Freelance work was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Millions of people were forced into freelancing due to unemployment. Throughout the world, freelancers are continuing to gain privileges. Freelancers are more prevalent than ever. From creatives and artists to developers, more than a quarter of the worldwide workforce engages in some type of freelance labor.
In order to respond to project opportunities that match their talents, expertise, and interests, freelancers frequently struggle with how to market themselves. Basically, how to set yourself up for success. We sent the following query to the owners and operators of the top freelancing marketplaces worldwide: “How can I stand out in your freelancing platform, be frequently matched or chosen to bid, and be viewed as a strong prospect for intriguing & attractive contracts in my area of expertise?”
However, there are a few straightforward tips we’ll offer you in this article to help you become a successful freelancer. Here they are in concise form; feel free to choose one and go there right away, or continue reading for the entire account.
5 Tips For Succeeding As A Freelancer
Here, we’ll go through the greatest advice and techniques for starting a freelance business and for standing out in a competitive industry.
- Create An Eye-Catching Online Portfolio
Although it might seem like a basic piece of advice, a lot of independent contractors work without an online portfolio. If potential clients have no method to analyze and assess your work, you can’t differentiate yourself from the competition. If you don’t offer a portfolio, many clients won’t even bother to contact you.
It is wise to spend money on a quality logo and some web design services from another freelancer if you feel uncomfortable constructing your website. A potential client will believe that the remainder of your work is of a similar caliber if they visit your website and see outdated graphics, terrible page layouts, and awful color schemes. If you want to make it appear great, don’t be scared to spend a little money.
Thankfully, creating a portfolio is simple today. Without learning any code, you can build a visually appealing web presence using platforms like Squarespace and WordPress. Use your portfolio to highlight your work, introduce yourself, and outline the advantages of working with you. Show prospective customers how you can simplify their life.
Here are some additional ideas to spice up your portfolio:
Be mindful of SEO: When you are a local business, it can often only take a few strategically placed keywords to propel your portfolio to the top of Google’s search results. Consider optimizing your website around “Phoenix graphic designer” or “Phoenix graphic design” if you are a graphic designer in Phoenix, Arizona.
Be audacious with your branding: Potential customers will probably overlook you if you employ the same hues, typefaces, and layouts as everyone else. Create a catchy catchphrase, eye-catching visuals, and branding that stands out. Maintain a professional attitude while letting your personality shine through in your branding.
Create brand coherence: Keep your website, social media profiles, printed materials, and other touchpoints all using the same branding. Customers will identify you more if you do this.
- Create A Relaxed Workspace
One of the more difficult components of beginning as a new freelancer is the shift from working with teammates face-to-face to working alone. This can be accomplished by gradually leaving the regular 9-to-5 office atmosphere.
Find a place that seems calm and free from interruptions where you can be as effective as possible, whether it’s your bedroom or a co-working area. You only need a basic desk set up with all the necessary tools.
Additionally, working as a freelancer gives you more flexibility in your daily activities, allowing you to incorporate a more balanced workday depending on the setting in which you want to do so. To assist you to recharge for your day’s workload, meet up with a friend for coffee before you start working on gigs or go swimming if you live near a beach.
The only way to keep accurate time records is using an automatic time tracking tool like Timing. Without a timer to start and stop, it records everything you do on your computer. It divides your time into groups so you can see how much time you spend on each task in total. To keep duties structured, you can even group them by the client. You won’t ever have to be concerned about erroneous timesheets again if you use Timing. By using this strategy, you can prevent burnout and regularly recharge.
- Promise Less And Deliver More
It is crucial to adhere to deadlines and deliverables because failing to do so will make it difficult for you to differentiate yourself from other freelancers. Simply meeting expectations is insufficient, especially if you established the timeframes and deliverables.
Give your clients a little extra every time if you want to excel as a freelancer and stand out from the crowd. Give yourself a little wiggle room around deadlines so you can turn in your work early. If the client gives you deadlines, don’t accept the assignment unless you are confident that you can meet them. It is fair to apologize to a client for not being able to reach their deadline.
Your customers desire dependability and consistency. They base other choices and plans on your assurances. They may lose time, money, and stress if you don’t produce your work on schedule. This will ultimately ruin the connection. However, if you deliver greater outcomes more quickly, you will win their admiration. It is usually a good idea to make promises for deliveries that are smaller than what you can actually deliver. If you believe you can increase a client’s social media following by 500, tell them you’ll add 400, then “wow” them by adding 550 or 600.
Another compelling argument for why it’s essential to track your time is deadline management. You can use that information to generate precise timelines for your projects if you can remember how much time you spent on earlier, comparable tasks. For instance, if you know it will take eight hours to design a poster, you can add that to your calendar and let the client know when you can deliver it.
- Freely Provide Information
It can be tempting to charge for your time when customers or potential customers ask questions about your area of expertise. Although the initial “meet and greet” is complimentary, what happens when your marketing client calls to get your opinion on a new idea? Or perhaps when a client requests that you demonstrate how to make a little update to their own website?
They ought to be given an invoice for your counsel because those phone calls reflect your time, right? Even while it’s right that you should get paid for your work, charging for every idea that crosses your mind won’t make you stand out from the crowd.
Don’t hold back in sharing knowledge or advice. When a client (or prospective client) asks a straightforward inquiry, give a succinct response without charging for your time. Use these brief opportunities to show your knowledge and willingness to assist your clients in achieving their goals. People will eventually view you as a highly desirable resource that they want to hire.
This advice also covers consultations. Do not expect new clients to pay for the first meeting, where you judge whether you can meet their demands. Consider this initial encounter as an investment and factor its cost into your overall service. Do not allow customers to profit from your kindness. You should talk to a client about opening up an account if they consistently ask hundreds of inquiries without paying. You shouldn’t offer official services free of cost.
- Set Reasonable Prices & Make Adjustments
Many new freelancers may find it tempting to initially undersell themselves in the belief that doing so will help them develop a clientele. Actually, you should set a fair price for yourself based on your credentials.
Keep in mind that clients want to engage with experts they can rely on to manage the project with assurance and a high level of ability. A low asking price may make potential customers less confident in your abilities. Additionally, it could lower your clients’ expectations of professional pricing.
Keep in mind that as you advance in your freelancing profession, your experience will get better. As a result, you should alter your charges appropriately. You may utilize this confidence in your abilities to alter your charges and make sure you’re paid appropriately for your job as you develop your portfolio and continue to wow clients.
Instead, focus on your professional background and domain knowledge. Take into account the kinds of comparable work you’ve accomplished, the outcomes you’ve achieved, and the going rates in your sector. When you submit bids for jobs or approach clients for work, be truthful about your price. Examine what others in your sector are paid when deciding on an hourly rate. Calculate the estimated number of hours it will take you to complete the project, taking into account any time needed for revisions or client communication.
Benefits Of Freelancing
A person can choose the type of employment that best suits their interests and profits from them thanks to freelancing.
- Gaining the flexibility to choose and go forward without any constraints is one of the main benefits of working alone as a freelancer. A person can choose the kind of employment that most interests them and serves their needs by freelancing, which makes this process very straightforward.
- Along with having the freedom to select the type of work you undertake, you can also set your own working hours. Work when you’re feeling creative and take breaks whenever you feel like it. No longer rely on the timer to eat lunch or take a break for tea. Make your routine unique.
- People who freelance are able to live the coveted laptop lifestyle. The freedom to work whenever you want, from anywhere you are in the globe, as long as the task is done effectively and on time, is enormous. The most crucial factor for a freelancer is to produce high-quality work, and he has the freedom to choose his workplace and his hours.
- The benefit of working on a variety of projects is that you have the chance to learn something new with each new project. Working as a freelancer enables one to venture outside of their comfort zone and pursue a passion they’ve always had but were too hesitant to pursue. You are in charge of selecting your own workload when you freelance.
- Through freelancing, people can connect with clients regardless of their location, whether they are in another state or even abroad. This enables one to look beyond geography and focus on what best utilizes their expertise. The way individuals and companies operate today is changing quickly. The global worker has access to a new universe of options because of freelancing.
- There is no upper-income limit when working as a freelancer, which is a huge benefit. The number of projects that can be worked on concurrently is not limited by law.
In summary….
Recognize that starting out as a freelancer is a process, and it’s acceptable to fail and make mistakes. Even though the market is very crowded, you can still discover a niche. The decision to expand your business ultimately rests with you and the mentality you choose. You have the opportunity to experience and experiment with a different working environment and schedule when you freelance. You are free to select the one that best suits your preferences.
Freelancers are more prevalent than ever, and this trend appears to be continuing. Use the aforementioned advice if you want to differentiate yourself from the competition. With perseverance and careful planning, you can establish yourself as a distinctive freelancer that clients will want to work with.