Being a freelancer is something that is more relevant than ever. Although freelance roles have existed for very long periods of time, they are most common now. This is no surprise given how many remote working and online opportunities there are. Freelancer can be a great option for many people, however. It gives you some additional freedom and can even help you become more financially stable. However, it is considerably different from working under an employer. It can take a while to adjust and settle into a freelancer role. If you are struggling with the transition, here are some tips that could prove beneficial for you.
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Keep on Your Toes
When you are working under an employer, you are given set hours, set pay, and peace of mind that you will have a job next week. However, none of these are guaranteed as a freelancer. You get paid for the work that you do. This means it has nothing to do with the hours you work but what you do. For example, it doesn’t matter if you take ten minutes or ten hours to do a project. You are still going to be paid the same. Due to this, especially as a new freelancer, you always have to look out for new work. Without too much credibility, it is unlikely that people will approach you. Keep on your toes and be able to recognize an opportunity when you see one. Over time, as you settle, this will be much easier to handle. This is why you should not become deterred if things don’t go perfectly at the start.
Give Yourself Breaks
You control the amount of work you take on and do. However, one mistake that new freelancers will make is taking on too much work. The fear of not getting enough jobs can be a very harmful thing. Taking on huge amounts of work might seem great from a financial point of view. However, it could lead to a lack of quality in your work. If you are non-stop working from dawn to dusk, you are going to burn out and do a bad job for your clients. Make sure that you are giving yourself breaks just as you would get under an employer. This will help to keep you fresh and enthusiastic about your career. Even when you are taking these breaks, be sure that you are getting your mind off of your work. A good way to do this is to play online casino games. Sites such as spinpalace.com/nz/ are a great option as it provides a huge amount of variety in games for you to try out when you need to take a break. This means you can revisit the site several times and not come close to getting bored.
Always be Improving Your Skills
You don’t get any lucky breaks in the world of freelancing. You are going to get work that represents your skills and ability. If you are not able to have a good standard of work on a consistent basis, then chances are, you are going to make too much money. Even when your work is at a good level, you should be looking to improve and develop your skills. After all, the world of a freelancer is a competitive one. You are literally competing against people in the same industry as you to try and attain clients. The more well-rounded and accomplished you are, the better business will be for you.
Know How to Advertise Yourself
As mentioned above, there is a slim chance that you are going to be overwhelmed with work in your early career as a freelancer. This is why you want to make sure that anyone who is willing to trust you for a job is impressed by you. So how do you do this? Advertising yourself in a great way is the best option. Show of your qualities, skills, and previous work. You want your online profile to show people that they are making the right choice by hiring you for the job. As well as this, be sure to have great communication skills. Reply clearly and quickly. This is what your clients are going to want from you when you are trying to discuss important issues. The better the impression is that you give them, the more likely they are going to want to do business with you.
Work Remotely When Possible
Although many freelance jobs won’t allow you to do so, if you can work remotely, it is a major bonus. This means that you can do work for clients who are situated all across the globe. After all, as a freelancer, you don’t want to limit yourself in regards to who can reach out to you. The bigger your target audience is, the more business you will get.
Ask for Advice
There is never any harm in asking for advice, no matter what kind of career you are in. However, as a freelancer, advice could really go a long way. Try to reach out to accomplished people in your industry. Due to their success, they likely won’t see you as a threat or someone who is going to steal their clientele. If they are able to give you some pointers to get your career up and going, then you have just been given a massive boost.
Have a Portfolio
You, as a freelancer, are only as good as the work you have previously done. If you feel like you have improved massively since your last piece, that’s great. However, no one is going to know that if you don’t showcase it. This is why it is important that you have a portfolio of previous work. This will allow potential clients to see what you are capable of and what they are paying for. When your work is good, it will even help you to get the edge over other freelancers. After all, a client is going to be far more likely to trust you when they can see your standard of work.
Continue Reading: 5 Steps to Start Freelance Copywriting as a Side Hustle
About the Author
James Daniels is a freelance writer, business enthusiast, a bit of a tech buff, and an overall geek. He is also an avid reader, who can while away hours reading and knowing about the latest gadgets and tech, whilst offering views and opinions on these topics.
