Things You Should Know Before Freelancing
I’ve been freelancing for longer than I realised to be honest. And it’s something I am so grateful for because it’s everything I had hoped for. And since I have been doing it for quite a while now, I thought I would share some things you should know before freelancing for any of you that may be interested in freelancing full-time as well.
Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that have only recently become very popular. So there isn’t too much information out there in comparison to traditional jobs. Yet, I think freelancing is something many are considering and a pretty great market to get into right now. It allows a lot of freedoms that a traditional job would not.
But like all jobs, there are upsides and downsides to it and there is certainly a learning curve. I have learnt so much in the last few years. And I wanted to save you guys some time by sharing my experiences and lessons on this post. So, before I ramble on for too long, here are some things you should know before freelancing:
Safety And Security
One of the most important things when it comes to freelancing is safety. Since you’re working for yourself, you have to be extra careful. And if your freelance work is a service or product that is sold online, you want to be careful of scammers because they are everywhere on the internet. If someone or something sounds too good to be true, there’s a really high possibility that it probably is.
Never give anyone your personal information online, don’t send products or offer services without payment even if they promise to pay you later on. Always take at least some of the payment upfront.
There will also be a lot of people trying to negotiate prices with you because a lot of freelancers don’t have very fixed prices and that’s fine. Just make sure you’re not being taken advantage of because some people will offer ridiculously low prices which are just not worth it. In this case, it’s okay to say no. Your time or product is valuable and shouldn’t be undersold.
Ethics And Morals
Ethics and morals are something you really have to keep in mind as a freelancer. Because you don’t have anyone to answer to like a boss or something, it can sometimes be easier to take advantage of someone. And that’s why we have to remember to try to always do the right thing. If you promise to do something for someone and they have made a payment to you, do so by the date your promise. Unless there’s an emergency or something that stops you.
And of course, speak to your clients politely and with respect. You may be a pro at something but not everyone has the same level of knowledge that you do. So don’t assume that when they ask questions etc. It may seem obvious to you but it clearly isn’t to them. Which is why they’re asking. If they were an expert they wouldn’t be hiring you. So take the time to explain things to clients and speak to them well. This will also really help with keeping longterm clients, having clients that return to you or even recommend you to others.
Research
Like with all things, research is vital. You may never know everything about a topic. But when it comes to your products and services, you should know as much as possible. Also, do some research into how much others are charging for similar products and services so that you are not overcharging or undercharging. Although having slightly lower prices when you start out doesn’t hurt.
And this goes without saying but know how to create the products or know the services you offer before getting clients. I know that sounds super obvious. But you would be surprised how many people come to me begging me to fix their site because some else they had hired messed it up and then gave up and ghosted them. Seriously, please don’t take on clients if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Be Patient
Freelancing takes time and a lot of patience. Unlike established business, it obviously does take a lot of time to find clients and to have enough clients that you can freelance full-time. My advice would be to start out freelancing part-time and then when you have enough clients/sales switch to freelancing full-time.
And I always say, with freelancing you want to have multiple streams of income. If you’re only offering one really specific service or products, it’s unlikely you’ll get enough sales/clients to be able to freelance full-time. This is where the research part comes in. Take some time to figure out what is popular in your niche, what gets sales etc. And then figure out what products and/or services will work best for you. And sometimes you just have to freelance for a little while to see what is in demand and what people prefer and then make changes accordingly.
Schedule And Boundaries
When it comes to things you should know about freelancing, this is probably the most important one. Unlike traditional work, you have no one to report to and that’s why schedules and boundaries become your best friends as a freelancer. You need to make sure you have a set schedule that is realistic and that you can stick with. This will help you get all your work done because I’m not going to lie, it’s really easy to end up procrastinating as a freelancer.
And of course, boundaries are necessary because the opposite is also true. It’s also really easy to overwork yourself as a freelancer and end up with no personal time for yourself. Know when to say no, when to take breaks and how many hours of the day you want to work.
Final Thoughts
These are the things you should know before freelancing. Well at least some of them that I thought were most vital. I have lots of other tips too so if anyone is interested in those let me know in the comments and I can share them. If you have anything specific you want me to talk about when it comes to freelancing you can also leave those suggestions in the comments. And I’ll try to share those posts as soon as I can.
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