When you become a freelancer and run your own business, you'll learn more about yourself, other people and the business world than ever before. The challenges, difficulties and achievements you'll experience along the way will make you a lot wiser and ready to take on anything.
But you never stop learning. No matter how long you've been running your own business, you'll always learn something new every day. But what if you've just started out or you're looking to improve yourself? What if you'd like to learn all the things you need to know about freelancing now, so you can be better prepared for anything that comes your way?
I've put together this unique list of 80 great ways to become a better freelancer in the hope that it will help you become the best you can be. There's nuggets of wisdom in here about everything and anything, from learning how to build on your skills and improve your attitude to how to deal with people. Enjoy!
1. Listen and learn
You know the old saying about the two ears, one mouth ratio? How you should listen more than you talk? Well if you want to become a better freelancer this is my number one top tip. Listen and learn my friend. You will pick up a lot more than you'd ever imagine if you just listen more than you talk. This applies whether you're at a networking event or meeting a new client - listen!
2. Learn about body language
Body language can reveal a lot about a person. It can show you what they're really saying behind the words and help you deal with any situation. Subtly observe and look at how people are sitting, standing and where they're placing their arms or what they're doing with their hands. If everything feels uncomfortable and closed off, it's probably because the person feels that way. In the meantime, become aware of your own body language. Learn how to come across more open, trustworthy and friendly in the way you use your body. Sounds silly, but wising up to your own and other people's body language will help you out enormously, particularly in meetings when you're trying to win some work.
3. Learn to say no!
It's a sad fact of life but people will always try to take advantage in some way. Don't let them by learning to say no where appropriate. This means if a client keeps adding extra bits of work to a project that's already over-budget, say no and explain politely why. Stick to your guns but don't jeopardise your relationship. Be firm but fair, polite but professional. And recognise those times when it's worth your while to say yes because you don't want to cause any issues if you can avoid them.
4. Avoid the hard sell
These days, the best freelancers are those who don't push the hard sell and understand that winning work is about building relationships and ultimately trust. Whenever you go to a conference or networking event, be cool, calm and confident. Avoid immediately ramming your services down people's throats and almost let them ask you 'What do you do?' instead of talking about yourself first. In pitches or new business meetings, be cool, calm and confident. You know you're good, so there's no need to give the hard sell.
5. Learn how to charm
Big top tip to make people instantly like you and walk away with a great first impression? Let them talk about themselves until the cows come home. Ask them lots of questions to encourage further conversation. Listen, smile and be genuinely interested in what other people have to say. People will love you for it. Ego is the easiest thing to stroke and you do that by sincerely being interested in other people. Understand that people aren't really interested in you. They're just waiting for the opportunity to talk about themselves. I say give them the floor! Let them talk as much as they like. They'll walk away really liking you and, even better, they'll remember you.
6. Listen to your inner voice
Trusting your gut feeling is definitely something you should do when running a business. Of course, those gut feelings will only get stronger with time and experience. But if something doesn't feel right, it's probably because it isn't. Listen to your inner voice and tread carefully.
7. Understand that no one pays you enough to treat you badly
One of the bad things about freelancing is that you'll sometimes come across nightmare clients who make your life a misery. Remember this nugget of wisdom - no one pays you enough to treat you badly! You do not deserve to be treated with a lack of respect. So if someone is driving you crazy, plot your escape. Just make sure you don't burn any bridges by walking away gracefully.
8. Learn how to walk away gracefully
Got a bad client you need to get rid of? Learning how to walk away gracefully is a skill that everyone needs. You don't want to damage your reputation or leave any ill feeling. So either put your prices up or the next time they want to hire you for a job - say you're working to full capacity and just won't be able to help. There are right and wrong ways to ditch customers. Learn how to do it the right way.
9. Avoid negativity at all costs
It's a fact of life - people don't like negative people, so avoid being negative and be a happy, positive person. Just got to a meeting and your client asks if you got there ok? Even if the traffic was a nightmare, smile and say that you did and then ask a question that allows them to chat about themselves. Positive people are well liked. Remember that.
10. Spot the difficult clients
The longer you're in business, the more experienced you'll become at recognising those difficult clients that cause stress. Learn how to spot the warning signs of needy, over-demanding characters and give them - what I like to call - your 'F**k off!' rate. If they still want to hire you at that higher rate, at least you'll be financially rewarded for the burden.
11. Don't reveal your day or hourly rate
It's a piece of wisdom my father keeps sharing with me and that's to not reveal your day or hourly rate, if you can help it. This is often difficult in the creative industries where services are time dependent. The problem is - once you've told a client that it's going to cost £X for a certain amount of time, they'll start to try and pin you down. They'll say things like "Surely, it's not going to take you a day to do that!" In which case, ask people what they need and provide a quote saying "That's how much you need to spend with me in order to achieve your objectives". Just give a price. Don't reveal any time.
12. Recognise that the competition will play hard ball
It's a tough lesson to learn but it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. If you're freelancing, you'll quickly learn that it's difficult to know who to trust. Particularly when you meet rival firms. My advice is to always be friendly and professional but keep your cards very close to your chest. Don't be naive because people really will use any information you give them to their advantage.
13. Be careful who you trust
I share this next top tip with sadness. It's one of the biggest lessons I've had to learn over the past four years. You should definitely be very careful about who you trust. Don't put people on pedestals and expect everyone to be as morally sound as you. People really can stab you in the back if you're not careful, so only trust on merit.
14. Don't worry about the competition
It's all to easy to fall into the trap of constantly seeing what other people are doing out there. Stop right now! The only time you should consider your competition is when you're putting together a marketing plan to make your own business better. The rest of the time you should just concentrate on what you're doing. If you're doing a good job for your clients, you really don't have to worry about the competition.
15. Find out people's problems and solve them
As a freelancer, you exist to provide skills and experience that people need. You're a problem solver, so to speak. Learn how to find out people's problems and find ways to solve them. Whenever you meet people and listen to what they need, you'll find that they're in need of answers. Give them the reassurance that you can help.
16. Be nice at all times
When answering the phone, meeting new people or bumping into others in your local supermarket, be nice at all times because you never know when you'll bump into them again. First impressions really do count and people will remember if you did something negative like push past them or say something rude. A good example of this was when a woman was rude to me in the street for no reason... I later bumped into her handing out leaflets to announce her new shop was opening. Now, I'm not a petty person - so I did go into her shop and buy something. But many others wouldn't have bothered, remembering that first bad impression. Be nice at all times.
17. Don't take trust lightly
Trust is like a mirror. Once it's broken, you'll always be able to see the cracks. Yes, we should all learn to forgive and forget but in business, trust isn't something to be taken lightly. Building trust is incredibly difficult and precious. Don't mess things up by damaging any trust with anyone because they'll probably never want to associate themselves with you again.
18. Go with your values
When putting your website copy together or describing your business to other people, put your values first. People want to find out what you're passionate about rather than just what you do. Because people buy into values rather than products and services. Apple doesn't go around saying 'We're a software company' - it talks about how it's driving standards and researching new technology. People buy into that and love Apple for it. Do the same for your own company. Shout about your values!
19. Use Lynda.com
I love Lynda.com. It's an online tutorial service of software training but includes other things like lessons on social media marketing and SEO. Sign up for a free trial - if one's available - and do as much learning as you can. It does no harm to learn new skills if it's going to benefit your business.
20. Answer those niggling questions
Got a question that keeps bothering you? Write it down and then aim to find the answer during your spare time. For example, you might always open up Photoshop and wonder how to add drop shadows to images but never take the time to find out how. Make this weekend the time you finally learn how to do something that's been at the back of your mind for a while.
21. Get better at communicating
Clients like to be kept in the loop. Happy clients are ones that are happy you're doing the job they've hired you for. Reassure them by keeping the communication channels open. Got a sinking feeling something might be wrong? Pick up the phone or arrange a meeting as nothing beats face-to-face interaction to put things straight.
22. Beat your clients to it
Got a gut feeling you've neglected a client? Or worried you've not done anything for someone for some time? It's probably an indication that your client is wondering where you are. Beat them to it by never giving them the opportunity to worry about you! Be pro-active and always pick up the phone.
23. Make your clients feel important
Every client wants to think that they're your most important, so treat them that way and make them feel extra special. Bend over backwards whenever you can to keep them happy. For example, if you're in a meeting and they ask when you're likely to complete a project, explain that you'll move your workload around to meet their deadline.
24. Status reports are your best friend
When managing workloads for different clients, it can sometimes overwhelm you. Why not create a status report for each client and keep it updated with every job or project that's ongoing. You can then easily keep track of where you're up to and even send an updated status report to your clients at the end of each week or month. Use something like Excel and - if you do send a copy to clients - make sure everything's spell checked and looks tidy.
25. Use Task Management tools
Juggling lots of different jobs is always a challenge. Make life easier for yourself by using a task management tool like Things for the Mac or if you've got Microsoft Outlook there's a pretty decent in-built task manager on there. Spread out your different tasks throughout the week and don't overburden yourself with too many things on one day.
26. Don't multitask
Multitasking is for losers. Seriously. It will only drain your energy and leave you doing a half-hearted job on all of the tasks in question. Pick out the most important job of the day and focus on doing that and that alone. Yes, you've got loads of other things you need to do. But multitasking won't get anything done any faster. Concentrate on one job before moving onto the next.
27. Switch off social media
Social media is great for networking, building new relationships and winning new business but it can also be a huge distraction. Switch it off when you need to concentrate and only spend a short time every day updating your Twitter or Facebook accounts.
28. Make the most of Twitter
When you are using social media, make sure you learn how to use Twitter the right way for your business. Don't bitch, gossip, complain or moan - people don't like negativity and will be turned off. Just be nice, professional and positive and you'll be onto a winner. Oh and ditch the desire to self-broadcast. This isn't a platform that suits old school marketing. Twitter is all about the long game - you're building relationships with people over a longer period, that's what's important.
29. Push yourself out of your comfort zone
Are you petrified of public speaking? Put yourself forward for a talk in front of 50 people! Hate doing pitches? Sign up for three if you can. It's always great to put yourself out of your comfort zone as it's the only way you'll learn and progress. I used to hate public speaking but after doing a handful of talks, I'm now brimming with confidence and feel comfortable in any situation. Bottom line? It's good to scare yourself and do something you've been avoiding.
30. Read from the industry's finest
Learning from others is a great way to work on your skills and knowledge. Find out who the big players are in your creative field and follow their blogs. For example, Scott Goodson is the founder of the world's first cultural movement agency and his blog gives a really great insight into the world of movement marketing. Like with Scott, you can learn a lot from your own industry's finest.
31. Ditch the pride
We all make mistakes. Even the brightest and best business people have made mistakes. And we all sometimes fail. It's a fact of life. Don't let these mistakes dent your pride. Understand that mistakes are a crucial necessity to life. It's the only way you'll ever learn anything. Just make sure you don't make the same mistake twice.
32. Learn from your mistakes
When you've made a mistake, take a minute to sit back and learn from the experience. Ask yourself why you made the wrong decision or what went wrong. Consider how you can improve yourself, so you don't fall foul of making the same mistakes again.
33. Never stop learning
No matter what your creative field, there will always be something new to learn. Never rest on your laurels or stop improving yourself. Keep up with industry news and developments at all times. For instance, if you're a digital marketing firm - make sure you're one step ahead of all the latest SEO updates. You then want to pass on this wisdom to your clients by improving and expanding upon your services.
34. Impress your clients by getting under their skin
Clients are mad about their businesses. Their company is their baby, so make sure you share their love by getting under the skin of their work. Buy trade magazines relating to their industry and read up about the subject so you can impress your client by talking about any current issues. Ask the right questions and talk about things that are of interest by really getting to know your client's industry.
35. Don't forget downtime
When you're a freelancer, it's all too easy to work every waking hour. If you're working too hard, stop right now! Downtime is so important if you want to stay happy and healthy at work. Besides, working long hours doesn't mean you'll get more work done. Understand that you'll be far more productive if you just work seven or eight hours each day while getting enough rest during evenings and weekends.
36. Write a blog to share your expertise
Don't all groan at once, but blogging is actually really valuable. Not only will you build quality content on your website that will help with your digital marketing, you'll also be learning something new every day. Researching and writing about different topics on a daily basis is a great way to expand your skills.
37. Take a night class
There's no harm in signing up for a new course to improve your skills. That's whether you want to become a better bookkeeper or you're keen to learn more about marketing. Contact your local school or college to see if they run any adult classes.
38. Be pro-active to win more work
Take a look at your existing clients and see if there's anything you could offer to organically grow your business with them. For instance, if you've just built a new website for someone, could you offer digital marketing? Or if you've just designed some business cards why not get in touch and suggest a new brochure as well? Always seek out ways to win more business from your clients.
39. Learn how to present the right image
When you put together your own company image, consider how you'd like to come across to other businesses. Do you want to be seen as friendly? Professional? Corporate? Consider your image at all times and make sure this is reflected across everything you do from your Twitter profile to your website and marketing materials. How people perceive you can really make or break you.
40. Be creative
Don't be afraid to try new things and change things around. Be creative and come up with new ways to let your business and your clients shine. If you're not feeling especially creative, read these 50 of the best websites for daily inspiration.
41. Determine your strengths
Take a good, long hard look at yourself and determine what your strengths are. Once you've recognised your own strengths, make sure you shout about them through your website, marketing materials and when talking to potential clients.
42. Tackle your weaknesses
We all have weaknesses, it's just a fact of life. Pick out your own and try to fill the gaps - either by improving yourself or hiring outsourced support to make your business stronger.
43. Boost your self-confidence
Running a business takes guts and determination. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will. So work on your own self-confidence and become happier in your own skin. Confidence is infectious and people love to be around confident people. Still not convinced you can become more confident? Take a course or speak to family/friends to ask them why they like you. Get out and exercise, setting yourself a challenge to run a certain distance. Do anything you can to work on your confidence.
44. Identify client demands
To really get to grips with what your client needs, go above and beyond to discover their demands. Sometimes a client may find it hard to express what they want. Just ask lots of questions until you're completely clear about their wants and needs. You can then act accordingly.
45. Keep track of happy customers
It's no good doing a great job and having really happy clients unless you can shout about it! Make sure you ask your clients' permission to use their testimonials on your website and marketing materials. Nothing endorses your company more than a happy customer.
46. Make allies wherever possible
The business world can be a small pond, particularly if you're a small business working with clients on your own doorstep. Make sure you're friendly with everyone and collect as many allies as possible. Allies will look out for you, defend you and send more business your way. Be someone everyone likes, including your competition.
47. Take advantage of free software
There is so much free stuff across the web, so make sure you make the most of it. From SEO tools and learning videos to social media monitoring systems, there is so much that you can get your hands on without paying for it.
48. Create a marketing plan
Want to become a better freelancer? When you work for yourself, it's all too easy to get your head down and just work without any real forward planning. Take a step back and make your own marketing plan. It will help you to identify areas for improvement in your own business while setting you off along the right path.
49. Save for rainy days
To really get to grips with freelancing, you have to understand that there will be some drought work periods. Save money aside for these quieter times so you always keep your cash flow healthy.
50. Carry a notepad at all times
When you work in the creative industries, you'll undoubtedly have to come up with new and creative ideas for your clients as well as yourself. Carry a notepad wherever you go because inspiration can strike at any time.
51. Be humble
Don't become arrogant or too big for your boots. Be humble and remember to willingly take advice from other people or clients who have more experience than you. You don't know everything, so stop pretending you do and take a more modest approach to life.
52. Take the time you need
There's no point rushing through work as it will only make your work suffer. Take the time you need to do a great job and if it means you go over deadline, just keep the communication channels open with your client.
53. Ask for feedback
Client feedback is like gold dust. Ask for it and you'll be able to see where you can make improvements to your products, services and customer service.
54. Keep finances tidy
It goes without saying, but money is the key to your survival. Keep finances tidy, file invoices away in one place and have a system in place that makes your annual tax return a breeze.
55. Know when to start and finish
When freelancing, you don't necessarily have to work the old 9 til 5. You can choose your own hours and work during your most productive moments. In which case, know when to start and finish. Don't keep ploughing away with your workload if you've run out of steam. So what if it's 11am and you can't find the motivation. Go for a walk in the fresh air for an hour, have a long lunch and then just work later on.
56. Remember to de-stress
Stress can be a killer. Stress isn't good for anyone. Remember to de-stress whenever you can by stepping away from your desk, taking lots of deep breaths and going out to exercise. Downtime is just as important as work time. Don't neglect giving your mind and body time off from work.
57. Give a positive response to negative criticism
Ok, so it's not nice when someone criticises your work but it's no good becoming angry or defensive. Give a positive response whenever someone points out holes in your work and see their criticism as a great opportunity to learn and improve.
58. Say yes to new challenges
Has a client thrown a difficult new challenge at you? Don't be afraid to have a go and embrace the opportunity. Challenges put us out of our comfort zones and are a great way to learn new things and become a better freelancer overall.
59. Read and read some more
Never ever stop reading. That's whether you're learning new skills, reading about the general daily news or keeping up with the industry you work in. Never rest on your laurels and read as much as you can.
60. Stay active
Exercise is the best way to tackle stress and clear your mind. Get out for a nice walk, cycle or jog in the fresh air and you'll find that any business worries or stresses will melt away. When I'm out running, I often come up with solutions to any problems I have. Stay active to stay healthy, happy and stress-free.
61. Plan your days ahead
Avoid the Sunday night blues by leaving work on a Friday with a well planned work schedule ready to pick up on Monday. Plan your time ahead and you'll feel in control, and therefore happy, with your work.
62. Be aware of new trends
To stay one step ahead of the competition and remain profitable, always stay aware of any new trends that your business could benefit from. For example, when I first started out as a marketing freelancer Twitter was becoming extremely popular. I made sure I learnt the skills I needed to offer social media marketing as a service to my clients.
63. Look the part
Even if you work from home and are tempted to stay in your pyjamas, don't! Dress professionally and look the part. It will make you feel professional and it'll boost your productivity. Get up, have a shower and some breakfast and wear something smart. Make an effort with your appearance even if you're at home.
64. Don't forget your tax
The only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Don't ever forget to sort your annual tax return. It's so important to pay your taxes on time otherwise you could face heavy penalties. Take some time out each week to ensure all your invoices, bank statements and receipts are filed away neatly, ready for the big tax return at the end of the year. And always save some money aside ready for the big bill because you don't want to be suddenly stung just after Christmas.
65. Always carry a business card
When you work for yourself, you often do your own marketing. That's why you should carry a business card with you at all times. You could bump into any number of opportunities.
66. Be a chameleon
To become a really good freelancer, you have to learn how to be flexible and adapt to different types of clients. One client might be very stiff and corporate while another might be laid-back and fun. Wear the right clothes and talk the right language with different people. Become a chameleon and adapt to other people's behaviour.
67. Have a goal in mind
No matter what you're doing, always have a goal for your business in mind. Stick to that goal and do everything you can to achieve it. Remember, goals can change as you go along so don't be hard on yourself if things adjust.
68. Respond to emails and phone calls quickly
Happy customers love a quick response, so make sure you respond to emails and phone calls as quickly as possible. If you've been sent a complicated email, simply reply and explain that you'll look into the issue and come back to them as soon as you can.
69. Don't over-promise
Never ever over-promise and under-deliver. Always manage client expectations by telling them what you can and can't realistically achieve for them. If you over-promise you'll only cause yourself problems.
70. Tackle small jobs first
Got a massive workload to get through? Get rid of the small jobs first. You'll feel great that you ticked them off your 'to-do' list and will be ready to handle the bigger stuff without distraction.
71. Be patient
Be patient with your clients and suppliers. It's a noble quality to have and one that makes you a more likable person. And if people like you, they'll want to do business with you again and again.
72. Be flexible
There are times when you really should be flexible for your clients. Learn to recognise those occasions when it will do you no harm to be flexible to your client's needs. Just don't let others abuse your reasonable attitude.
73. Be understanding
Sometimes good clients might not be able to pay on time or they might let you down because they're suffering from their own issues. If the client in question is usually reliable, try to be understanding and give them room to sort things out.
74. The client isn't always right
Don't be afraid to go against what your client is saying if you think they're wrong. Clients aren't always right, so bear that in mind. Some clients can think they know it all. They don't. Gently lead your client along the right path and have confidence in your own expertise.
75. Don't procrastinate
Don't sit there and twiddle your thumbs, talking about all the things you could be doing without actually putting anything into action. If you're sat waiting for inspiration to strike or you can't get started on a new job, just spend 10 minutes trying to get stuck in. You'll soon get the ball rolling and be working away happily.
76. Take breaks
It's easy to work and work without taking a break but it's no good for your mind and body. Every 15 minutes, get up and stretch. Take some deep breaths and rest away from your computer. Make the most of your lunchbreaks and take a full hour if you can. If the sun's shining, get outside for a nice walk.
77. Research client's target market before you begin
To understand your customer, you have to understand their customers. Research your client's target market before you start any work and you'll be onto a winner.
78. Advertise yourself outside of your local area
When you want to broaden your horizons and win more work, extend your reach outside your local area. Advertise in other towns or cities that are close by. Don't be afraid to try out new markets. A great way to extend into new areas is to go to new networking events. Just go armed with lots of business cards and a big smile.
79. Consider having contracts
Contracts are a great way to protect yourself against any common issues that may arise with clients. They legally bind your client into an agreement with you to provide services that they will pay for. Consider getting something drafted up by a legal professional.
80. Love what you do
Finally, there is no point in being a freelancer if you don't love what you do. So make sure you absolutely love your line of work and enjoy the freedom of running your own business. If you don't love what you do, find something that you're passionate about and pursue a career in that.
