6. Join the Freelancing Platform
Freelancers can find clients and things for their business in many ways: social media, client referrals, and online platforms. Joining a platform would be a smart move if you’re just starting. It gives you more visibility, access to a wider range of projects, and the chance to connect with potential clients you might not otherwise encounter.
Take time to run a quick Google search and find out which platform matches your needs, salary expectations, and niche. Remember the competition, too: it’s tricky for a newbie to grab a big order. First, you work for the rating, and then the rating works for you.
7. Master Administrative Work
Being a freelancer means wearing multiple hats. You have to manage your projects, pay taxes, and set aside money for retirement, among other things. You’ll also be responsible for managing day-to-day operations, like invoicing, tracking your time, and keeping strong customer relationships.
In other words, you would do multiple jobs as one person.
Fortunately, you can now access plenty of resources online to plan ahead and tools to make this work 10x faster and easier. For this type of work, check out Billdu — a cool and slick invoicing software designed to make your work easier. It lets you create all types of documents like invoices, estimates, purchase orders, delivery notes, and more. All in one.
It also won’t hurt to discuss the intricacies of business management with others in your field to see how this works in practice.
8. Build Strong Client Relationship
The statistics say that 70% of the freelancers in the survey said they cared most about building great relationships with their clients that would last.
To make things clearer, we’ve partnered with the Searqle team to outline the main benefits:
- Increased Trust: Clients are likelier to return for future projects and refer you to others.
- More Opportunities: Strong relationships can lead to bigger projects and higher-paying work.
- Long-Term Collaboration: To build rapport, you need to show that you’re not just a one-time freelancer but a go-to partner for ongoing needs.
How to get it? Focus on your soft and hard skills. Always deliver high-quality results on time. The more consistent you are, the more trust you’ll build. Be transparent and proactive. And if you can, give more than you promised.
9. Connect with Freelancers
Even though freelancing is a competitive field, your relationships with other freelancers don’t always have to be a competition. Think of them as a collaboration for mutual growth. That’s how it works.
Transition what you get: Learn together, get feedback on your work, and gain educational resources and tools. Share your experience with the community to enhance your expertise and networking.
Last but not least, referrals. They’re more than happy to refer you when you have good relationships. And, of course, refer them in answer. This way, you’ll strengthen your relationship with clients, too. Sending them other specialists shows that you truly care about solving their problems, not just selling your services.
10. Keep Building Your Client List
Even if you have 2-3 current clients, it doesn’t hurt to continue seeking new job opportunities. You can’t really predict when the project will come to an end. So, it’s better to secure more opportunities. More clients also mean long-term benefits, such as expanding your experience and setting a higher check for your services.
How to do it: ask your clients for referrals, expand your portfolio to receive more offers, and regularly check if new jobs are posted on a platform.
It’s also worth keeping your efforts focused. Try to stay within your niche and the things you’re doing to strengthen your skills; disseminating your efforts will not be helpful for growth.
Do not forget about your past clients. Reach out to past contacts, colleagues, and other connections to let them know you’re available for new projects. Sometimes, opportunities can come from the most unexpected places, and staying in touch with your professional network increases the likelihood of being recommended for new work.
11. Polish Your Skills and Learn New Ones
Learning never stops. The skills you possess determine your value, so it’s crucial to improve continuously.
Take courses, find mentorship opportunities, and learn from others in your field. Don’t hesitate to ask your clients for feedback and act on it—it helps you refine your skills and deliver even better results.
Why not step outside your usual skill set for a bit? Take note of the skills in demand and consider adding them to your expertise. For example, skills in AI, data analysis, or advanced SEO could be useful.
Best tip: Apply what you learn right away. Avoid jumping from one course to another without putting your new knowledge into practice. Doing so will solidify your understanding and gradually expand your portfolio with real projects, further enhancing your credibility and skill set.
Why Do People Choose to Go Freelance?
The idea of going freelance appeals to many because you get to be your own boss. No more working for somebody else is a great motivator, especially if you feel miserable at your current job.
At the same time, freelancing offers other benefits. By giving up the 9 to 5 lifestyle, you also get to:
- Experience a better life-work balance
As a freelancer, you have more flexibility to manage your time and energy for work and personal life. If you need to take time off, you can, and if you want to focus and work extra, you are free to do that as well.
- Choose your work location
Freelancers are known as digital nomads for a good reason. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can work from virtually anywhere. A change of scenery often helps with finding motivation.
- Spend more time with your family
A better life and work balance also means that you can spend more time with your family while working from home. You do not have to worry about gluing yourself to a desk at an office job when you are a freelancer.
The time you spend commuting can now become the time you spend with family, exercising, or sleeping. The stress and costs of commuting no longer bother you like they did every day you had to go to work.
- Forget about the office politics
Not everyone is a fan of gossip, but their colleagues still suck them into random office dramas that are nothing but a distraction. It is one of the more underlooked benefits of freelancing, but one worth mentioning nonetheless.
Having said all that, the benefits of freelancing are clear but do not expect a smooth transition just like that.
It will take a while to figure out the ins and outs. And since we are talking about a transition rather than an immediate switch, you need to understand that you will still need to do your main job while you pursue freelancing.
Traits to Improve Before Switching to Freelancing
Experiences and skill sets vary depending on what work you do and how long you have been doing it.
Since you plan to switch to an entirely different work model, self-improvement should be one of the priorities, particularly if you are in no hurry and have some time to spare.
Freelancers are the ones who advocate for their services. It is crucial to learn how to present and sell yourself to clients.
Your first few attempts will likely bring no results, and people who fail often lose motivation and start doubting themselves. The more you know about negotiating before going in, the higher your chances of success. Acquiring new clients and expanding your business is equally crucial when you’re freelancing.
Productivity may suffer due to various distractions, such as family members. As a freelancer, you do not have a supervisor checking up on you. If procrastinating becomes a habit, prepare to fall behind in your work and struggle with deadlines.
Discover tips for boosting your productivity as a freelancer in our upcoming article.
Do not expect a stable income like you would from a set salary. Freelancing comes with uncertainties. The income varies from week to week. Some clients will pay on an hourly basis, whereas others will send payment at the end of the month.
Improve on budgeting to have a realistic picture of how much you need to make to take care of bills and other expenses. Also, remember that the time you spend looking for clients and taking care of other administrative tasks is not paid. Understanding how to effectively manage your finances is a crucial skill that every freelancer should master for long-term success and stability.
It is recommended to use automation tools to eliminate manual tasks and waste less time you could be spending on the actual work.
Constant communication with clients and peers is part of the freelancing routine. Since you are on your own, there is nobody else who can present you over the phone, in person, or in writing.
Mastering communication requires effort, even more so if your previous job did not require communicating much.
Poor communication will prevent you from networking and establishing connections, not to mention work-related troubles stemming from miscommunication.
Working in an office usually means being surrounded by people who can help you with different issues.
Freelancing, unfortunately, means that you cannot depend on other people for work-related matters. Problem solving is a valuable trait for freelancers.
Some obstacles are pretty simple and manageable without too much research, whereas others will take a long time. In more extreme cases, you will have no option but to seek outside help.
One thing to note is that whenever you encounter a problem, you should keep your cool.
Regardless of the issue, you should be able to find a solution. And each obstacle you overcome adds to your overall experience.
Steer clear of the typical mistakes often committed by freelancers by being informed and proactive.
Taking care of everything as a freelancer puts you in a position where you overestimate how much you can do.
It might be tempting to chase a new client, believing that you can fit them into your already busy schedule. However, being greedy is one way to damage your reputation. If you take on too much work and fail to deliver, the odds are that you will have difficulties finding clients in the future. Also learning how to effectively manage projects is crucial when you’re a freelancer.
That is just a single example of how time management affects your freelancing career. You have to be at the top of your game.
Do not think about persistence as a trait that comes in when you are struggling to get new clients or meet deadlines. Yes, you will likely make mistakes before reaching a stage where you can call yourself a successful freelancer.
However, persistence also plays a prominent role in your growth after finding your footing. It is a given that the industry will evolve, and you should keep up with the trends, learning new things about the trade and industry.
Failing to do that will leave you behind other freelancers who persist in putting in enough effort to be the best at what they do.
Conclusion
Freelance is a cycle: set goals, achieve, repeat. You already have the courage and willpower to break free and show the world.
Take this motivation and, without tips in mind, build your plan for 2025 to set your for success.
As you progress, don’t forget to revisit your objectives and adjust them regularly. By doing so, you’ll steadily evolve your freelance business into something bigger, better, and more complex, turning your passion into a sustainable career.
