The best way to learn anything new is to study successful people. Every freelancer must move through their own journey, but there are some basic techniques and truths that are shared by every successful entrepreneur. I have a great interest in learning how great people become great, so I have studied successful entrepreneurs extensively.
Through my studies, I have encountered many freelancing tips and techniques championed by extremely successful entrepreneurs. Some of this information was obtained through reading articles, books and interviews concerning entrepreneurs and freelancers I admire.
Some of the information was also obtained through direct contact with successful people from around the world. This information has influenced how I live my life as a freelancer, and I know that it will enrich your life as well as you enter the freelancing world.
Millions of people are living life on easy street and finding greater depth and meaning in the world, all thanks to the internet. This revolution is now impacting the job market in a positive way, providing relief for those affected by recession and other struggles. While many struggle to find gainful employment to sustain their families, jobs are opening up everyday online.
The big thing for the next generation right now is ‘freelancing’, from freelancing as a writer, performer, designer, consultants or the like are trending these days. A freelancer is a person who works by the hour, day on a regular basis. A freelancing professional is not bound by any official norms and is neither confined to the closed doors.
Freelancing guarantees success to deserving people, with the increasing skills freelancers get the better understanding of management of time and money. Talent and zeal are the two major keys to success in the life of a freelancer.
The big thing for the next generation right now is ‘freelancing’, from freelancing as a writer, performer, designer, consultants or the like are trending these days. A freelancer is a person who works by the hour, day on a regular basis. A freelancing professional is not bound by any official norms and is neither confined to the closed doors.
Freelancing guarantees success to deserving people, with the increasing skills freelancers get the better understanding of management of time and money. Talent and zeal are the two major keys to success in the life of a freelancer.
Freelancing is a self employed field of work, and is sometimes also represented by companies or temporary agencies that resell the work to clients.
Freelancing has a vast career choice like- writer, designer, chef, computer programmer, event planner, data processor, editor, engineer, animators, fund raisers, graphic designer, photographer, telemarketer, translator/interpreter, teacher, upholsterer, web designer etc. Freelancing is a diverse field; anybody having an apt for a skill can develop it into a flourishing freelancing career.
Freelancing is a work you do for your passion; you can follow your passion and make money from it by working as a full time freelancer. A freelancer doesn’t need a college degree, you can work while still studying, and this increases future prospects, there is also no pressure from your boss on anything.
Freelancing has a vast career choice like- writer, designer, chef, computer programmer, event planner, data processor, editor, engineer, animators, fund raisers, graphic designer, photographer, telemarketer, translator/interpreter, teacher, upholsterer, web designer etc. Freelancing is a diverse field; anybody having an apt for a skill can develop it into a flourishing freelancing career.
Freelancing is a work you do for your passion; you can follow your passion and make money from it by working as a full time freelancer. A freelancer doesn’t need a college degree, you can work while still studying, and this increases future prospects, there is also no pressure from your boss on anything.
Freelancing Success Tips One
Boost Your Confidence
Believe that you can do it, and you will. The more confidence you have in yourself, the further you will go. You have heard this type of motivational talk before, but it’s critical for a new freelancer. It takes confidence to believe that you have skills so valuable that someone else will pay you for them. You have to truly believe in yourself to create a powerful profile and start selling yourself to clients.
If you don’t feel so confident right now, make a list of all the great things about yourself. Are you compassionate, kindhearted, a good friend? Are you educated, creative and hard working despite your inability to secure a traditional job? Write it all down. Hang it on the wall. These are the reasons you should feel confident moving into the freelance world.
Boost Your Confidence
Believe that you can do it, and you will. The more confidence you have in yourself, the further you will go. You have heard this type of motivational talk before, but it’s critical for a new freelancer. It takes confidence to believe that you have skills so valuable that someone else will pay you for them. You have to truly believe in yourself to create a powerful profile and start selling yourself to clients.
If you don’t feel so confident right now, make a list of all the great things about yourself. Are you compassionate, kindhearted, a good friend? Are you educated, creative and hard working despite your inability to secure a traditional job? Write it all down. Hang it on the wall. These are the reasons you should feel confident moving into the freelance world.
Freelancing Success Tips Two
Plan Your Path
The most successful freelancers develop a plan and set goals and then work everyday to move closer to their goals. They don’t jump into something without forethought and planning because that would leave them wandering without a clear purpose.
If you’re freelancing out of boredom or have no need to earn as much money as possible, then maybe you can afford to find something that looks fun and jump in without preparation. If you need want to be as successful as possible and need to establish a business that will bring in money in the long term, then you need to analyze every opportunity thoroughly and determine a plan for your success.
How do you plan your path as a freelancer? You start by finding an online marketplace that offers work you believe you can do well. Take the time to look around the website, analyzing the profiles for successful freelancers. Pay attention to how they present themselves in their profiles and try to learn what makes them more successful than others.
Keep your eye open for weaknesses in profiles created by other freelancers. Those are opportunities for you to offer something better to clients in that marketplace. This is the nature of competition in the freelance world, and there is always something more you can offer clients.
Note that you should never copy another freelancer. You can’t steal words from their profile in order to build your own. The goal of analyzing other freelancers is to learn what works and doesn’t work on a particular site and to identify ways you can go one step beyond the others in order to secure work as a new freelancer.
Once you learn all the rules of a marketplace, you can develop a detailed plan for your own success. You may even develop a larger plan which includes multiple marketplaces or even private clients through your own website. Start with just one marketplace and master it first, but definitely plan to advance to higher-paying clients and opportunities as you develop skills, confidence and credentials.
Plan Your Path
The most successful freelancers develop a plan and set goals and then work everyday to move closer to their goals. They don’t jump into something without forethought and planning because that would leave them wandering without a clear purpose.
If you’re freelancing out of boredom or have no need to earn as much money as possible, then maybe you can afford to find something that looks fun and jump in without preparation. If you need want to be as successful as possible and need to establish a business that will bring in money in the long term, then you need to analyze every opportunity thoroughly and determine a plan for your success.
How do you plan your path as a freelancer? You start by finding an online marketplace that offers work you believe you can do well. Take the time to look around the website, analyzing the profiles for successful freelancers. Pay attention to how they present themselves in their profiles and try to learn what makes them more successful than others.
Keep your eye open for weaknesses in profiles created by other freelancers. Those are opportunities for you to offer something better to clients in that marketplace. This is the nature of competition in the freelance world, and there is always something more you can offer clients.
Note that you should never copy another freelancer. You can’t steal words from their profile in order to build your own. The goal of analyzing other freelancers is to learn what works and doesn’t work on a particular site and to identify ways you can go one step beyond the others in order to secure work as a new freelancer.
Once you learn all the rules of a marketplace, you can develop a detailed plan for your own success. You may even develop a larger plan which includes multiple marketplaces or even private clients through your own website. Start with just one marketplace and master it first, but definitely plan to advance to higher-paying clients and opportunities as you develop skills, confidence and credentials.
Freelancing Success Tips Three
Think Like a Boss
This is simple: you are no longer someone else’s employee. You are your own boss. You alone are responsible for your success or failure. It’s time to toughen up, grow up and think like a responsible business owner. If an opportunity doesn’t take you closer to your goal or takes you off the path you have planned, then it isn’t a good fit for you at this time.
You Can’t Please Everyone
Ask any successful freelancer about their worst clients, and they will tell you horrific stories of nit-picky, demanding, impossible-to-please clients. They will also tell you how they put on their best smile and tried everything possible to make those clients happy. Even the most skilled freelancers find clients that they just can’t please, and you will come across those clients as well.
When you encounter this negative experience, keep your ego in check. It’s easy to get upset, especially if you believe the client is wrong about something, but that only leaves you with a negative review that hurts your business. If you accept from the start that you won’t please every client, you will be prepared to stay calm and take the following actions with a cool head:
1. If the client seems angry or hostile, focus on their words and try to determine what they want and need. If you can meet their need without responding to the negativity, you can actually make them happy and move forward without losing pay. You may even end up with a long-term client because you understand what they need at that point.
**Important Freelancing Tip: Many angry, hostile customers are actually just frustrated. They may have been let down by freelancers who didn’t take their work seriously in the past, or they may not speak English as their first language and grow frustrated trying to convey their needs. Don’t take their attitude personally, and focus on what they need despite the negativity. You will find some are very nice people once these problems are resolved and they see you do take your work seriously and are committed to working with them. Not all freelancers are so kind!
2. Give serious attention to complaints because there may be some truth to them. Use them as learning opportunities that will strengthen your skills for future clients.
3. If you receive the same complaints from multiple clients, understand that you need to improve in that area. You may find a free class online or read a book that will help you develop those skills.
4. Admit when you’re wrong, and do what’s necessary to correct the mistake.
5. Try to fix your mistake, but be willing to refund the client’s money if you can’t deliver what they need. It’s always better to lose a small amount of money today than to continually lose money in the future due to negative client reviews.
Most important: don’t ever let a client’s words reduce your self confidence as a freelancer. Not every client is going to treat you with respect, and many will have no appreciation for the hard work you put out on their behalf. Hold your head high regardless and move forward knowing that there are clients that will see your hard work and appreciate you fully.
Think Like a Boss
This is simple: you are no longer someone else’s employee. You are your own boss. You alone are responsible for your success or failure. It’s time to toughen up, grow up and think like a responsible business owner. If an opportunity doesn’t take you closer to your goal or takes you off the path you have planned, then it isn’t a good fit for you at this time.
You Can’t Please Everyone
Ask any successful freelancer about their worst clients, and they will tell you horrific stories of nit-picky, demanding, impossible-to-please clients. They will also tell you how they put on their best smile and tried everything possible to make those clients happy. Even the most skilled freelancers find clients that they just can’t please, and you will come across those clients as well.
When you encounter this negative experience, keep your ego in check. It’s easy to get upset, especially if you believe the client is wrong about something, but that only leaves you with a negative review that hurts your business. If you accept from the start that you won’t please every client, you will be prepared to stay calm and take the following actions with a cool head:
1. If the client seems angry or hostile, focus on their words and try to determine what they want and need. If you can meet their need without responding to the negativity, you can actually make them happy and move forward without losing pay. You may even end up with a long-term client because you understand what they need at that point.
**Important Freelancing Tip: Many angry, hostile customers are actually just frustrated. They may have been let down by freelancers who didn’t take their work seriously in the past, or they may not speak English as their first language and grow frustrated trying to convey their needs. Don’t take their attitude personally, and focus on what they need despite the negativity. You will find some are very nice people once these problems are resolved and they see you do take your work seriously and are committed to working with them. Not all freelancers are so kind!
2. Give serious attention to complaints because there may be some truth to them. Use them as learning opportunities that will strengthen your skills for future clients.
3. If you receive the same complaints from multiple clients, understand that you need to improve in that area. You may find a free class online or read a book that will help you develop those skills.
4. Admit when you’re wrong, and do what’s necessary to correct the mistake.
5. Try to fix your mistake, but be willing to refund the client’s money if you can’t deliver what they need. It’s always better to lose a small amount of money today than to continually lose money in the future due to negative client reviews.
Most important: don’t ever let a client’s words reduce your self confidence as a freelancer. Not every client is going to treat you with respect, and many will have no appreciation for the hard work you put out on their behalf. Hold your head high regardless and move forward knowing that there are clients that will see your hard work and appreciate you fully.
Freelancing Success Tips Four
Don’t Sell Your Clients Out
You may obtain names, email addresses and other information from clients, and that information should go no further than you. When you no longer need the information, you should delete it immediately. The fastest way to destroy your freelance career is to get caught selling information or using it inappropriately. Clients simply won’t trust you after that.
The same goes for sharing work that you have completed for clients. As a freelancer, you give up the rights to the work once the client pays you and takes possession of it. If you’re writing website content, that means you cannot give copies of the content to new clients as samples of your work.
If you need samples, there are some things you can do:
1. Create samples that you can give to potential clients, clearly stating that they are just samples.
2. Ask some of your best clients if they will allow you to refer potential clients to their website or blog to see samples of your work. Some will allow this, but many won’t because they don’t want others knowing they outsource their work. Either way, you have to respect the wishes of your client.
3. Develop your own website or blog on a topic you enjoy. If your freelancing is in the area of web design or writing, your own product can speak to the quality of your work.
The same applies to releasing names of your previous or current clients. You can’t brag about the clients you have served without them agreeing to that exposure. Keep this in mind if you decide to eventually set up a website advertising your services.
Don’t Sell Your Clients Out
You may obtain names, email addresses and other information from clients, and that information should go no further than you. When you no longer need the information, you should delete it immediately. The fastest way to destroy your freelance career is to get caught selling information or using it inappropriately. Clients simply won’t trust you after that.
The same goes for sharing work that you have completed for clients. As a freelancer, you give up the rights to the work once the client pays you and takes possession of it. If you’re writing website content, that means you cannot give copies of the content to new clients as samples of your work.
If you need samples, there are some things you can do:
1. Create samples that you can give to potential clients, clearly stating that they are just samples.
2. Ask some of your best clients if they will allow you to refer potential clients to their website or blog to see samples of your work. Some will allow this, but many won’t because they don’t want others knowing they outsource their work. Either way, you have to respect the wishes of your client.
3. Develop your own website or blog on a topic you enjoy. If your freelancing is in the area of web design or writing, your own product can speak to the quality of your work.
The same applies to releasing names of your previous or current clients. You can’t brag about the clients you have served without them agreeing to that exposure. Keep this in mind if you decide to eventually set up a website advertising your services.
Freelancing Success Tips Five
Don’t Let Dollar Signs Override Common Sense
Never accept a project that you don’t feel you can complete to the client’s satisfaction. If you have any doubt, it’s best to leave the project to someone else no matter how much money is on the line. If you don’t have the skill, knowledge or time to do the job properly, you won’t get the big payday in the end anyway. In many cases, the client will end up demanding a refund because you didn’t deliver what they needed.
It’s best to spend the time completing other projects than to lose money on one you weren’t well equipped to complete. If you see lucrative jobs of a certain type that you aren’t equipped to complete, consider learning how to do that work so that you can accept those jobs in the future.
You also need to thoroughly understand what a client needs before you accept work. Don’t see a big payday and act on vague instructions because you’re eager to earn money. Take the time to communicate with the client until you understand what they need, and then move forward with the work. Common sense before dollar signs…always!
Don’t Let Dollar Signs Override Common Sense
Never accept a project that you don’t feel you can complete to the client’s satisfaction. If you have any doubt, it’s best to leave the project to someone else no matter how much money is on the line. If you don’t have the skill, knowledge or time to do the job properly, you won’t get the big payday in the end anyway. In many cases, the client will end up demanding a refund because you didn’t deliver what they needed.
It’s best to spend the time completing other projects than to lose money on one you weren’t well equipped to complete. If you see lucrative jobs of a certain type that you aren’t equipped to complete, consider learning how to do that work so that you can accept those jobs in the future.
You also need to thoroughly understand what a client needs before you accept work. Don’t see a big payday and act on vague instructions because you’re eager to earn money. Take the time to communicate with the client until you understand what they need, and then move forward with the work. Common sense before dollar signs…always!
Freelancing Success Tips Six
Don’t Cut Your Prices
When you first start freelancing, you may complete a few projects for low pay. This is a way to convince a few clients to give you a chance so that you can earn reviews. At that point, you should charge higher prices to correspond with your great reviews and the real value of your time and skills. Don’t feel shy to charge what you know your talents are really worth.
You may come across clients with budget concerns or who simply want to pay as little as possible while asking for the moon and the stars. Have the confidence to stick to your rates even when pressured to drop them. You may work for lower rates when you know a client is truly on a tight budget, but only do that if the work is easy and fast to complete or you don’t have higher paying work available. If there is higher paying work, you have to do it first because you are thinking like a boss not an employee, right?
Don’t Cut Your Prices
When you first start freelancing, you may complete a few projects for low pay. This is a way to convince a few clients to give you a chance so that you can earn reviews. At that point, you should charge higher prices to correspond with your great reviews and the real value of your time and skills. Don’t feel shy to charge what you know your talents are really worth.
You may come across clients with budget concerns or who simply want to pay as little as possible while asking for the moon and the stars. Have the confidence to stick to your rates even when pressured to drop them. You may work for lower rates when you know a client is truly on a tight budget, but only do that if the work is easy and fast to complete or you don’t have higher paying work available. If there is higher paying work, you have to do it first because you are thinking like a boss not an employee, right?
Freelancing Success Tips Seven
Stick to Your Values
You will come across clients that ask you to do things that may not align with your personal values. For instance, you may be asked to develop a website for a Ponzi scheme that you know will rob innocent people of their money. You may not be legally responsible for the crime about to take place, but you may decide that no amount of money is worth helping someone hurt others.
If you decide to earn money through freelance writing, you will also have to consider whether you want to write adult material, such as content for a website that sells sex toys. Are you okay making up product reviews that sound like personal experience even though you have never used the product? Where do you stand on writers creating Amazon book reviews for authors even though they have never read the book?
You will come across these issues as a freelancer, so start thinking about your boundaries right now. It’s important to uphold your boundaries because you don’t want to sell your soul and give up your personal beliefs in pursuit of money. Trust me, there are writers willing to do what makes you uncomfortable. Some clients are meant for those freelancers, not for you. If you are one of those freelancers comfortable doing whatever a client needs, then hold your head high and know that you can grab work that some others find objectionable. It works both ways in the freelance world.
Stick to Your Values
You will come across clients that ask you to do things that may not align with your personal values. For instance, you may be asked to develop a website for a Ponzi scheme that you know will rob innocent people of their money. You may not be legally responsible for the crime about to take place, but you may decide that no amount of money is worth helping someone hurt others.
If you decide to earn money through freelance writing, you will also have to consider whether you want to write adult material, such as content for a website that sells sex toys. Are you okay making up product reviews that sound like personal experience even though you have never used the product? Where do you stand on writers creating Amazon book reviews for authors even though they have never read the book?
You will come across these issues as a freelancer, so start thinking about your boundaries right now. It’s important to uphold your boundaries because you don’t want to sell your soul and give up your personal beliefs in pursuit of money. Trust me, there are writers willing to do what makes you uncomfortable. Some clients are meant for those freelancers, not for you. If you are one of those freelancers comfortable doing whatever a client needs, then hold your head high and know that you can grab work that some others find objectionable. It works both ways in the freelance world.
Freelancing for this reason is a very tempting career choice, those among you who are interested to know more about freelancing or thinking to start a career as freelancer may read my book “Career and Opportunities in Freelancing” published by Diamond Books. This book is written to teach freelancing to everyone irrespective of qualification, age or gender.
The initial chapters deal with the introduction to freelancing, where the opportunities for a flourishing careers lie do and how to start.
The next part deals with the different types of freelancing jobs and where those jobs are available.
The last part of the book has specifically been excerpts from different blogs, books, and interviews of different successful bloggers and also by direct contact with some of them.
The book is provided with enough insight into the world of freelancing, but just to make the learning curve easier and meaningful some videos on how to begin a freelancing career has published in this site. The creator of this video is a renowned freelancer and internet marketer . The page containing the videos has been password protected and are available only to the readers of the book.
If you have purchased the book send me a request with purchase details through contact me page and I’ll send you the password at your mail id.
Life as a freelancer may seem tempting full of freedom and relaxation but it actually is way more than that. Freedom is the main boon of freelancing. Initially freelancers face rejection and hardships, but gradually this hardship leads them to the steps of glory. With constant hard work, dedication, and patience freelancing can prove to be a very promising career aspect.
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The initial chapters deal with the introduction to freelancing, where the opportunities for a flourishing careers lie do and how to start.
The next part deals with the different types of freelancing jobs and where those jobs are available.
The last part of the book has specifically been excerpts from different blogs, books, and interviews of different successful bloggers and also by direct contact with some of them.
The book is provided with enough insight into the world of freelancing, but just to make the learning curve easier and meaningful some videos on how to begin a freelancing career has published in this site. The creator of this video is a renowned freelancer and internet marketer . The page containing the videos has been password protected and are available only to the readers of the book.
If you have purchased the book send me a request with purchase details through contact me page and I’ll send you the password at your mail id.
Life as a freelancer may seem tempting full of freedom and relaxation but it actually is way more than that. Freedom is the main boon of freelancing. Initially freelancers face rejection and hardships, but gradually this hardship leads them to the steps of glory. With constant hard work, dedication, and patience freelancing can prove to be a very promising career aspect.
Back to Blog Home Page