Freelancing, entrepreneurship, and side-hustles are all forms of employment where you’re able to have some level of autonomy and creativity. But working independently isn’t always easy and it can be overwhelming. We’ve previously discussed what it takes to become an entrepreneur and how to start your own side-hustle, and in today’s blog we’ll cover tips and resources for freelancers.
I interviewed The Niche Movement Editor-in-Chief Jaylene Perez and TNM founder Kevin O’Connell, both of whom have experience in freelancing, to gain their insight on what being a freelancer is really like. If you’re curious about how to work for yourself as a freelancer or what tools are useful, keep reading!
What is Freelancing?
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines freelance as “a person who acts independently without being affiliated with or authorized by an organization” or “...who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer.”
As a freelancer, Jaylene focuses on social media strategy and content creation and is moving her way into copyediting and proofreading. Kevin created his own business, FYN Creative, which started as a side-hustle and is now a full-fledged digital storytelling agency. Kevin’s work walks the line of entrepreneurship and freelancing, being project based it follows more of a freelancer’s job description, but running his own business makes him an entrepreneur. He explains how the line between entrepreneurship isn’t always as clear cut:
“With entrepreneurship you can be a ‘Mark Zuckerberg’ and you’re creating something new, receiving investments, constantly making money, but with freelancing it’s project based. But there can be a blend between entrepreneurs and freelancers, and that’s where I lie, somewhere in the middle. I’ll have project-based opportunities and retainer clients.”
Being a freelancer doesn’t always mean having multiple, single projects. You may have long-term clients as well. Unlike traditional jobs, freelancing requires you to really take into account how long it will take to complete a project, and that will also determine how many projects you can take on at once. You need to make sure that there is enough time and bandwidth to complete your project. Having good time management and project organization skills will ensure you have enough time in the day to deliver and not overwork yourself.
For example, Jaylene spoke about an experience she had working with a client. She was asked to work on a video project but knew she didn’t have enough time to do it on her own. Instead, she was able to recruit a video editor friend to help. Jaylene was able to then connect her friend with the client to work on the video project, which maintained her relationship with the client and helped them out as well.
I love this example because it shows that she’s professional and can admit that she didn’t have the bandwidth at the moment to get everything done, but that she could connect the client to someone who could do it. Being upfront about what you do and what you have time to do is important when talking with clients: it’ll make for a smoother project and better service in the long run.
Tips for Success as Freelancer
Build your network
While sites like Fiverr and UpWork can be useful, the best way to get work is through networking and connections. Unfortunately, these websites can be “overly saturated and you end up lowering your prices as you go along so you can get work” Jaylene commented. As a freelancer, these websites end up being “a race to the bottom”, and this is the opposite of what you want to do. You want to be confident in your work and price yourself accordingly, not sell out. The best way to find premier clients is through your personal network, so make sure it’s well-established. If you need some tips on networking, read our previous blog post.
Skills–make sure they are up to date
Even if you think you’ve already honed in on your craft, there’s always room to learn more. Jaylene talks to the importance of brushing up on your knowledge:
“Especially in certain industries, like social media, things change very quickly and if there's a new update you need to know how it's going to work.”
As a freelancer, you’ll be expected to know a lot about your service and the industry you’re in. It’s okay if you don’t know everything at first because as you go along you’ll have opportunities to expand your knowledge and gain experience. Stay curious and don’t be afraid to diversify your skillset. You can have your “surgeon skills,” something you’re an expert in, but having more than a specific set of skills can help you gain even more clients. If you’re not sure what skills to tackle next, read our blog post: 4 Job Skills Everyone Should Have.
Know your worth
Determining and raising your price as a freelancer is important. It can be tricky to talk about pricing, but it’s necessary, and the more you work with it, the more comfortable you’ll become with the subject. First, do initial research and see what other people charge for similar services and projects to get a baseline of what you should be charging. When it’s time to raise your prices, Kevin says:
“Remember that you’re paying for more than the initial product or service, more than the social media post or the graphic design or the video. You’re paying for Adobe suite subscriptions, business insurance, your MacBook, etc. It’s okay to ask for more if you’re in demand and those are the reasons your price tag is what it is.”
As a freelancer, you’ll need resources and tools (which we’ll get into) to produce a quality project and those costs should be incorporated into your fee. Also, consider the timeline that your client is asking for. If they want it quickly, you don’t necessarily have to add in a ‘rush’ fee but it may be strategic to account for that in your quote.
Find a community
Join a community or association of like-minded people to learn new tips or share advice. There are different membership levels depending on the organization and some are even free. Joining a networking community gives you access to webinars, courses, and other opportunities that will be useful for freelancers. For the freelance editors out there Jaylene recommends the Editorial Freelancers Association, and for other groups check out our previous post on networking for a list of networking organizations to join.
Share your work
You may think it’s awkward to brag and post about your final projects but it’s a critical part of your marketing and outreach.
“You have to share your work somehow, whether it’s a sizzle reel, a portfolio, sharing progress on LinkedIn or Instagram, once a week share some behind the scenes, some progress, or some success.”
Someone who might otherwise not have known what you’re working on could see it and keep you in mind for future projects or recommend you to someone who is looking for whatever services you offer. Keep your social media followers up to date, create and update your own website, and don’t be afraid to share your work!
Tools Freelancers Can’t Live Without*
(*None of these are sponsored posts–just sharing our favorite resources with the community.)
Below are some of Jaylene and Kevin’s favorite freelancing tools:
Resources for Professional Development
Skillshare is an online subscription-based platform for learning new skills. They post educational videos on a plethora of skills, from writing good copy to editing videos to social media strategy.
Finance Resources
Freshbooks is an online accounting service targeted towards small and midsize businesses. Freshbooks has features such as invoices, direct pay, tracking expenses, etc. Kevin uses Freshbooks because of its personalized touches, like discounts during COVID and the fact that you can speak with a real employee when you work with them.
Next Insurance provides business insurance for smaller companies. They’ve created many different policies for professionals and business owners, from handyman jobs to accountants–they’ve got you covered.
Tools to Stay Organized
Buffer & Hootsuite are both tools that allow you to manage posts on different social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. If you’re a freelancer in content creation or social media strategy, these resources will help you stay organized and ontrack.
Squarespace is a website-building application with predesigned templates for users to quickly and easily customize their own webspace. Having a website is a great addition for any freelancer and makes you and your brand more professional.
Streak is a third-party email tracker that you can sync with your email account. For freelancers in sales and marketing who want to know if your email reached the sender, if it’s been opened, or even how many times it's been opened, this tool will let you see all that. With Streak you’ll know when to follow up or if you’re being ghosted.
Resources for Writing/Editing
Microsoft & Google Suite are essential for writers, editors, proofers. Delving even further and knowing how to navigate the editing and suggestions functions is critical. Also, make sure you know the different style guides for different types of writing (i.e. when to use Chicago style, MLA style, or AP style).
Resources for Creatives
BorrowLenses can be used if you’re looking to rent creative gear like professional lighting, camera, lenses, audio gear, etc. If you’re a freelancer in the creative industry and can’t afford to purchase your own equipment, this could be a great alternative.
Frame.io is a cloud platform that allows you and your team to edit video content collaboratively in real time. As a digital storyteller, it’s one of Kevin’s must have tools. If you’re in the video production business this could be a great tool for you.
Canva allows you to create a variety of graphics such as presentation slides, social media posts, and infographics. If you aren’t ready to splurge on Adobe Photoshop, Canva is a great starting place to dip your feet in graphic design water. They have a free and a premium version that you can use depending on your budget and needs.
PremiumBeat is a subscription-based website that provides users with royalty-free music and audio effects. If you are a video creator or podcaster, this tool will be useful for you.
Freelancing is a great choice for you if you prefer to work independently, have a skill you can sell, and thrive on project based work. It’s not for everyone, but can be a way to earn some extra cash on the side or it could become your full-time job!
If this article was helpful for you and you want to learn more about entrepreneurship or starting a side-hustle, check out our previous posts.
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