Practical Tips for Starting a Successful Freelance Business

Freelancing comes with various perks, making it a go-to for many people. For instance, freelancers can easily choose the number of clients they wish to work with. Likewise, they can choose their working hours and control their workload. Moreover, freelancing promotes financial independence while exposing people to various experiences. As of 2021, statistics recorded a whopping 57 million freelancers in the United States. Research by Upwork and Freelancers Union also indicated that skilled freelancers earn more than 70% of workers in the country. Perhaps you are looking to freelance as a full-time job or side hustle. In that case, these practical tips will come in handy. 

1. Define your goals 

Like other businesses, freelancing requires that you set clear goals and objectives. Without them, you may not achieve the desired results, eventually leading to time wastage. Not only do goals and objectives help with decision-making, but they also assist you in establishing your priorities. Moreover, they allow you to reach your maximum potential while providing motivation. Additionally, you can easily measure your progress, leading to increased productivity and a sense of achievement. To get started, it’s necessary to ask yourself these questions: 

• Do you intend to be a full-time freelancer due to the benefits of being your boss? 
• Are you freelancing to supplement your monthly income?
• Are you freelancing as a stepping stone to actualize your ultimate dream?

Despite your answers, you must state them clearly. As a tip, determine what type of freelancing you wish to venture into, writing, graphic designing, developer, etc. After establishing your overall objective, you can start drafting short-term goals and benchmarks that will ensure your business’s success. Experts advise that your side income reaches at least 75% of your regular income before you quit your job to pursue your freelance business. 

2. Choose a lucrative niche 

It’s important to choose your desired niche as a freelancer. A niche creates a positive impact on your career and is an effective way of taking your freelance business to the next level. Moreover, finding your niche can lead to more gigs and projects, ultimately increasing income and productivity. Additionally, working within a niche may reduce competition and increase loyalty to your business. Are you wondering how to choose a niche? Experts advise that you try out many things to determine which area would be suitable and lucrative. You can converse with different people in different fields and understand what drives them for a more informed decision. 

When brainstorming for niches, it’s best to ascertain who your clients are and why you wish to work for them. It also helps to figure out how your services can help them. However, you don’t want to choose just any niche; it must be profitable and viable long-term. That said, it pays to study the market for more information. After figuring this out, you can then narrow it down to an area that interests you and aligns with your business goals. Perhaps you have a fair knowledge of your chosen niche. In that case, you should sharpen your skills to be an authority figure in that niche. 

3. Determine your target market 

Irrespective of how good and skillful you are, you may not make much progress if you’re not offering your services to the right clients. That said, determining your target market is essential to your business success. For starters, it helps you tailor your services to suit their specific needs, leading to increased patronage and customer loyalty. What’s more, it helps you to map out effective marketing strategies without wasting your time and resources. Furthermore, focusing on specific people can quickly get you referrals, building your reputation as a credible authority in your field. It’s okay to work with numerous clients to determine which specific ones will suit your business, so keep this in mind. 

It is important to figure out specific problems you can solve, as clients will likely hire due to their business needs. For instance, a client will not necessarily need your web designing skills because your work is pretty, but you can create a website that will rank high on Google searches. You can also draw inspiration from other freelancers by examining what clients they work with. It’s also prudent to consider your clients’ psychographics and demographics and ascertain whether your skills and services suit them. For continued business success, it’s best to determine if your target market can keep your business thriving in the long run and if they are readily accessible. You also want to ensure that they require your service and can afford it without problems. You don’t want to experience burnout, so ensure that you enjoy working with your chosen target market. 

4. Build your online presence 

According to Statista, about 80% of Americans shop online. This statistic reveals the importance of building a good online presence. You can achieve this by creating a user-friendly website if you haven’t already. If you have one, you’d want to create engaging and compelling content to drive traffic to your website. Be sure to include your pricing on your website, and make it mobile-friendly for the best results. You can also improve your return on Google ads spend to boost your website’s visibility. Social media advertising is also a good way to showcase your business to many potential clients, so keep this in mind. You can also work with other established websites, as customers will likely patronize businesses affiliated with reputable websites. 

5. Build your portfolio

It’s not uncommon for clients to demand sample work to determine your skill level and credibility. Therefore, it’s important to build your portfolio. That said, you can begin by showcasing your personal works. For instance, you can build your website if you’re a website designer or draw an alluring icon if you are an illustrator. The quality of your website or icon will help your clients determine if they can trust you. You can also include practice projects and tell a story with whatever projects you include in your portfolio. Your website and social media accounts are excellent platforms to build your portfolio, so feel free to leverage them for the best results.