Making the jump from being employed to working as a freelancer is appealing to many. Your dream might be to work from anywhere in the world, attend every single event at your child’s school, or to work fewer hours for greater pay. However, to reap any of these benefits, you’ll need to work hard, be professional at all times, show great initiative and be extremely self-disciplined. All freelancers are different, but there are many characteristics shared by those who find success.
Work with Dedication
Although there are some entrepreneurs who can sit back and let their business earn money, this will most likely only occur if they have put in some serious hard work in the beginning. Although you might be able to work fewer than 4 hours each day once your business is established, it is not unreasonable to expect that when you first set up you will be working more than 35 hours each week to get everything up and running. While dedication is important, you must take care not to risk becoming over-worked, under-rested, and even burned out.
Act Bravely
Going solo takes courage. Whether you are setting up your business as a side-line while still employed, or have already resigned from a salaried position to focus on your entrepreneurial dreams, it can be a scary time. However, being adventurous can be rewarding. Take work that is slightly outside your comfort zone, and you may be surprised at what you can achieve when you push yourself.
Although it may not come naturally, you will need to sell yourself with confidence. Set up a webpage, showcase examples of your work, and prove to prospective clients just how great you are. Other freelancers will be doing exactly this, and to be successful you will need to actively compete with them.
Learn Not to Undersell Yourself
As a freelancer, it is up to you to decide what you are worth. Trying to ascertain how much you need or want to earn may depend on whether you are turning to freelancing to earn as much money as possible, to be time-rich, or to find a happy balance between the two.
To work out an hourly rate, you’ll need to decide how many hours you are willing to work each month, and then calculate what you would need to earn per hour to arrive at the monthly salary you want to take home. Don’t forget to include deductions for tax and any relevant overhead costs when calculating your hourly rate.
Similar to the discrepancy between workplace salaries, women are reported to earn less than men in the freelance industry. If you feel nervous about asking for the rate you are worth, remember that other freelancers with the same experience will likely be asking for the same rate as you, if not more. Once you have decided on your worth, be confident and clear in communicating your rates to clients.
Build Loyalty
Although you might have to work harder to get the gig in the first place, working for the same client long term ensures they keep coming back to you with more work. Communicate effectively, meet all deadlines, and work hard to make yourself indispensable.
Be Professional
It might be a freelance perk to work in your oldest t-shirt or not have to brush your hair, but if you have a meeting, even by video call, you must look the part. Dress smartly, deliver all projects on time and conduct yourself in a professional manner. If you have public social media or other accounts, make sure they show you in a manner that you would be happy for clients to view.
Make Organisation a Priority
As a freelancer, the buck stops with you. If you miss a deadline or fall short of expectations, you may lose the client or not receive payment for your work.
You can organise your time with a calendar, spreadsheet, or project tracker, but whichever one you choose you must make sure you always know how much work you have pending, and when your deadlines are. If your tracker tells you that you will not have time to meet a proposed deadline or complete the work to a high standard, you will need to decline the work or see if you can negotiate the deadline. Learning not to over-commit is as important as getting the work in the first place.
Pledge to Persevere
If you find it hard to get up when something knocks you down, freelancing may feel difficult at first. Proposal rejections, low pay, last minute project cancellations and long hours can cause you to wonder if you have done the right thing in going freelance. However, if you have a good work ethic and know that you always apply yourself to your endeavours, you have a good chance of succeeding.
Keep going when you experience setbacks, and if you are truly persistent in marketing yourself then you will start to reap the rewards.
Final Thoughts
Going freelance can be an exciting, but nerve-racking, time. Although you might experience a slow start, if you are hard-working and driven, you are likely to see success in time. It is vital to act professionally and confidently, and to make time management a priority so that you always deliver the projects that your clients require.