5 Helpful Tips on Becoming a Freelancer

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Becoming a freelancer can be a liberating prospect. You have the power to choose who you work for, as well as choose your own hours. Perhaps most compelling, you stand to earn more from a freelancing career. According to the latest numbers, more than 75% of freelancers in America earn more than they did at their previous full-time job.

If you have already made your mind up, we won’t try to persuade you. However, you might not know exactly how to become a freelancer. How you begin your freelancer journey plays a crucial role in your later success. With that in mind, here are five essential tips to keep in mind when starting a freelancing business. 

1. Determine What You Are Selling

First off, it is important to remember that, as a freelancer, you are selling your services on the open market. Therefore, you need to determine exactly what your brand is and what your product is.

Are you wishing to become a freelance marketer? Perhaps a freelance technical writer for a specific industry? Maybe you want to be a freelancer designer or artist? Whatever it is, nail it down and make sure you can describe what you are selling in one sentence. 

2. Nail Down Your Niche 

Simply offering your services to any and all potential clients will not get you paid work. Rather, you need to hone in your niche to ensure that you are offering something that none of your competitors can offer.

Perhaps you have experience with a specialized industry or company that you can leverage. Perhaps you offer unparalleled value for money. You must be able to show that you have something different to offer your clients. 

3. Attract the Right Clients 

Your success in freelancing jobs will hinge upon your ability to attract the right kinds of clients. It’s that simple. If you want to learn how to get freelance clients, there are a few crucial things to keep in mind.

You must master the art of personal branding and learn how to best approach the types of clients you wish to target. You should leverage social media to sell your services and make sure to join all of the active freelance communities for your industry. 

4. Get Your Paperwork in Order 

Freelancing is getting easier, but there is still a fair amount of red tape involved. At a bare minimum, you need to list your freelancing business as a registered company.

Opening an LLC in America is an easy process that can be done entirely online these days. You should also get an accountant immediately, as your taxes are about the get a whole lot more complicated.

5. Learn When to Say No 

Finally, one of the top skills that will guarantee your success as a freelancer is learning when to say no. Too many freelancers assume they should be taking any and all work that is thrown at them, no matter the quality.

While this is understandable, given the lack of stability in freelancing, it is not a good approach. Poor quality clients will lead to poor pay and worse portfolios. Learn when to say no and learn when to fire a client that is not up to your standards. 

Learn How to Sell Yourself the Right Way

Becoming a freelancer is about more than just the skills you have to offer. It is also important to market yourself successfully. For this, we are here to help. Make sure to consult our expert Digital Marketing guides for cutting-edge advice on digital marketing that works.