Freelance is a great way to gain professional freedom and flexibility. It also allows you to amass valuable experience that you may not have otherwise.
Freelancers often work on several projects at once, so it’s important to keep track of everything and adhere to strict deadlines. It’s also important to maintain a daily work routine.
Freelance Sites
Freelance sites are places where freelancers can find opportunities and employers can find the talent they need. There are two main types of freelance websites: marketplaces and job boards. Both are geared to connecting people with freelance opportunities, but marketplaces offer security and hand-holding for all stages of the process.
Another great place to find freelance jobs is Flexjobs, which specializes in remote and flexible gigs. The site verifies and screens all postings, filtering out scams and fake companies.
Behance is a creative-focused social media platform, but it also has a strong job board for freelancers in categories like logo design, photography, and illustration. Its job board is easy to use and provides a social network to connect with other artists, which can help you make connections that lead to more work.
Solidgigs is a time-saving tool that curates the best 1% of freelance opportunities and sends them to your inbox so you don’t have to scroll through hours of listings to find work. You can subscribe to this service for a monthly fee, but it’s worth it if you’re looking to save time and make more money.
For international freelancers, Fiverr is a popular place to find projects and build a reputation for high-quality work. More than three million people and one million businesses use this platform, which features a vast range of service categories from web development to content writing and voiceovers.
The site has a huge database of freelancers, a secure payment system, and a rating system to ensure you’re working with people who produce quality work. Its fees are among the lowest in the industry, too, and its Project Streams feature makes it easier for both parties to communicate.
Networking
Networking is the process of forming new connections with people who may be interested in your freelance work. It can be intimidating, but if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and meet people, it can be a great way to expand your social circle and grow your career.
Freelance networking is important for many reasons, not just for finding new clients and finding work. For example, it can help you connect with higher-ups in your industry, which can give you access to advice and opportunities you might not be able to find on your own.
It can also help you develop a strong professional brand, which is an important factor for success as a freelancer. It can be easy to fall into the trap of networking only when job hunting, but it’s crucial to keep a strong professional network throughout your freelance career so that you can access the information you need when you need it.
While you are building your network, make sure that it includes both professional and personal contacts. This will give you a diverse group of friends and colleagues to turn to when you need them.
The best way to make sure that you are meeting with the right people is to create a plan and stick to it. This will give you a clear idea of the types of contacts that are worth your time.
Once you have identified the right type of contacts, make a commitment to dedicate a portion of your day to networking. This can be done online or in person, and it should be part of your regular routine so that you are not tempted to spend time on other tasks.
Finding Clients
One of the most important aspects of running a successful freelance business is finding clients. It can be a challenge, but there are a number of strategies you can use to get the clients you need.
First, try to establish relationships with other freelancers in your field. They can help you differentiate a scam from a great opportunity and will often have connections to companies that need your services.
You can also ask for referrals from colleagues, mentors, or past employers. It’s a quick way to get some quality clients, and it will save you a lot of time on your search for new work.
Another great way to find clients is to attend networking events. These events can be local or online, but they usually cater to the type of clients you want to work with.
If you’re a freelance writer, for example, you might want to check out Meetup or Eventbrite. These are both great for networking in niche areas, and you’ll be able to connect with people who are interested in the same kinds of topics as you.
LinkedIn is another fantastic tool to help you find clients. This is where you’ll spend most of your time if you want to grow your career, so take the time to complete your profile and fill in your skillset.
Aside from helping you find clients, LinkedIn is a great place to network and build relationships with other professionals. You’ll find that you can build a lot of trust quickly through this method, which can help you secure your first few clients.
In addition to LinkedIn, Facebook is another excellent resource for promoting your business and securing new clients. This platform has a robust advertising platform and a wide range of groups for you to join.
Time Management
One of the most important skills a freelancer needs to succeed is time management. With no boss to tell you what to do, and a lot of tasks to complete on your own, it is crucial to learn how to manage your time effectively so that you can produce high-quality work on time.
The majority of freelance work is done remotely, which can make it difficult to maintain a productive work schedule. Fortunately, there are several tools that can help you manage your time more effectively and stay focused on your work.
A great way to start is to set up a consistent schedule that you can stick to. This will help you avoid procrastination and allow you to complete your tasks on time.
Another key tip is to use a time tracking tool. This is an excellent way to see how much you are spending on each project and can help you determine if you should raise the price of certain projects or not.
It also helps you see how long a task takes you so that you can complete it faster and get paid more money for it.
Keeping track of your time is a must for anyone working freelance, but it can be especially tricky for creatives. As Saskia Videler, content strategist and host of the Efficiently Effective podcast explains, it is easy to become sucked into a project and forget about other things.
The best way to combat this problem is to set a specific number of hours that you are going to work each day, and ensure that you stay on that schedule. Then, you can keep yourself focused on your work by avoiding distractions, such as social media or email.
Customer Service
If you love helping people, customer service may be the perfect freelance job for you. Freelance customer service allows you to choose the clients you work with and set your own hours, which can be a great way to balance your work and personal lives. It also gives you the flexibility to work from a variety of locations and meet new people while on the go.
When a client calls or emails with a problem, it’s your job to solve their issue as quickly and easily as possible. This is why it’s important to understand the basic needs of your customers and what they want from you.
For example, most customers need a friendly greeting from the representative they’re talking to, and empathy when they have a complaint or experience a problem. The best way to show your empathy is to listen and respond genuinely.
Your ability to understand what your customer’s needs are will help you provide them with the products or services they need and give them a positive experience with the company. It can also help you develop a more effective communication strategy, which will result in higher profits and a happier client base.
Another skill that can benefit you as a freelance customer service representative is patience. Dealing with angry or frustrated customers isn’t easy, but it’s important to stay calm and patient so you can resolve the situation in a reasonable manner.
You can find a variety of customer service jobs online, and many agencies are willing to train new hires on the job. As a freelancer, you’ll need a computer with high-speed Internet access and a headset to use when communicating with customers over the phone or through live chat software.