10 Ways To Put Your Freelance Career On The Fast Track

A growing number of professionals are becoming freelancers, to work on their own terms and live their dreams. India has the second highest number of freelancers in the world, about 15 million of those are skilled women freelancers.

There is a large group of skilled women in India who can’t go out and work because of family obligations and social factors, even after earning a professional, master’s or a Ph.D. Then there are women who drop out of the workforce after marriage, or after having a child. Two factors that have often brought the careers of many women professionals to an abrupt halt. Now, technology is reversing that trend, and helping women regain lost professional ground. There is an increasing number of freelancers now. However, this also gives rise to intense competition, and to get the job you must always stay on top of the game.

These 10 simple tips can help you ace it:

1. Be present online, and showcase your work: The internet is the land of opportunities, especially for those leaving their full time jobs to start their own ventures. However, this naturally means that there’s a lot of competition out there as well. So make your work stand out from the average crowd. Establish yourself as a reliable source of high quality services, and then there will be no limit to what you can achieve as a freelancer. This is why it is absolutely critical for every freelancer to have their own website, where they can showcase their real talent.

2. Write blogs, it helps build inward links: “I’ve always had a personal blog,  it’s helped to give me the confidence to pitch my work, and in turn, give readers a place to find my work,” said Alisha Tillery, a freelance writer and journalist. With work appearing in Ebony, Essence, Cosmopolitan, and Clutch, Tillery still makes time to craft thoughtful blog posts for her personal website. A blog offers her space to express herself in a way that’s just not possible on Twitter or Facebook.

A blog is a great space for stories that don’t get the chance to be told for one reason or another: a rejected pitch can be salvaged into a post, for example. Writing blogs also helps at viral reach, generate social media engagement and higher SEO rankings, and —if you’re a freelancer—conversion from hits to a paycheck.

3. Be transparent with your client: Don’t promise what you can’t do. Don’t tell your client that a project will cost an ‘X’ amount first and then have “hidden” charges at the end. This will not only surprise the client but you run a big risk of losing out on  business with him in the future too. Be transparent, and honest with your client, give them all the information you have. If you have made any mistake during the project, inform the client about it too.

4. Write notes during  meetings: Don’t rely on your memory alone. We can only memorize 20-30% of what was discussed after 10 minutes. We can get so engaged in conversations during meetings that we forget to make notes, and miss many crucial points. So, write notes. This will also be handy while sending the minutes of the meeting to your client.

5. Go out, and network: Networking is one of the keys to get more work. Who knows you might meet someone looking out to have a website or a logo designed,  or want digital marketing help, even at a boring party? When I attended my first networking meet, I  felt like a fish out of water. I wore shorts and a t-shirt, I didn’t have any business cards, nor did I have any idea what I was doing. And everyone else was in suits. Talk about embarrassing! I eventually figured out how to make the most of these events. Networking mixers, can feel awkward initially but soon you will figure out the whole thing.

6. Keep your portfolio handy: Clients need to see your work quickly, so it is extremely important to keep your work handy. Keep a well made portfolio, on the devices you carry, including your smartphone.

7. Respond to requests quickly: When you come across an enquiry, respond immediately with the relevant details and a link to your online portfolio. Do ask for an early appointment, in 90% of the cases the person who responds first gets the job!   

8. Upsell when you can: Let me caution you first; freelancing has an unwritten rule of working within the brief given by the client. Earn their trust, get the job done first and then suggest improvements.

9. Social Media is a place to connect, use it well: In today’s world of digital marketing, social media presence matters,  more so for a freelancer to get business. Listen to your clients, their competitors, industry leaders, and the general public. Join and participate actively in relevant groups on Facebook and Linkedin. Observe hashtags on twitter and join the conversation. Your freelance career will be much easier if you keep your ear and eyes open.

10. Leave home: Last but certainly not the least, stop working from home!  I understand you have responsibilities, but when you only work from home you are in a silo, and can miss out on opportunities.  Moreover, it just doesn’t look professional enough to call someone home for for a meeting. Cafés are noisy and you won’t be able to focus on your work. Instead, find a co-working space. CoWorking spaces are ideal for a freelancer, you get  the advantage of a cool work environment, which offers you opportunity to network, find mentors, attend events and make friends!

Guest Author Neeraj Mehta: He started an online travel company when he was 19 years old and has been a part of prestigious Startup Chile program, Chile and Startup Wise Guys at Tallinn, Estonia. He has been a speaker at SXSW Interactive Festival 2013 Austin, TX and was nominated for the Young Creative Entrepreneur Award of the Year 2012 from pr British Council. He was also in the list of Entrepreneurs to watch in 2015 by BBC. He is  Co-Founder, and Business Head  RockYourPaper.