Did you know that the term freelance comes from the Middle Ages? At that time it referred to knights who served more than one lord, so anyone could hire them. Today the term has not changed much and freelancers are still truly brave people who approach work in a different way.
Looking for a more concrete definition of the term, we will say that freelancers are self-employed workers who do specific work for third parties and are paid by results, not by time. This is important to understand the concept since, on the one hand, they do not have bosses or schedules. On the other hand, they do not get paid until the work is done and that may mean having to make some investment in the process.
Even though being a freelancer may seem hard, if you learn to combine work with your social life you will surely achieve great results. smile
You have to keep in mind that you will have to deal with all aspects of the business on your own: finances, administration, procurement, production, management control and marketing. To do all these tasks you need to know how to manage your time in the best possible way. You don't live only to work!
Set a fixed work schedule for yourself and, most importantly, stick to it.
It can be difficult to find time to have a social life, but it is necessary to disconnect from time to time to come back with your batteries charged.
Unless you are a Community Manager, keep social media off: avoid distractions.
While you are doing tasks, keep chats and social media to one side, on silent. Focus on what you are doing and you will increase your efficiency and productivity.
Organize your time: make a to-do list.
Create a planner in which you can record each task and the time it takes to complete it. This will give you control and will make it much easier to improve your time if necessary.
Choose your projects wisely.
Carry out a project study to see how long it will take and how much money it will bring you. Sometimes you have to say no, either because you don't have enough time or because it's too much for you. It's better to be realistic and always tell the truth than to do a mediocre job and fail clients. Consider using freelance platforms to attract projects . On these websites you position yourself as a professional and receive proposals to do work directly from potential clients.
Take care of all areas of the business.
Set aside some time each month to do other important tasks, such as advertising your business, attending courses that complement your training, doing accounts and sorting invoices, etc. These types of tasks do not directly generate money, but they help you keep up with your work and, in the long run, they will provide you with secondary income.
To make it easier for you, here is an infographic with tips for managing your day-to-day life:
Steps to manage your time as a freelancer
What is clear within this concept is that for a freelancer to be considered as such, he must have CLIENTS . To reach them, they must first know you. How? Well, if you follow these 6 simple guidelines, everything will go smoothly.wink
1. Study the market and your target:
Research everything about the sector you are in. Find out who your target (ideal customer) is and target them. You may discover that your market niche is different from the one you thought you had, but that is an opportunity, not a drawback. This information will help you create your Business Plan.
2. Professional website:
Create a professional website or blog for your business that conveys confidence and professionalism to your future clients. You must know how to convey what you do and what your qualities are in a different and original way. Include a tab in which you describe yourself, since you are the visible face of your work and many hires are made by the professional themselves.
Freelance
3. Network:
Rely on your contacts and start promoting your services. Word of mouth can be decisive telemarketing leads brazil telephone number data for a freelancer. If you dare to network, you will see how easy it is to contact
4. Make yourself seen:
Promote your blog or website and make it known. Sign up for blogs in your sector and publish in them and let others publish in yours too. In addition to increasing your notoriety, you will improve your SEO positioning and your visibility on the Internet, which can make someone interested in what you do.
Create a LinkedIn profile and fill it with samples of your work, links to your website or blog, and make contacts. You can also create a Facebook Fan Page to advertise yourself, but always remember that everything is aimed at the professional, never the personal. Just make sure they know who you are and why they should hire you.
And as a finishing touch, especially when you do networking, design some business cards that identify you as a professional and for your work. There are companies that even suggest logos and brand names on their websites if you are not sure, although it is preferable that everything comes from your originality. Think about it!
5. Look for a competitive price:
Don't give away your work or overprice it. You can also research this part in the first point, when you investigate the competition. Search and compare and get a price list that matches your worth and effort.