In a garden full of strangers, a common theme of discussion took me by surprise, that of the number of people freelancing and the biggest challenges we were facing at work. An accountant, a chiropractor, a translator, a French teacher, a voice coach, and a novice filmmaker like myself all faced the exact same issues as self-employees: how to find clients, how to sign contracts, how to promote your services, and how to price them. Freelancing can be alienating. But knowing that these professionals with a very different skill set than my own also suffered the same trail of problems, made it seem a bit less lonely.
What is your biggest challenge?
The accountant invited me to join the Facebook group called Freelancers in Belgium, from where I found out about the Freelance Business Month. The event’s agenda quickly revealed the same reality back at the potluck. I was determined to find at least 10 tips related to our common problems of being freelance. To my new freelance acquaintances, to anybody that might be interested in knowing how to pave a path as a self-employed, below are my top takeaways from that day.
10 Tips On Freelancing Topics And What Do Freelancers Do About Them
1) Opening time for marketing your business is a priority
2) Systematically document and share some details about your projects on social media
3) Create a sales framework that starts with wishlist clients
4) Focus on why they need your business, why now, and why you (in this order)
5) Deliver high-quality work, freelancing is a trail of reference
6) Reach out to 5 connections every single week
7) Completed a project? Ask for reviews and referrals
8) Negotiate your price as high above the ladder as possible
9) Pricing is a value puzzle, you must create it while balancing various factors such as income, time, marketing value, learning experience, network possibilities, fun, easy money, and intellectual challenge
10) Understand that as a freelancer you are constantly navigating in a sea of rejection. Learn how to swim these waters, and take advantage of as many good waves there are available to ride.
