21 Freelancing Tips For First-Time Freelancers
When we published the original version of this article, freelancing was already on the rise. But since then, there's been a global pandemic, the rise of remote work, and a great resignation. All of these forces have contributed to making it crystal clear that?freelancing is the future.?
1. Don't quit your day job (yet)
We've all had that recurring fantasy about quitting our job. You know, the one where your boss makes another ridiculous request and you decide it's the perfect opportunity to tell them how you feel before you storm out as your coworkers look on with something between admiration and jealousy...
2. Start freelancing work with an open mind
The vast majority of the freelancing tips for beginners articles that you'll read will tell you that you should find your niche right from the start. That means that you should know exactly what kind of clients you're targeting, and what type of services you're going to offer them, right from the start of your freelance career.?
3. Start looking for clients by using freelance platforms
Freelancing platforms are always marketed as magical places for new freelancers to go when they're trying to figure out how to find freelance jobs. But we're here to give you our unvarnished opinion. Freelancing platforms can be a great place to go to find work, especially when you're brand new. But freelancing platforms can also be where (ok, we're just going to say it)... cheap companies go to exploit the time and talent of inexperienced freelancers. Our writer Jasper, who has spent her share of time on many of the most popular freelancer platforms, writes about this detail in her article
4. Build confidence with potential clients by creating a portfolio
If you're a new freelancer, clients are going to want to see what you bring to the table before they decide to take a chance on you. We've seen many freelancers get overwhelmed by this step. They feel that right from the start, they need to have a world-class website full of award-winning work to show to prospective clients.?
5. No work to show? Prove what you can do with a 'spec' projects
Another tip on showcasing your work as a first-time freelancer. No one said it has to be a real, paid project. New creatives hoping to land their big break working at a fancy ad agency have long made "spec ad campaigns" or "speculative ad campaigns" where they conjure up an imaginary brief for a project to showcase the skills no one has paid them for yet.
6. Find the right prices for your freelance services
Here's another subject that can instantly overwhelm new freelancers. You don't want to scare off the client by charging too much, but you also want to be fairly compensated for your work. It's extremely difficult to find this elusive break-even point between undercharging and overcharging — especially when you've never done the work before.?
7. Learn how to negotiate like a pro as a freelancer
Negotiating as a freelancer is both an art and a science. While some clients will accept your proposal no questions asked, others will be looking for a discount through any means necessary (begging, threatening, and stealing AKA refusing to pay).
8. Create a world-class client onboarding experience
As a freelancer, you'll soon learn that each client has their style when it comes to collaborating on projects. Just like ballroom dancing, certain partners will immediately take the lead, while others will want?you?to take the lead. We have first-hand experience with how tempting it can be, as a first-time freelancer, to let the client take the lead from the start of the project. Less opportunity for them to see how inexperienced you are, right??
9. Make sure you're legally compliant
When it comes to?mistakes new freelancers make, this one's a big one. Even though you're just one person, you're still operating a business by offering your services in exchange for payment. As you grow into your new role as a freelancer/solopreneur, you'll want to do some research about what type of legislative options there are for you to structure your business. Each country will have its laws, which can result in stiff penalties if you don't comply, so it's best to consult a local professional to learn more about your options.?
10. Yes, you need a freelancer contract
Freelancer contracts are another thing that can cause anxiety for even the most pragmatic freelancer. It's another one of the?most common mistakes new freelancers make?— thinking they can just skip the contract and pray that everything turns out ok. We're here to tell you that there are all kinds of ways for things to go wrong when there's a partnership without a contract: everything from scope creep to your client ghosting you when they get the bill. And without a contract, it's impossible to do anything about it.?
11. Set yourself up for success as a new freelancer by getting organized
Many people assume that freelancers sleep until noon, do a few hours of work, and call it a day by the time cocktail hour rolls around. Sure, you can get to that point as an established freelancer. But it's not possible to start with this lack of structure and expect to make enough of an income to live on when you're first starting.?
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12. Automate and outsource with the right tools
As a freelancer, you'll soon learn that your to-do list will always be longer than the number of hours in a day. As a business owner, one of the most important things you can do is pinpoint what activities are creating the most value for your business, and which ones you should outsource.
13. Show your freelancer finances who's boss
Would you believe it if we told you that even financial professionals struggle with finances when they become freelancers? Before she became a digital nomad, Xolo writer Thilini worked in the finance industry in both Australia and her native Sri Lanka. But she learned from experience how awful life can be when you don't manage your finances. Lucky for the rest of us, she has created a definitive guide about managing your financials as a freelancer: how to create a budget and stay consistent, how to track your income and expenses, and more.
14. Join an online freelancer community
One of the mistakes we see new freelancers make is not reaching out to fellow freelancers in their industry. While it can be easy to fall into the trap of seeing them as competition or being hesitant to engage because it triggers your?imposter syndrome, the fact is that these people are?your?people. No one else will be able to understand the highs and lows of freelancing like your fellow solos.
15. Never stop upskilling as a freelancer
No matter how confident you are in your skills, the reality is that way the world works is evolving at lightning speed — with a 0% chance of slowing down anytime soon. What does it mean? It means that taking a single Hubspot course (sorry, Hubspot, we love you!) about Introduction to SEO back in the Spring of 2010 (or 2019, for that matter) isn't gonna cut it by today's standards. Especially if you're claiming to be an SEO expert.
16. Learn the subtle art of client pitching
Yet?another?mistake we always see new freelancers make (we were this freelancer) is setting up a website, printing out some expensive business cards... and then assuming the leads will come rolling in from there. We do wish it was that simple.?
17. Learn how to take feedback as a freelancer
When feedback burns your fragile freelancer ego, it can be easy to come up with excuses to help distance yourself from shouldering that shame. "They have no idea what they're talking about?" or, "They're just trying to devalue my work so they don't have to pay."
18. Protect your health as a freelancer (physical and mental)
There’s?a lot to like about being a freelancer. You set your hours. You choose your clients. You work independently, control your workload, and vacation whenever you like. Who wouldn’t want a job with all those perks?
??19. Set the right mindset
It bugs us when random people on the internet make it seem like the transition into life as a freelancer is a cakewalk. It's not. There will be times when you feel like you're doing everything right, and you'll still struggle to keep the bills paid. Why are we telling you this? Certainly not to make you think freelancing isn't for you — quite the opposite.?
20. Ask for that referral
We all know that having a client referred to you is the most cost-effective way to grow your business. But many new freelancers still struggle to ask for referrals, which can usually be traced back to every freelancer's frienemy,?imposter syndrome.?
21. Know when to level up
Believe it or not, there will come a time when you have plenty of clients who love you and pay on time and more leads than you know what to do with. This is a turning point for the pro freelancer: you can either stay where you are, or you can take things to the next level. And again, veteran freelancer Elena has some thoughts on very real strategies to help you grow and scale your freelance business.?