Do you dream about being a freelancer? It must be great, right? Working your own hours, being your own boss…what could be better?
Well, despite what you might have heard, it isn’t always easy being a freelancer. In fact, many problems can spring up as soon as you take the plunge into the freelancing world. Nothing is unsolvable, of course, But the truth is that some of these issues can have a severe impact on your ability to do business.
In today’s guide, we’re going to go through a few of the common problems that all freelancers will encounter when they are just getting started,. Overcome them, and you should have a successful career. Fail to do so, however, and you could struggle to make it past a few months. Let’s take a closer look.
Finding clients
Without customers, you won’t earn any money. It’s critical you have a steady supply of prospects and customers that you can rely on for work. It’s for this reason that many freelancers tend to start things slowly, while still working for an employer. Over time they will shift their focus until they have enough clients to go freelance full-time. However, bear in mind that this can take a while – and there are only so many hours in the day. But unless you are sure you have enough clients to keep paying the bills, it is often the only way to get started.
You can find clients anywhere. According to www.telegraph.co.uk , just get out there and network. Sure, there will be job ads in your local paper and on websites, but competition will be fierce. When you are just starting out, try asking family and friends if you can help out on their projects at all. It’s a great way of getting experience, and you can use the results in a portfolio. Which brings us to our next point.
Building a portfolio
You need a portfolio to attract clients, but you can’t get clients without a portfolio. It’s an enormous problem – but one you have to deal with. As we mentioned above, you can do work for families and friends. You can also speak to your old employer to ask them whether you can use past examples of your job – some will be happy to let you. As for how much work you need to put into a portfolio – well, opinion is divided. In an ideal world, you will have a minimum of twelve examples of your work, and it all has to be A+ standard.
However, don’t panic if you don’t have the numbers. There are other ways of showing off your qualities. For example, if you are a copywriter, you could show off how well you write on your blog. A web developer could talk about solving big computer issues or offer how-to guides on their blog. And a photographer can provide stunning images of the work they have done in their spare time.
An unprofessional image
One of the biggest problems you will encounter as a rookie freelancer is that many people will not take you seriously. It’s a sad truth that image and first impressions are everything in business. There are some ways to counter this, however. Let’s say you work from home. You might feel that using your home address could be a turnoff to potential prospects.
The solution? Go virtual. As yourvirtualofficelondon.co.uk point out, a virtual office can add gravitas to your business brand. Newbie freelancers should also be prepared for business at all times. Never be without your business card, and always be careful with what you are saying on social media. A few rude jokes or boasts about drunken nights out can be a complete turn off to prospective clients.
Money matters
Cash flow is critical when you are a freelancer. However, it isn’t quite as important as when you are a business owner, with staff and suppliers to pay. That said, you need to be careful about managing your money and how you price your time and services, and treat all income just as you would if you were a business owner.
Some of those earnings will need to go towards investing back into the firm. And you will need money to pay for your lifestyle. Plus, of course, you will have to pay your own taxes and insurance. You don’t want to owe HMRC a huge stack of money without having put a little aside each paycheck. In short, when times are good, you should be preparing for when times are bad. Don’t run out and spend everything, because Murphy’s Law says you will regret it.
Taking poor quality work
Poor quality work is seen as one of those things freelancers have to do to make progress. But it isn’t necessary. In fact, getting sucked in with poor paying clients has a double impact that you can’t afford to get locked into.
On the one hand, you will have to spend a lot of time working on projects for little return. And it’s time that should be spent looking for better-paying clients. But, of course, you need the money – so you are trapped in a cycle almost straight away. Try to avoid these traps. Poor paying work might be frequent, but never let it start to consume your every waking hour.
Administrative work
Another problem area for beginner freelancers is the sheer amount of admin you have to deal with. Again, this will take you away from the main aspects of being freelance – finding leads and getting paid. So, don’t be afraid of getting help. Just because you are a freelancer doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself.
Outsource basic admin duties to a virtual assistant, or hire someone to come in and do paperwork once a week. You can also hire a bookkeeper to take care of your taxes and receipts. You can even outsource your marketing – or use a call center to drum up business. There are dozens of services out there that are ideal for freelancers – so use them if it saves you time and allows you to earn more.
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