13 Tips For Becoming A Successful Freelancer

13 Tips For Becoming A Successful Freelancer

Have you ever thought about becoming a freelancer and leaving your full-time job? Changing into a freelancer can be the most fulfilling way of managing your career and lifestyle. But let's face it— freelancing is not all sunshine and rainbows. Surviving in this dog-eat-dog world of self-employed people requires hard work, discipline, and insider knowledge.

Don't worry! Only now, there has been a complete guide with tips and tricks from experts that could help aspiring freelancers succeed right after they start. You will have a strong foundation for success in freelancing by following our guide till the end. So grab your pen ready because we will share some secrets that will change everything for you – wait until you hear them all out!

Why Go Freelance?

Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Why would anyone want to give up their job – the safety and security of it – for something as turbulent as freelancing? Well, my friend, here are some of the reasons:

1. Be Your Own Boss: Say goodbye to supervisors who want to control everything you do and make all the decisions yourself.
2. Flexible Schedule: Work whenever and wherever you want so that you can have a better work-life balance
3. Higher Earning Potential: There is no salary cap in freelancing; you can earn as much money as possible
4. Variety Of Work: Projects come in different shapes and sizes, which will cure your cubicle boredom
5. Location Independence: You can work from wherever you are, even if it means travelling around the world

Doesn't that sound great? But obviously, there is another side to this coin, too. If you become a freelancer, forget about such things as stability, constant income or benefits from your employer. Instead, we should be ready for self-reliance like never before experienced by humanity while working hard towards becoming financially independent.

Nevertheless, with proper mindset and preparation, anybody may succeed at freelancing, achieving both personal satisfaction and substantial wealth.

Find Your Freelance Calling

All right, so you're excited about the freelance dream. However, freelancing just anything won't do. First, you must identify your specialised skill set and determine what freelance services you will sell. Here are some options for potential freelance careers:

• Writing/Editing
• Web/Graphic Design
• Programming/Development
• Virtual Assistance
• Marketing/Social Media
• Consulting/Coaching
• Photography/Videography 

Don't see your specialty listed? No worries—there are endless opportunities in today's freelance world for any profitable skill under the sun.

Ask Yourself…

1. What am I passionate about and highly skilled in?
2. What services do businesses or consumers continually need?
3. Could my skills work within an online freelance model?

Once you've honed in on a viable niche for freelancing, it is time to bring these services to market. Figure out precisely what you will offer, along with competitive rates; then settle everything else — business name, branding, website setup and design options as well as proposals or contracts — once and for all right now so that there are no big headaches later on down the line.

Build a Standout Freelance Portfolio

Here's a cruel reality – your fancy resume and LinkedIn won't mean squat in the freelance world. You'll need an impressive portfolio showcasing your relevant skills and prior experience to prove your worth and land those first few clients.

If you're brand new to freelancing with no professional samples yet, drum some up on your own at first:

• Write blog posts or ebooks for your website
• Code some websites or apps and include them
• Design business cards, brochures, and logos for fictitious companies
• Take photos or create videos just for portfolio inclusion

You need to produce concrete proof that you can deliver high-quality work before anyone will hire you based on faith alone.

Once you've built some beginner samples, continuously add new client work to make your portfolio swoon-worthy. You want to give prospects a crystal clear idea of the fantastic results you can deliver for them.

Portfolio Pro Tips

• Only showcase your best, most relevant work (quality over quantity)
• Create distinctive portfolio pieces that stand out from the herd
• Update it frequently with new samples to show versatility
• Use professional wording and formatting to instill trust
• Supplement written portfolio work with actual client testimonials

With a killer portfolio, clients will see you as the real deal – not just some random freelance flimflammer. That's how you start commanding premium prices from Day 1.

Prospect and Promote Like a Pro

Simply hanging out a virtual “Freelancer Here!” shingle isn't going to cut it. Like any business, you need a solid prospecting and promotion plan to attract a steady stream of clients and project work.

Leverage Online Job Boards

While certainly competitive, online job boards make it easy to find freelance opportunities tailored to your skills:

• Upwork
• Freelancer.com
• FlexJobs
• Fiverr
• PeoplePerHour
• TopTal

The key is creating a kickass profile highlighting your core strengths, glowing references, and mouthwatering portfolio samples. Additionally, bid on relevant projects wisely – never undercut yourself, but don't overprice. With strategic persistence, you can win plenty of jobs this way.

Market Directly to Businesses

Why settle for picking up leftover scraps on those race-to-the-bottom job boards? A wiser move is proactively pitching your premium freelance services directly to your target clients. When positioning yourself in the best light, you'll have way more leverage to command top rates.

But how do you even find these businesses hiring freelancers? Start searching in these hotbeds:

• Your personal/professional network
• Local classifieds and entrepreneurial clubs
• Freelance-specific job boards like Dribbble, Behance, AuthenticJobs
• Social media like LinkedIn, X and Facebook
• Industry associations and publications
• That pile of business cards you've hoarded over the years

Hone your elevator pitch, craft personalised outreach emails, and persistently prospect until you've lined up enough gigs to freelance full-time.

Ramp Up Your Visibility

You've got to promote, promote, promote! Potential clients need to hear your name and see your face everywhere to view you as a viable freelance candidate. So get busy enhancing that visibility in any way possible:

• Build a professional website and drool-worthy online portfolio
• Guest post or become a paid contributor on authoritative industry sites
• Launch a blog or vlog chock-full of valuable tips and insider advice
• Comment, share and contribute to relevant online communities
• Create profiles on freelance social networks like Lnkd.In and Dribble
• Attend local meetups and events to network face-to-face
• Distribute email newsletters about your services to subscribers
• Sponsor podcasts, conferences or online courses in your niche

While self-promotion may initially fall out of your comfort zone, you must push past your reluctance. Because if clients never hear about your freelance awesomeness, they'll probably hire someone else.

Streamline for Maximum Efficiency

When freelancing, your most precious resources are your time and energy. As your workload ebbs and flows due to project churn, consistently operating efficiently to hit peak productivity levels is crucial.

Prioritise and Plan

First off, prioritise and plan a daily ritual. Outline your most important daily tasks and assign time blocks for focused, distraction-free work sessions. Bonus points if you finish those ugliest frogs before your motivation tapers off.

Next, streamline tedious admin duties by optimising systems and finding shortcuts:

• Use online bookkeeping/invoicing software like FreshBooks
• Automate emails, contracts and proposals with cloud tools like Bonsai
• Install productivity and time-tracking apps
• Set up a dedicated home office or co-working space
• Hire affordable virtual assistants for overflow administrative work
• Cater meals a few days each week to optimise productive hours

Find Your Productive Zone

When are you most alert, focused and “in the zone” to crush those challenging projects? Schedule your critical work for those peak performance windows. Maybe you're a bright-eyed morning lark or a caffeinated night owl – define your prime hours and safeguard them ferociously.

You'll also want to eliminate as many distractions as humanly possible:

• Mute notifications on your laptop, phone and email
• Close down unneeded browsers, apps and tabs
• Identify productivity vampires hindering your motivation
• Institute strict “Do Not Disturb” rules with family and friends
• Try noise-cancelling headphones if ambient sounds derail you

The more you embrace tunnel-vision flow states, the quicker you'll knock out projects to an exceptional standard. Which in turn means happier clients and bigger paychecks rolling in.

Take Breaks to Recharge

On the flip side, know when to call it quits for the day. Burning the midnight oil into a stupor of diminishing returns defeats the purpose entirely. Overworking yourself is a surefire path to burnout, resentment and subpar work product.

Instead, enforce strict stopping times and take real breaks throughout the day:

• Step outside for some fresh air and a brisk walk
• Exercise, meditate or practice deep breathing
• Listen to an interesting podcast or new music
• Relax with a good book or lighthearted TV show
• Connect with loved ones to maintain relationships
• Take weekends completely off to recharge

As a freelancer, downtime is critical for creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being. By taking intelligent breaks and prioritising work-life balance, you won't just sustain your career longevity – you'll thrive.

Price Your Services for Profit

Now for arguably the trickiest part of freelancing – pricing your services appropriately to earn a healthy income. Charge too little, and you'll struggle to make ends meet. But price yourself out of the market, and you'll be twiddling your thumbs thanks to sticker shock.

First off, you need to scope out your total business expenses accurately:

• Project materials, equipment and supplies
• Software subscriptions and professional development
• Home office space, utilities and internet
• Health insurance, retirement contributions and taxes
• Marketing expenses, association dues and fees
• Banking costs, professional services and more

Essentially, track every penny in both fixed and variable overhead costs. Then, calculate your desired rate by adding a profit margin on top of those totals.

For example, if your estimated overhead runs $5,000 per month and you want a 25% profit, you'd need to make $6,250 monthly in revenue (net of taxes and expenses). From there, divide by how many productive hours you can work each month to determine your minimum hourly rate.

Explore Pricing Strategies

Of course, pricing isn't quite as cut-and-dried as sending clients your hourly wage. You'll need to experiment with different strategies to maximise your earning potential:

• Project-based fees (quote lump sums per project scope)
• Value-based pricing (premium rates based on perceived value)
• Retainer packages (recurring fees for ongoing projects/availability)
• Performance-based pay tied to specific results and ROI

You'll likely use a hybrid of these pricing models based on each client's needs and wants. More importantly, strive to quantify the immense value you deliver – clients will happily pay premium prices to freelancers who can convey their positive ROI.

Raise Your Rates Regularly

Don't make the mistake of charging bargain basement rates just because you're new. Underpricing yourself diminishes the perceived value of your services and makes raising rates down the road an uphill battle.

Right out of the gate, research what other experienced freelancers in your speciality charge for a comparable quality. Then, charge below-market while inexperienced to gradually push your rates to at least the median as you gain more skills and credibility.

And don't stop there! Every year or two, bump your pricing by 10-20% or more for existing clients. The longer you stick around, the higher you can charge as a recognised premium expert. Plus, most veteran freelancers will advise that their incomes didn't truly take off until they started charging highly ambitious rates.

Drum Up Repeat Business

One of the easiest ways to level up your freelance success is by generating recurring gigs instead of constantly fishing for new one-off projects. Not only will you enjoy more income stability, but you'll spend far less time and money on prospecting activities.

To keep current clients coming back for more, wow them to the moon with your:

• Consistent Communication and Professionalism
• Ability to Seamlessly Blend into Their Team
• Creative Problem-Solving Abilities
• Quality Far Beyond Their Expectations
• Willingness to Go the Extra Mile

Satisfied clients who view you as an integral extension of their organisation will become your most valuable growth channel. They will enthusiastically rehire and extend contracts with you, sing your praises, and refer new business opportunities galore.

Get Clients On a Retainer

Consider pitching an ongoing retainer model for particularly indispensable clients, giving you a recurring base income. The beauty here is securing steady cash flow in exchange for your guaranteed availability and discounted rates.

You reserve a portion of your schedule every month for their fluctuating needs, whether that's:

• Batches of freelance projects over the retainer period
• Answering calls and emails promptly within set hours
• Solving pressing fires and ad hoc tasks as they pop up
• Keeping their online presence updated in real-time

Plus, jumping onto a retainer makes it harder for the client to ditch you for someone else, given your embedded relationship. It's a freelancing win-win that you should aim for whenever possible.

Cultivate a Stellar Reputation

Your reputation is your brand equity as a freelancer. And just like with any product or service brand, building impeccable prestige around your name separates you from the masses.

Put yourself in a client's shoes – who would you rather hire as your freelancer? The relatively unknown quantity with minimal social proof? Or the highly-regarded industry superstar with raving testimonials and an undeniable reputation for excellence?

Exactly. By cultivating an A+ reputation founded on consistently delivering top-notch work, you position yourself as the premier choice worth investing in. That simple personal brand equity commands premium rates and enjoys endless referral business.

How to Build a Radiant Rep

So, how exactly do you develop a freelancing reputation that shines brighter than the sun? Try implementing these savvy tactics:

• Over-deliver on every project to exceed client expectations
• Build an impressive portfolio highlighting significant achievements
• Gather detailed testimonials from clients to validate the quality
• Guest post on high-authority sites to boost credibility
• Speak at conferences or lead webinars to showcase expertise
• Utilise social media extensively to nurture your persona
• Network heavily within your niche's circles of influence
• Give away free guides, tools or advice to add value upfront
• Always be prompt, polished and professional in all dealings
• Donate your skills occasionally to worthy causes

Success breeds more success in freelancing. Build up an impeccable reputation from Day 1, and you'll slingshot your way to elite status and earnings in record time.

Treat it Like a Real Business.

Despite operating as a lone wolf, freelancing must be treated as an actual business to maximise your long-term prosperity and growth. Why? Sustainable freelancing businesses follow proven systems, processes, and best practices – not just blind luck.

From the very start, you'll want to nail down the fundamentals like:

• Formal Business Plan – Outline your services, target market, competitor analysis, significant milestones, and financial goals.
• Proper Formation – Become an official LLC, LLP, Corp. or Sole Proprietor with appropriate licensing, insurance, tax IDs, etc.
• Separate Finances – Set up a dedicated business bank account and credit card to properly separate your personal/business finances.
• Growth Strategies – Develop plans and processes to systemise lead generation, marketing/promotion, and service delivery.
• Consistent Bookkeeping – Use modern cloud applications to meticulously track income, expenses, invoicing, payments and taxes.

The main idea? Run your freelance operations purposefully and professionally – not loosey-goosey like a casual hobby because the most successful freelancing careers are built upon solid business foundations that deserve ongoing client investment.

Level-Up Your Skills Constantly

While freelancing is liberating compared to traditional jobs, one downside is that the onus for training and development falls squarely on your shoulders. No corporate overlord is dishing out professional skills training anymore!

Since you're compensated almost entirely on your expertise, it's imperative to expand your knowledge and hone your capabilities relentlessly. The alternative is stagnation – nothing tanks a freelance career faster than becoming outdated in your field.

A Few Ways to Keep Learning

• Earn additional certificates or specialisation credentials
• Read industry publications, books and online resources
• Attend conferences, webinars, courses or night classes
• Find a mentor who can serve as a sounding board
• Experiment with innovative tools, workflows and methodologies
• Seek out new perspectives by joining professional associations

The beautiful part about being a freelancer? You can invest in any continuing education opportunities on your terms and timeframes. Best of all, most of these costs can be written off as legitimate tax-deductible business expenses.

If you stop levelling up your freelance mastery, hungrier up-and-comers will eventually surpass you. So, never stop sharpening those coveted skills and evolving alongside your industry.

Build a Well-Rounded Support System

Despite the perks of being your own boss calling the shots, freelancing can ultimately become a lonely and isolating experience at times. After all, you no longer have coworkers to bounce ideas off or grab coffee with. Your new “office” may be your home or the local coffee shop.

That's why it's vital to be proactive about building a well-rounded support system that dishes out accountability, guidance, networking opportunities, and personal connections. Without this foundation, burnout and “freelance fatigue” become real.

Where to start fleshing out your new tribe? Here are some ideas:

Connect with Other Freelancers.

Whether through local meetup groups, online forums or social networks like FreeloFriday, befriending fellow freelance warriors provides an invaluable sounding board. You can trade war stories, share job leads, discuss best practices and vent frustrations to supportive peers living the same hustle.

Find a Mentor in Your Field

Everyone needs an experienced sensei to learn from – someone who's been there and done that already. Look for reputable mentors who can advise you on everything from workflow efficiencies and pricing models to attracting your ideal clients and long-term goal-setting.

Hire a Business Coach

Speaking of mentors, a good business coach does wonders for accountability and strategic focus. That outside perspective is priceless for busting through mental roadblocks and developing execution plans to bring your big freelance dreams to fruition.

Attend Networking Events

While digital communities are great, face-to-face networking still has enormous value. Frequently attend industry conferences, meetup groups, masterminds and social gatherings. These in-person connections often spawn joint venture opportunities, client referrals, new income streams and beautiful friendships.

Lean on Your Personal Circle

Finally, don't underestimate the importance of your existing personal support network! Loop in your partner, family and closest friends about your freelance ambitions. Having their moral support and love to lean on through the roller coaster journey can be incredibly grounding.

Bottom line: As liberating as it is, freelancing doesn't have to be a solo mission dooming you to loneliness. Be proactive about involving mentors, peers, coaches and loved ones to help motivate and guide your success.

Freelancing with Families and Kids

One colossal perk often driving people to freelancing is the ability to create more flexible schedules and better work-life balance – especially for freelancers with families and kids. However, being a freelancer and parent simultaneously comes with unique challenges.

First, you'll want to be upfront with your clients about any limitations on your availability due to parenting duties. You can only take calls or meetings during certain frozen time blocks while kids are at school or your partner is home. Or you could focus on quieter tasks when kids are around, saving the brainy stuff for after bedtime.

Setting clear boundaries like this prevents frustration from clients expecting an immediate response 24/7. It also forces you to schedule your billable hours meticulously for peak productivity.

Consider hiring a part-time personal assistant, virtual assistant or even a co-working space to handle administrative tasks, client communications and uninterrupted focused time when needed. Just be sure to factor these costs into your freelance pricing model.

Another primary key is getting the whole family on board with your freelance career ambitions. Have open conversations about making the transition, how it could impact finances during the instability period, and what everyone's role will be in making it successful. Involving them in the process creates accountability.

Finally, you must enforce strict work-life divisions to maintain relationship harmony. When not working on tasks for clients, be 100% present and engaged with your family. No sneaking off to check emails, review that draft, or just “quickly” jump on the laptop. This type of blending leads to resentment, distraction, and less quality time together.

With some strategic planning, freelancing with a family is possible, but working optimally requires genuine commitment from all sides. Done right, you'll achieve the best of both worlds!

Making Estimated Tax Payments

As freelancers are self-employed independent contractors, they must provide estimated tax payments on their freelance income during the year instead of having taxes withheld by an employer. Ensure you correctly calculate federal and state estimated tax payments to avoid expensive penalties and interest charges.

While it may seem like extra work, you can hold onto your money a little longer before sending it to the government. The second time around is more manageable for most freelancers once they can use their payment history as an estimate.

Here's how it breaks down:

The IRS usually asks freelancers to pay an estimated tax four times per year:

• April 15 (for income from Jan 1 – Mar 31)
• June 15 (for income from Apr 1 – May 31)
• Sept 15 (for income from Jun 1 – Aug 31)
• Jan 15 of the following year (for income from Sept 1 – Dec 31)

State deadlines could be different, so check locally each year.

As for how much, The IRS wants you to cover at least:

1. 90% of what you'll owe for this year
2. 100% of what you owed last year (110% if over $150k)

If wrong, penalty fees start counting based on the number of days underpaid. Tax software helps with all that, plus electronic payments.

One more smart move? Keep a separate tax savings account where you regularly set aside a portion of each freelance payment, covering those quarterly obligations. Most freelancers find that socking away around 25-30% of any income does the trick without too much pain.

There is no way around it when you're self-employed: Strategic estimation prevents major headaches, penalties or surprises later. Set a quarterly calendar reminder and keep fastidious records when filing taxes annually.

The Freelance Mindset Shift

Beyond the tactical strategies and practical tips, one of the biggest hurdles for new freelancers is making the profound mindset shift required to succeed. You're no longer just trading time for money as an employee – you're running a legitimate business of one.

This mental recalibration means radically altering your attitudes and beliefs around work ethic, money management, personal motivation, self-discipline, etc. You'll need to start thinking like a CEO, not just a worker bee.

For example, limiting beliefs like “I'm just not good at X” or “I could never charge that much” create self-sabotaging glass ceilings on your potential. Maybe you undervalue your expertise because you find the work relatively easy. Or you fear putting yourself out there and being visible.

Challenge yourself to crush these limiting mindsets! Keep an abundance mentality focused on your growth possibilities rather than scarcity fears. Lean into the beginner's mindset of curiosity, not knowingness. Stay humble while backing yourself confidently.

You'll also need to embrace an entrepreneurial hustle mentality from Day 1. Gone are the days of coasting by on a paycheck, leaving at 5 pm on the dot, or relying on somebody else's motivation. As the CEO of your freelance business, the buck stops with you – night and day.

Cultivate the habits of successful freelancers. Wake up early to knock out your most significant priorities first. Take full ownership of your income goals. Learn voraciously to sharpen your expertise. Network relentlessly to connect with collaborators and clients. Get comfortable selling yourself shamelessly.

Freelancing tests your mental stamina as well as your skill set and execution. It requires profound self-awareness to identify and conquer the psychological roadblocks holding you back from earning potential.

But stick with it! Over time, winning a few clients, mastering your efficiency, and earning extensive freelance checks are small victories compounded into a freelance mindset shift. Eventually, it clicks that creating this lifestyle is very much within your control as the boss.

Avoiding Freelance Burnout

Freelancing comes with unparalleled career freedom and lifestyle flexibility. However, autonomy is also a double-edged sword if not appropriately managed. Far too many freelancers quickly burn themselves out in a blazing tailspin in the quest to overachieve and maximise earnings.

You've probably been there before – putting in brutal work hours, overloading yourself with too many client projects, stressing about cash flow and growth, going weeks without a real break. This overwhelming combination of relentless physical, mental and emotional strain is a recipe for disaster.

Burnout doesn't happen overnight – it builds gradually like a leaky faucet you ignore until it becomes a gushing torrent. Early warning signs include:

• Plummeting productivity and lack of motivation
• Chronic fatigue, anxiety or physical ailments
• Cynical, irritable attitude taking over
• Inability to concentrate or think creatively
• Dreading work and losing your passion
• Using unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol

If you detect even a few red flags, implement personal safeguards immediately before freelance burnout takes hold. Because at its worst, you risk impaired client work, strained personal relationships, potential depression, and abandoning your freelance dreams altogether.

Prioritise taking guilt-free days off and establishing work-life boundaries. Schedule regular breaks to unwind and participate in energising activities outside of work. Say “no” to overcommitting – scope clients properly and underpromise if needed—Systematize tasks to create more margin.

Above all, always remember why you started freelancing in the first place. Is it worth sacrificing your health, happiness, and original vision just for a few extra dollars? Realign yourself with those more significant motivations, and you'll rediscover the zest to keep showing up refreshed.

Burnout stems from imbalance, plain and simple. Consciously nurture harmony across all dimensions of your freelance career and personal life. Staying grounded in routines, values, and self-care practices is crucial to freelancing sustainably in the long term.

Bonus Freelance Success Tips

Before wrapping up, here are some quick bonus tips for flourishing as a freelancer:

• Wake up early and protect your peak productivity hours
• Set firm office hours and boundaries for work/life balance
• Use productivity tools and zero in on your biological prime time
• Say “no” to bad-fit clients that trigger red flags
• Launch multiple income streams for diversity
• Outsource administrative duties hampering your core work
• Start each day with your 1-3 biggest priorities
• Take real breaks to rest, recharge and stay inspired
• Join an affordable co-working space to reduce isolation
• Focus on selling irresistible results, not just commoditised services

Freelancing is a beautiful path filled with unmatched freedom and income potential. But like any entrepreneurial journey, it takes immense commitment, discipline and strategic action to make it big. Stay resilient, believe in your talents, and eventually, that hard work will pay dividends. You've got this!

Successful Freelancer FAQs