How to Start Freelancing – Tips for Launching a Successful Freelance Career

Freelancing can be an incredibly rewarding way to make money online, but it can also be quite difficult if you don’t approach it in the right way. This article covers some of the most efficient ways for you to get started as a freelancer, and how you can hit the ground running right from the beginning.

Cold calling best practices

Cold calling is still a viable lead generation tactic, second only to social media

• 69% of buyers report accepting one or more cold calls
• The only way you can get better at cold calling and closing sales is to keep doing it over and over again

Conclusion

Being a freelancer can’t happen without its uncertainties, and there are roadblocks along the way to watch out for.

• Allow yourself to be inspired by other freelancers and learn from their mistakes, and you’ll be well on the path to greater success in the future.

Join popular marketplaces

There are many freelance platforms where you can win projects and make a lot of money.

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• PeoplePerHour
• It brings companies and independent professionals together for projects ranging from graphic design to programming and writing.

Writing effective cold emails

Cold emailing is contacting people you don’t know without any introduction. Contacting people you do not know through email can put your reputation on the line.

• There is a fine line between spamming people and giving them an offer they cannot refuse.

Do your research

When it comes to your prospect, you should know as much as possible about them

• If you understand who they are and what their interests are, you can strike up a conversation that will give off the impression that you know all there is to know about them

Is freelancing right for you?

It takes time to gain the confidence of potential clients and win their trust.

• If you want to work with big companies or internationally famous people, this process is even harder.
• As someone who has worked both as a freelancer and an in-house professional, I know that things aren’t always as straightforward as they might first appear.

Make sure you want to work for yourself

You need to be independent

• No one to assign tasks or remind you when they’re not completed
• Need to market yourself and still have time to work on the projects you love
• If you’ve never worked in this role before, it can be a tough and isolating experience

Network with other people in your industry

Don’t just ask your friends and family for work – this is a good way to burn bridges and to get into the habit of waiting for others to give you work.

• Engage with people in the industry and come up with ways you can help each other out.

Collaborate with other agencies or freelancers

The best way to collaborate with other freelancers and agencies is by establishing good relationships

• Create a network of freelancers with different skills
• Think about new people who might provide great value for your business and vice versa

Learn as much as you can about them

Asking someone to work with you can be a little daunting, especially if you don’t know them personally at all, so it’s best to have some information about them beforehand

Introduce yourself as the solution to their problem

Create a list of their pains and the ways you can solve them if they choose your product or service

Build a connection before selling to your prospect

Give them background information about your company or service.

Use the same collaboration tools

You might be working in a completely different field and collaborate with someone who is miles away.

Feedback

Always ask for feedback

• This should never be seen as criticism or a personal attack. It’s simply feedback on how you worked on the project.
• The person you worked with may have ideas on how they would work differently in the future too.

How to Find Freelance Clients

Show potential clients how you do business to look more professional and respectable

• Craft, creativity, and promotion are all equally important
• Get more freelance clients, whether you’re just starting out or looking for new approaches

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