BEST TIPS:
Here is a question I get all the time:
“What is your best advice for becoming a full time professional freelancer?”
In other words, a lot of people ask me to provide them with a recipe for freelancing success.
At the risk of disappointing you, I’ll preface this by saying there is no “one size fits all” approach to building a successful freelance business.
However, there are certain field-tested principles that should serve as exemplars for how to do freelance work.
Regardless of whether you do graphic design, web development, or freelance writing.
I’m here today to share some of them with you.
I hope that they serve as timely reminders or welcome improvements to your current business processes.
So, without further ado, here are some of my best freelancing tips.
Exclusive Bonus: Five Questions to Kickstart Your Freelance Career
Download Your Free Worksheet Now
1. Use a contract on every project
If you’re just beginning to learn how to freelance, let me help you avoid making one of the most common mistakes I see.
Use a contract for EVERY client project.
But, don’t get bogged down in finding the perfect contract.
Starting off with a template is okay, as long as you remember to keep making improvements along the way.
Too many freelancers get caught up in the details of contracts, and it’s ultimately wasting a lot of time that should be spent making money.
All you need for the time being is a general agreement that covers some basic, yet important terms that both you and the client need to agree upon.
In its simplest form, your contract terms should cover:
The work that you produce is original and not plagiarized.
The client’s proprietary information stays confidential.
Your payments terms. (How much you’ll get paid and when during the process.)
That once the client accepts the completed work, they accept full responsibility for any further processes in which the work is used (e.g. printing, putting the logo to use, etc.)
You and the client have the right to terminate the services, and what that entails for you both.
Having some basic terms in place for every project will help protect you, but more importantly, will help inform the client of how you work.
I’ve put together a general freelance contract for you to work off of. It’s not intended to cover every type of situation, but it can help get you started.
View my sample freelance contract »
Once you have your contract, your client can then physically print, sign, and return, or digitally sign.
I’m not a legal professional nor does the sample above cover every situation.
If things are starting to take off and you’re making large amounts of money from a single project:
Then you might want to get a legal professional involved to craft a specific contract for the job.
2. Always get a down payment
One of the biggest issues you hear about freelancing is not getting paid on time or getting stiffed by the client.
I’ve luckily never experienced this, but that’s because I follow a simple process when starting a project.
To guarantee payment 100% of the time, you must require a down payment.
For all projects I take on, I require 50% upfront before I start any official design work, and I make this clear to the client in our preliminary discussions and in my contracts.
If the client has an issue with this, then that should raise a red flag.
There is a chance that they have never contracted for freelance services before, but it should still raise your guard.
Explain that this arrangement is a protection for both parties and that the project can’t move forward without it.
If they refuse again:
Move on.
They probably aren’t someone you should be working with anyways.
Once I’ve received the contract signed and down payment, I’m good to go on starting the work.
Then before I deliver any workable files, I require the final 50% payment.
I do this so the client doesn’t take what I’ve created, cancel the project, and run.
So before you’ve fully been paid, don’t send any master files or designs in full resolution.
By putting these simple practices into your process, you can guarantee that you’ll never be ripped off.
3. Don’t be afraid to say “no”
Saying no is hard, especially if you’re like me:
Generous and want people to feel happy working with you.
You don’t want to disappoint anyone, so you offer to help any way you can, not really considering the strenuous load it’ll put on you.
No matter what you do, you’ll disappoint someone.
Whether it be the client because you’re unable to deliver halfway through the project, your family because you’re working long hours, or yourself because you’re so stressed with the work you’ve chosen to take on.
So you must get comfortable with turning down work if it’s ultimately not for you or your availability.
To help determine if you should take on a project, ask yourself these questions:
The worst thing about taking on everything that comes your way is that your plate may end up full, but with all of the wrong commitments.
You’re stressed, anxious, and the worst part:
Now you’re left with no room to take on that golden opportunity.
You can’t say yes to your ideal client if you never say no to the wrong ones.
Next time you get a project, don’t just reply with a yes:
Really consider the opportunity, ask yourself those questions above, and proceed with a conscious decision for your future and wellbeing.
4. Focus your freelance business
If you’ve followed my writing for a while now, you’ll know I share quite frequently about focusing your freelance business and the importance of it.
I continue to share this tip because I regularly get message after message from freelancers who seem to be stuck.
They can’t find enough work and they struggle to get their name out there.
By focusing your brand identity and the type of projects you take on, it’ll make everything much easier for you:
From marketing to charging higher rates to actually delivering the work.
Pick one or two services to specialize in, and only take on work that falls into those categories. Then turn down the rest.
Once you’ve decided on the services you now specialize in, be sure to translate that into your personal brand.
Reword everything on your website for those keywords and phrases, only showcase that type of work in your freelance portfolio, and start producing content around those services to prove your expertise.
All of this is a byproduct of marketing, which in turn will drive traffic and new freelance projects your way.
5. Showcase the work you want to take on
This tip goes hand in hand with the previous tip of focusing your freelance business, but I think is a topic worth elaborating on.
Many freelancers make the mistake of filling their portfolio with work just to show that they have some sort of skill in design.
But most often, the work just comes off as all over the place, and will only do your portfolio a disservice.
There’s a difference between a freelance business portfolio and a school portfolio:
Your freelance portfolio should only contain the work you specialize in and want to continue accepting via client work.
The work can consist of past client work or even personal work.
Have you ever heard someone say, “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have?”
Well, when it comes to your portfolio, you want to present work that aligns with the freelance jobs you want, not necessarily the projects you currently have.
Let’s say you specialize in logo design:
If that’s what you want to be known for then you should only showcase logo projects in your freelance portfolio.
That’ll be what attracts and helps potential clients decide to go with you over another freelance designer whose portfolio might be all over the place.
Exclusive Bonus: Five Questions to Kickstart Your Freelance Career
Download Your Free Worksheet Now
6. Be transparent with your clients
As a freelancer, your business is just you running it inside out.
That’s something you must be proud of, so don’t hide behind a facade:
Be the name and face of your business, because your business is you.
From a client’s perspective, if I were to hire you to provide a service, I would want to know who I’m giving my money to.
So be sure to inject who you are into your brand. You can shape that however you’d like, but the key is to be personable.
Also, when a client is interested in working with you, be transparent in conversing with them.
If you only take on freelance opportunities part time, let them know.
Otherwise, you could run into a situation where expectations are misaligned and conflicts pop up as a result.
If they’re going to hire you, explain to them how your process works.
Show your interest in them and their business, then break down what they can expect by working with you step-by-step.
Being transparent isn’t a weakness, it helps build trust and confidence, and can be what seals the deal in a proposed project.
7. Write, write, write
This is the most important tip I can give you to take your freelancing to the next level:
And that’s to write.
I don’t care if you don’t think you’re a good writer.
Writing is the doorway to getting your name out there, having clients find you, and to truly grow yourself as an individual and freelancer.
I personally don’t think I’m a great writer, and you can only imagine how I felt about my writing a year ago.
It comes with practice.
I owe everything I’ve accomplished this past year to my writing.
Everything I do—whether it’s a blog post, a newsletter, a book, a video, or an email to a client—it all starts with writing.
If you want a complete rundown of why writing is imperative to your freelancing, then I highly recommend you watch this video by Sean McCabe:
It All Starts With Writing
Hopefully, after reading this post you’ll check out Sean’s video and be convinced that you need to start writing immediately.
8. Focus on the now
Watch your feet so you don’t trip while looking at the end goal.
You know where you want to be one day, so focus on what you can do now to end up there.
Too many freelancers get hung up on envying those they aspire to be.
If you wish to have a reliable client base, a product that can help supplement your income, or if you don’t want to have to rely on a single client to make a living, then what are you doing today to make that happen?
Make a daily to-do list with small tasks that you can easily complete by the end of the day.
Progress is progress.
And if you start taking it one step at a time towards your long term goals:
The sooner you’ll get there.
9. Know your numbers
A lot of freelancers handle themselves like contractors when they should really be viewing themselves as small businesses.
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you’re not a business owner, and every good business owner needs to know their numbers.
Such as:
For example:
Take a look at your monthly revenue.
Find out where your business income is coming from (what clients, type of projects, passive income), and focus more on those areas that are producing the most results.
If you’re steadily earning $100+ a month selling products on your Creative Marketshop, then consider producing more items to sell.
See where most of your traffic is coming from or what type of content is most popular, then do more of that.
Another example:
If you’re getting a lot of traffic from a guest post you wrote, reach out and write another guest post.
10. Split your income for taxes and savings
If you’re serious about freelancing, then start separating your income and savings.
For every dollar I make that’s business related, I split it up like this:
12% to Business (for business-related expenses)
16% to Business Taxes (this will save my butt when it comes tax time)
12% to Personal Savings
What’s left over goes into my personal checking for living expenses
11. Build a freelance portfolio
If you are in a creative field, you’ll want a professional portfolio. This acts as a visual résumé for potential employers. This is a place to showcase your best work and highlight your skill set.
Here are some simple steps to take to get started:
Choose a portfolio site
If you’re a web designer, create a website and start inputting your work. Freelancers in other fields should look for a great portfolio provider that specializes in your industry. They’ll have built-in templates and examples for you to follow.
Here are some recommendations for portfolio sites for writers and designers, as well as some great examples of developer portfolios. If you’re in a different field, there’s certainly a good option available for you out there!
Portfolio sites for writers:
Clippings.me
Pressfolios
JournoPortfolio
Portfolio sites for designers:
Wix
Krop
Carbonmade
Examples of developer portfolios:
Lester Chan
Jess Johnson
Zachary Hoefler
Decide which work to include
You’ll want to include any relevant projects you have created. Just make sure they showcase your best work and highlight all areas of your skill set.
For example, if you have 50 articles for a single publication and all on the same topic, only include a few of the best. Use the other space on your portfolio to showcase the variety of work you’ve done.
Also, make sure not to include any company-sensitive information and if you are unsure, check with that company to make sure it is okay to include in your portfolio.
Don’t neglect the details
Besides showcasing your work, portfolios are a great snapshot of who you are. Make sure to include these components:
Headshot. This doesn’t always need to be in a suit against a backdrop wall. Match your industry. If your industry is more casual, have a photo that represents that.
Bio. Companies want to connect with you as a person. Including a simple introduction of who you are, an overview of what you can do, and even a few personal sentences, makes you human and more marketable.
Résumé. Although a portfolio is like an online resume, have a link to your resume. Sometimes employers will print this off if they are considering several freelancers for a project.
Testimonials. Just like references on a resume, testimonials let potential employers know you do great work and the results meet or exceed expectations.
12. Package your services
One way to maximize client income is to offer your services as a package deal. Often, clients don’t realize that one person can solve multiple problems. Streamline the process for your clients by offering packages.
Not sure how to package your offerings? Think about these questions:
What are your skills? Market all your skills in a client pitch. Explain you can be the one-stop shop for all design, writing, development, or needs.
What does your competition offer? Look at other freelancers within your industry and see what skills they list on their websites and what package deals they are offering.
What case studies do you have? Look at your past projects. Was there a project where you performed multiple tasks for a client? Use this case study as an example of packaging for new clients.
For more ideas on packaging (and pricing) your services, check out Wanderful World’s “How to Package Your Freelance Work to Attract Quality Clients.”
13. Learn successful pitching
Great pitching skills can be the difference between earning just enough and earning a comfortable living. If clients don’t understand the value of your skills, they’re not going to pay you a reasonable sum for those skills. So you need to make sure that they know exactly what they’re getting.
Focus your pitches on the benefits to your potential client. Show them, with case studies and testimonials, how valuable your skills are. Make it clear that hiring you will save them time, money, and effort over hiring someone else.
Emphasize what sets you apart—think about the skills you bring to a job that others don’t. How can you solve the problem better than your competition? You might have more experience, a reputation for very fast work, or a unique combination of skills.
In other words, take the spotlight off yourself and focus on how you can help this company. Think of ways to add value to the contract that the client hadn’t thought of. For more pitching ideas, check out Creative Boom’s great blog post, “How to win a pitch when you’re a freelancer or small agency.”
14. Improve your marketing
The best freelancers don’t pursue clients: they make clients come to them. Sound like a dream? You can make it come true with effective marketing. Here are ideas to get your name out there:
Blogs. Start a blog on your website and post it on relevant social media sites. Blogs draw traffic to your website and start discussions.
Guest speaking. Is there an industry event in your area you can be a guest speaker for? Look for opportunities where you can lend your expertise on a panel or a Q&A session.
Ebooks. Draft an ebook and share it in relevant groups online or create a website where visitors can download the book in return for their email address.
Webinars. Create a weekly or monthly webinar and invite people from among your target client group.
These marketing tactics for freelancers will help you establish credibility, and that can give you a big boost in your industry. If someone has heard your name before they hear your pitch, you have a huge advantage.
15. Attracting New Clients
You need a digital “home” or somewhere that people can find you. To attract new clients, create a simple, brand-focused website that highlights your services. Break down your offerings and include sample projects for potential customers to browse. Wix and Squarespace both make it easy and affordable for non-techies to set up beautiful websites. Build corresponding social media profiles that reflect your branding. Focus on LinkedIn and Twitter if you want to appeal to companies as an independent contractor.
Despite the natural hesitation many freelancers feel about reaching out, don’t shy away from emailing companies you would want to work with. The worst that can happen is that you don’t receive a response. Find a specific point person at a company and connect with a cold email or a soft introduction through social media — both these strategies can help you find prospects, as long as you’re persistent. Also make use of your current network by reaching out to all your friends and family asking for leads to anyone in the field. Referrals are your best friend as a burgeoning freelancer.
16. Choosing High-Impact Projects
Freelancers take jobs for one of two reasons: awesome pay or exposure. Ideally, most of your freelance gigs offer you both advantages. When you decide to take on specific projects, consider their visibility and their potential to bring you new leads. Connecting and collaborating with influencers in your field — either high-performing organizations or individuals with a strong reputation in your field — can spark a long list of positive outcomes, including more work and better pay. That said, always honor your own salary. A high-visibility job should never leave you short of your financial benchmarks.
“What is your best advice for becoming a full time professional freelancer?”
In other words, a lot of people ask me to provide them with a recipe for freelancing success.
At the risk of disappointing you, I’ll preface this by saying there is no “one size fits all” approach to building a successful freelance business.
However, there are certain field-tested principles that should serve as exemplars for how to do freelance work.
Regardless of whether you do graphic design, web development, or freelance writing.
I’m here today to share some of them with you.
I hope that they serve as timely reminders or welcome improvements to your current business processes.
So, without further ado, here are some of my best freelancing tips.
Exclusive Bonus: Five Questions to Kickstart Your Freelance Career
Download Your Free Worksheet Now
1. Use a contract on every project
If you’re just beginning to learn how to freelance, let me help you avoid making one of the most common mistakes I see.
Use a contract for EVERY client project.
But, don’t get bogged down in finding the perfect contract.
Starting off with a template is okay, as long as you remember to keep making improvements along the way.
Too many freelancers get caught up in the details of contracts, and it’s ultimately wasting a lot of time that should be spent making money.
All you need for the time being is a general agreement that covers some basic, yet important terms that both you and the client need to agree upon.
In its simplest form, your contract terms should cover:
The work that you produce is original and not plagiarized.
The client’s proprietary information stays confidential.
Your payments terms. (How much you’ll get paid and when during the process.)
That once the client accepts the completed work, they accept full responsibility for any further processes in which the work is used (e.g. printing, putting the logo to use, etc.)
You and the client have the right to terminate the services, and what that entails for you both.
Having some basic terms in place for every project will help protect you, but more importantly, will help inform the client of how you work.
I’ve put together a general freelance contract for you to work off of. It’s not intended to cover every type of situation, but it can help get you started.
View my sample freelance contract »
Once you have your contract, your client can then physically print, sign, and return, or digitally sign.
I’m not a legal professional nor does the sample above cover every situation.
If things are starting to take off and you’re making large amounts of money from a single project:
Then you might want to get a legal professional involved to craft a specific contract for the job.
2. Always get a down payment
One of the biggest issues you hear about freelancing is not getting paid on time or getting stiffed by the client.
I’ve luckily never experienced this, but that’s because I follow a simple process when starting a project.
To guarantee payment 100% of the time, you must require a down payment.
For all projects I take on, I require 50% upfront before I start any official design work, and I make this clear to the client in our preliminary discussions and in my contracts.
If the client has an issue with this, then that should raise a red flag.
There is a chance that they have never contracted for freelance services before, but it should still raise your guard.
Explain that this arrangement is a protection for both parties and that the project can’t move forward without it.
If they refuse again:
Move on.
They probably aren’t someone you should be working with anyways.
Once I’ve received the contract signed and down payment, I’m good to go on starting the work.
Then before I deliver any workable files, I require the final 50% payment.
I do this so the client doesn’t take what I’ve created, cancel the project, and run.
So before you’ve fully been paid, don’t send any master files or designs in full resolution.
By putting these simple practices into your process, you can guarantee that you’ll never be ripped off.
3. Don’t be afraid to say “no”
Saying no is hard, especially if you’re like me:
Generous and want people to feel happy working with you.
You don’t want to disappoint anyone, so you offer to help any way you can, not really considering the strenuous load it’ll put on you.
No matter what you do, you’ll disappoint someone.
Whether it be the client because you’re unable to deliver halfway through the project, your family because you’re working long hours, or yourself because you’re so stressed with the work you’ve chosen to take on.
So you must get comfortable with turning down work if it’s ultimately not for you or your availability.
To help determine if you should take on a project, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I specialize in the work that’s needed by this client?
- Why am I taking this project on? Is it a commitment I should be making?
- Why am I adding that project to my plate?
The worst thing about taking on everything that comes your way is that your plate may end up full, but with all of the wrong commitments.
You’re stressed, anxious, and the worst part:
Now you’re left with no room to take on that golden opportunity.
You can’t say yes to your ideal client if you never say no to the wrong ones.
Next time you get a project, don’t just reply with a yes:
Really consider the opportunity, ask yourself those questions above, and proceed with a conscious decision for your future and wellbeing.
4. Focus your freelance business
If you’ve followed my writing for a while now, you’ll know I share quite frequently about focusing your freelance business and the importance of it.
I continue to share this tip because I regularly get message after message from freelancers who seem to be stuck.
They can’t find enough work and they struggle to get their name out there.
By focusing your brand identity and the type of projects you take on, it’ll make everything much easier for you:
From marketing to charging higher rates to actually delivering the work.
Pick one or two services to specialize in, and only take on work that falls into those categories. Then turn down the rest.
Once you’ve decided on the services you now specialize in, be sure to translate that into your personal brand.
Reword everything on your website for those keywords and phrases, only showcase that type of work in your freelance portfolio, and start producing content around those services to prove your expertise.
All of this is a byproduct of marketing, which in turn will drive traffic and new freelance projects your way.
5. Showcase the work you want to take on
This tip goes hand in hand with the previous tip of focusing your freelance business, but I think is a topic worth elaborating on.
Many freelancers make the mistake of filling their portfolio with work just to show that they have some sort of skill in design.
But most often, the work just comes off as all over the place, and will only do your portfolio a disservice.
There’s a difference between a freelance business portfolio and a school portfolio:
Your freelance portfolio should only contain the work you specialize in and want to continue accepting via client work.
The work can consist of past client work or even personal work.
Have you ever heard someone say, “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have?”
Well, when it comes to your portfolio, you want to present work that aligns with the freelance jobs you want, not necessarily the projects you currently have.
Let’s say you specialize in logo design:
If that’s what you want to be known for then you should only showcase logo projects in your freelance portfolio.
That’ll be what attracts and helps potential clients decide to go with you over another freelance designer whose portfolio might be all over the place.
Exclusive Bonus: Five Questions to Kickstart Your Freelance Career
Download Your Free Worksheet Now
6. Be transparent with your clients
As a freelancer, your business is just you running it inside out.
That’s something you must be proud of, so don’t hide behind a facade:
Be the name and face of your business, because your business is you.
From a client’s perspective, if I were to hire you to provide a service, I would want to know who I’m giving my money to.
So be sure to inject who you are into your brand. You can shape that however you’d like, but the key is to be personable.
Also, when a client is interested in working with you, be transparent in conversing with them.
If you only take on freelance opportunities part time, let them know.
Otherwise, you could run into a situation where expectations are misaligned and conflicts pop up as a result.
If they’re going to hire you, explain to them how your process works.
Show your interest in them and their business, then break down what they can expect by working with you step-by-step.
Being transparent isn’t a weakness, it helps build trust and confidence, and can be what seals the deal in a proposed project.
7. Write, write, write
This is the most important tip I can give you to take your freelancing to the next level:
And that’s to write.
I don’t care if you don’t think you’re a good writer.
Writing is the doorway to getting your name out there, having clients find you, and to truly grow yourself as an individual and freelancer.
I personally don’t think I’m a great writer, and you can only imagine how I felt about my writing a year ago.
It comes with practice.
I owe everything I’ve accomplished this past year to my writing.
Everything I do—whether it’s a blog post, a newsletter, a book, a video, or an email to a client—it all starts with writing.
If you want a complete rundown of why writing is imperative to your freelancing, then I highly recommend you watch this video by Sean McCabe:
It All Starts With Writing
Hopefully, after reading this post you’ll check out Sean’s video and be convinced that you need to start writing immediately.
8. Focus on the now
Watch your feet so you don’t trip while looking at the end goal.
You know where you want to be one day, so focus on what you can do now to end up there.
Too many freelancers get hung up on envying those they aspire to be.
If you wish to have a reliable client base, a product that can help supplement your income, or if you don’t want to have to rely on a single client to make a living, then what are you doing today to make that happen?
Make a daily to-do list with small tasks that you can easily complete by the end of the day.
Progress is progress.
And if you start taking it one step at a time towards your long term goals:
The sooner you’ll get there.
9. Know your numbers
A lot of freelancers handle themselves like contractors when they should really be viewing themselves as small businesses.
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you’re not a business owner, and every good business owner needs to know their numbers.
Such as:
- Business revenue (How much do you need to make per month to live?)
- Site traffic (Where is it coming from? What’s your most popular content?)
- Link conversion rates and content interactivity (What calls-to-action are working? What pages aren’t getting views and need to be removed altogether?)
- The amount of time you spend on certain types of business activities (and how much you’re estimating and/or charging for)
- Knowing these numbers will shed light on the areas that are working for you and what areas need improvement.
For example:
Take a look at your monthly revenue.
Find out where your business income is coming from (what clients, type of projects, passive income), and focus more on those areas that are producing the most results.
If you’re steadily earning $100+ a month selling products on your Creative Marketshop, then consider producing more items to sell.
See where most of your traffic is coming from or what type of content is most popular, then do more of that.
Another example:
If you’re getting a lot of traffic from a guest post you wrote, reach out and write another guest post.
10. Split your income for taxes and savings
If you’re serious about freelancing, then start separating your income and savings.
For every dollar I make that’s business related, I split it up like this:
12% to Business (for business-related expenses)
16% to Business Taxes (this will save my butt when it comes tax time)
12% to Personal Savings
What’s left over goes into my personal checking for living expenses
11. Build a freelance portfolio
If you are in a creative field, you’ll want a professional portfolio. This acts as a visual résumé for potential employers. This is a place to showcase your best work and highlight your skill set.
Here are some simple steps to take to get started:
Choose a portfolio site
If you’re a web designer, create a website and start inputting your work. Freelancers in other fields should look for a great portfolio provider that specializes in your industry. They’ll have built-in templates and examples for you to follow.
Here are some recommendations for portfolio sites for writers and designers, as well as some great examples of developer portfolios. If you’re in a different field, there’s certainly a good option available for you out there!
Portfolio sites for writers:
Clippings.me
Pressfolios
JournoPortfolio
Portfolio sites for designers:
Wix
Krop
Carbonmade
Examples of developer portfolios:
Lester Chan
Jess Johnson
Zachary Hoefler
Decide which work to include
You’ll want to include any relevant projects you have created. Just make sure they showcase your best work and highlight all areas of your skill set.
For example, if you have 50 articles for a single publication and all on the same topic, only include a few of the best. Use the other space on your portfolio to showcase the variety of work you’ve done.
Also, make sure not to include any company-sensitive information and if you are unsure, check with that company to make sure it is okay to include in your portfolio.
Don’t neglect the details
Besides showcasing your work, portfolios are a great snapshot of who you are. Make sure to include these components:
Headshot. This doesn’t always need to be in a suit against a backdrop wall. Match your industry. If your industry is more casual, have a photo that represents that.
Bio. Companies want to connect with you as a person. Including a simple introduction of who you are, an overview of what you can do, and even a few personal sentences, makes you human and more marketable.
Résumé. Although a portfolio is like an online resume, have a link to your resume. Sometimes employers will print this off if they are considering several freelancers for a project.
Testimonials. Just like references on a resume, testimonials let potential employers know you do great work and the results meet or exceed expectations.
12. Package your services
One way to maximize client income is to offer your services as a package deal. Often, clients don’t realize that one person can solve multiple problems. Streamline the process for your clients by offering packages.
Not sure how to package your offerings? Think about these questions:
What are your skills? Market all your skills in a client pitch. Explain you can be the one-stop shop for all design, writing, development, or needs.
What does your competition offer? Look at other freelancers within your industry and see what skills they list on their websites and what package deals they are offering.
What case studies do you have? Look at your past projects. Was there a project where you performed multiple tasks for a client? Use this case study as an example of packaging for new clients.
For more ideas on packaging (and pricing) your services, check out Wanderful World’s “How to Package Your Freelance Work to Attract Quality Clients.”
13. Learn successful pitching
Great pitching skills can be the difference between earning just enough and earning a comfortable living. If clients don’t understand the value of your skills, they’re not going to pay you a reasonable sum for those skills. So you need to make sure that they know exactly what they’re getting.
Focus your pitches on the benefits to your potential client. Show them, with case studies and testimonials, how valuable your skills are. Make it clear that hiring you will save them time, money, and effort over hiring someone else.
Emphasize what sets you apart—think about the skills you bring to a job that others don’t. How can you solve the problem better than your competition? You might have more experience, a reputation for very fast work, or a unique combination of skills.
In other words, take the spotlight off yourself and focus on how you can help this company. Think of ways to add value to the contract that the client hadn’t thought of. For more pitching ideas, check out Creative Boom’s great blog post, “How to win a pitch when you’re a freelancer or small agency.”
14. Improve your marketing
The best freelancers don’t pursue clients: they make clients come to them. Sound like a dream? You can make it come true with effective marketing. Here are ideas to get your name out there:
Blogs. Start a blog on your website and post it on relevant social media sites. Blogs draw traffic to your website and start discussions.
Guest speaking. Is there an industry event in your area you can be a guest speaker for? Look for opportunities where you can lend your expertise on a panel or a Q&A session.
Ebooks. Draft an ebook and share it in relevant groups online or create a website where visitors can download the book in return for their email address.
Webinars. Create a weekly or monthly webinar and invite people from among your target client group.
These marketing tactics for freelancers will help you establish credibility, and that can give you a big boost in your industry. If someone has heard your name before they hear your pitch, you have a huge advantage.
15. Attracting New Clients
You need a digital “home” or somewhere that people can find you. To attract new clients, create a simple, brand-focused website that highlights your services. Break down your offerings and include sample projects for potential customers to browse. Wix and Squarespace both make it easy and affordable for non-techies to set up beautiful websites. Build corresponding social media profiles that reflect your branding. Focus on LinkedIn and Twitter if you want to appeal to companies as an independent contractor.
Despite the natural hesitation many freelancers feel about reaching out, don’t shy away from emailing companies you would want to work with. The worst that can happen is that you don’t receive a response. Find a specific point person at a company and connect with a cold email or a soft introduction through social media — both these strategies can help you find prospects, as long as you’re persistent. Also make use of your current network by reaching out to all your friends and family asking for leads to anyone in the field. Referrals are your best friend as a burgeoning freelancer.
16. Choosing High-Impact Projects
Freelancers take jobs for one of two reasons: awesome pay or exposure. Ideally, most of your freelance gigs offer you both advantages. When you decide to take on specific projects, consider their visibility and their potential to bring you new leads. Connecting and collaborating with influencers in your field — either high-performing organizations or individuals with a strong reputation in your field — can spark a long list of positive outcomes, including more work and better pay. That said, always honor your own salary. A high-visibility job should never leave you short of your financial benchmarks.
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