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10 questions about freelancing that I get asked all the time.
With answers.
A thread.
With answers.
A thread.
1/
"Do I need to have had a relevant job first to start?"
It's probably easier, but no, you don't.
"Easier" because your skills (and your confidence in them) will be pre-honed + you'll come into freelancing with client interaction experience.
"Do I need to have had a relevant job first to start?"
It's probably easier, but no, you don't.
"Easier" because your skills (and your confidence in them) will be pre-honed + you'll come into freelancing with client interaction experience.
But it's not a requirement.
I'm proof of this having started straight out of education with just a University project for my uncle's band under my belt.
Reflecting on this 11 years later, I put less significance on how I started and more on the act of starting itself.
I'm proof of this having started straight out of education with just a University project for my uncle's band under my belt.
Reflecting on this 11 years later, I put less significance on how I started and more on the act of starting itself.
2/
"I don't have traditional education relevant to programming/design/copywriting/skill I want to sell - does it matter?"
It can help—when thinking that some prospects consider certifications credible—however, it's non-essential.
"I don't have traditional education relevant to programming/design/copywriting/skill I want to sell - does it matter?"
It can help—when thinking that some prospects consider certifications credible—however, it's non-essential.
My degree is only semi-relevant and I consider myself self-taught.
I've learned more from the study and action I initiated myself:
- Reading business books
- Starting a business
- Doing the work
I've learned more from the study and action I initiated myself:
- Reading business books
- Starting a business
- Doing the work
3/
"How do I know if I'm good enough?"
If you never try, you'll never know.
There's little downside to setting up a website and advertising your freelance services on the side.
If someone hires you, you're good enough.
"How do I know if I'm good enough?"
If you never try, you'll never know.
There's little downside to setting up a website and advertising your freelance services on the side.
If someone hires you, you're good enough.
4/
"Should I quit my job to start?"
Unless you can absorb (potentially) making nothing for a while, no.
Without a few months of runway saved, the downside outweighs the upside.
"Should I quit my job to start?"
Unless you can absorb (potentially) making nothing for a while, no.
Without a few months of runway saved, the downside outweighs the upside.
It'll be harder to find time alongside a job, sure.
But the opportunity cost of starting is high:
Low cost/time investment -> greater potential earnings/autonomy.
Don't discount a gradual transition (part-time job + part-time freelance) until you can go full-time freelance.
But the opportunity cost of starting is high:
Low cost/time investment -> greater potential earnings/autonomy.
Don't discount a gradual transition (part-time job + part-time freelance) until you can go full-time freelance.
5/
"I have no connections, how will I get work?"
You have more than you think.
Tell everyone you know that you're available:
- Family
- Friends
- Family of friends
- Friends of family
- Ex-colleagues
If your skill has value, I'd be surprised if you didn't get a hit.
"I have no connections, how will I get work?"
You have more than you think.
Tell everyone you know that you're available:
- Family
- Friends
- Family of friends
- Friends of family
- Ex-colleagues
If your skill has value, I'd be surprised if you didn't get a hit.
And in asking this question, your signal to start *making* connections is triggered.
Leverage social media to reach like-minded people:
- Share all you do
- Spread value
- Help people
- Chat for chatting's sake on occasion!
Leverage social media to reach like-minded people:
- Share all you do
- Spread value
- Help people
- Chat for chatting's sake on occasion!
Become authentically interesting and connections arrive as a byproduct.
6/
"Should I specialise or generalise?"
While I believe generalists can see success, specialising is what worked for me.
Shifting my position from presenting as a "freelance web developer" to a "freelance WordPress developer" increased revenue and reduced stress.
"Should I specialise or generalise?"
While I believe generalists can see success, specialising is what worked for me.
Shifting my position from presenting as a "freelance web developer" to a "freelance WordPress developer" increased revenue and reduced stress.
It became easier to stand out and it became easier to run my business.
Marketing towards prospects and serving multiple clients is less work when they all have similar traits.
Marketing towards prospects and serving multiple clients is less work when they all have similar traits.
When you specialise, you give yourself a chance to become an expert—if not *the* expert.
And experts with specific knowledge make a good living from selling it.
And experts with specific knowledge make a good living from selling it.
7/
"What's the best type of client?"
- Clients willing to be advised
- Clients who align with your values
- Clients with more money than time
- Clients who'll see a big ROI from hiring you
- Clients whose projects don't feel like work
"What's the best type of client?"
- Clients willing to be advised
- Clients who align with your values
- Clients with more money than time
- Clients who'll see a big ROI from hiring you
- Clients whose projects don't feel like work
8/
"How much should I charge?"
How long is a piece of string?
Price is relative to every freelancer, client and project.
Consider the market rate of freelancers offering similar services, but whatever—and however—you charge, do so with value in mind.
"How much should I charge?"
How long is a piece of string?
Price is relative to every freelancer, client and project.
Consider the market rate of freelancers offering similar services, but whatever—and however—you charge, do so with value in mind.
The question you should be asking is:
"What's the value of my involvement in this project compared to the next best freelancer available?"
Better still:
Get to a point where your service is unique enough that its value—and thus price—can't be compared.
"What's the value of my involvement in this project compared to the next best freelancer available?"
Better still:
Get to a point where your service is unique enough that its value—and thus price—can't be compared.
9/
"Where do you get your leads?"
My first leads came from people that I already knew.
After a couple of years—through doing a good job—the inbound pipeline started to fill.
My biggest source of freelance leads now is my website at an average of 5-6 per week.
"Where do you get your leads?"
My first leads came from people that I already knew.
After a couple of years—through doing a good job—the inbound pipeline started to fill.
My biggest source of freelance leads now is my website at an average of 5-6 per week.
10 /
"Should I freelance under my own name or a brand name?"
Two questions:
1. How confident are you being the face of your business?
2. Are you looking to build an asset that you can exit from?
"Should I freelance under my own name or a brand name?"
Two questions:
1. How confident are you being the face of your business?
2. Are you looking to build an asset that you can exit from?
There's an edge for freelancers using their own name–if you're comfortable with that– because people buy from people.
But you can't sell a business when the business is you.
But you can't sell a business when the business is you.
And if you're impartial to each question, what's to stop you from trying both?
Then you can answer your own question with proof.
Then you can answer your own question with proof.
AMA.
