How To Be A Successful Freelancer

Going into business for yourself is scary but rewarding – you are your own boss, there’s no one to tell you want to do! But… you are your own boss, and there’s no one to tell you want to do. For a driven individual, this won’t be a challenge – set yourself a task and accomplish it. End of story! But if you’ve never set out on your own, it’s easy to be confused and unsure of the next step.

Be Organized
From booking clients to planning your day to packing your kit, you are in charge of every aspect of your day to day operations. Keeping organized will not only keep you on top of your to-do list, but can ultimately save you money, especially when it comes to doing your taxes.

Tip: Get a filing cabinet or box to keep all receipts and paperwork in one place – this will mean less work for you come tax time, but also less work for your accountant.

Knowing where everything is, showing up on time, and marking tasks complete off your to-do list will help you feel in control, and will also let clients know you’re on the ball, which goes a long way to inspiring their confidence in you.

Tip: Keep a detailed planner of appointments or a client roster with detailed notes about each client – their likes, dislikes, allergies, etc. This way you can consult it before each appointment or if they reach out with a last minute request or question and you’ll have all the information you need at your fingertips, and they’ll feel like they – and their business – is valued and special.

Get Social
The web is the great equalizer, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to set up a website and register for social media accounts, not only to share your daily inspiration and accomplishments, but to also learn tips, tricks and techniques from others in your industry.

Social media is a wonderfully amplified and cost-effective, word-of-mouth tool to regularly interact with friends, clients and your industry community to build a loyal following, which can and may ultimately lead to new clients.

Work Smart & Hard
Unless you are excellent at networking, when you start out as a freelancer you’ll find yourself saying yes to most any job opportunity that comes your way, and being able to accept a client at a moments notice will go a long way to helping build a loyal clientele.

Look The Part
Though image may not be everything (even in the beauty industry), “looking the part” – styled hair, nice makeup and well-thought out, appropriate outfit – can show a potential client that you take pride in your work and the finished product.

Believe In Your “Brand” & Be Assertive
When we say brand, we simply mean yourself – believing in the service and person providing it (you) is the first step to building confidence in yourself and your clients.

Believing in yourself also means you respect yourself and expect the same from current and potential clients. Although some instances will require you make reasonable allowances, you are allowed to set rules for yourself (and, by extension, your clients) and stick to those rules. There will always be people who will try to take advantage of you, or treat you poorly. As your own boss, it’s up to you to decide what and how much you are willing to accept, but if you state that your business doesn’t book weekends, don’t let someone bully you into working. Remember, once you make a few exceptions it’s difficult to get things back on track. Set your business policies and you’ll have them to turn to in situations that warrant it.

With hard work and dedication, its totally possible to turn your part time passion into a full time freelance career. When you want a refresher course for basic skills, or add new techniques to your arsenal, peruse our selection of certificate courses, or contact us today for more information.