As a successful freelancer (hopefully soon to be full-time again), I’m constantly asked how I’ve managed to navigate freelance for so long and work with so many amazing companies. So I thought I’d share my top six tips on how to build relationships with clients and grow your business. Anything I’m missing that has helped you navigate freelance life??
- Have a robust emergency fund. This tip couldn’t be more useful as our industry is in the throes of one of the biggest dry spells for freelancers in decades - certainly in my experience as well as what I’m hearing from others. There are certain business cycles that even the most experienced freelancer will struggle to navigate. An emergency fund is also useful with 30 day payment terms for 1099’s and having the occasional client who pays late. Besides keeping you afloat, this can prevent you from taking projects that are not the right fit or from hating the payroll person who paid you late.?
- Be consistently involved with communities within and adjacent to your expertise. I hate to admit it, but some of the best contacts I’ve made in life and my career were from the early days of Twitter where I connected with some early adopters who I eventually met off line. I also attended and wrote the newsletter for SheSays for years, which paid off in spades, but most specifically at when I made a contact at one of their events that helped me transition from advertising to branding and design.?
- When you have a gig, get to know other freelancers and people in your department. Stay in touch with the ones you enjoyed working with. This will come in handy when you inevitably get three assignment offers in one day after a dry spell (happened to me every time) and want to help a resource manager out by referring someone else. I’ve never believed in referral fees from fellow freelancers because I’ve found what goes around comes around. But others might have different philosophies.
- Do great work and be pleasant to work with. There’s no cruise control in freelance. Being adaptable, getting along with your team and generally being a pleasure to work with will get you far. In the same vein, be able to communicate your expertise and know when it’s the right project to flex into areas you want more experience in. Sometimes clients want you for your thinking and creativity. Other times they just need that thing you do, done.?
- Follow up and keep in touch with recruiters/resource managers every few months. Some will write back. Others will write back every few emails. It’s really a matter of timing so don't take it personally. When they need you, you will be top of mind if you’ve kept in touch. Some of my most important projects came from an informational interviews that turned into a freelance jobs years later.?
- Be open to different agencies and means of getting work. It’s only temporary and one of the biggest benefits of freelance is getting to explore. One of the projects I’m most proud of came from a (low paying) staffing firm in the middle of the pandemic with an agency I had never heard of. I may not have made close to my rate but I gained an important addition to my portfolio as well as the opportunity to make an impact with a fantastic, global company.?
Founder, The Insight Inn
1 年Nice article, Molly! I always tell new freelancers some equivalent of "Don't Panic." The mental calisthenics are a huge part of the battle, and can be useful if your inbox doesn't get a single email one day, or when the bank account is dwindling and not refilling at the usual, regular rate. It's getting used to going from instant and constant gratification and affirmation in an agency environment to maybe rarely getting feedback at all. There's a "mind over matter" element to being on your own.
CranioSacral Therapist
1 年Excellent list. I’ll add, if you can write 75 pages about cheese (or insert category you’ve worked on), you can write a book about something you’re interested in. My book has been a lighthouse and business card. And I’ve also freelanced for most of my Brain Surfing hosts. With your weird hours, give back. Teach a college class, say yes when asked to speak, make time for young people in the biz. I am working on a dream project right now because I was kind to someone breaking in to the biz 10 years ago! Oh, and I’m off brand for not putting this first: YOUR BODY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT YOU USE IN YOUR WORK. Heath insurance is for emergencies, proactive health care is a totally different thing. Use your research brain to learn what self care methods work best for you.
I love this. Totally agree with all of it.
Founder @ Fantastic Brands? | Brand Building, GTM Strategy, Fractional CMO, Placemaking Curator
1 年New gig Molly Aaker??
Love this writeup! I do give referral fees to other freelancers, but only when they don't expect it. It's a nice way to say thank you for thinking of me without promising a formal kickback.