Pitfalls of freelancing. As a novice freelance become top-end specialist without connections and experience
Work And Study / / December 25, 2019
Today freelancing has become the epitome of freedom in many different ways it - creativity, expression, movement, finance, lifestyle and daily routine. A growing number of experts consider freelancing as a tempting alternative to the traditional office work, whereas the company enthusiastically move to outsourcing projects and even functions.
It is interesting that the majority of novice freelancers pass through similar stages of professional development in spite of the diversity of industries and specializations open to freelancing. Understanding the specifics of these steps allows you to prioritize and avoid dangerous traps, achieving success even without connections, experience or formal education.
Try to figure out what kind of stages and how to successfully overcome.
Step 1. unrewarded genius
You will not know, nobody will trust you served on hundreds of projects, and not even get emails with the refusal. You simply do not exist in the world of freelancing.
The objective of phase - to create a credible profile.
What to do
Sign up for a leading freelance platform in your field, first one is enough. Next - fake it until you make it. Clearly and concisely designate their skills and specialized education or certifications, add your picture with cheerful smile and write friendly appeal with the desire to work together.
Do not worry if you do not have the appropriate expertise to your education, it is easily compensated by means of a portfolio and reviews.
Portfolio - the most important element of your profile. If you do not have a portfolio and you're hoping to create it, starting to work on the platform, then this stage you will be much longer than necessary and is likely to lead to depression.
A portfolio with examples of projects that you want ideally, should be prepared in advance. It can be thought up projects, or projects that you've made for friends. The main thing that they have demonstrated the quality of your work. If appropriate, attach examples of before and after your intervention, it is one of the most effective means to attract the potential customer's attention.
Once you have created a portfolio, proceed to write the reviews themselves. Involve friends and family, create multiple projects and hire themselves to these projects. As a rule, after 5-7 appears in the profile reviews and beautiful portfolio, potential customers are beginning to respond to the letter.
What not to do
Do not throw your work. Create and promote the profile and portfolio from scratch will take a lot of time, and you need a parallel stable source of income.
Step 2. Budding
You were hired for the first projects you pay little, Check frequently and meticulously questioned in an interview. You get the answer to 25% of letters sent out.
The objective of phase - to confirm the stated reputation.
What to do
Work hard and develop communication
Fight fiercely for projects, processes, be in touch at any time of the day or night (thanks to the current exchange rate Currency best designs come from abroad), listen to the client and follow his wishes, be polite and correct.
When applying for a project sure to include several ways to contact you (phone, Skype, email). Monitorte prices for the services of your closest competitors and dumping, at this stage, price and speed of communication - your best friend in the fight for the customer. Develop skills of telephone conversations and networking, especially if your main market speaks a different language.
If your foreign language is not good enough, ask the client to conduct all discussions via email under the pretext of preserving all the details and wishes. As a rule, the majority accepts this approach is positive and even sets you apart from the rest as the most responsible officer.
To plan
As each new client still seems to you a miracle and extraordinary good fortune, it is tempting to accept all the proposed projects. Monitor acquires files with unfinished tasks, breed on the table coffee cups and email letters of tinkles-Assistance with bewilderment, "When I see a new version?".
You need to start to plan time and prioritize projects, learn to say "no" or at least adequately assess employment ( "could begin in two weeks").
Maintain customer base
Be sure to start the component files with a client base: include contact information, information about the work done, the specifics of communication with the client, his personal or professional interests. Start building relationships with customers, completion of the project should not mean a total cessation of communication between you.
Do not hesitate at times to remind ourselves, for example, in case of change of your contact information or add new services. You can also congratulate the client birthday or important holiday (do not get involved, one or two greetings in more than a year enough), or to share information (to present the right people, to send an important article, and so on) that would be useful for business client.
At this stage, you will remember with longing lazy lunches in the corporate office and funny evening with friends over a glass of wine. The main thing - to realize that he is not infinite, and after 30, 80 or 150 projects (depending on your specialization), you recognize the professional, honorable and decent pay. Of course, only in the case of your profile flawless reviews and shows the high quality of work, compliance with deadlines and budget and, most importantly, about your nice personal qualities.
What not to do
Do not give up heavy clients.
Often, they become your most ardent supporters and give a reliable flow of projects through friends and colleagues. Yes, probably, in the beginning you will lose time (= money), or a bit of nerve cells, but in the long run you will be in the black.
Step 3. a top expert
You get dozens of invitations for new projects, you have a stream of regular customers, you recommend in professional circles as a professional with a good reputation. You get paid enough, and you can select which of the projects you subscribe.
The objective of phase - cledovat strategy.
What to do
Choose projects that in the long run will bring you the best results. For example, between a small corporate giant project and paid a one-time project, choose the first one. If successful, you have a high chance of becoming a permanent freelancer on the verdant field of corporate projects.
Also try to establish friendly relations with the managers of talent on a freelance platforms. They are constantly looking for reliable freelancers with excellent recommendations for corporate clients platform. A carefully selected range of talents has direct access to the companies of the Fortune 500 and projects with unlimited budgets.
What not to do
Do not think that you are irreplaceable. You just a couple of missed calls or unanswered emails, maybe a couple of delayed deadlines, before you hire a purposeful and reliable as a rock, a freelancer for you.
So that freedom of freedom, but suddenly go traveling for a month with unfinished projects is not necessary.
Step 4. What's next
In principle, the top specialists already are free to live where they want to work in his style, to grow professionally and creatively. For someone this stage becomes the norm, and a happy life ideal job for years to come.
Someone gets tired and takes a job as one of their clients or their partners (which is much easier if you maintain long-term relationships with your client file). Others will try to translate a personal success in the creation of his own company and development manager position. There are many options and the decision is yours.
Described stages give a rough idea of what to expect novice freelancer on the path to success, how best to prepare for it and what mistakes to avoid.
Despite the fact that a freelancer today become just, few reach the level of the top professionals. Understanding the stages and following basic tips will help you achieve your goals faster and with minimal losses. If you have already passed this way or another halfway, share with us your impressions, experiences, and advice on the steps in the comments to this article.