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There’s a great deal of opportunity in freelancing, especially if you feel confident about your skillset and aren’t afraid to doggedly pursue clients. But the truth is that freelancing, by its very nature, is never a sure thing. With many clients always looking to find the best candidate, to find the most cost-effective option, and to get the most out of anyone they outsource, it’s important to be clear about your process and prices, and to curate a reliable reputation for yourself.
Moreover, it’s important to mention that while AI tools haven’t decimated freelance opportunities yet, writing and freelance illustration has taken something of a hit, and the future is uncertain.
That being said, there’s a great deal of work out there for those who know how to find it, and you deserve to throw your hat into the ring, too. In this post, we’ll help you get started by offering 3 helpful starting tips for any freelancer, enabling you to make the most out of your success.
Plan Your Finances
One of the most appealing and unappealing aspects of freelancing is that the income you earn is unpredictable. Appealing, because it means you could work for lucrative clients back to back, or secure a great, well-paid project that lasts some time. Unappealing, because… well, that’s somewhat obvious. For this reason, it’s important to have good financial literacy, from implementing your EIN application as a sole trader for appropriate tax preparation to starting with an emergency budget for equipment replacements when needed, investing in your home office, or ensuring you can expand productive capacity. It all counts.
Determine Your Pricing Structure
It’s easy to shift your prices to gain your first few clients, and that’s not a bad idea to curate testimonials. But it’s important not to work for pennies, nor to work too much for little pay. Have a set level of revisions you’re happy to work on before charging, make sure client briefs are detailed so you don’t have to work on projects more than once, and make it clear what your contract includes beforehand. This will give you legal cover, and an appropriate precedent to point to.
Establish A Consistent Brand Identity
From developing an appropriate portfolio online you can point to, to registering an email address and website that works for you (you can even have the email point to your domain with a reliable hosting service), to making your contact information clear (and separate from your personal info), will give you the means to stay consistent. It’s also important to add your personal touch to your brand to help stand out among others. Show your best work, share your philosophy on creative or outsourced work, and list past projects with examples. It will help you avoid being too flexible with your brand, remember you’re not only competing with other freelancers, but small businesses with established presences. Luckily, your social media page can look very similar to theirs in format, and you have full creative control over your content. This is a great advantage if you use it right.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to implement starting tips for any freelancer.
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