Freelancing is the new frontier for just about everyone on Earth. If you have talent and a bit of business sense, you can create your own life. The trick is making it pay. You could market designer paper bags or games, self-help or self-indulgence, and if you know the ropes, you’re on your way.
Freelancing basics- Talent is king
The real trick to freelancing is turning a talent into a paying business. The freelance-able talents are the things you do better than anyone else, where you’re highly motivated, an expert, in fact, in everything to do with the work. This is the work you do effortlessly and well. What would be a mountain of work to someone else is a normal day to you.
In freelancing, your talent is your main business asset. It also provides the confidence to do business and be sure of yourself, both invaluable when you need to start talking about money. Fortunately for freelancers, talent also provides a built-in knowledge base. You know all about the work in your areas of talent, because you’ve most likely been studying these things for years and are very interested in them. Business is very much about knowledge, and in freelancing, it’s a critical factor.
The business side of freelancing- Overheads
The fact about freelancing is that you also need some financial stamina. It takes a while to get things moving, and survival is the name of the game if you’re depending on it for an income.
The rules:
- Be cautious with money- Don’t spend anything unless it makes sense.
- Lock and minimize down your costs so they can’t attack you. Try and get fixed rate payments for all your routine overheads.
- Avoid committing yourself to expensive outlays, if at all possible. Remember you’re spending the money before you receive the money.
- Borrow or rent rather than buy production capabilities, particularly if you’re doing one-off contracts. Expensive equipment can just sit there, reminding you of the money you might have had available.
Important: Freelance contracts
Freelance jobs vary a lot, depending on clients and industries, but the basic freelance job is essentially a contract job. You must understand contract law, and you must be able to read a contract. If you can’t, get some help, and get some legal advice, because it will be worth it.
Doing business as a freelancer
- Be prepared to spend long hours networking and looking for paying propositions. (This simply has to be done. Be patient, and remember that a phone call can get you business in seconds.)
- Develop your product or service to a very high standard. Freelancing is competitive. If someone is looking for an outsource, what looks good is what gets the attention.
- Repeat, long term business is the essence of freelancing business. Get the cashflow right, and your business will be fine.
- Do not knock back “little” jobs without a very good reason. You may be being offered a “little” job to see if you can deliver. Any client can become a very good client, so stay focused on that angle with any new business.
Whether you’re selling shopping bags or soundtracks, furry toys or Ferraris, remember that your freelance business is the best way to do the things you love and get paid for doing them.
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You’re 100% right especially with networking. Being freelancer without proper networking can be very hard task. This is I think the most important thing I’ve learned from when I started to freelance.
Cat@copywriting cat´s last [type] ..public speaking anxiety – brand building case study
talent and good writing skills are important dude