Creating accounts on a bunch of freelance platforms won’t help you find success as a freelancer. If you are looking for advice on how to get more clients without waiting for a long time, you are at the right place.
Keep reading to find twelve tips that will help you develop a personalized plan to achieve your goals in no time.
1. Write Down Your Financial Goals
Being clear about your financial goals will ensure that you don’t undersell your skills online. The better you know about your desires and the value of your skillset, the easier it will be to achieve your financial goals.
The easiest way of identifying your financial goals is by developing a proper financial plan. Write down how much money you have and what your earning goals are, so you can develop a realistic financial plan that suits your specific needs.
2. Buy an Insurance Plan
No matter how many clients you have, you can never avoid the possibility of losing your clients because of some health or other problem.
Getting freelancer insurance is a simple way to avoid problems in the long run. Go online to compare different insurance plans to choose the one which suits you most.
3. Don’t Shy Away from Networking
Having a strong network will allow you to land more clients faster and get actionable advice from fellow freelancers.
Contrary to the popular misconception, you don’t need to invest a lot of your time in growing your network. Allocating some time from your daily routine to networking efforts will help you boost your network in a short time.
It’s better to explore in-person networking events so you can meet with people and develop stronger connections. However, if you cannot participate in physical networking events, you should consider participating in online events to save time.
4. Develop Your Brand
Branding is something important you cannot overlook as a freelancer. No matter how skilled you are, if you don’t have a strong brand, you won’t be able to win more clients and achieve the financial goals you set for yourself.
This is why you need to invest more time and effort in building your brand. The simplest way to get started with personal branding is by developing your website.
Having a website will help you make a good “first impression” on your clients. You don’t need to be a “website developer” to create your website. There’s a plethora of online guides that can help you learn how to develop your website in a short time.
5. Keep Learning New Skills
It won’t be easy for you to keep yourself “relatable” in the fast-pacing freelance marketplace if you don’t have in-demand skills. You will have to keep your skillset updated according to the trends so you can win more clients.
Apart from working on your projects, you need to allocate time from your daily routine to learn new skills.
Taking online courses is the simplest way to develop new skills in a short time. However, if you want to grow your professional network along with your skills, you should consider joining in-person courses.
6. Learn a New Language
Breaking into new markets is a great way to find more clients in a short time. To simplify your client acquisition in new markets, you should learn more languages.
Being proficient in different languages will help you interact with clients the right way. Other than that, it will also help you understand the trends and requirements of different markets. You can consider taking online courses to learn new languages in a short time.
7. Take Care of Your Health
Achieving your financial goals as a freelancer doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your health. You need to develop a healthy routine that allows you to avoid health problems in the long run.
Make sure you use ergonomic furniture so you can maintain a healthy body posture. Exercise daily to get rid of toxins from your body and put your mind at ease. If you cannot join a gym, you should consider setting up a small gym at home.
Try consuming healthy foods to balance the nutrient levels in your body and boost your performance. You can consider getting help from a nutritionist if you cannot develop a diet plan yourself.
8. Get Rid of Distractions
Distractions will never allow you to focus on your projects. When working, you need to eliminate all distractions so you can give your best.
It’s better to work in a quiet place so you are not constantly disturbed by noise. Turn on the “Airplane Mode” on your smartphone to avoid getting distracted by notifications. Take proper breaks during your work routine so you can put your mind at ease and enhance your productivity.
9. Spend Time with Family
With a tight schedule, it can be difficult for you to be with your family as a freelancer. But you have to set some time aside so you can enjoy the presence of your loved ones and share your feelings. It’s better to go outside with your family instead of arranging an indoor activity.
10. Have Empathy for Your Clients
Every new project will just be a “project” for you as a freelancer if you don’t have a deeper understanding of the needs of your clients.
You need to have empathy for your client so you can perform your best and help your client achieve their goals. If possible, make sure you interact frequently with your client so you can understand their needs properly.
11. Stay Calm At All Times
Getting worked up as a freelancer is something you cannot avoid. However, you can develop a positive mindset to ensure that harsh feelings don’t take over and lower your productivity. Try meditating so you can calm down at the end of the day and start your new day with full energy.
12. Learn When to Say “No”
As a freelancer, you have to learn when to reject a project offered by a client. Rejecting the “wrong” tasks will help you avoid wasting your time and effort doing that you don’t find exciting. You can boost your “negotiation skills” to learn how you can deal better with difficult clients.