Important Lessons for a Freelancer to Learn

The chance to be your own boss, set your own hours and work whenever and wherever you want to can be very appealing. However, take it from those that know, this can be a curse as well as being a blessing. Nevertheless, there are thousands of freelancers working around the globe in a range of different fields, so there must be something worthwhile about this type of career move. If you haven’t yet dipped your toe into the freelancing water or have been doing it for a while with little success, here are some tips to help you.

Learn How to Promote Yourself

This may come hard for many newbie freelancers, but it’s something that has to be done. You’re not going to get clients calling you out of the blue and offering you work. How do you do it? Send emails, call people, attend shows, and build your own website. If you know someone who owns a business, then give them your business card. There is a huge amount of value in networking and getting your work seen.

Build a Website

If you haven’t got one yet, you need to get your skates on. Without a website,you’re never going to be found online. Are you wondering how to make a website? It’s easier than you think, and there is a wealth of information available online, as well as countless different companies who will be more than happy to help. Your website is the first place potential clients look. There are many free web platforms which can be customized to your needs. They can act as your point of contact, digital portfolio, blog, or an online store where you can sell your work directly.

As well as creating a website, you’re also going to need to look into driving traffic to it. There are various marketing strategies you can use, for example, content marketing, social media marketing, or a pay per click management service. Without an online marketing strategy, your website will be lost among the millions of others and new customers will struggle to find your business.

Time Management and Discipline

These are two skills you’re going to need to acquire quickly. It’s important for a freelancer to maintain a good work/life balance. To do this, good time management and discipline are essential. If you start missing deadlines, it’s not going to be long before your clients start deserting you. An ability to prioritize is also important unless you don’t mind pulling all-nighters. Allocating chunks of time and checking off tasks on a daily to-do list will help.

Keep Your Clients Happy

A happy client is going to be one that comes back time and time again. There are several ways you can encourage their repeat business. Always meeting their brief is the most important. Communicate with your clients on a regular basis. Last but by no means least, always deliver on time and on-budget.Deliver quality work, on time, every time, andyour clients are going to work with you again. They could also decide to recommend you to others.

One final piece of advice is to never put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, never rely on one client. No job will last forever, people move and tastes change. Consider what would happen if you lost your biggest client tomorrow. Would you be able to cope?