It seems people have quite a few misconceptions about what freelancing is. Half think they will spend all their time working on projects they enjoy, turning down work that doesn’t suit their taste. And the other half believe that a freelancer can be a part-time job, but not a career.
Both are wrong. Being a freelancer is not a cakewalk, as many people think. Indeed, if you want to be successful, you have to be careful and be very careful about the quality of your work. And if you do it right it definitely can be lucrative career.
Table of Contents
Becoming a Great Freelancer: What You Should Do
Why do some people make so much money freelancing while others barely make ends meet? Many people argue that freelancing is not a permanent source of income. Most often, the problem lies in the approach.
Before we share what you need to know in order to have a successful freelance career, we think it’s worth mentioning a few things. You must be yourself! No, this is not advice for your personal development. It will also be very helpful for your professional growth.
To become a freelancer, you must learn to be confident in who you are. If your creative work has a personal touch, it will attract potential clients to you. The personal touch to your work sets you apart and encourages potential clients to give you a chance.
one. Recognize your key audience
You need to know who your target audience is before submitting a new job. For example, if you specialize in design for software companies, you won’t do well if you spend your time creating websites dedicated to home interiors.
Having a clear audience will make it easier for you to understand who your customers are. As a freelancer, you must define your niche and stick to it. Of course, you can expand over time, but focus on mastering your specific niche first. This will not only enhance your experience but also help you establish yourself as an authority in the field.
2. Prioritize content more than anything else
Regardless of which niche you choose, remember that nothing is more important than content. Even if you are a designer who is really good at creating a beautiful website, if your content is poor quality, you won’t get very far.
Yes, there will be times when you don’t have much control over your client’s content. However, if you feel that the final result will not match your vision due to the content, do not take on the project. It will only reflect badly on your portfolio.
If you are someone who creates content, make sure you present it in a way that engages the reader. You must keep your readers hooked on what you have to say. At the same time, it is desirable that everything be simple and to the point.
In addition, your content and services should always benefit your customer. Remember, the freelancing world is oversaturated. Your client is likely to find many freelancers vying for their project. Why then should they give you a chance? Because you have what others don’t! Your services can make a difference to this project. This is what you need to convince your customers.
This will not only help you attract more customers, but also keep them in the long run. And if there’s one thing that makes you a successful freelancer, it’s client retention.
3. Learn to build relationships
If you want to be the freelancer everyone looks up to, you have to build relationships and networks. Your goal should not only be to attract clients, but also to collaborate with other freelancers. This will always work in your favor if you have relationships with people related to your niche.
You can submit work your way and vice versa. By communicating with your colleagues, you can be sure that you have people to turn to for advice. For example, when you have a particularly difficult project, you can turn to them for help and work together to deliver quality work. This will help you get far.
However, if you are serious about building a relationship, you need to make sure you don’t forget one thing. This is perfectly normal, in fact, it’s even helpful to say “no” sometimes.
Of course, it won’t be easy. Whenever you think about abandoning a project, your mind will wander over your expenses. It’s tempting to say whatever comes your way. However, this approach can be disastrous for your career. Don’t ignore warning signs. And only work with clients that you think are right for you.
The difficult path to becoming a successful freelancer
Yes, becoming a well-paid freelancer is definitely not easy. There will be times when you will be tempted to give up. However, if you go about your business with determination and zeal, everything will eventually fall into place.
It’s important to make sure you never stop learning. Of course, you must focus on your work. But at the same time, take the time to hone your skills or learn something new. This will expand your knowledge base and also have a positive impact on the quality of your work.
Another noteworthy tip: make sure you’re not limited to a specific area as a freelancer. You have to master a certain niche, but that doesn’t mean you make it your comfort zone. Your focus should be on making sure your journey doesn’t stall. After all, you became a freelancer so you didn’t have to live the typical day-to-day office life. Avoid monotony while freelancing.
