Freelancing has been appealing for a while, but the COVID-19 epidemic has brought it to the limelight. The workforce is growing more spread across industries, and for many people, freelancing is the solution. In 2020, the independent workforce generated $1.2 trillion in revenue, accounting for one-third of all American workers.
An increasing number of these self-employed experts are also choosing to quit their day jobs and work as freelancers full-time. A whopping 4 out of 10 people use their abilities only as independent workers, an 8% rise over the number of freelancers in 2019.
Even while the appeal of working for yourself might be obvious, switching careers completely can be scary. Many potential independent professionals question how to launch a successful freelancing career so they may permanently leave their full-time employment.
Moreover, we’ve prepared some recommendations to help independent workers in achieving the freelancing success tips they seek, regardless of whether someone is interested in supplementing their regular employment or wants to run a freelance business full-time. Freelancers must read these tips before hunting clients.
It’s natural to draught a fantastic résumé, post it on a global job board, and wait for the magic to come. However, sometimes that is not enough.
What specifically do you need to know then, when looking for a job? Here are a few tips for Freelancers must read these tips before hunting clients.
Tips for freelancers before hunting clients
Prepare to show your work
If they don’t want a summary of my professional background, what precisely are they looking for? Samples. There are several examples.
Prospective freelancing clients are more eager to witness your knowledge in action than they are to hear about it. As a result, invest more effort into posting work examples that you’re happy with rather than spending hours refining your CV. Your willingness to share those will be much increased.
Highlight your value
In every job hunt, you need to highlight your strengths. It may sound self-serving, but clients, like any employer, are more interested in what you can do for them than what you can do for them.
This means that you should repress the need to list all the advantages of working for yourself as a freelancer and instead concentrate on how you can assist them.
- Will you help them in increasing the number of people that frequent their blog?
- Do they possess the skills necessary to produce eye-catching product photography?
- By improving their website, may they raise their search engine rankings?
- Whatever you have to offer, be sure to highlight the positive results of your efforts for the potential customer. It’s good to be less self-serving.
Keep it brief and sweet.
The majority of employers employing freelancers are busy. Keep your pitch short and to the point while describing why you’re the perfect candidate for the job and how.
Make it easy for employers to quickly scan your key points and see why they should hire you. If you have a website for your portfolio, make sure it is easy to navigate and has a range of work samples.
Request client testimonials or recommendations.
It’s common knowledge that when looking for a job, it’s not about what you know but about whom you know. The truth is that it has considerable value, especially for freelancers. There is no better group of supporters for you than your previous clients (provided they were happy with your work, of course). In light of this, it makes sense to utilize them as a source of information and a portal for fresh chances.
Ask them in an email if they would be prepared to point you in the direction of other choices. It’s a great method to get freelance work that’s quick, simple, and sets you apart from the competition straight immediately.
Ask your past clients to provide a stellar testimonial if they can’t recommend you to anyone for you.
Improve your strategy
The basic strategy for all job searches on UPWORK and FIVER etc. You’ve probably heard that you should customize your CV for each position you apply for if you’ve ever conducted a traditional job search. Even while you won’t be giving out resumes as a freelancer, the advice to personalize your approach still holds.
I am aware of how tempting it might be to send out impersonal emails with subject lines like, “Here’s what I offer; please pay me to do it for you.” But ultimately, such an approach turns out to be useless.
Researching opportunities, you’re interested in, determining whom to contact about those opportunities, and then delivering a well-written, the message is all far superior strategies.
Take pride in your presence online.
If you’ve been living under a rock, we have some terrible news for you: when you’re searching for a job (whether it’s traditional or freelancing), people will look you up online. It’ll probably be one of their initial actions.
When applying for freelance projects where you’ll be working, communicating, and engaging with clients mostly online, it’s crucial to establish a professional online presence.
Spend a few minutes right now cleaning up your public profiles on LinkedIn and deleting anything offensive or unprofessional. You don’t want it to be the hurdle keeping you from landing the job of your dreams, after all.
Learn the art of following up.
Isn’t it true that if everyone replied to your first email, the world would be a better place? Although something sounds wonderful, it is also untrue. In every kind of job search, you must be prepared to politely follow up after your initial conversation, pitch, or application. Especially if you’re a freelancer, it’s all a part of the process.
I suggest utilizing a spreadsheet, Trello board, or even a handwritten note to keep track of when you applied for jobs and whom you contacted. This will help you decide when it’s appropriate to check in again.
Be advised: don’t follow up for at least a week after your initial contact. Anything before that comes out as excessively eager and, to be quite honest, a little annoying.
Freelance employment requires you to constantly be on the lookout for new opportunities, which might make your work seem like an endless job hunt. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be as challenging as it seems. Use these strategies, and you’ll have a lot better luck finding fantastic freelance jobs—without the anxiety that comes with conventional job searching.
Employ job alerts
You may do this on job boards and LinkedIn. You’ll see a “Job Alert” button on LinkedIn when you’ve finished your job search; click it to sign up for job notifications for related employment. There is a comparable feature on employment boards.
Keep your present clientele on your side.
It’s essential to prevent your current customers from leaving. Your reputation as a freelancer is established via customer recommendations. If you want to maintain your clients and expand their range, it’s imperative to keep them updated about your efforts. Additionally, avoid submitting work after the due date has gone.
Additionally, always act with kindness and compassion while interacting with them. Your reputation and image are greatly impacted by this.
Investigate Your Clients
Do some homework before pitching someone or submitting a freelance employment application. You may prevent potential customer problems by conducting some online research or communicating with your network.
