The 5 Basics of Freelancing

Last week I shared my success story because I would like to keep the talk about freelancing a little bit more real, while offering hope that if a "nobody" like me could do it, you can too.

I think this is especially important for our profession, because we do not have the same perceived social status as, say, lawyers. Therefore, it all starts from ourselves.

But how do you even value what you do, if all you hear around you is that your job is worthless, that it will be replaced by AI, that you can't survive if you decide to be self-employed because taxes will devour you, yada yada yada?

So, this is for our young colleagues who need to believe they can make it. And for the seasoned ones of us who are maybe disillusioned.

#1 Crises do not exist

I started working in 2008 (does Lehman ring any bell?). For the next couple of years the economy was in a bad recession. I work in a small city, and if I had to depend on that market only, I would have gone looking for another job a long time ago.

This is to say: yes, there are things outside our control and there always will be. Yes, it's no longer the 1970s. So what? Do what you can, with what you have. Creativity is usually born out of necessity.

#2 Competitors do not exist

Because they are either so different from you that you wouldn't have the same clients anyway. Or they are colleagues you can work with.

Lots of job opportunities, especially at first, came from my more experienced colleagues. And I would work with my classmates from University on larger projects. And they would remember me years later, and send clients my way. Or I would meet new ones along the way and partner with them to offer new services that my clients need and I can't provide.

See what I mean? Don't be scared. No one is going to steal anything. And if they do, I believe in karma anyway. ;)

#3 Your degree is only the starting point

This is for the younger ones who feel frustrated that they can't land any job despite their degree(s). So they continue studying. And get more frustrated.

Hear me out: clients are not going to pay you more, at least in Italy, only because you have 10 degrees. Studying is important, but practice is what matters. So, try and get any kind of job that can support you while you launch your career, and THEN specialize further. There's no shame in that. I worked in a bookshop for my first year of self-employment because I did not have enough work to support me and, quite honestly, I didn't know if self-employment was right for me.

#4 Accounting and marketing are your best friends

If clients don't know you exist, they won't contact you. And if you don't know your numbers, you risk charging too little, discounting too much, not setting up a rainy day buffer etc.

For both things, keep it simple: you don't need an expensive website, nor should you spend 10 hours a day on every social media under the sun. Pick one platform and post professional content. If you have nothing to share, read what other colleagues and clients are sharing and chime in. If you don't know who your potential clients may be, we all started from agencies.

In the beginning, especially, don't forget dear ol' offline marketing and events. I shared how I began in this post for a colleague.

For accounting, you need to ask two people: yourself and your accountant (because in Italy you need one).

Ask yourself: how many fixed expenses do I have? How many variable ones?

Ask your accountant: how much will I pay for taxes and social security?

#5 It takes time

Repeat with me: There is nothing wrong with me if my business is not thriving after 1.5 (or even 5) years. Seriously.

In a world where it seems that success is easily attainable, just know that there is a plethora of factors into play. Some of them depend on you, others just don't. And our starting points differ wildly. Some things (as a mother of three, I'd say the best things in life) just take time. So use other people you see online as a source of inspiration and try to understand what it is that they do differently from you.

Young colleagues and experts: please share your thoughts!