8 Tips for Building a Successful Freelance Business
If you do not have your own successful business, this does not mean at all that you cannot create it. It won't be easy, but nothing is impossible. The path to success will be difficult, even incredibly difficult, but you will become a freelancer and be able to earn good money from the comfort of your home! Where to start? The first step is to choose a field of activity. You should not think about a narrow niche, it is better to think in broader categories. But at the same time, it must be remembered that freelancing is primarily a service, and here you need to carefully analyze your skills. Everyone knows how to do something very well, so these skills should be the main weapon in your arsenal.
You may have studied web design. Or good at drawing. Or maybe you like programming. Find your strengths and weaknesses and keep only what you are good at. Everything else you don't need. You want to be a freelancer, which means you have to become an expert in order for clients to trust you with work. This should always be kept in mind at the very beginning - after all, no one likes to cooperate with people who can do a little of everything. A client who wants to hire a freelancer is looking for a specialist, not a jack-of-all-trades.
Create your site
Once you have decided on the services you will provide as a freelancer, you will need your own website. In the world of freelancing, a site is something of your own store or service center - it is there that you can profitably sell what you offer there.
Then you need to choose a domain name. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here - just name the site by your name. This is a good and, most importantly, memorable option. And then find a good hosting and just launch a business card site. Today it is very easy to do it yourself. The site should have four main sections:
- About you
- Services you offer
- Your portfolio
- Contact page
If you don't have anything to present in your portfolio yet, you can turn to friends or acquaintances and offer them help. It is enough to do a few small projects for free or at a good discount so that you have some portfolio material. The main thing is that these projects demonstrate your level - future clients will view the portfolio and evaluate your skills.
A good, professional portfolio is the best way to secure a steady stream of clients. You are just starting to work as a freelancer and you, of course, still have few works that can be shown to potential customers. Do not worry about trifles! If you have already worked on small projects, try to get feedback from the client. Even if it's a friend or even a family member - still ask to leave a review.
Do not be shy in any way! Clients love positive reviews because they show you are a skilled, reliable freelancer. Even if you have three or four reviews, this is already a big step towards success. Over time, there will be more of them and reviews will become a serious argument in favor of the client hiring you as a performer.
Network, network, network!
When you become a freelancer, you will have to spend a lot of time on the Internet, such is the nature of this work. From the first days, you need to start communicating closely with other freelancers and register on exchanges that offer the same services that you want to provide. Starting a freelance business will require you to create separate social media profiles. Focus on four of them, sign up for VKontakte, as well as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
And get active. Make friends with other freelancers working in your field and send them a message that you are just starting your freelance career. Many people make the mistake of assuming that fellow freelancers will see them as competitors and won't respond. You will be amazed at how closely freelancers communicate with each other! If you can make a good impression on an experienced freelancer. He may well throw you a couple of orders if he has an emergency at work. And professional freelancers have jobs with enviable regularity.
Find your first client
Even though the network allows you to create a good source of passive income, your freelance business will not be like that at all. To make money, you need clients. And at first it will be difficult for you to find them. To receive your first order, you need to do the following:
- Constantly monitor the project feed of all the exchanges on which you are registered
- Scan social media for job postings
- Feel free to contact a potential client directly
When you find an order that matches your skills, you need to work on the text of the appeal to the client. This is a very important point, do not be lazy, give it more time! Don't write too much, but introduce yourself, talk about your experience and skills, show that you are interested in this job. And be sure to explain how you can help the potential client. Suggest several ways to solve the problem and advise what can be done to make the result really outstanding. Act like you're in an interview. Clients love this kind of treatment, and you, in turn, can convince them that you can do the job.
When starting a new freelance business, it is very important to start fulfilling expensive orders as soon as possible. You are still a beginner and high fees are not yet available to you. It's not a problem. When communicating with customers, stay optimistic, meet deadlines, and answer any customer questions as soon as possible. And of course, do your job to as high a standard as you can.
And do not worry about the fact that you did everything very well, but received some miserable pennies for it. A little time will pass and ridiculous amounts for professional work will remain in the past.
However, be aware that some clients may view your modest demands as a weakness. In this case, they will try to squeeze everything they can out of you. They may try to underpay you or put a lot of work on you without increasing your fee. If you see that a client is trying to manipulate you, be polite but principled in dealing with him. Steadfastly defend your opinion, do not be afraid to enter into unpleasant business negotiations. You are a freelancer, you are a businessman and you are interested in your business growing and developing. Difficult clients will often come up in your career and you need to be prepared for this from the very beginning.
standing orders
The most valuable thing in freelancing is constant and repeat orders. A long-term relationship with a client guarantees you a stable regular income. Look for just such projects and then you will always have a job. In order to make sure that customers contact again and again, you need to:
- Work to the highest personal standards
- Always meet the agreed deadlines
- Be polite and friendly with customers
- Do not forget about personal marketing, spend time on social networks
- Ask! Let your clients know that you are passionate about your work. They will be impressed by your zeal and when they have an order or encounter a problem, they will turn to you because you are an enthusiast.
Growth of freelance business.
Freelancing is not easy, you already know that. You will have to work two, three times more than before. Only in this way will you be able to move your competitors in this tough business. However, if you put your time and effort on the freelancing altar, you will certainly be rewarded. Your work will not be in vain and you will definitely start earning decent money.
When you are more or less on your feet, start looking to the future. Explore new areas, gain valuable skills, look for big clients. There will come a day when you realize that you can't do the job on your own. Team up with other freelancers, delegate some tasks to them. Teamwork will take your freelance business to the next level. And remember, there can be any number of these levels - after all, this is freelancing.