7 Tips for Starting Your Own Freelance Business
Image via BladeDK @ Flickr
I received an email from Mahriana over at the Unclammed Black Pearl telling me that she wants to start her own freelance green home staging business (Congrats, girl!). She then asked me for some advice on how to run a freelance business and I immediately wrote a very long email with some things I have learned from my own experience. A long email then turned into a potential blog post, so I figured I would share some of my advice with you all.
If you are in the process of putting your business into action, then I want to personally congratulate you! Many people are so afraid to do this because society tells them that they will probably fail so kudos for taking the first steps! I also want you to know that even though you may not be able to turn your business into a full time gig for some time, you can rest assured in knowing that you will have extra cash coming in doing something you actually enjoy!
(Extra Tip: Don’t know what kind of a side business to start? Check out My Ode to the American Dream and 20 Side Businesses You Can Start On Your Own)
And so, without further ado, I present to you all some pearls of wisdom from running my own freelancing business.
1. Read FreelanceFolder.com
First and foremost, I highly recommend checking out FreelanceFolder.com. I wish I would have known about this blog when I first started learning about running a freelance business! They have great tips that pertain to anything from getting started to dealing with clients and taxes. The best part is that their advice can be applied to any kind of freelance business imaginable.
2. Business Cards
Business cards are a must. Some people think this is way too old school, but there is a reason why they have been around for decades. They are very inexpensive to make and allow you to make an impression on anyone you may meet. I personally like the quality of designs and paper from Moo.com
3. Set Up a Professional Website with it’s own Domain
A professional website is a must. Potential clients like to see portfolios and reasons as to why they should hire you. Websites allow for easy access to any information they may need to know about you, and allow you to show off your work to the world. I highly recommend using a .com for this because it seems much more professional. You can also get great features that you wouldn’t get on a free website builder.
4. Have a Blog.
Your website must have a blog. Believe it or not blogs are a great way to engage with potential customers. By giving them some advice it shows that you are not only human, but that you sincerely care in the well being of your clients. For the purposes of your business you could probably put together a great green living blog.
5. Maintain Significant Web Presence
Have a significant web presence. Quite frankly, any business that doesn’t have a Twitter or a Facebook by this time is really missing out on some great marketing and networking opportunities.
6. Set Up a Mailing List
This will keep you close to your regular clients and allow you to send mass emails with ease. I personally use AWeber, and although it’s not free it is easily one of the best marketing services out there.
7. Drive and Dedication
Most importantly, you need some major drive and dedication. You will probably have to burn the midnight oil at some point or try and make any free time you have productive in terms of your business (especially true if you already have a job like I do). I currently dedicate my weekends and any free time in between teaching to blogging, writing proposals, working on articles, and learning. Of course I also make sure to give myself some time to rest and watch some Mad Men.
I hope these tips are helpful for those of you wanting to actualize your business goals. Keep a look out because I plan on sharing whatever I learn on this freelance business journey.
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Tags: achieving goals, finances, freelance writing, freelancing, money, productivity, small business, tips
The real adventure starts after college. Grad Meets World is post grad life seen through the eyes of language instructor and freelance writer, Amanda Abella. This blog hopes to provide practical tips for career, relationships, personal development, productivity, health, and more in order to make your transition into the real world a little easier.
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