out those skills; instead, nurture what makes you a great writer. If there are gaps in your skillset that are stopping clients from hiring or continuing to work with you, consider investing in some training or getting an extra set of eyes on your work. Don’t worry about nailing every aspect of being a successful freelancer right away instead, just focus on building up one thing at a time.
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Work on your communication skills
One of a freelancer’s main responsibilities is communicating well with clients. If you want your freelance career to be successful, you’ll need excellent client communication skills and not just in written form. Good communication means putting yourself in your client’s shoes and understanding what it takes to make them happy. That starts by reading between the lines and anticipating problems, as well as communicating clearly and quickly when something does come up.
Be sure you know how your clients prefer to communicate so that you can meet their needs, from emailing attachments on Word docs one day to Skype calls with a video link to another. Also, don’t forget about being professional at all times: Hiding behind a computer screen or phone doesn’t make inappropriate comments any less unprofessional!
Take regular breaks from work
Being a freelancer can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be. Between projects, set aside time every day for yourself. Use your downtime as an opportunity to focus on personal improvement. Take a walk, read a book, go outside and play with your dog, meditate or simply do nothing whatever makes you feel relaxed and happy. Studies show that regular breaks from work can improve productivity and performance levels, so take advantage of them! You don’t want to burn out before you make it big.
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Keep learning about freelancing
There are a lot of resources available to new freelancers. While not all of them are valuable, it’s worth your time to do some research and figure out what works best for you. There are hundreds of books and blogs on various aspects of freelancing, as well as forums that can help you build contacts or learn new techniques. Even if you don’t like a resource at first glance, check it out again in six months; chances are good that you will have found some good information after all.
You might even be able to contribute something useful yourself! The best way to become successful is by continuing to learn about your field and learning how to network with other freelancers who know more than you do. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my own experience, it’s that there’s always more to learn. And if there isn’t, then someone else is going to pass me by eventually anyway. In other words: keep learning about freelancing because everyone else does too! This advice applies whether you’re starting fresh or already working full-time as a freelancer.
Network as much as you can
Networking is one of those things that’s easily talked about, but harder to do. But its impact on your freelance career can be enormous. If you don’t have a large following on social media, start there! If you’re just starting in business, reach out to people who are experts at what you want to learn. Think of networking as a conversation you never know who will prove valuable down the road. There’s no such thing as too many contacts.
Invest in yourself by improving your skills
This might seem obvious, but there’s plenty of time between now and when you officially start your business. Don’t wait! The sooner you can begin doing work for clients, building a portfolio, networking with potential employers, and just getting out there in general, the better off you’ll be. This is especially true if you want to develop your skills quickly. If you don’t have a lot of experience already, consider taking classes or seminars that will help build up your skillset.
Even if it seems like you don’t have enough money to do so right now, investing in yourself will pay off big time down the road. You never know what opportunities may come up that require certain expertise and having those extra skills on hand will give you an edge over other candidates who aren’t as prepared as you are. Plus, even if no opportunities pop up right away, it still pays to be able to say that you’re well-rounded and have some training under your belt.
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Start as soon as possible!
Starting work early can help you gain an advantage over other freelancers. If you’re looking to be seen as a professional in your field, starting early can help you achieve that. By starting sooner, you’ll have more time to make connections and get your name out there. Plus, if you make a good impression on potential clients by jumping right in, they’ll be more likely to continue doing business with you in the future not only as a freelancer but also as someone they might bring onto their team permanently one day. When it comes to freelance jobs, start as soon as possible!
Conclusion
No matter where you are in your freelancing career, you can always make things better. But like most things in life, it takes work and commitment. If you stay focused on improving your skills and finding ways to improve yourself as a professional, all while following the 7 tips above, I’m sure that whatever goal you have set is within reach. So what are you waiting for? Stop talking about how awesome freelancing is going to be and start making it happen!