If you want to be a good freelancer, you must be comfortable with networking and approaching people, both in person and virtually. While many people think that freelancing is an excuse to not interact with people, it is not. Being a freelancer requires you to be a good communicator, and there is no substitute for having real-world colleagues. The most effective freelancers are not only adept at communicating verbally, but they also strive to make every interaction as beneficial as possible.
A freelancer must be organized to manage their time efficiently. This means having a daily schedule that helps them know how much time they can devote to each project. Also, they must be responsible and follow deadlines. They must also know how to interact with different types of clients, including people who are very different from their own. By using these skills, freelancers can become an asset to their clients and their company. They should be willing to make sacrifices in order to maintain their clients’ trust and goodwill.
Marketable skills are essential in the freelance world. Besides being useful to businesses, freelancers should be able to sell, market, and deliver value. A good freelancer should have a strong belief in his or her skills, and should have the drive to promote themselves and their work. Promotional activities are never easy, but perseverance pays off. If you are passionate about your work, you will be able to earn a lot of money and build a successful freelance business.
Creating assets is essential before quitting your day job. Assets help you land clients, and most freelancers don’t have any samples when they first start. If you’re a writer, you can write blog posts and guest post on blogs that your target clients read. If you’re a web designer, you can immediately start building a portfolio by creating a website and/or logo. There are many ways to build an attractive portfolio of your work and market yourself.
It’s important to make contacts with people who know what they’re doing. If they’re not familiar with your services, they may not be comfortable spending 30-60 minutes getting to know you better. Ideally, you’ll want to build advocates rather than clients. But you should also be able to approach potential mentors with a website or a marketing strategy. This way, they’ll see that you’re serious about your career.
Before beginning your freelance career, determine how much you want to earn. Once you’ve set your income goal, calculate your minimum hourly rate. Remember that your clients won’t pay you by the hour, so you’ll need to crunch some numbers. Also, consider your assets. These will create an image for you and help you establish your credibility and authority. Clients will be more likely to hire you if you have assets that speak to their needs and build trust.
Another essential quality to be a good freelancer is initiative. Most 9 to five jobs require employees to follow the boss’ instructions. Freelancing, however, requires you to take initiative and ask questions or offer suggestions. Taking initiative is important because the client might not understand what they want. If you’re willing to ask questions and suggest improvements, you’ll become a valuable freelancer and earn repeat jobs. And that’s just the beginning.