Hey there, it’s Ariel, Michelle’s editor. Over the past couple of years, you’ve seen me on Making Sense of Cents talking about real-life frugality, living in a small house, and sharing editing and writing tips. Last year, I took the plunge and turned my freelance side gig into my full-time job.
It’s been almost a year since I went full-time with my freelance editing and writing business. The learning curve has been pretty steep at times. Honestly, there were moments when I had no idea how to run a business. I often found myself turning to Google for advice on things like filing estimated quarterly taxes and setting freelance writing rates.
There are best practices out there, but if there’s an official rulebook for freelancing, I haven’t found it yet.
Freelancers are a growing part of the workforce, with over 56 million of us in the U.S. That’s a lot of people running businesses without formal business training. We’re figuring things out as we go, learning from others, and trying to do right by our businesses and clients.
One of my biggest sources of wisdom has been my amazing clients. From my unique position, I get to see how they run larger businesses that started just as humbly as mine. They’ve shared their mistakes, what they wish they knew, and have helped me become a better business owner. I’m forever grateful for what they’ve taught me.
So, in the spirit of sharing, here are a few lessons I’ve learned from working with some incredibly successful bloggers and online business owners over the past year:
1. **Create a Code of Ethics**: Whether you write it down or keep it in mind, a code of ethics helps guide how you accept new clients, interact with them, and manage your business. It might include things like prioritizing client needs, avoiding conflicts of interest, protecting intellectual property, and being transparent about deadlines.
2. **Learn to Adapt**: To stay relevant, you need to adjust your business based on industry needs. What are your clients asking for? What type of content do they want? Adaptation has been crucial for growing my business.
3. **Say “Yes” When You Need to Work**: If you need cash, you need to work, even if it means taking on projects you don’t love. Over time, as you build your base and cash flow, you can be pickier about the jobs you accept.
4. **Organize Your Workflow**: Having a structured workflow helps you stay on task and be more productive. Tools like Asana can be incredibly helpful for managing projects and keeping your work organized.
5. **Freelancers Are Valued Now**: The perception of freelancers has changed. We’re now seen as valuable business assets rather than just extra help. Good freelancers communicate well with their clients and are treated with respect.
6. **Fix Small Issues Before They Grow**: Address any small cracks in your business before they become big problems. I learned this the hard way when I ignored minor errors from someone I outsourced work to, which eventually cost me more time and money.
7. **Learn SEO**: Basic SEO knowledge can benefit you greatly. It helps you understand what content people are searching for and what services clients are looking for. There are plenty of resources out there to get you started.
8. **Know Your Audience**: Whether you’re a blogger or a freelancer, understanding your audience or your client’s audience is crucial. It informs the content, tone, and language you use, making you a better freelancer.
9. **Outsource When Needed**: Just like your clients outsource to you, you can outsource tasks to others. It saves time and lets you focus on higher ROI tasks.
10. **Network, Even If It’s Awkward**: Networking can be awkward, but it’s worth it. It can bring you new clients and introduce you to new ways of doing business. Plus, it’s nice to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.
Working for yourself can be humbling. You’ll face challenges, but each one is a learning opportunity. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also learn and grow from them.
Are you interested in becoming a freelancer?