7 Tips to Make Your Freelance Career Successful - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Tips to Make Your Freelance Career Successful - Introvert Whisperer 7 Tips to Make Your Freelance Career Successful Many people today are making the change from full-time jobs that are usually characterized by a lot of restrictions to enjoying the freedom of freelancing. As a freelancer, you become your own boss, and have to undertake a lot of tasks on your own. It requires good judgment in the manner in which you will go about your business. So exactly how does someone make this very important switch? Knowing where to begin sounds like an easy task but it is one of the hardest. This article will offer you 7 Tips to make your freelance career successful. Some of them may seem as common sense but they will help in reminding you the need of refining your work. The 7 useful insights No one ever leaves their permanent employment and become a busy freelancer overnight. In freelancing, work slowly builds up over time. In case one is surrounded with unavoidable financial commitments, it will be important that he takes time to plan his freelance career before making the big leap. This will involve carefully thinking of what you wish to offer, who you wish to offer it to, and slowly fishing out future clients. As a freelancer, it is imperative that you learn how to network. It will involve branching out past old work contacts or friends and family. Connections can be made from face to face events or through virtual platforms. From local groups to national events, all these situations present an opportunity of expanding your horizon by getting to know new people. Social media is also an invaluable tool when it comes to networking, with the right set of skill, anyone can comfortably use this virtual platform to engage his audience about his expertise and talents. Finding clients is a key area in every freelancing career. However, the problem arises when you do not know where to exactly find them. The first place a freelancer should look at is people he already knows. This may include previous and current bosses, past clients, or old colleagues. You should get in touch with them, let them know that you have gone freelance, and ask them whether they may have any projects at they may need help in. Apart from the direct contacts, venture into the indirect ones. Immerse yourself into the social media by creating profiles and providing relevant information about your business. Do not be afraid to say no. Always remember that you do not have to take anything that comes your way. Avoid making the wrong commitments. This is because you may end up finding it impossible to deliver the project to the client, miss out on family due to long working hours, and become stressed with the job itself. Making the wrong commitments may make it impossible for you to take on a golden opportunity when one finally comes your way. It is important that you decide a decent rate of pay for yourself. A figure that you are happy with, worth your time, and does not scare off any potential clients. Knowing what you are worth can be easily done by taking the full-time salary of a permanent worker of the same profession and, and adding a third of that amount to the original figure. It should also involve researching on the charges of other freelancers. As much as most clients are usually fair and honest, there are also some very difficult clients out there. Because of this, ensure that you take sensible precautions by keeping clear and elaborate paper trail of every instruction from the clients and quotes accepted by them. Ensure that all emails containing such information are kept. Whenever a verbal agreement  is made, quickly follow up with emails to confirm the agreements. A good workman never blames his tools. Remember to invest in good equipment. This will range from hardware to software needs. Ensure that your equipment are well serviced and fully functional. Conclusion The above tips will be truly beneficial if implemented in one’s freelance career. They will allow you to grow majorly into working with the best in the freelance industry. For example, as a freelance journalist, you may get to do business with PayDesk, one of the biggest freelance journalism companies available in the world. As a web developer or web designer, you can start with Peopleperhour. If you’re a programmer check FreeLancer . Always keep these insights in mind and remember to work, work and work! Guest Author: Liam Evans CAREER ACCELERATION Do you know what your next career step is? Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE!