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6 Tips For A Successful Freelance Career
Congratulations on your decision to work from home as a freelancer!
Being a freelancer means a lot more than staying at home, and as a newbie freelancer it could still get super overwhelming. Nothing comes easy anyway. As a freelancer, working remotely from home has a lot of advantages. First, you've got the cushion of freedom. Your time is yours to manage; you can schedule whichever working hours suits you most, and there are no toxic work environment or colleagues to banter office politics with. Finally, you can set your rates as you please. You earn as you grow and get paid your time's worth. Big congrats, you're an entrepreneur now!
Entrepreneurs are solely in charge of their businesses. They take care of the risks and enjoy the benefits. As a freelancer, you own and run your own business. You're your brand. The next big thing you might want to consider is how to build a successful career running your freelance business. While it may seem very daunting at first, it is still very doable.
In this article, we will discuss 5 tips you need in order to enjoy a successful freelance career working from home. These tips will help you succeed as a beginner or professional.
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Let's dive in!
1. Improve and Utilize Your Communication Skills
Working from home involves a lot of virtual communication - directly and indirectly. As a freelancer, you will engage in projects with clients from different parts of the world. There's no better way to win the hearts of employers, understand what their needs are, and implement their instructions than to have excellent communication skills. Whether you're new to the freelance lifestyle or a professional looking to upgrade your career, the importance of improving your communication skills cannot be overemphasized. Having exceptional communication skills, both written and spoken, is the first approach required to beat the competition.
2. Don't Start Without A Safety Net
If you're just starting out as a freelancer, it is very important to have some financial backup. Stable income is a safety net helps you stay afloat in times when jobs are scarce or there's a downtime in your productivity. Earning big through freelancing requires that you don't choose every job thrown at your doorstep. You've got to be super selective. This means that you'll have to overlook some jobs which would've served as a prospective quick-cash for you. Being able to pay your bills and settle miscellaneous expenses from your savings will help you scale through the myriad uncertainties laden in the freelance world.
3. Focus On Quality, Not Quantity
As a beginner in the freelance space, you may be tempted to bid for all the jobs that come your way, but try not to fall for this. Bidding is like the game of chess, not some nunbers count. You've got to get the Queens and Kings in the right place and at the right time. You've got to use the pawns when necessary too. This speaks a lot about your bidding strategy, what you're offering, and how all of this will help meet the client's objectives. In essence, the quality of work you deliver matters a lot. Quality differentiates professional freelancers from newbies.
Write quality proposals that are engaging and can grab the client's attention. Also, find out a thing or two about the client before placing a bid for their project. Ensure to know what they do, what people say about them, what they want in an ideal candidate and how they want their project done. Get to know and understand every detail about the job description or project requirements. Then create a proposal accordingly, detailing all that you intend to bring to the table. Focus on quality work, and employers will keep knocking at your door with more jobs.
4. Deliver Surprises On Time
Everyone likes surprises, especially when they come in different sizes. Employers love a dose of surprises once in a while. Don't exaggerate your offerings. Lower their expectations in your proposal and deliver more quality. Surprise them with your work and let quality do the talking. Ensure to always submit your work on time 90% of the time. Don't say what you cannot do. Give an exact estimate about how much time it will take you to complete your work and stick to it. Clients want skilled freelancers who can keep to their words. If you want to win the hearts of your employers for more projects in the future, then you've got to deliver on time.
5. Network to Build Your Clientele
Your success as a freelancer lies in the clientele you are able to keep. The more hands you shake, the more money you make. Networking is an age-old tradition that helps businesses thrive even in the face of tense competence. As a freelancer, endeavor to network with more people and show your work. Put yourself out there and connect with people. If you're new to freelancing, start with your immediate circle and extend your network outwards. Reach out to your family members, friends, colleagues and neighbors. Tell them what kind of services you render and how you can help solve their respective problems with your skills.
Social media is also a great way to reach out to more people. Join groups where you can find people in the specific industry you are interested in. Building your clientele is a very worthy endeavor. Remember that your network is your net worth, so make it count.
6. Maintain Quality Long Term Relationships
Networking to build your clientele is one thing, while knowing how to keep your clients is another. A good way to maintain quality long term relationships is doing good work, offering quality service and completing your projects in time. Learn how to maintain long term relationships. Keeping in touch is also a great way to engage with your clients. Utilize your excellent communication skills in this aspect too. This is a very important factor in your success journey as a freelancer. Send cards, reach out on social media and show that you care in little ways. Employers deserve some kindness too.
Final Verdict
Succeeding in any industry requires a lot of consistency, focus and effort. While this may seem very difficult, it is really not supposed to be so. Success is a long term journey, not some overnight experience. As a freelancer, showing up all the time will help you beat procrastination. You have to take your business seriously if you're going to make a living out of it.
Freelancing may be for everyone, but not everyone will be a freelancer. The freelance world is an economic setting of its own. You get paid for your time and efforts. Learn to say no when it's necessary too. Don't try applying for all jobs that come your way. Quit trying to be a perfectionist. Be very clear about your offerings and stick to jobs related to your primary skill. Your success as a free lancer lies solely in your hands.
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