Working from home, having flexible hours, and being your own boss may sound like the ideal existence, but it is difficult to achieve and maintain. If you’re a freelancer or trying to become one, you’re well aware of the difficulties. While a freelancer does not have to answer to anyone, they still have to work around the clock. Going on vacation but forgot to bring your laptop? Or are you going to a party but have a deadline looming?
But does freelancing have to be so difficult all of the time? What if I told you there’s a way to have your freedom and be a successful freelancer at the same time? This post will teach you how to be a successful freelancing freelancer. So, let’s dissect this and learn freelancing 101.
Accept your existing situation and focus on simply going forward.
If you’re just starting out as a freelancer, you should know that things won’t start to pick up on the first day or week. You must accept the fact that establishing your place in the sector will take time and not give up hope.
To keep your motivation up, memorise this IDEA formula and return to it when you’re having a bad day.
I – Make an investment in your own prosperity. Keep your expertise up to date in order to meet industry demands.
D – Develop self-assurance. You must be your own biggest supporter.
E – Recognize that there will be times when you are on the verge of quitting. Keep in mind why you started.
A – Take in the sensation of accomplishment and live in the present now.
You may feel like your business is stagnating at times, but it simply means you need to put in more work.
Make the finest possible first impression.
Once you’ve established yourself as a freelancer, you’ll need to start promoting your business’s product, which is you. You must choose a niche, identify the ideal clients, and then position yourself as the greatest alternative in the field. How do you go about doing that? If you stick to the Master Marketing Formula–
1) Discover your area of expertise. Identify and describe your abilities.
2) Start whittling down your client list to 150-200 people who appear to be potential customers.
3) When pitching clients, emphasise your professional talents, prior experience, and knowledge. Once you’ve attracted potential clients, it’s important to close the deal by explaining how your expertise can benefit their company.
4) If you already have a client, set a price for your work. The best way to go about it is to charge on a project basis rather than by the hour. Hourly billing could be detrimental in the long run.
5) Finally, maintain a professional demeanour throughout, even if the client drops off near the conclusion. This almost-prospect could turn out to be your future client.
It will also help if you have a buzz piece circulating about your work. This demonstrates to clients that you are serious about your work and are professional.
This formula will assist you in remaining focused and developing a strong professional network. However, if you want to take your game to the next level, you may find yourself asking –
How can I keep the company afloat?
Working for yourself and being your own boss may sound appealing, but it is also difficult. When you don’t have a set work schedule or habit, the barrier between your personal and professional lives may blur. It’s also difficult to concentrate when working from home and when the business appears to be stagnate.
So, let’s break this down into two portions and respond to each one separately.
• How do you maintain your concentration?
You may find it tough to work while working from home every day because procrastination sits right next to you. You can use the 50 Minute Focus guideline to finish your assignment on time and quit slacking.
Before you begin working on a project, set a timer for 50 minutes on your phone. In this 50 minutes, there were no emails, calls, or messages. Consider the next 50 minutes as your final 50 minutes to complete this task. You can take a break after this period, which will help you speed up and stay more concentrated.
• What should you do if business is slow?
It’s usual in freelancing for business to slow down after two or three months of solid work. The difference between active and occasional freelancers is how you approach your work. Maintain a broad network from the beginning of your career and make an effort to get to know clients outside of work. Make an effort to establish a rapport with them. As a result, you’ll be the first person they think of for their next project.
Even after the project is over, stay in touch with them to let them know you’re still in business. Send them an article every now and then, offer some information, or simply check in.
Additionally, make sure you have numerous sources of income. This is true for every individual or company. It’s not enough to rely on one source; you need to find your footing and come up with something you can offer to as well.
If you use this as a guide to freelancing, you’ll be a cheerful hustler who welcomes work as much as you welcome bad times.