A Beginner’s Guide to Freelancing
Freelance contracting is becoming increasingly popular and for good reasons. With economic crises and unstable job markets worldwide, it makes sense to use your skills and talents to build a business of your own.
Freelancing offers motivated individuals the opportunity to do just that, while offering a host of other perks, like being able to set your own work hours and holiday schedule. However, it’s not without risk, so it’s important to know the potential pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Self marketing
Any successful freelancer will tell you that a lot of time, energy and money go in finding quality employers in their niche, establishing a rapport with them and soliciting work for their business.
Quality clients
One of the biggest challenges in freelancing is overcoming the fear that a client will refuse to pay for the work you’ve done. The truth is that there is no shortage of dodgy clients looking to take advantage of independent contractors, plying their trade without the benefit of an expensive legal team behind them every step of the way. There is a real likelihood that you will cross paths with these sorts at some point.
Clarifying the terms of the project
The best time to get clarification about the project details is before you accept the work. Make sure to read the project description carefully and contact the client to resolve any questions or concerns before you commit. It’s really important to make sure you and the client are on the same page regarding deadlines, payment schedule and method.
The last thing you want to do is accept a job with several crucial details left unknown. Not only do you risk not being paid, but failure to complete the work to the client’s standards – unspoken or not – could also lead to negative reviews.
Making large projects more manageable
Depending on the size of the project, you may want to consider breaking the work up into manageable chunks. Not only does this give you reasonable objectives to achieve, instead of one large task to accomplish. It also gives you the opportunity to establish a payment plan with your client so that you can be paid in installments, rather than risking completing the entire project and having the client walk away.
These tips can help you establish strong working relationships and build a solid reputation as a service provider in your field.
Good luck and happy freelancing!
SOURCE: Freelancer
