It’s always hard getting off the starting line if you decide to become a freelancer. After all, unlike guaranteed work with a permanent 9 to 5 type position, it can be challenging to get a steady stream of work coming in to create a more stable income. And as one freelancer in a pool of thousands, it can be hard to compete to secure more work. It can potentially lead you to give up on their freelancing career before you even get started. However, there are some ways you can make a success of your new career. In fact, here are a few top things every freelancer needs to be successful.
A good routine
It’s easy to fall into the trap when working at home of just working a couple of hours a day. You might start procrastinating when you are in your humble abode. You might go wash up or even catch up and binge watch some TV. But if you want to be successful in your freelancing career, you need to make sure you have a good routine. You should make it feel like as if you are in a full-time job. Go into your home office and spend the time working from 9-5, like you would if you was at a workplace. That way, you won’t be tempted to do other things at home during working hours. And if you follow a good routine, you are more likely to be successful. After all, you will get the work completed on time and ensure you make a good impression on clients. If you need to get out of the house, you can work at a coffee shop in your local area instead. A fresh location can spur you on to get the work done every day.
A good website
You might have found some freelance work to apply for. But it can be hard to stand out against the other freelancers who also want the same work. After You might go for a similar pitch as someone else to enable you to secure the work. Therefore, if you do want to stand out from others, you need to ensure you set up a good website. It’s a great place to showcase your previous freelancing work. It can also give you the chance to talk about your background and experience in the field. And once it’s all setup, you can then share it with the potential client when pitching for work. They will take a look at your site, and it can help them see what kind of work they can expect from you if they do take you on board for the job. Having a good site is also essential as it can help clients find you instead of you having to do all the leg work. If you use SEO, your site will rank on Google, and if anyone is looking for a freelancer web designer or writer, they will find you. You can also share your site across your social media accounts like LinkedIn, so potential clients can have a browse and check you out. Just make sure your site looks top notch. In fact, you can find a website builder tool here which will ensure your site looks professional! That way, they won’t be put off working with you when they see your site!
Accounts on freelancer sites
A lot of freelancers struggle to find work. Moost don’t know where to start to hunt down jobs. And it can lead them to sit around twiddling their thumbs for the first few months. But if you want to secure work, it’s time to get yourself out there on various freelancer sites. After all, it’s where clients will be placing ads for work. So if you are not on the site, you won’t see the potential work and then will end up missing out on a job which could be right up your alley. Therefore, if you want to be a successful freelancer, you need to set up accounts on these sites. You should firstly join the most well-known ones like People Per Hour. You might have to pay a small fee after the first couple of months, but it can be worth it to find jobs. Make sure you look on smaller sites as well. After all, there are tons of websites out there for freelancers to join to enable them to find work. Therefore, make sure you are on these to help you to get work and be successful.
If you are looking for a more detailed explanation on how to get started as a freelancer, I encourage you to check out this 2 Hour Agency article, as they have a very detailed step by step list of actions you can take and great advice too.
And remember to get a good accountant to sort out your end of year taxes and invoices for clients. After all, you don’t want to lose out on money if you are not doing it properly! You can find ones online who are ideal for freelancers.
Photo credits: Pixabay
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