There are few bigger steps in life than taking the leap to go freelance. Working as a freelancer does have its risks - no guaranteed monthly pay, ‘dry’ periods with fewer clients, and the need to manage yourself and your clients totally independently - but if you’re committed, the rewards far outweigh the risks.
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If you’re just starting out, no doubt you’ll be feeling a little overwhelmed with just where to start! We’ve outlined the top tips to getting started on your freelance business to guarantee your success.
1. Choose Your Business
If you don’t have a business in mind, it’s going to be difficult to set yourself up as a freelancer! Right now, you don’t have to hone in on a small niche that may restrict the clients you appeal to, but it is a good idea to decide what freelance service your skills most suit.
Do you have training in web design? Graphic design? Programming? A mix of a few? Decide what your strengths are - you should know what you are most experienced at - and set your business up as a freelancer in that field to help you target clients more successfully. Remember, everyone wants an expert, and no one wants a Jack-of-all-trades!
2. Set Up Your Website
Once you’ve decided what services you’ll offer as a freelancer, you need a place to market yourself. Buy a domain name for your freelance business (your name is always a good, memorable option) via a hosting site such as Bluehost or Squarespace. Your website should include:
- An ‘About Me’ Page
- The Services you Offer
- Your Portfolio
- Contact Page
If you don’t have a portfolio, why not offer to do some small projects for friends and family for a discount, or even for free? Even a few projects done for free can really showcase your skills - an important step for any client looking for what you can do.
3. Testimonials
A glowing portfolio is one sure-fire way to secure a steady stream of clients as a freelancer. However, if you’re just starting out, you won’t have a huge book of projects to show off just yet. Instead, contact the clients you have worked for - even if it is a family friend - and ask them for a testimonial.
Clients love positive reviews that reassure them they’ll be hiring a skilled, reliable freelancer, so posting a few great testimonials of your previous work is a great way of showing clients why they should hire you.
4. Network, Network, Network!
Connecting with other freelancers, freelance job sites, and potential clients in your target industries is extremely important when starting out your freelance business. Create social media profiles for your freelance business, focusing on two or three to start off with (we’d recommend Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn as good choices for a freelance business).
Add other freelancers in your field and send out messages introducing yourself as a new freelancer. Many people make the mistake of assuming all other freelancers are competition, but you’d be amazed how much they help each other out. If you make a good impression on a more experienced freelancer, they may even send some work your way when they’ve got too much on their hands!
5. Landing Your First Client
Although networking is a great way to make your freelance business known, a passive approach is definitely not the best approach when it comes to freelancing. To land your first client, you should be:
- Using job boards (including freelancermap.com)
- Scanning social media for job postings
- Reaching out directly to potential clients
When you find a job that suits your skills as a freelancer, you need to nail your pitch. That means sending a personal, well-written message that outlines your experience, shows you’ve done your research into the company, and explains exactly what you can do for that company. Suggest a few ways you would approach the job they require doing to really make yourself stand out. Clients will go with the freelancer they feel will take on the job and deliver first-time, so make sure your pitch reassures them you’re the right person for the job.
6. Communicating with Clients
When starting out as a new freelance business, it’s essential that you do everything you can to win a great review from your client. That means meeting deadlines, answering any queries as soon as possible, and of course, delivering work that meets the brief and is to a high standard.
However, know that some clients will see your inexperience as weakness, and may try to get more out of you than they deserve. If a client tries to underpay you, or asks you to take on more projects without increasing your fee, be polite but firm. Negotiate if you can, but make sure you’re looking after your own interests as a freelancer and not burning yourself out to please difficult clients!
7. Guarantee Repeat Work
Repeat work and long-term contracts are extremely valuable in freelancing, providing a far more stable way to work month to month. To put yourself in a position where clients will come back to you for any further work they have, you should:
- Deliver projects to the best standard you can
- Meet all deadlines agreed in your contract
- Be polite and courteous with clients
- Keep marketing yourself online - don’t let them forget about you!
- Ask! Let your clients know you’re available for more work if they have it. If they’re impressed with you, there’s no doubt there’ll be another project that needs doing.
8. Growing Your Freelance Business
Freelancing isn’t easy, and when starting out, you’ll need to work twice as hard to even make a dent in this competitive industry. However, if you put the time in and follow these steps, you can reap the rewards freelance life has to offer.
When you’ve established yourself as a freelance business, start looking to the future! Gaining more skills, targeting bigger clients, and even connecting with other freelancers who offer different services are all great ways to take your freelance business to the next level. Start small for now, and with time who knows where you could be!
