Freelance Is The New Full Time
With so many unemployed workers being forced into freelance positions, CNN says “Freelance is the new full-time, ” Freelancing is a viable option for many skilled workers who have been laid off by their employers. Use these success tips to build and sustain your business:
1.
“Find a niche, and make sure your network (even friends and family) know exactly what you do and how you'd like to be talked about,” advises Caroline Ceniza-Levine, who was once a Fortune 500 recruiter. She says, “I am a career coach, and one of my specialties is working with students and early-career professionals. I get referrals because people know exactly what to refer me for.“
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Be persistent. Bob Gallup, a Program Management and User Experience Design consultant, says, “Success does not come from a single project, and, of course, neither does failure. Successful freelancers keep at it day after day, surmounting obstacles and celebrating victories.” Bob has leveraged his experience as an employee of a global tech company, into consulting. He recently launched Bobasoba; a startup to design and develop mobile applications.
3.
“Take care in your relationships with others,” advises Lori Bamber, a former financial planning executive. As a successful freelance business writer for Canada's leading newspaper, she encourages other freelancers to remember that every interaction you have with another human being represents potential opportunities. She says, “Being consistently professional, positive, reliable, courteous and present to other people's needs, ensures they will look forward to working with you. Over the course of a career this can pay immense dividends.”
4. “
Do your best work on EVERY job, no matter how small and your clients will recommend you to others and hire you again” advises Desiree Seebaran: a former editor for a national paper in Trinidad. She has been a freelance journalist and photographer for the past two years, and she says this strategy has helped her get her best jobs.
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Do your homework. Jamie Nacht Farrell, a former vice president of sales and marketing at a US college, who now consults to organization in higher education as well as startups, advises, “Research the industry; don't just use "best practices." They differ by industry...Research the customer and BE the customer.”
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“Keep track of your time on a project.” Michael Nichols, a former conductor who now freelances as a WordPress developer, says this will allow you to more accurately estimate the time required for future projects so your quotations will be fair to both you and your client.
Pitfalls to Avoid
1.
“Take care not to undervalue your work,” cautions Bamber: “When assignments are scarce, it can be very tempting to take on assignments that are poorly paid. Unfortunately, when you do, you've just lowered your value in the marketplace and in your own mind.” In addition, “It's inevitable that you'll feel some resentment as you complete that work and won't bring your best to the task.” Bamber advises against taking on low-paying work unless there is some compelling reason -- it's for a nonprofit you support, for example. “Find other ways to pay the bills if necessary,“ she says, “but don't devalue your art or craft.”
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Don’t work on something you don't believe in - “It will show,” says Farrell. Align your work with your values.
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Poor contracting can cause big failures. Gallup says one of the pitfalls of contracting is lack of clarity; both in understanding your client and in the work you do: “Take the time to ask questions, be clear with your client about their needs, what you can provide them, and be sure to communicate regularly.” He says it can be tempting to smile and nod when you're discussing a project, thinking to yourself ‘I'll figure out exactly what to do later,’ but “that will almost certainly lead to failure.”
Make sure you have a signed contract before starting a project, and keep records of all your correspondence to avoid any disputes during the project or after completion. I recently contracted a freelancer through Guru.com, and all the correspondence was done by email through their website. When the freelancer failed to meet his contractual obligations, I ended the contract, and because everything was documented, I have full support from Guru.com.
The biggest mistake I see freelancers make; is starting a shiny new business, in a new industry, and ignoring all the experience and skills in their branding, that made them successful in the first place.
If you are approaching a new client, and they don’t know who you are, or what you do, they want to know what your track record is. Build your Brand. What makes you stand out in the marketplace? Why should people hire you? Don’t be generic.
My advice is to start where you are and grow from there. Make sure your target market knows what you’ve accomplished in the past, and what your company stands for. Use your knowledge, expertise, and connections, to make the transition into consulting. Your potential customer is looking for signs of competency and credibility.
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