a) Know yourself and your best skills first
Before thinking of entering into this freelance world, there are few things you should know about yourself. Try and match your skills to best possible level. Don’t just think you can do little programming and / or little bit designing. As playing around with photoshop isn’t going to help you get a project. Even if you get any this practice won’t be long term.
So, first try to learn more expert skills in your area of interest. Then the other factor comes into light. Make a survey on various existing freelancers portfolio websites, research their price rates for particular jobs then make a decision on your price rates. Remember, price rates play very important role while getting any freelance project. Companies with extra resources, manpower would charge more than a freelancer. So keep that in mind. Other freelancers around you may offer a slightly different skillset to your own, they may charge more or less. A thorough knowledge of the competition will enable you to define the strengths of your business and pitch to clients with that knowledge. Identify your competition via search engines like Google, Yahoo and other popular websites or blogs. Then finally create a nice self illustrative portfolio of your skills.
Then we suggest you to own a domain name / website for showcasing your portfolio. Try to take premium domain names and not the free server subdomains. The reason behind this is most of the clients / buyers will get impressed with the cleanliness of the website.(eg, www.yoursite.com). And in other case if you show them your website on a free server they will end with clicking unwanted forced ads by that free server. This may make your impression down and can result in loosing the order.
b) Always protect yourself
There are various legalities and formalities involved even in case of the simplest of freelance jobs. Even if you’re referral of someone who told you about the said job, protect yourself with a legal contract and your standard terms and conditions for doing business. All the facts related to the project, scope of work, scheduling and payment modes n terms all need to be in writing, and signed off by the client. Never be shy or embarrassed while dealing! Understand international copyright as well as intellectual property laws, the copyright of the work you create and infringement of anyone else’s copyright (premium fonts, graphics, icons, stock images, reproducing copy found online etc).
c) Getting your first business / job
Try and go through client requirements given in the project specification document. If such documentation is not there, insist on it. Spend some time for requirement analysis. But don’t be slow as delay in starting the project can also end in order cancellation. If you have any past experience about that job mention it while dealing with client. This counts to your winning bid.
d) Repeat business
After some time of your first few successful projects you may come to know exactly who those profitable clients are and focus your new business efforts on cultivating them. Keep in regular touch with that client, keep up to date with their industry and emerging trends and suggest work you could undertake for them in line with that knowledge. In many industries customer loyalty is a dying concept, however we don’t believe that to be the case with freelancers, so as long as you give clients a reason to keep coming back. As a resource already versed in your clients’ markets and objectives you can offer cost-effective services as and when you’re required without the need for an entire ‘background brief’ from the client. If you always deliver on time and to the highest standard and keep in touch, then if the client has other requirements, that income should be yours. Build on customer loyalty by emailing newsletters. An analysis of where your future profit lies will be time well spent.
e) Getting trained for the latest
Another most important thing being versed in the latest technology or emerging trends. Freelancers are often self-taught due to their overall financial constraints, but whenever you fill some free moments reading up on the latest software / trends it will keep you ahead of your game. This latest industry knowledge again adds value to your freelance career.
f) Work flow management
Be always up to date and organized. schedule your working time by maintaining a diary for dates important to your company (order dates / start dates / deadlines) . We advise you to make a client database with email, contact details and contact notes for existing and potential clients so you can call back when you promised. Such a system should be designed to carry the job through to completion and payment. Using a good project management software / tool to manage your freelance projects is best practice.
Hope all this helps you..
We wish you a great career ahead!
GetUrCoder Team
