You may also like to read:
How To Work From Home: http://sociallysam.com/how-to-work-from-home/
How To Go Freelance Without Going Broke: http://sociallysam.com/how-to-go-freelance-without-going-broke/
How To Stop Procrastinating: http://sociallysam.com/how-to-stop-procrastinating-right-now/
Create A Working Routine
Set clear working hours for yourself and enforce them on others so that your Mum doesn’t pop round for a cup of tea mid-afternoon and clients know it’s not ok to call you at 10pm. Granted now you’re freelance you can have some flexibility, but if you don’t do the work you won’t get paid so set some working hours.
Create A Working Space
Since I moved house last year and was able to have a dedicated room in the house for an office, it’s made a huge difference. It’s my room and nobody comes in unless they are invited in. It also means that I can leave the camera equipment set up, which saves me loads of time when I’m making videos. Also, I can make things in the office how I like them so that I have a better environment to work in. I also use a co-working space too for when I need a more professional office or meeting rooms. It’s also a place I can go to if I just want to escape the house and work in a different environment.
If you don’t have the luxury of a spare room or an actual office, then try to create a separate working space. Even if it’s just a desk in a corner. Having that dedicated working space means that you know when you sit down there you are in work mode. Try not to have it in your bedroom as that’s for relaxing and sleeping. And don’t use your kitchen table as a desk. I know it makes a great story when you become super successful, but, your dining table if for eating your dinner off, not working on.
Look Everywhere For Clients
Tell Everyone What You Do
and as if I don’t say this enough, but I shall say it again. If you are a friend or a family member of someone that is freelance/self-employed/micro biz or buddy entrepreneur, then please help spread the word of how amazing they are and that how worthy of being hired they are. Become their biggest cheerleaders.
Never Stop Marketing Yourself
There’s a sure thing in freelancing and it’s that it will always be feast or famine. We often go along quite happily with work coming in and clients all paying on time and we don’t think about our own marketing. And then the famine will come. A client will go bust on you owing you money or they won’t need you anymore. The incoming leads may start going slow or the phone may go quiet. This is why it’s so important to never stop marketing yourself.
A great way to market yourself is by demonstrating your skills in what you do. So if you’re a graphic designer then make sure you are posting great images and graphics. If you’re a copywriter then you should be posting amazing blog posts at least once a week. Just don’t be that social media marketing person that wants you to hire them or buy their course and their own social media looks like tumbleweed is running it.
Bonus Tip
What is your top tip for getting started as a freelancer? Let me know in the comments below.