Everyone desires money, there is no damn cause to
make excuses or justify it or be afraid of it. I also need money. Just
it should be earned through right way. This is Freelancing – how I make
money. Don’t be embarrassed of your need. Just Read it
and start yourself.
May be you are a Jobless or Doing Job (but have
enough free time) or Entrepreneur yourself (but also need a steady source of
income), Just start this. It’s a safe way (even though not so easy) to ensure
that you have enough work to support yourself before you become a full-time Job
holder / Entrepreneur.
1. Set Your Mind and Renovate Your Thinking
You will not require Trade License or any company formation in
order to start freelancing. As a freelancer, you are your own boss. You can take
the ultimate decisions. No boundaries where you want to live. No need to worry
to go to the office early in the morning, wake up when you want. Travel the
world and even get paid to do it (many travel bloggers enter in this category).
All in all, freelancing will give you great flexibility.
And, if you are currently doing job and want to do freelance
in your spare time- mostly owner don’t care and even if they do, they can’t
control what you do off-hours. The trick is making sure that your freelance
life doesn’t hamper with your day job. For example, the tendency to check your
private email account at work can be offense so it’s very important to set schedule
with your clients at the certain times when you are available. In practical,
the relationship between your boss and you at your day job is not similar comparing
the relationship between a client and you.
Freelancers have a certain definition that is protected
by the Department of Labor:
·
Freelancers can work where they want
·
Freelancers can work when they want (obviously deadlines are
good, but the client can’t tell you that you have to work 9 am - 5 pm)
·
Freelancers have the right not to be micromanaged. If the
client is hiring you as a freelancer, they shouldn’t be training you
extensively or giving you exact instructions about how to complete your work. A
freelancer should be treated as a valuable outsider, not as a low-level intern.
·
Freelancers have the right to take on any additional clients
they choose.
But being a Freelancer, it doesn’t mean that you are an
employee without social benefits. Even you aren’t working for free. Everything
starts with your attitude. Take yourself seriously. Freelancing involves a
lot of planning, hard work, discipline and commitment. You have to think about Freelancing
that it’s your own small business and you are the Owner / CEO. You are the most
important asset.
2.
Set Your Targets and Be Organized
At First, set your targets and then develop yourself to
achieve those targets. Nobody was born with the know-how. You might not be able
to get that job as a SEO specialist just yet, but with time and effort you can
learn and become better at it. Start with taking smaller jobs, gain experience
and persevere. It’s not about who you are now but about who you can become. If
you don’t try, you automatically fail. So don’t give up before you even start! One
of the greatest quotes of all time states: “The journey of a thousand
miles begins with a single step” (Lao Tzu).
Most job postings or referred clients will ask to see your
resume and either a few samples or your full portfolio (online). This largely
depends on the type of work that you do. But what if you’re looking for your first
client? Here are 5 things you can do:
·
Send an email out to your family, friends, and past
co-workers that you’re open for business and encouraging them to forward the
email to whomever they feel might know someone.
·
Send out personalized emails to each of your old bosses. They
hired you once, maybe they’ll hire you again. Also, these are the types of
people with a lot of contacts in your industry.
·
Optimize your LinkedIn page and then search for gigs
through LinkedIn and other online job boards.
·
Go into local businesses and offer your services.
·
Do research and come up with a list of 5 good clients you’d
like to work for. (Even companies that haven’t posted a job.) Send a quick
email introducing yourself and explaining what you do, and one way you could
improve their business. Send one email a day for a week.
I told you already that you are your own boss as a
freelancer. So you really have to be organized. Make your daily schedule and
stick to it. There is no boss to order you what to do or when to do it. There
is no pressure from being in competition with your co-workers. In this sense, this
is the most challenging part of being a freelancer. Even before becoming a
freelancer, draft a solid business plan. May be you have all the information in
your head, but write it on paper so that you can rethink certain aspects of
your strategy. I always find this extremely helpful.
3. Frame yourself with like-minded people
Don’t segregate yourself just because you are working from
home. As a successful freelancer, you are an entrepreneur also. You have to
make relation with people who have a positive influence on you and can inspire
your creativity. As a freelancer, you are part of a global community. Look for
freelancer meetup groups in your area or Join a freelance online community.
Online marketing is the kind of thing that takes time. If
you’re smart about the time you spend on Facebook and other social media,
blogging, and on your website, you will see a good return on that investment. Here
are some resources to help you get started:
As you are working to establish your freelance business for full-time,
it will make sense to take this slow. Let your social media followers know
about your business. Then create a simple typeface logo for yourself. Then set
up a simple website with just two or three pages (Must Read, About, Contact).
Set small goals for yourself. If you really eager to get your business off the
ground, word-of-mouth is not enough. Online marketing will be key when you
really want to bring your business out of the corners of your life.
4.
Keep Fit Yourself
Once you become a freelancer, there’s nothing easier than
slipping in your life. You might need to get it out of your system
occasionally, but don’t make a habit out of it. As mentioned before, you are
both the greatest asset and the bottleneck of your small business. Staying fit
and healthy is crucial because you will only get paid if you can deliver the
Job.
As a freelancer, you have to be
most creative. Try to sleep at least 6 hours per night, eat a healthy diet and
include exercise in your daily schedule. Stay hydrated and always keep a
bottle of water on your desk.
5.
Understand - why you do Freelancing
It’s not a matter what you do but why you do it ? Freelancing
is a lifestyle that comes with a lot of benefits and plenty of freedom. But it
also comes with worries and the need to continuously learn and improve yourself
as this is a part of Technology which changes every moment. Your clients will
want to see samples of your work before they hire you. For example,
·
Search and Read this - Word Press vs
Blogger comparison
·
Also have a look at mistakes new bloggers make and try to
avoid them.
If your Client ask the stuff for Free – This is Tricky. New
freelancers sometimes fall into the trap of, “If you give me one or two blog
posts, I may eventually pay you for them.” This could turn out to be a very sad
use of your time.
6.
Work Smartly and Think Smartly
Now a days, everyone using
Smartphone, Tab etc. There are stacks of literature, forums from where you can consume
lots of knowledge about freelancing and it’s techniques and many more. Always
try to read these in your spare time. Find your strengths and control your
weaknesses. This is the first time in the history of mankind when so many great
ideas flow freely. Take advantage of them.
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