5 Things Every Freelancer should remember

The freelancing world is different from the usual corporate world on a lot of platforms. Work is not handed to you, you have to find it. You are solely responsible for marketing and promoting yourself and your capabilities and that is a hectic task.

In this career-choice you are the CEO of a virtual firm and that firm is you. So you need to work on all managerial and networking skills in order to grow and succeed.

It is imperative for both the newcomers and experienced freelancers to always keep certain things in mind to succeed in this arena.

Here are few pointers to always keep in mind.

 

 

 

 

1. Don’t expect too much too soon

 

See the equation to the right? It is the key to preventing failure in all aspects of life.

If you expect that you will be a freelance king in your field in a week, you’re in for disappointment. Things move slow in this world people, so adjust to the pace and the rewards will come gradually.

Planning your growth is key point to focus on here.

As they say, “You got to be the man with a plan”.

 

 

2. Marketing your skill is very important

Your workplace had a separate marketing and advertising department. Over here, that department has only one employee and that is you.

Networking with people in the form of promoting your skill and yourself will help you build a strong reputation which cements with time.

In the online world, your connections and network is what brings more people and more prospective employers to you. This is an on-going process and mustn’t stop as it takes time to generate effects.

 

3. You still have to be professional

If you’re thinking that freelancing allows you to be informal you are wrong.

Yes, it simplifies your life in a lot of ways when you are working from your own home base but professionalism matters even more in this field as literally nobody knows who you are.

You are heavily reliant on your professional courtesy which is expressed by being polite and firm in your proposals, bids, pricing and discussions. You have to follow and deliver on your deadlines or else you get perceived as ignorant and ambiguous.

 

So do not lose your professional attitude.

4. Networking is more important than income

Always remember that people and contacts are more important than a good income in the freelancing world.

Now you must be thinking why that is.

People here often forget the connection between networking and net-income.

You see, the more people know you and are connected to your network, the more traffic tends to divert your way, generating more possibilities of work and hence a greater income.

 

So my friends, build a strong network, money will come.

 

5. Patience is the bottom line

Patience has been known for a long time to be the strongest virtue a person can have.

 

This fact couldn’t be more right. Many people are quick in giving up and quitting the freelance platform to find better avenues with quicker results. Such people are short-sighted and lack patience.

 

Try not to be like that because you shouldn’t be. You know your skills and should remember without a good struggle there is no joy in success.

Being patient in freelancing can be very rewarding because the gestation period may be slow but in time the growth spurts will occur taking you where you have wanted to be.

 

Remember, the more you persevere, the more you will learn and the more you will grow. Don’t give up, the opportunities are immense just give yourself time and plan your steps for it’s the small steps which take you upstairs.