EventJenny died. What I learned from my first 2 years as a freelancer

I started as a full-time freelancer 2 years ago with my business EventJenny. EventJenny died after a year, but I'm still going strong as self-employed.

Here are 10 things what I would do if I'd get to start all over again.

1. 1. I wouldn't expect to be ready from day 1: EventJenny died because there was just not enough demand for event marketing. In the beginning, I earned my living doing social media for tech conferences like SaaStock, Growth Marketing Conference and Turing Fest. Now I've stopped doing that all together and I'm focusing on connecting people with my own events and LinkedIn workshops. Once I accepted the freelance journey is about learning and tweaking I stopped getting sad or anxious when things didn't work out, and now I instead enjoy the opportunity to improve/change for something different that is better and more valuable.

2. I wouldn't put so much time and effort into a website: I get far more interesting traffic to my LinkedIn profile with little effort.

3. I wouldn't use a business name, or at least think twice about it: EventJenny wasn't a great business name. I cringed every time I saw my email address: [email protected]. I also got mistaken for an event planner - where in reality I was a connector and community builder.

As a freelancer, I'm active with my name and nobody really remembers or cares about my business name.

Once I find my definitive fit (will I ever?) I'll focus on developing a name and brand that eventually can be taken over by someone who is not me.

4. Create systems sooner: I'm an addict for new things resulting in me getting stretched between projects starting things from scratch over and over again. When I did my LinkedIn tour with multiple scheduled events I could automate and systemize a lot of the preparation work, which saved me a lot of time and energy - time and energy that I could in return use to explore new things. Now I've stepped up further by outsourcing some work to a virtual assistant (heavenly!)

5. Let go of bad customers quicker: I thought 3 months is a short enough trial period. Wrong. I've learned it's better to try to figure out in the intake if it's a fit and trust my gut feelings and say no. It's not worth the money if the fit is not there, there is too much energy wasted.

6. Follow the money: I still struggle with this sometimes but I'm getting better at it. I doubt that I'm not experienced enough to work with large companies and will be laughed at. But when asking for opportunities I'm always answered and get treated with respect.

7. Work on my visibility and relationships sooner. Jo Deferm said it so nicely:

Credibility + Visibility = Profitability.

Yes, I can probably find a decent amount of work if I do my work well through referrals and outreach. But do it well and showing it: that is when I can stop looking for projects, and instead, they come to me. By building my network and relationships on LinkedIn and the Facebook group Freelancers in Belgium I constantly get contacted with interesting propositions I didn't even know existed.

Volunteering at events has also been a great way to build networks, learn and was my way to get my first clients. I volunteered with Event Marketing School, which led to a paid gig doing social media for Growth Marketing Conf, and this summer I helped with partnerships at the Growth Conference Europe in Milan.

8. Start with a bang (and selfie): Let EVERYONE in your network know what you do and what you need. I started with launch posts on LinkedIn and Facebook post which led to some meetings, which led to new projects.

9. Communication, communication, communication.

a) I like to avoid conflicts, until to a point it explodes and things turn sour. Now I try to tackle those difficult conversations as they arise. It feels better and doesn't do any damage, the opposite. It creates better bonds.

b) As a freelancer, it's easy to assume your customer knows exactly what you are up to. He/She does not know, on the contrary, they might sit and wonder what you are doing and when/if you will deliver. Ease your customer's mind and send a quick update.

10. I wish I would have started freelancing sooner! My mission with the community Freelancers in Belgium (a Facebook group) and the upcoming conference Freelancers in Belgium Day 2020 (www.freelancersinbelgium.be) taking place the 7th February in Brussels to inspire more people who are dreaming about freelancing to try it.