Read on Twitter
1/ // How to Start Freelancing? //
45 tweet thead coming atcha.
45 tweet thead coming atcha.
2/ How do I start freelancing?
What should I charge to freelance?
What should I do to become a freelancer?
What do I need to have to start freelancing?
What should I charge to freelance?
What should I do to become a freelancer?
What do I need to have to start freelancing?
3/ Can I freelance while still having a job if it's in remotely the same broad industry such as, but not only including, marketing?
^^^ few of many, MANY Google searches of mine over ~two years of fooling around before taking that first leap to freelance.
^^^ few of many, MANY Google searches of mine over ~two years of fooling around before taking that first leap to freelance.
4/ Going to chat about how to start freelancing, what to do, what to avoid, how to focus on, and how to keep going.
Before we dive in.. promise me this.
Let this be the LAST “how to start” piece of content you consume for one week. One whole week.
For seven days.
Before we dive in.. promise me this.
Let this be the LAST “how to start” piece of content you consume for one week. One whole week.
For seven days.
5/ Then you may consume more “how to start” content if you still need to.
Like, issue 002.
After you finish THIS newsletter, take ACTION.
At this point, you know what skills you have and what you can do/make/offer to clients.
So.. why haven’t you started freelancing yet?
Like, issue 002.
After you finish THIS newsletter, take ACTION.
At this point, you know what skills you have and what you can do/make/offer to clients.
So.. why haven’t you started freelancing yet?
6/ It’s one of these three things:
1. You don’t have any clients yet.
2. You haven’t tried to get clients yet.
3. You don’t actually want to freelance.
Let’s get into it.
#1 - You don’t have any clients yet.
Hey, no problem! Everyone starts somewhere.
1. You don’t have any clients yet.
2. You haven’t tried to get clients yet.
3. You don’t actually want to freelance.
Let’s get into it.
#1 - You don’t have any clients yet.
Hey, no problem! Everyone starts somewhere.
7/ You can’t expect to close every sale, it’s a numbers game.
Sometimes you need more reps.
In the middle of college, I applied to over 50 part time jobs and internships. 50!
I had job experience before, too.
Rejection, denied, no response until number 60 or so.
Sometimes you need more reps.
In the middle of college, I applied to over 50 part time jobs and internships. 50!
I had job experience before, too.
Rejection, denied, no response until number 60 or so.
8/ Fast forward to when I FINALLY was freelancing and trying to get more clients - I must have sent out 125 cold emails and DM’s before getting a response even.
Not a yes, a response.
Not a yes, a response.
9/ “No thanks”
Queue up another hundred or so, finally got a client on a sales call and closed that deal. Woo!
As long as you have savings or other income, not having any clients yet isn’t that big of a problem in my eyes.
Queue up another hundred or so, finally got a client on a sales call and closed that deal. Woo!
As long as you have savings or other income, not having any clients yet isn’t that big of a problem in my eyes.
10/ If you are promoting yourself, conducting cold outreach to potential clients, asking friends & family for referrals, you’re well on your way!
If this is you, stop and go send some more messages and emails! Or, give yourself a break from outreach and keep on reading.
If this is you, stop and go send some more messages and emails! Or, give yourself a break from outreach and keep on reading.
11/ #2 - You haven’t tried to get clients yet.
​
So you don’t have any clients.
But.. you also haven’t even tried.
This is where I was for at least two years. So be ready for a potential gut check.
Remember my intro?
“How to freelance?
How do I start freelancing?
​
So you don’t have any clients.
But.. you also haven’t even tried.
This is where I was for at least two years. So be ready for a potential gut check.
Remember my intro?
“How to freelance?
How do I start freelancing?
12/ What should I charge to freelance?
What should I do to become a freelancer?
What do I need to have to start freelancing?”
And so many more. I often referred to this as “planning” and “research.”
99%+ of it was a huge waste of time.
What should I do to become a freelancer?
What do I need to have to start freelancing?”
And so many more. I often referred to this as “planning” and “research.”
99%+ of it was a huge waste of time.
13/ I would have gotten 10x the results had I taken action just 1% of the time I spent on that oh delicate planning and research phase.
Or if I had spent 1% of that time actually LEARNING a new skill.
Or if I had spent 1% of that time actually LEARNING a new skill.
14/ Almost, well, anything besides reading listicle, after blog podcast, after podcast, after YouTube video, after free email course, after free ebook, after free PDF download, after cheatsheet…
You twinged and cringed a bit.
It’s okay. I did too.
You twinged and cringed a bit.
It’s okay. I did too.
15/ I did what I did and that’s done. If you’re here right now, don’t let it become two years!
If you’re beyond two years, it’s okay too! Today is a great day to make a change.
Up to you.
If you’re beyond two years, it’s okay too! Today is a great day to make a change.
Up to you.
16/ What I’m getting at is if you want to freelance, but don’t have a client yet, but haven’t even tried to get a client yet, why not?
You're more than capable of charging someone for your time and work. You have enough skill by now.
You're more than capable of charging someone for your time and work. You have enough skill by now.
17/ You haven’t emailed or DM’d anyone for their business. You haven’t even told your friends or family yet about this.
It doesn’t have to be a whole big thing! I recommend most people start trying to freelance on the side.
It doesn’t have to be a whole big thing! I recommend most people start trying to freelance on the side.
18/ See if they even like working for themselves without taking a huge leap or risk.
No outreach yet? Okay, no problem – you likely don’t know what your service offering is as a freelancer.
In other words, your “offer.” No, not like a discount or sale.
No outreach yet? Okay, no problem – you likely don’t know what your service offering is as a freelancer.
In other words, your “offer.” No, not like a discount or sale.
19/ What hirable skills do you have?
What do businesses get from you when they hire you?
What outcome do they receive in return for giving you money?
who do you help, how do you help those people, what do you do, ?
This is your basic service offer formula.
What do businesses get from you when they hire you?
What outcome do they receive in return for giving you money?
who do you help, how do you help those people, what do you do, ?
This is your basic service offer formula.
20/ I help ___ get ___ so they can _______.
I won’t dive too deep here, I will save that for another newsletter, but here are some examples of this.
Check out my freelance site, http://mattlady.com :
“I help eCommerce brands get customers through Facebook Ads.
I won’t dive too deep here, I will save that for another newsletter, but here are some examples of this.
Check out my freelance site, http://mattlady.com :
“I help eCommerce brands get customers through Facebook Ads.
21/ Hire me to handle your advertising so you can work ON your business, not IN the business.”
Who: eCommerce brands
How: Facebook ads
What: Get new customers
It’s not the most polished but it’s simple and gets the point across.
Who: eCommerce brands
How: Facebook ads
What: Get new customers
It’s not the most polished but it’s simple and gets the point across.
22/ I don’t spend money or loads of time sending traffic to my site so I’m satisfied with it.
If you don’t know what you have to offer or who you can help, how is anyone else?
You need to be able to explain what you do, try explaining to a friend or family member first.
If you don’t know what you have to offer or who you can help, how is anyone else?
You need to be able to explain what you do, try explaining to a friend or family member first.
23/ 1 - “I’m a photographer”
2 - “I’m a modeling photographer”
3 - “I’m a modeling photographer that gets you the best headshots so you can land the gigs of your dream.”
Some people don’t even know they are a modeling photographer or photographer yet! That’s okay!
2 - “I’m a modeling photographer”
3 - “I’m a modeling photographer that gets you the best headshots so you can land the gigs of your dream.”
Some people don’t even know they are a modeling photographer or photographer yet! That’s okay!
24/ You figure out what you are offering to people, and then tell them what you do.
You need to do this. This is part of the process for many people.
Some people fall into freelancing, yes.
You need to do this. This is part of the process for many people.
Some people fall into freelancing, yes.
25/ They got asked by a friend to take some photos at their event, then one of their friends saw you and asked you to shoot their gig, then someone at that party asked you to shoot their wedding…
This isn’t how it goes for everyone.
This isn’t how it goes for everyone.
26/ If you’re going to be a freelancer, you need to communicate this.
Through written word, audio, video, or in person to another human being, about you starting to freelance & being open for work.
Through written word, audio, video, or in person to another human being, about you starting to freelance & being open for work.
27/ I cannot believe I have to type this out, but I do, most to remind myself that this was also me…
You have to tell people you are freelancing for X and open for Y projects. Some form of this.
Word of mouth and referrals are how MANY people start freelancing.
You have to tell people you are freelancing for X and open for Y projects. Some form of this.
Word of mouth and referrals are how MANY people start freelancing.
28/ Again, not for everyone as they have small networks or are changing fields, etc
If you do not have a skill or service you would charge someone money for, get more skills. Learn more. Go practice and study.
If you do not have a skill or service you would charge someone money for, get more skills. Learn more. Go practice and study.
29/ Then once you feel like you can help someone, go back to the previous step and communicate your services and then charge someone and get paid.
Congrats, you’re a freelancer! Woo hoo!
Oh wait, you’re still here. Hm.. let’s see..
Oh. I see.
Congrats, you’re a freelancer! Woo hoo!
Oh wait, you’re still here. Hm.. let’s see..
Oh. I see.
30/ So you DO have a set of skills or experience that makes you hirable, know what you have to offer, but haven’t tried to tell anyone, or haven’t done cold outreach either?
#3 - You don’t actually want to freelance.
​
You’re not ready to be self employed.
#3 - You don’t actually want to freelance.
​
You’re not ready to be self employed.
31/ Or even self employed for a single project.
And that's MORE than okay.
And that's MORE than okay.
32/ For whatever the reason you don't want to..
you could be afraid to fail don’t want to give up doom-scrolling social media too busy catching up on Netflix shows being rejected being uncomfortable and pursuing an itch, a dream…
Whatever it is.. You don’t want to do it.
you could be afraid to fail don’t want to give up doom-scrolling social media too busy catching up on Netflix shows being rejected being uncomfortable and pursuing an itch, a dream…
Whatever it is.. You don’t want to do it.
33/ You have some shit to figure out and process.
Don’t get hung up or stop yourself.
You have to get out of your own way.
Let’s keep going, I’m here to help!
Don’t get hung up or stop yourself.
You have to get out of your own way.
Let’s keep going, I’m here to help!
34/ So tell me this:
Why can’t you tell a friend that’s in marketing that you are a writer and want her to be on the lookout for you for referrals for anyone needing help with blog posts?
Why can’t you tell a friend that’s in marketing that you are a writer and want her to be on the lookout for you for referrals for anyone needing help with blog posts?
35/ Why can’t you go Google “local car washes near me” and help get local car washes set up on Google, Yelp, and do basic ads for them?
Why can’t you translate your four years of professional experience into a service offering, or two?
Why can’t you translate your four years of professional experience into a service offering, or two?
36/ Why can’t you learn how to code a basic website or use Squarespace over a few weekends or months and then sell a website to a small business for $200?
Why not?
That’s on you. Don’t blame anyone else.
You can start and try something.
Why not?
That’s on you. Don’t blame anyone else.
You can start and try something.
37/ I’m not saying everyone will succeed in freelancing. I’m pushing you to take action and even TRY.
38/ Please, please notice how none of this included the following:
-Name of company
-LLC setup
-Real legit contract
-Invoicing tool
-Logo design
-Website
-Content strategy
-Social media pages
-Case studies
You don’t need any of this yet.
-Name of company
-LLC setup
-Real legit contract
-Invoicing tool
-Logo design
-Website
-Content strategy
-Social media pages
-Case studies
You don’t need any of this yet.
39/ All this stuff will prevent you from even starting.
It stopped me for two years.
730 days of it looming in the back of my head, sometimes into the front when work or life was frustrating.
Don’t let this be you. Take action.
Try.
It stopped me for two years.
730 days of it looming in the back of my head, sometimes into the front when work or life was frustrating.
Don’t let this be you. Take action.
Try.
40/ Do something, worry about the logistics and details later, to be honest. This isn’t legal advice and I’m not a lawyer but 99.99% of you won’t need to worry about getting sued or signing an NDA or anything for your first project.
Yeah, being professional is fine.
Yeah, being professional is fine.
41/ Wanting to look good is fine.
I get it, I do. Like I said, I’ve been there and am all too familiar with it.
But actually, no one cares.
50-70% of my freelance business still comes from word of mouth/referrals.
I get it, I do. Like I said, I’ve been there and am all too familiar with it.
But actually, no one cares.
50-70% of my freelance business still comes from word of mouth/referrals.
42/ They didn’t find my sick, super designed website and fill out the contact form with seamless .
They didn’t search “marketing freelancers near me with an LLC and 6 years of experience”
Stop overthinking.
Pick a direction and GO.
They didn’t search “marketing freelancers near me with an LLC and 6 years of experience”
Stop overthinking.
Pick a direction and GO.
43/ Get a client, figure out how to do a great job for them, and then come back.
And again, if you don’t want to freelance, or it’s not the right time, no problem!
It’s not for everyone. It’s not for everyone right now. It’s not for everyone, period.
And again, if you don’t want to freelance, or it’s not the right time, no problem!
It’s not for everyone. It’s not for everyone right now. It’s not for everyone, period.
44/ But if you truly want to and have dreamed about it and looked up stuff and thought about it and talked about it with your friend one too many times over drinks…
Today’s a great day to make a change.
Or not.
The choice is yours.
Today’s a great day to make a change.
Or not.
The choice is yours.
45/ If you do make the choice to try freelancing, remember, figure out what you have to offer, go talk to people, and go make a sale!
46/ This thread is originally from content in my "Freedom For Freelancers" Newsletter.
Sign up here to get content like this weekly in your inbox about freelancing:
http://ventursom.com/newsletter
Sign up here to get content like this weekly in your inbox about freelancing:
http://ventursom.com/newsletter
