Whether you're just about to embark on your professional career, or have been in work for a number of years, there may come a time when you consider breaking out from the the norm and going out on your own.
Freelancing isn't for everyone, and some find the lack of a fixed routine and steady income too daunting a prospect, but for others it's a way to break free and indulge yourself in something you love doing.
This is especially true in digital, where contract jobs are more popular than other sectors, and everything takes place online. So if this sounds like you - you're in luck! We've put together a few tips on taking your first steps to becoming a digital freelancer - check them out below!
1) Create A Portfolio
When you go freelance, the first thing people will ask you for (perhaps after the price) is examples of your work. This is the perfect chance to really sell yourself to a potential client - you want it to be as professional and eye-catching as possible.
Find a good platform online to showcase your work in a smooth, easy-to-navigate style, or better still, host your work on your own website.
Also, it's important not to bombard your potential clients with too much information (they're very busy people!), so make sure you only include your best work and some simple contact details. Also leave room for testimonials - people are more likely to work with you if you've been recommended.
2) Build Your Own Office
As you'll probably be doing a lot of work at home, you need to make sure that you have a quiet, distraction-free working environment in which you can crack on with your projects.
No matter where you call your office: a corner of the living room, the local coffee house or the spare room, make sure you work in a place where you can concentrate, and somewhere that gets the creative juices flowing.
3) Be Organised
When you go freelance, all responsibility comes down to you, and it's only up to you to chase invoices, plan your time accordingly, get projects done to deadline and ensure clients are kept fully up-to-date during the entire project.
Make sure you're constantly updating your calendar, filing correspondence with clients in some sort of order and planning your day at the start of every morning to avoid getting caught out and being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work you need to do.
4) Set The Right Price
As a freelancer, you'll probably be quoting different prices for different projects, but it's important to always have a basic idea of what you want to charge for your services in the back of your mind.
Don't make the mistake of underselling yourself, as clients will normally be looking for the person who can do the best job, not necessarily the person who is the cheapest. If you go in too low, you're effectively saying your service isn't worth as much as other bidders, therefore it won't be of as high a standard, which is definitely not the message you want to get across!
5) Be Realistic
While it's great being your own boss, the flow of income isn't always steady. You'll have some great months, and some not-so-great months. The important thing is to budget appropriately for this.
There might be times when work dries up, so it's a good idea to save during those amazingly busy months to make sure you're not left out of pocket when it's a lot quieter.
So there we go, some tips on how to become a great digital freelancer!
Are you a freelancer and have some to share? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @BubbleJobs!
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