21 Tips for First-Time Freelancers
1 - Understand your target market
Before you can start to find freelance work, you need to make sure you know who your potential clients will be. Understanding your prospective client base will help you to plan your pricing structure, implement your marketing strategy and focus your time and energy.
2 - Be flexible
When you set up as a solopreneur, you might have a fixed view on how you will be running your micro-business. Our advice is to be as flexible as possible at the beginning. Services that you thought would be wildly popular may turn out to be duds, whereas others might be surprised in demand.
3 - Be clear on costs
Make sure you have a clear idea about your costs and pricing structure. Will you be charging on an hourly or project basis? Do your market research to ensure that you are in line with your competitors.
4 - Get compliant
Going freelance is a huge step so don’t make things harder in the future by skipping important steps at the start. Whether you’re setting up as a sole trader or a business, make sure you are registered with the correct governing bodies.
5 - Build a website
Having a website provides an invaluable window into your business. You can build your own using simple templates from sites like Wix or Squarespace
6 - Make a good first impression
Having well-presented and engaging social media accounts is a must. It’s likely to be one of the first things that your potential clients will look at.
7 - Go to market
Be confident in your skills and abilities. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there on freelance platforms and freelance job websites.
8 - Stay motivated
Set yourself goals to stay motivated. These could be financial such as ‘I want to be earning ￡X per month’, or it could be to ‘reach 1000 followers on Instagram’. When your focus is wavering, remind yourself of your targets.
9 - Get busy
Design yourself a professional stack of business cards on a site like Canva and keep some in every pocket or handbag. You never know when a freelancing opportunity might arise!
10 - Investigate E-Residency
Are you encountering too much red tape in your home country? Consider joining the digital nation and registering as an e-resident in Estonia. Being a cross-border business may help you to grasp new and unforeseen opportunities.
11 - Consider Xolo
Don’t get tied up with paperwork and consider using a supportive freelance platform Xolo. It means you don’t have to become an accountant or a lawyer as well as a freelancer — Xolo will take care of all that for you.
12 - Don’t be a jack of all trades
Solopreneurs who focus on a small set of freelance services are likely to out-compete those who can do everything. Become an expert in your field.
13 - Stay knowledgeable
Stay up to date with new trends by reading relevant trade media, engaging with fellow freelancers on Linkedin. attending sector-specific networking events or even doing some online training courses through sites like Skillshare and Digital Strategy School
14 - Register with freelance job websites
There are many job portals and freelance job websites out there like Bark, Upwork, or People Per Hour. Start responding to people’s requests and those freelancing jobs will soon come pouring in.
15 - Start networking
Becoming a freelancer does have some drawbacks like feeling isolated and missing your office ‘crew’. Find a local networking group from whom you can share ideas and get support. Not one in your local area? Set up your own!
16 - Get organized
Make sure you are managing your time effectively, tracking those all-important leads, and keeping on top of invoices using one of the many organizational freelance platforms out there like Quickbooks, Todoist, and Pipedrive
17 - Focus on relationships
Winning a new business can be exhilarating and rewarding but don’t neglect clients whom you are already working with. Build your relationships and make every client feel like a priority.
18 - Set work boundaries
Being a solopreneur can give you much more flexibility with your family and friends. However, it can also result in late nights and unproductivity. Try to specify when you will be working and stick to it.
19 - Be upfront
Most clients will be genuine but protect yourself by asking for upfront deposits before you start big projects.
20 - Find your space
This could be your kitchen table, your local library, a cozy coffee shop, or a fancy coworking space. Wherever it is, make it productive so you can provide the best possible freelance services.
21 - Try, try and try again
Becoming a freelancer has many ups and downs. Some days will be hard but learn from them and keep going. The journey to becoming a successful solopreneur will not be without its challenges!