With the increasing trend of freelancing career in today’s era, many of the full-time workers are now opting to forego their traditional careers and start freelancing business. Freelancing offers more flexibility and creates a lifestyle they love.
In freelancing, people like the idea of being your own boss. But, running a freelancing business is like running your own small business, and only you are responsible for handling everything-being it finding the client, convincing them to hire you and deliver work on time.
If this sounds interesting to you and wants to start your freelancing business, then here are the best tips to follow. Without further ado, read these tips and start your freelancing career.
Identify your niche
When you are into the world of freelancing, it is essential to identify your niche. Like if you are a graphic designer, then you have at least creating your skills with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop in your free time.
There are thousands of competitors in the market, who are willing to charge much lower rates irrespective of how much skill you have. Also, there are of people who are ready to work at low paid gigs. So, select a niche and become an expert in that.
Build a Great Portfolio
Your high-quality portfolio is the ticket to get the good paying clients in the freelancing business. In your portfolio, you can showcase your skills.
Your freelancing portfolio should contain the work you specialize in, and that can attract clients. This work can be the samples of your previous work. In your portfolio, present the work that helps you too land a freelancing job you want, not necessarily listing the projects you currently have.
Thoroughly select your first clients
Your first client is very important both from the portfolio and financial point of view.
You clients and portfolio pieces represent how you perceived by your clients when you work in your freelancing career.
So spend some time to choose your client. Decide how much work you can handle and retain clients for your freelancing business at a time. Allocate your time to these clients and work exceptionally well to build an amazing portfolio.
Don’t be afraid to say no
We understand saying no is hard. You don’t like to disappoint anyone, so you put on a strenuous load on yourself by saying yes to every client.
No matter what, you will disappoint someone. Whether it is your client because you are not able to deliver him work, or your family, because you are working for long hours, or yourself because you are too stressed with the loads of work you have selected to work on.
So, understand, you can’t say yes to every right client if you don’t say no to every wrong client.
Market Yourself on multiple platforms
Once you have created your portfolio, don’t just sit back that clients will find you with your portfolio. Advertise yourself on various social media marketing channels like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and many other sites to attract targeted clients you want to work for.
Here are a few places you can start with
- Upwork
- Freelancer
- Guru
- LocalMart
Develop your brand and start pitching
There are thousands of freelancers there in the market, so what’s your USP (Unique Selling Point) that sets you apart from everyone else in the industry. It’s your brand that will highlight your work in the market and clearly show your clients why they should hire you to get the best-quality work.
Develop your brand and start pitching the project to your potential clients. When you pitch the client, include a link of your portfolio or your website and relevant project samples.
Ask your clients for Testimonials
Build a great rapport with your clients and ask them for referrals and testimonials. Referrals from satisfied clients work amazingly well to attract new clients.
When next time when your client pitches you for a project, ask him for a recommendation or short testimonial. People understand how important these referrals are for your small business and clients happy to help you.
So, here you have it.
The best tips for all freelancers to lay a foundation for a successful freelancing business. Use these tips and earn great revenue from a widely opted career option.
