So You Want to be a Freelancer? Here's How!
Copyright 2004 Vishal P. Rao
Not that long ago, freelancing was something people did mainly
in larger metropolitan areas where work for writers, artists,
and other creative types was plentiful and easily accessible.
Today, however, the freelance landscape has dramatically
changed.
For one, you can live practically anywhere in the world and
still be able to maintain a successful freelance career. Not to
mention that the creative fields aren't the only areas where
freelancing is popular any more.
Today, accountants, trainers, computer technicians, etc. are all
able to earn a living as freelancers. Regardless of the
freelancing field you are interested in, there are some
important things you should know that will help you get started
and get successful.
Before we discuss those, however, we need to talk briefly about
the pros and the cons of being a freelancer. You need to know
both sides before you make your decision so you truly understand
what you're getting into.
Freelancer Pros
1. You set your own schedule As a freelancer, you get to
determine what time you get out of bed and what time you turn in
at night. You get to decide how much vacation time you can
afford to take this year and you can elect to skip work one
afternoon to spend time with your children.
2. You don't work for a boss Even though you are answerable to
your clients, they don't wield the same power over your life
that a boss does. Yes, they can fire you, but you can also quit
working for them if things get too difficult.
3. You determine how much you earn While a conventional job pays
a set amount of money regardless of how hard you work (and in
some cases how long you work), freelancing allows you to make
practically any amount of money that you wish because you
determine how much your services cost and how many jobs you take
on at one time.
4. You are able to work from your own office Whether you prefer
working in a home office or renting space somewhere to do your
business, you are in charge of designing and maintaining your
own comfortable office. You get to pick the people you work
with. You get to pick the type of computer, post-it notes, and
bottled water that you use on a daily basis also.
Freelancers Cons
1. You can become overworked quickly When you start working
steadily as a freelancer, it becomes nearly impossible for you
to truly take a vacation. You have projects and clients that
need your constant attention, so being gone or getting sick even
for a day can put you behind schedule.
2. You have to deal with clients who can be more difficult than
bosses Most of the clients freelancers work with are genuinely
good people, but there are others out there that are not. Every
freelancer has probably been ripped off by a client at one time
or another, even if they take steps to protect themselves.
3. You don't have a steady income Unless you have one or two
truly constant streams of work, you can expect your income to
fluctuate dramatically. Some months you may feel like you struck
the lottery while others may make you think you're heading for
the food stamp line, especially when you are starting out.
4. You don't have a way to separate work from home life If you
have a home office, you may find it difficult to recognize the
difference between being at home and being at work which means
that while your watching television or eating dinner you may
begin to feel like you're actually still on the job.
As you can see, each positive has a negative aspect as well.
However, many of these negatives can be easily handled once you
have experience as a freelancer, but to get to that point, you
need to know how to get started.
Find Something You Enjoy Doing
This is critical to your success. If you don't already have
something in mind to do as a freelancer, you need to be sure
that you pick an activity that you truly love. Remember, you
will be doing this type of work every day. Also, the more you
enjoy your work, the more passionate you are about it. Potential
clients will spot that passion and will be more inclined to work
with you.
Save Some Money
Most freelancers actually start out as conventional 9-5 workers.
In fact, many of them maintain their full-time jobs in addition
to their freelance work for the sake of a stable income, health
insurance, or other benefits. If you choose to go freelance
full-time, however, you need to be sure to have a comfortable
nest egg in the bank. Most experts agree that you should have
enough money in your savings to cover six months worth of your
basic necessities. If that sounds impossible, then try juggling
some freelance work with your regular job for awhile. Save up
all of the money you earn from your freelance work and use that
as your nest egg.
Start Finding Clients Today
One mistake that freelancers often make is that think they can
only start networking and marketing their services after they've
gotten started. The truth is that if you're considering becoming
a freelancer, now is the time to start networking and marketing.
Let people know that you are thinking about going solo and get
their reactions. Start building a database of possible job
leads. In fact, you may want to line up some work beforehand so
you can be sure of having an income initially.
Be Prepared
Most potential clients will want to see references and/or
samples of your work before they give you a project. You need to
have these prepared in advance. Don't wait until someone calls
to possibly offer you a project to get your portfolio in order
or to line up some qualified references. Have those ready to
dispatch as soon as you get off the phone or finish the email.
Find an Accountant
The most difficult part of freelancing can be the handling the
financial aspects: tracking invoices, staying on top of bills,
figuring your yearly taxes, etc. Unless you are already skilled
in accounting, you need to find someone to help you out with
this from the beginning. It makes it much simpler for you and
for the accountant.
Start a Web Site
Use the Internet to your advantage. Create a
professional-looking but simple web site advertising your
experience and your services, then place it on the Internet.
It's one of the best ways of attracting new clients.
These suggestions will help you start your freelancing career on
the right foot, but the most important key to your success will
be your perseverance. If you give up easily or don't follow
through with things, you may never truly make it as a
freelancer. You must be able to take rejection. You must be
self-motivated, and you must be persistent. Only then will you
be able to experience firsthand all of the benefits of being a
modern freelancer.
Useful sites:
http://www.elance.com/ http://www.guru.com/
http://www.allfreelance.com/