Alveena Ahmad
There’s a lot to be said for freelancing, but it’s certainly not easy. If you’re like me, you’ve probably had many instances where the reality of freelancing has fallen short of expectations. If you find yourself in the group of people for whom freelancing has turned into more of a struggle than not, you’re not alone. Continue reading for 6 tips on overcoming some of the difficult times associated with freelancing.
1. Find the Root Causes:
The first step in finding a solution is identifying the issue. Is it inconsistent income, loneliness, irregularity, or the feeling that you can’t stop chasing? Identifying the problems you’re facing will help you address them more successfully.
2. Rethink Your Offerings
In the cutthroat world of freelance work, ongoing education is essential. You might need to figure out what else you can offer if you don’t feel like you’re drawing in customers. Perhaps it’s time to expand your services or improve your abilities with online workshops, certifications, or courses. Determine what skills are in demand and how to get them (I know, I know, easier said than done). But since I’m only a freelance writer, I can’t possibly address every issue you have in one piece.
3. Reconsider your price
It’s critical to evaluate your pricing strategy and make sure it accounts for the value you offer, your background, and your overhead. Undercharging could be the reason you’re not making enough money, but overcharging could be the reason you’re not attracting enough clients. Determine prices through research, and then modify your approach.
4. Create Your Own Personal Brand
Creating a polished online presence, a portfolio, and an engaged social media presence can help you break out of a rut and draw in higher calibre clients. Your personal brand serves as an endorsement of your professionalism, work ethic, and sense of style—all of which have the power to persuade a prospective client to pick you over another freelancer. And closing a deal always involves a dopamine rush. Every time!
5. Seek Feedback
Getting input from previous customers or anybody else whose judgement you respect can give you important insights into your areas of strength and growth. This input can be very helpful in enhancing your services, improving your strategy, and even modifying your communication tactics. Never be reluctant to request feedback. Alright, so it’s acceptable to feel fear. However, don’t let that stop you (I seem like they said as much in Harry Potter).
6. When To Consider Moving On
Even with the greatest of intentions, there may come a point when you decide freelancing isn’t for you anymore. Don’t panic; the abilities, fortitude, and flexibility you’ve gained working as a freelancer are transferable. If your expectations aren’t being met by freelancing, it might be time to look into other models. For additional financial stability, some may find that switching to a consulting role, launching a small agency, or accepting a part-time job in addition to freelancing is the solution. It’s acceptable to think about going full-time or choosing a different professional route; it doesn’t indicate a lack of success; rather, it indicates that you’re a dynamic individual, which is presumably what drew you to freelancing in the first place.
