Today is National Freelancers’s Day so it seems only right that I share some of my top tips for making it as a start-up freelancer.
I’m now in my fourth month of freelancing, and although it’s been somewhat of a challenge at times, I absolutely love working for myself. I can’t recommend it enough! So, in the hope of inspiring others to take the leap of faith, here are my top ten tips for any aspiring freelancers:
1) If you’re going to do it, then DO it – Being a freelancer isn’t as easy as some people might make you believe, so if you’re thinking of giving it a go, make sure you really give it your best shot. Don’t be half-hearted and don’t think work will magically appear because it won’t. You need to work hard and give it your full attention.
2) Research, research, research – Making the leap into freelancing is tricky, so do yourself a favour and find out as much as you can about what you’re letting yourself in for. There’s all kind of helpful books, blogposts and websites out there so fill your boots and read…..lots! Here’s a few of my favourites sites to get you started: journalism.co.uk, londonfreelance.org, nuj.org.uk, freelanceuk.com
3) Get organised – When you first start out, there’ll be a lot to get sorted so try and get organised as soon as possible. Tell the tax man what you’re doing (even if it’s only part time), set up a business account and sort out a decent office or work space. Make sure your computer is in excellent working order, set up a phone line if you haven’t got one and get a decent internet connection. Oh, and don’t forget to put some money aside too, because you’re definitely going to need it.
4) Promote yourself – As a freelancer, you’ll never earn a ‘normal’ monthly wage ever again. Scary I know, but that’s the reality. To find work, you’re going to need to promote your talents and get yourself ‘out there’. Firstly, tell everyone you know, what you’re doing and what you’re offering. You never know who knows who so utilise those contacts! Next, get to grips with social networking if you haven’t already. Make sure you’re on popular sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, all of which offer free, easy and effective marketing if used correctly. Get some business cards printed that you can hand out to prospective clients and finally, think about using the web to showcase your work. A well-designed website, blog or online portfolio is the easiest and most impressive way of showing what you can do.
5) Think of yourself as a brand – Very soon, people will be paying for your services and talents, so it’s a really good idea to start thinking of yourself as a brand. After all, what you’re selling to them is essentially YOU! With that in mind, make sure your behaviour, appearance and activity always accurately and positively reflects who you are and what you do. And always, always be professional!
6) Work out your worth – Figuring out how much you are going to charge people for your work isn’t easy but has to be done. Ideally, you need to come up with a price that will be attractive for both your clients and you! It’s all about finding a balance. You don’t want to be seen as too ‘cheap’ but neither do you want to be too ‘expensive’. So talk to people, ask for advice, do your market research and then determine a price. If it doesn’t work, just reflect and change it. Your costs don’t have to be set in stone. Finally, make sure you can live on what you charge! You’re doing this to earn a living, a better one hopefully, so charge what you deserve.
7) Get into the groove – Most freelancers tend to work from home so it makes sense to get yourself into a routine as early as possible. Working from home requires huge levels of motivation and self-control as it’s very tempting to lie in bed for an extra few hours or settle down to watch the TV. So take my advice and try to start as you mean to go on. Your routine doesn’t have to be rigid (after all that’s the beauty of working for yourself) but it does need to work for you. Think about how and when you work best and tailor your day to suit you. By sticking to some kind of regular routine, you’ll get more done and won’t feel nowhere near as guilty when you do take an afternoon off or finish early for the weekend.
8) Don’t become a hermit – Freelancers tend to spend the majority of their working week, sat at a desk, working alone. The plus side to this, is that you’ll find you get lots more done. The downside is that it can get very lonely. So try not to get into the habit of staying indoors all the time. Attend meetings, work elsewhere occasionally or even meet up with fellow freelancers for a coffee. However you do it, just make sure you get out and about. Your sanity will thank you for it.
9) Believe in yourself – Freelancing is a brilliant way to earn a living but it can also be tough, especially when you hit a dry work spell. When you feel like you’re hitting a brick wall, it’s important to remain positive and continue to look for opportunities, so don’t give up! Believe in yourself and work hard and you’ll soon find that you have more work than you can handle.
10) Enjoy it! – When I first started, somebody said to me, “It’s important to love being a freelancer, otherwise it can be hellish.” Four months in, I now understand what they mean. When things are going right and the work is coming in, it’s fantastic! But it can also be frustrating and depressing as you wait for the jobs and money to roll in. However, despite the occasional downtimes, working as a freelancer really does offer amazing opportunities and freedom which can’t be beaten. So if you think it’s for you, be bold and be brave and give it a shot! Make the most of what comes your way and enjoy it! After all, life’s too short not to. x
