Freelancer 101
Becoming A Freelancer
One very popular and common way of earning income is becoming a freelancer. Literally thousands of people every day choose to become their own boss by working as a freelancer.
One very popular and common way of earning income is becoming a freelancer. Literally thousands of people every day choose to become their own boss by working as a freelancer. If you have a skill or talent, your services are highly needed in the internet industry and it is absolutely possible for you to make excellent money by doing what you know and love. Many website owners choose to use a freelancer for a variety of reasons, some reasons could include:
• Not enough time to do the work themselves
• They do not have the knowledge to perform the tasks
• Freelancers are often cheaper than hiring a company (Because of less overhead)
• Freelancers generally work faster
• They are too busy with other projects
These are just a few of the reasons that most business and website owners opt for a freelancer instead of a large company. Typically a freelancer is cheaper than that of a larger company for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that a freelancer has no overhead costs, generally they work out of their own home and do not have any employees they have to pay. Additionally, by working out of their own home they do not have the type of running expenses that a larger business will have, this means that they can offer clients a more competitive and cheaper price for their services.
Another excellent aspect of being a freelancer is the ability to offer high quality and personalized service to your clients. This alone can be more appealing to a client than the prices you charge. Many large businesses have so many things going on at once, that they cannot always give the personal attention that a client often wants. Additionally, they do not generally work as fast as the client would like them to. A freelancer typically only works one project at a time allowing them to quickly finish their projects in a high quality and timely fashion.
There are freelancers in a large variety of areas and if you possess specific qualities and experience the client wants you will have no troubles in finding work. There are many websites available all over the internet that are dedicated to helping freelancers find work such as scriptlance and rentacoder.
Freelancing In A Free World
Freelancing brings unmatched flexibility and in fact this is one of the most popular reasons for becoming a freelancer. Flexible working hours allows the freelancer to tailor his/her work around their life style and growing responsibilities. Another plus is that you only get paid for how long you work – overtime is actually paid! Furthermore, if you like to set your own holiday and travel time, freelance allows you the option to go on holiday two weeks, or two months – depending on your financial/business needs. Freelance work is also an excellent way to earn quick money and a good amount of it.
Generally, freelance workers earn more money at an hourly rate than their permanent counterparts. Because the recruitment process for freelance is much shorter then for permanent roles, speedy turnaround allows individuals to get in and out of a project quickly and still receive a good income from it.
Career Variety
For those individuals who like variety in the workplace, a career as a freelancer enables professionals to work on a wide range of projects for some of the leading firms in the country. Freelance work can often improve career prospects – allowing an individual to gain valuable experience on many different sector schemes while working for a variety of major companies. Another motivating factor is the desire to “test drive a company” before committing to a permanent position.
Freelance gives the candidate the opportunity to see if a particular company works for them without any long-term commitments on their part. Recognizing that this has become a preferred option for many workers, firms are now opting to initially employee candidates on a freelance basis rather then putting them through the traditional probationary period of a permanent role. Freelance can be a good option for those who want to have more control over their working environment. A highly competitive market means that there is no shortage of contracts for an individual to choose from – allowing for greater choices in where you want to work, the type of firm you want to work for, and the rate at which you’ll work – certainly a tempting proposition for many candidates in any industry.
Choosing A Freelancing Career
Freelance can be a great career move –whether done independently or in conjunction with an existing fulltime job. There are three main points to consider when making a decision to head down this particular career path. Firstly- salary: freelance workers on average do receive a reasonable rate of pay. Firms realise that they have to pay more for better solutions. With the increase in the temporary market has come a rise in options for salary payments. However, it is important to remember that freelance salaries are subject to extreme fluctuation – often a case of feast or famine. Therefore, it is crucial that jobseekers be able to plan ahead – making preparations well in advance to compensate for an uncertain income, lack of benefits, moving location or travelling expenses.
Secondly a freelancer must be able to accommodate an uncertain work environment. Freelance work often involves an extensive amount of travelling/relocating. The roles that are often offered may not always be the ideal choice for the candidate, but sometimes have to be taken due to income necessities. They must also be able to accommodate the company culture in their new job, and be flexible enough to adapt to new work practices and environments. Finally, situation – it is important for new freelancers to consider their future in realistic and planned way. Training and promotions are not often available to freelancers as many companies don’t perceive a temporary employee as a long-term investment. Consider your career goals – will freelance help you to achieve these goals – will it work against or work for your current lifestyle and future aspirations?
The Smart Choice
Freelancing and consulting are great ways to explore various career paths and revenue streams. Performing this kind of work on the side can be fulfilling, exciting and fun. Taking a chance to explore a new career, or explore the world of being your own boss is a great opportunity stretch yourself a bit. The best part is that you work for the best company ever: You, Inc. Take a chance. Do a little consulting and freelancing. You might find a whole new career is waiting!
How To Be A Freelancer In Demand
The best clients are the busy clients. Why? Because they’re the ones with successful businesses, so they have enough money to pay you. They’re also the ones who are busy enough that they really need you. And they’re the ones who are likely to have ongoing work for you.
They’re also the ones who are the easiest to keep because you know exactly what you need to do to keep them. It’s simple – just make their life easier and save them as much time as possible and they’ll come back.
It may seem like a simple thing, but it will make a big difference to clients. I know because I’ve spoken to hundreds of clients and have constantly been told how busy they are.
Here’s what three clients had to say.
“The Best Freelancer” –Emma, Editor
“The difference between the freelancer I never call again and the freelancer I call on month after month has nothing to do with writing skill. The difference is that the great freelancer gets done exactly what I need done without any hassle. If I can give her the job, forget about it, and know it’ll get done right, it will always go to her first.”
“Make it Easy for Me” -Josef, Business Manager
“I contracted someone to do an ad campaign a few months ago. They started emailing me pictures all the time. “What do you think of this for the ad?” “Could this work?” “Do you like this one?” “Hey, here’s one you’ll like.”
I don’t have time for these constant interruptions. I’m sort of glad they wanted my opinion, but do it right. Research and choose a small selection of suitable ones. Then send me those at the end of the week and ask for me to choose which one will work best. That would have been a good (and business-like) approach.”
“No Time to Waste” -George, Project Manager
“I work with some people who seem to think that the whole thing is fun and games. I sort of understand that to them it might be. They’re sitting at home and maybe time isn’t precious to them. But it is to me.
I don’t have time for long phone calls. I don’t have time to read long and detailed emails. I definitely don’t have time to read long emails where you describe how you approached the project and why you liked completing it. If it’s not on topic, I don’t need to hear it. And if it is on topic, it’s still best to keep it short and to the point.”
Making it Easy for Clients
Making a client’s life easy is simple to do. All you have to do is remember that the client is busy every time you contact them and think about how you can make it easier for them. Here’s a good example for a freelancer who was asked to send a brief overview stating the angle and content of the article.
First Example of Brief to Client
After a lot of thought and research, I have decided that the angle of the article will focus on effective ways of trading shares on a budget. I plan to cover three main topics. These will be new floats, low-cost shares, and how to reduce trading costs.
Second Example of Brief to Client
Angle: Trading Shares on a Budget
Content:
– New floats
– Low-cost shares
– Reducing trading costs
Both examples communicate the same meaning. But the example with headings and bullets is much easier to read. The busy client can learn exactly what they need to know with little more than a glance. It also has a more professional and organized look and so creates a better impression of you.
And as a final added bonus, the easiest way for the client is also the easiest and quickest way for you. So, you win a little extra time and quite possibly a long-term client.
A Final Tip
Remember that if clients seem rushed, they probably are. If clients seem stressed, they probably are. Don’t think of it as a bad thing – think of it as a great opportunity.
If you can be one of the people that makes life easier and takes away some of the stress, you’ve got yourself a client that is likely to pay you well and pay you often. And that’s what a successful freelancer needs to succeed.