It’s predicted that by 2020 freelancers will comprise as much as 40% of the American workforce–that’s a lot of people!
As the gig economy becomes increasingly competitive, it’s essential you educate yourself on how to enjoy freelance success.
Luckily for you, we have three tips to help you do precisely that.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
1. Use a Contract
When you first start as a freelancer, it’s tempting not to bother with a contract and jump straight into the work. However, this is the biggest mistake you could make.
It’s imperative you draft up and use a contract for every new client you take on. Period.
There are tons of general templates on the internet you can use. As long as all of the following is covered, you should be good to go:
- That you promise the content you produce is entirely original
- That the client’s data and personal info will be kept secure
- That either you or the client can terminate the working relationship at any time
- Details stipulating how much the client will pay you, and when
- Any relevant deadlines for the project
This works wonders for providing a bit of protection should the client refuse to pay.
2. Organization
Organizational skills are vital for freelance success.
So, if you’re using software to automate various tasks, you should integrate your different programs. This is one of the easiest ways to use technology to streamline everyday business tasks.
For instance, the Pipedrive MailChimp integration–this is a fabulous example of consolidating technology to improve efficiency. Pipedrive is a handy CRM solution allowing entrepreneurs to manage their sales pipeline.
Whereas, MailChimp is a well-respected email marketing tool. Now, you can merge these solutions to ensure that you receive the most up to date customer info, which is essential for launching successful e-mail marketing campaigns.
3. Showcase the Work You Want
Don’t fill your portfolio with any old project. Contrary to popular belief, this practice actually makes your portfolio weaker.
Instead, only display the kind of work you specialize in. This increases the likelihood of scoring the types of gigs you want to work on.
Needless to say, you should also only include your strongest pieces. Quality over quantity is essential. You want to keep the viewer engaged with your work, so only display between ten and 20 pieces in your portfolio.
After all, there’s a good chance the prospect won’t have time to review tons of articles.
Top Tip: You should have both an online and an offline portfolio. In this day and age, it’s easy to overlook the power of a physical collection. These look incredibly professional if you’re going to a face to face client meeting and should help seal the deal!
Are You Ready for Freelance Success?
We hope the above advice helps you achieve freelance success. If you found this article interesting, then we’re confident you’ll love the other features over on our ‘technology‘ blog. Enjoy!
