When people think of an entrepreneur, often they conjure up
a founder of a newly launched startup, a veteran business owner or someone
running a franchise. But the term includes so many other folks, one being the
freelancer.
Many entrepreneurs have found success as a freelancer
providing various services including data mining, designing, producing and
writing, among others. But to build a successful, prolific freelance career,
you need more than luck and access to clients online.
Here are five key skills that will go a long way in helping
you find success:
1. Market yourself. You
might have rock-star design skills, a knack for storytelling or coveted coding
chops, but without a personal marketing strategy, no one will know you are open
for business. All good freelancers should have a robust online presence --
everything from public social media accounts (keep it professional, please) to
a personal website and a digital portfolio. Having a well-defined personal
brand can go a long way towards boosting your professionalism for both current
and future clients.
Tools: Social media
management applications such as HootSuite and Buffer help keep your online presence
organized and up to date. Custom-built websites are always best for showing yourself
off in a unique way, but LinkedIn, Wix, WordPress,
and About.me enable you to create a
professional online presence in minutes.
2. Set a schedule, goals and
expectations. Whether you're working on a last-minute project
or have all the time in the world, it is important for freelancers to establish
deadlines and manage expectations with clients. Determining what the final
product will look like, when it will be delivered and how it will be done helps
freelancers stay on track and allows clients to know what they're getting.
Tools: Visually's Project Center incorporates a custom
timeline for each project, clearly establishing deadlines and deliverables.
There is also Podio and Asana, both of which provide management tools for
collaborating with a team and staying on top of project goals.
3. Keep track of all your great ideas. At
any given point, you might be working on a number of different projects at
various stages of completion. Keeping track of all of the ideas and
inspirations associated with each one can be tough and top-notch organization
skills are a must for any freelancer's arsenal.
Tools: The gold
standard for organization tools and apps is Evernote.
No other tool has as many features, as simple of an interface,or is as easy to
use as Evernote. With full-featured integration across a variety of desktop and
mobile platforms, the tool can be accessed virtually anywhere inspiration
strikes.
4. Communicate effectively. It
sounds like a no-brainer but effective communication builds a foundation for
business success. This is even more applicable for freelancers. Going the extra
mile to stay on top of communication can help eliminate the physical distance
between you and your client. Being available via email, over phone and on video
chat is a must, but don't be afraid to also check out screen sharing apps too,
as these can be helpful for walking clients through more intricate and detailed
work.
Tools: The go-to
app for communication is Skype. Its
simplicity is unmatched and universally adored. While Skype offers basic screen
sharing, dedicated tools such as Screenhero and join.me are best for power users.
5. Follow up, build a network and grow
your freelance business. You've finished a project and sent
your invoice to the client. This might seem like the end of you and your
client's working relationship, but it's not. Follow up with the client a week
or two after the project has been delivered, and ask for feedback. If it's
positive, ask for them to recommend your work to others, endorse you on
LinkedIn or provide a short testimonial for your website or portfolio.
