5 Steps to Get Your Freelance Career in Motion
Showcase your services, budget like a financial expert, and under very little circumstances say no to clients...
Whether you’ve found yourself amidst a massive company layoff, preparing for one or ready to change the game, there are several steps you should take to prepare yourself for client work.
There’s nothing more exciting than jumping into the unknown. Just kidding, knowns are everything. Facts will be your friends as you embark on your freelance journey. Here are five tips compiled from personal experiences and the experiences of others.
Showcase Your Services Over Your Accomplishments
What is it you do? When I go to your website and portfolio (if you don’t have one, make one) it better be clear what you offer and why you’re the best choice. Think about who you want to work for, or with, and make sure that type of work is represented on your website. Let potential clients know your role(s) within a project, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them.
Budget
I can’t express enough how important building a budget is. Whether you freelance or not. Going back to the thought, facts are your friends, when you have an irregular income, it’s easy to fall off the wagon of managing your money properly. A budget will let you know what your monthly expenses are and what you need to stay afloat.
I highly recommend reading the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. Ramsey Solutions provides a great step by step guide to becoming financially fit.
Figure Out Your Worth
There’s a big difference between what you think you’re worth and what others think you’re worth. The noise on social media will tell you to “stay true to your worth”, “charge more”, “don’t accept less”, which is in a way true but if you find you’re not getting work, it may be worth reevaluating your rate. You won’t be disappointed charging less for a dream project that’s going to pay dividends when the masses see it, but also recognize that same client will expect you to charge the same or less the next time.
Connect and Reconnect
Your network isn’t your LinkedIn connections. Not at all. Most of these people won’t help move the needle when it comes to acquiring new clients. It’s not your former coworkers either, only a few ride or dies will introduce you to some potential clients or partners. Your mom and dad are more likely to find you clients. Your brother, sister, aunt, uncle, best friend, maid of honor, neighbor or maybe even some parents from your kids’ school will help you get started. Do a bang-up job for them, because they’ll refer you to others. And then the party begins.
Don’t be afraid to connect with other experienced freelancers. More often than not, they’ll feed the clients they’re able to say no to.
Say Yes, ‘Til You Can Say No
This is key. You can’t be picky, unless its unsafe or goes against your morals. Take work and learn the types of people, industries and businesses you want to partner with and the types of projects you want to take on. Some may surprise you. Some projects may be easier to make money and take fewer hours of labor.
Bonus: Don’t Niche Down From the Jump
You may jump into a category that doesn’t pay well or one with way too many players and competition. Give a wide berth, keep notes as to what worked and what didn’t. Narrow your focus from there and perfect. Repetition will make you a powerhouse.
Learn more in our article about how motion designer, Connor Henkle niched down into his category of sports stadium graphics packages.
What it comes down to is providing prospects with the notion that you are the best at what you do, that you are affordable and that they can count on you to figure out and solve their problems.
When you do a great job with one client and then another, word of mouth will become everything.
Any questions? Be sure to read our disclaimer and our affiliations at your earliest convenience.