20 Tips for Becoming a Top Freelancer in 6 Months
20 Tips for Becoming a Top Freelancer in 6 Months
While freelancers are everywhere nowadays as covered over at runrex.com, successful ones are few and far between. Clients often have trouble finding reliable people to work for them, and the market is also extremely competitive. To stand out, you need to be a top freelancer. But how can you become a top freelancer? This article will look to help by outlining 20 tips that will help you become a top freelancer in 6 months.
Start early
One mistake most people make is waiting until they quit their job to start freelancing. According to guttulus.com, this is a big mistake since setting up your brand, finding clients, and networking require a lot of work and preparation. To start this unemployed would take up much time, during which you could have already started making some money, and will make it difficult for you to become a top freelancer in 6 months. Therefore, start early by doing the research 30 days or 6 months in your spare time before quitting your regular job.
Don’t have any illusions
While freelancing is a job like any other, it is not as forgiving as the others as discussed over at runrex.com. This is because as a freelancer, you will be solely responsible for your work rates, work hours, scheduling, and negotiations, which means you will take up the job of CEO, manager, marketer, and employee all at once. While you may have fantasies of life as a freelancer being rosy without the stress of a 9-5, the reality can be much closer to a 9-5 job than you may have expected. If you are to become a top freelancer in 6 months, you need to dismiss the illusion of it being relaxed and cozy.
Don’t expect compliments
Also, as the gurus over at guttulus.com point out, there is no instant gratification in this business. Aside from a paycheck, very few people, if any at all, will be willing to give you compliments. Keeping this in mind will help you develop a thicker skin and learn to look for gratification in other little things as well as with yourself.
Focus on your portfolio
Your portfolio is your biggest selling point as a freelancer. However, when showcasing your portfolio, showcase not only your best work but also the kind of work you love doing. This is because, while broadcasting your skills is excellent, it can give the sense of being all over the place. If there is something you just don’t like doing, don’t include it in your portfolio.
Always be ready and prepared when it comes to earnings
As a freelancer, you are responsible for how much money you will earn. Therefore, inform yourself about hourly rates in your field of freelancing and always have a contract written up for each project. In addition to the contract, request a down payment as well to ensure the client does not back out or send the work back for revising too many times. This is one of the keys to being a top freelancer.
Get help when it comes to earnings
As a continuation from the previous point, a legal executive or a mentor (if you have one) could help you with the points made in the previous point as discussed over at runrex.com. Don’t go into contract-making on your own and headfirst, as another pair of hands will most likely catch something you missed, omitted, or didn’t even consider.
Have a business plan ready
According to guttulus.com, you can’t be successful in freelancing just by diving into work and winging it. As part of your preparation, you will need to write up realistic and achievable goals which also need to be small, short-term, and focused on immediate needs to boost your work. If you want to be a top freelance in 6 months, there should be no free space left in your schedule, at least for the first few months, until you have gotten on your feet.
Get familiar with legal matters
It is also crucial that you get familiar with all legal matters that would concern you as a freelancer. As covered over at runrex.com, hire a lawyer, or find a person who has been in the freelancing business longer to show you the ropes. Knowing the law is important as it could save you from a client trying to weasel out of a deal, help you write out a substantial contract, and get you familiar with your rights as a businessperson. It is also a sign of professionalism and dedication to your work, which will help you become successful.
Your personality is important
It is also worth noting that your personality plays a significant role in whether or not you will have work. Remember, a professional, successful freelancer is someone who loves their job and shows it. There is a pleasant, optimistic tone to them that clients are drawn to. Therefore, don’t be a moody, lone-wolf introvert who only deals with emails. The best way to show your dedication to the job, and build trust with your clients, is to work on how you present yourself.
Keep learning
As a freelancer, once the workflow starts and clients come flooding in, it can become easy to slip up into monotony. You lose yourself in work and stay isolated from the latest trends and happenings. If you are to be a top freelancer in 6 months, you can’t afford this. Make sure you stay on top of the latest news in disciplines that interest you to be successful.
Network
As per the gurus over at guttulus.com, networking plays a huge part when it comes to getting clients, collaborations, and contracts that will come in handy one day. It will also help you meet other successful freelancers from different fields, exchange ideas and experiences, and help you improve. Therefore, get yourself out there, and always have a batch of cards with your information on you, and bring your best smile.
Make yourself a brand
If you are to stand out from the rest of the many successful freelancers out there and become a top one in 6 months, you will need to turn yourself into a brand as captured over at runrex.com. This means having a sleek website, a full social media presence, and a recognizable style of presentation. This will make clients more likely to work with you.
Find a mentor
The subject matter experts over at guttulus.com also recommend that you find yourself a mentor when starting out. An experienced freelancer will show you the ropes, tips, and tricks much faster than if you had figured them out for yourself. They will also show you what pitfalls are there and how to avoid them.
Don’t panic
You will inevitably go through dry spells in this business at one point. Therefore, you need to play it smart during your highs to ensure that the lows aren’t as punishing to you. This means saving up money on the side for the days when it is scarce. Also, when you are overwhelmed with work, check your network to see if there are friends who could take some work off your hands. This way, when you are out of work, and they are not, they can send some projects your way.
Always over-deliver
When you are working on a project, always over-deliver beyond its scope. This has several benefits. First, it will help you quickly establish a good relationship with a client. Secondly, it gives the client a strong incentive to leave great feedback on your profile, which will attract more clients. And while not everyone will acknowledge you going out of the way as already mentioned, the few that will acknowledge your work will make a huge difference.
Don’t overload yourself
As is revealed over at runrex.com, taking too much work will reduce the quality of your deliverables, which will consequently affect you badly. Make sure that you only take orders that you can comfortably handle and put out your best work. Taking on too much work will lead to poor quality of work, bad reviews, and fewer clients down the road.
See your profile like an Amazon product
As the gurus over at guttulus.com point out, when you want to buy something on Amazon, even before you check the description or any other specifications, you check the reviews of that product. The same applies to prospective clients checking out your profile as a freelancer. Negative feedback can make someone doubt your capabilities or character. If for whatever reason you fail to deliver or the client is unhappy with your work, just refund the client, even if the sum is large. This is because, while losing the money can be frustrating, it is better than losing potential projects in the future.
Maintain communication and be honest
Whether you are facing delays because of personal issues or can’t deliver something that you promised, or any other issue you may be experiencing, it is important to be honest and let the client know about it. As covered over at runrex.com, being transparent with your client can only help you. Always keep your clients updated and in the loop as far as projects are concerned, and be honest from the beginning about your capabilities.
Keep your competition close
The simplest way to be successful as a freelancer is to deliver projects that are better than anything your competitors are producing. Therefore, pay close attention to your competitors so that whatever they are doing, you can do ten times better. Try and identify what their weaknesses are and make those your strengths.
Have grit
Finally, remember that freelancing isn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Things are going to be hard, especially during the initial period when you are trying to establish yourself. Therefore, your success as a freelancer will be driven by your ability to keep going, demonstrating grit, and maintaining sight of the bigger picture, even when things are not going well and obstacles are thrown your way.
Hopefully, these tips will help you become a top freelancer in 6 months, with more tips and help on this topic to be found over at the excellent runrex.com and guttulus.com.
