10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Freelancing

Things I knew before freelancing

Having lived a corporate life for 15 years, I believed it would be great to be my own boss and set my own work times. I thought of testing waters as a freelancer after tying the knot as I wanted to ensure I spent enough time at home.

Though I made the decision to freelance, based on the little I knew. It was not a well-planned move. Surely you must have done something like that; else you would not be reading this.

I did not know the number of hours required to complete a job, or the payment terms, as I was content getting projects. Without a mentor, things were difficult. Lack of information made things difficult and jumped in unprepared. Here are the 10 things I wish I knew before freelancing.

• Mentor or guide

Initially, I knew a few things about freelancing; not knowing how to withdraw funds from PayPal or Skrill (never required it during corporate life). Clients often ran away with payments for the assignments completed.

I sought advice from my husband regarding a few things or at times when I was low and needed some motivation. It is best to research and seek a mentor who can be your guide.

• Padding work hours

I constantly placed bids and struggled, completing jobs without contemplating each job had a different workflow and may require some extra time to accommodate proofreading and a few other things that were unpredictable.

Over time, I began projecting extra hours to account for the unpredictable. This helped me and the clients to set the right expectations and an achievable timeline.

• Never work for free

When I began working, I wrote sample articles wherein some clients did not pay for them. They claimed the articles were not up to the mark or they simply did not want to pay. Some suggested articles would spruce my portfolio.
I happen to search Google for my articles, this helped me to get the pay for those published (though they were not in my name).

• Set work hours

Having a number of jobs and working relentlessly for up to 18 hours a day, jumping from project-to-project without focus, burned me out most of the time. I began refusing a few well-paying clients and took a few days off work. However, this did not work. I was busy, but not efficient or productive.

As a freelancer, I overlooked the leverage to work out my day and choose the number of clients I wish to work with. It is best to say ‘No’ to be efficient and productive. Now, I work a few hours every day and split my time 4 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening.
I heard about the Pomodoro technique of time management which helped me a lot.

• Charge more; ensure you are comfortable

Talking money makes me uncomfortable. Charging less will be an injustice to other freelancers. I did a constant research on the prices freelancers were charging. Constant encouragement and advice from my partner helped set a price based on my skills. I increase the rates every year now as I get new clients.

• Do not work, until the client makes a bank deposit

Ensure the client will make a deposit in your bank account before you begin work. Make sure your bid/contract stipulates that you will not begin work until an initial deposit has been made in the account. It is important to be protective of your work and time.

• Use bookkeeping and invoicing

Bookkeeping will help you manage your projects and forecast your goals, ensure your payments from several clients. With the tools like Excel and software in place, you will spend less time managing it. It frees up your time to work better.

• Carve time for your own projects

Give time to your own projects; experiment, read or learn new things. Free up your time to build a personal website and manage it or create a professional looking LinkedIn profile, as it may serve as a great resource for jobs.

• Work with freelancing job sites

Look for freelance jobs on sites like Upwork or Freelancer, it was a great experience. Initially, I was hesitant, however, the secured payments boost my confidence.

The process may seem frustrating, however, there are several tips to win the bid. It is important to follow instructions mentioned in the project, pick projects carefully and choose the ones that excite you, not anything at random. Add some personality to your bid and covering letter, add proof and samples, bid higher.

You must try new projects and it is a great way to test the waters and learn more, however, do this with caution; do not overdo this. I believe in taking action, even if it is imperfect.

• Do not depend on one client

Work with several clients instead of just one. Today, though there are several different clients I work with, it is dry occasionally. It is a good practice to look for new projects and work on them, even if they are minor projects. Let go of low paying clients, do not fear losing work at the cost of quality.

You will have to find new different clients all the time who pay better to ensure you get a steady paycheck. Line up work constantly so in case a contract ends you still have projects to work on.

A time came when I realized my mistakes and understood the difference between being productive and busy. I learned to focus on just three or four things on my to-do list and found it was difficult to multi-task as it took longer to complete the tasks. Now, I focus and get things done, giving 100%, take my nap and get my 8 hours of sleep. I have set my priorities. How about you? This is everything I learned. Did you experience anything different and would like to add.? Share in the comments.
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Today you can get help is here, consultants, independent contractors, the self-employed, “solopreneurs,” and everyone else living a freelancer’s life will never be unknown. Be a part of a strong and vibrant community. I recommend you buy and read the book by Sara Horowitz. It’s the one-stop, all-encompassing guide to the challenge of being a nimble, flexible, and successful freelancer: the three essentials of getting clients and the three most important ways to keep them happy and achieving financial freedom.
Here is another book worth reading if you want to be a freelance writer. This essential guide by Zachary Petit will work as a road-map to a fruitful and rewarding freelance life.