How to Become a Freelancer
Diving into the world of freelancing is one of the most daunting ventures available in the communications industry, and mainly for one reason: it’s all on you. Getting clients, delivering results, meeting deadlines—it all falls on your shoulders. But, for this precise reason, it can be some of the most rewarding work you’ll do in your career. Whether you are branching out on your own completely or looking for a source of income in addition to your current state, there are so many enticing aspects of flying solo. To name a few, you will have a flexible schedule pertaining to the amount of work you choose to take on, your work goes where you want it to versus being constricted to the walls of an office, and it allows you to fully explore your diverse skill set beyond what your current position may be asking of you. Plus, there are so many different needs for freelancers. Whether it be graphic and/or web design, branding efforts, social media management, or writing, there’s sure to be a client out there with a problem you can help solve.
If being an independent freelancer sounds like a viable option for you, here’s some advice to help get you started:
1) Brand Yo’self
If this isn’t seeded in your brain by now, it should be: your brand is everything. And yes, this applies to you as a freelancer! First, you need to valuate your abilities—both hard and soft skills—and determine what you can bring to the table and offer to a client. This is where you can explore other options past your daily work tasks and really hone in on your complete set of skills. Another good tip from fellow freelancer Emil Lamprecht, is to do research on the market you’re in and your direct competitors—notably how you can hone in on what sets you apart from the competition and what you can do better.
Next, it’s time to develop and strengthen your online presence. Build yourself a website; Squarespace offers beautiful, easily editable websites for a fair price. Beef up your social media, and be active across the board. This means Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Behance, —the whole 9 yards. Not only does this give you a platform to showcase your work and add some legitimacy to your claim as a freelancer, but it makes you easily searchable and discoverable for future potential clients.
2) Be the Answer to Somebody’s Problem
When it comes to finding clients, there are several ways to attack this. For me, and in most cases, your network of connections and relationships will be your biggest asset. Take every opportunity offered to you. The majority of my freelance work has stemmed from a request in a connection’s network needing some work done and looking for someone who knows a guy, who maybe knows a guy. Be “that guy.” On top of this, don’t be afraid to pitch—a business in need doesn’t know what you can offer until you offer it. Sites like Upwork offer a platform to find freelancers and freelance jobs. Also, organizations within your industry and network (HELLO PRSSA!) are full of potential opportunity as a freelancer.
3) Do the Dirty Work
When starting out, it’s key to realize that you’ll have to earn your place as a freelancer. In certain situations this may mean doing pro bono work, but the point is to not expect to get rich quick and charge top dollar for your services at first. Your initial collection of clients are more for developing your freelance brand than they are a big pay day— don’t worry, that time will come. Understand that you may have to give more than you take in the beginning, but this is how you build a killer portfolio and a vast network of immediate connections, both of which will help you score future clients down the road. Keep in mind, the more work you do the more work will come your way.
4) Be Particular
Because you’re working solo as a freelancer, it’s so important to be on top of all the little details. This ranges from setting up initial client meetings, evaluating a reasonable deadline and keeping communication with your client throughout the process. It’s also extra important to be on top of your timeline and to always meet your deadlines. Many suggest adding a contract into the deal to ensure both parties leave satisfied and know what to expect going in. As a provided guideline from Digital Freelancer, your contract should outline:
- The work that you produce is original and not plagiarized.
- The client’s proprietary information stays confidential.
- Your payments terms (how much you’ll get paid and when during the process)
- That once the client accepts the completed work, they accept full responsibility for any further processes in which the work is used (e.g. printing, putting logo to use, etc.)
- Both you and the client has the right to terminate the services, and what that entails for you both.
5) Go the Extra Mile
Lastly, I leave you with this: always go the extra mile for your client. Don’t approach freelancing as simply just a side gig, but make it a priority. If a client asks for A, B and C, give them D, E and F too. This is how you become memorable, and is a sure way to up your word of mouth potential when it comes to getting new work. As I said before, your network will be your strongest ally in freelancing. Because of this, you have to ensure the work you supply is a true representation of the kind of work you’re capable of. You never know who you’ll run into down the road and what will stick out about you in their memory.
About Sam
Sam Tyrrell is a senior at GVSU graduating December 2017 with a B.B.A. in Marketing accompanied by a minor in Advertising & Public Relations. With a passion for design, he thrives when working with clients in bringing ideas to life. In addition to his work with GrandPR and the 2017 PRSSA Bateman Competition, Sam is a freelance designer, an active member of PRSSA and has held invaluable internship positions with organizations like Extra Credit Projects, Atlas EPS, and the West Michigan Tourist Association.