Things I wish I'd known before working as a freelancer 📂

My first year as a freelancer, I struggled to find my first customers, I worked with customers who thought I was their employee, and some customers paid me after 6 months...

It was a tough year!

Don't make the same mistakes I did. Learn from other freelancers like me to reach your goal more quickly by avoiding certain errors.

A freelancer works independently on various jobs or projects for different clients, rather than being employed by a single company.

The goal of a freelancer is to solve a problem.

You can freelance in any field and with any skill. Find your niche and start your freelancing career!

How to find your niche?

1. Start by thinking about something you like to do: your natural talents, like writing, design, administrative tasks, social media management, bookkeeping, or other skills.

2. Think about your hobbies or interests to find which field you'd like to work in.

3. Check the market to identify in-demand services and their typical pricing.

1. Create a simple offer: Define a clear, concise service that addresses a specific need or problem.

2. Find your first clients: Use your network, family, friends, LinkedIn, freelance platforms, etc.

3. Understand your clients' pain points: Engage in conversations to learn the challenges your clients face that your service can solve.

4. Adapt your offer: Refine your service based on client feedback to better meet their needs and increase your marketability.

At the beginning of my freelance career, I organized hackathons for companies. It was trendy, and participants were delighted.

But talking to my first clients, I quickly realized that they didn't see the impact of this event within their company.

So, I adjusted my offer:

• Each event had a specific theme.

• We worked on the client's business issues.

• I provided project follow-up after the event.

In just a few months, I created an offer that met the end customer's needs.

1. Create a LinkedIn or Instagram account: LinkedIn for corporate clients, Instagram for visual services. Be where clients are.

2. Create content: Share your work to showcase your skills and attract clients.

3. Engage with others: Interact and connect with peers to build relationships and increase visibility.

4. Send private messages every day: Contact potential clients with tailored messages.

5. Keep going! Keep active online to maintain and grow your presence.

I've never liked sending PMs to strangers, but the pleasure of successfully booking a call with a potential customer is very satisfying.

Things I've learned about sending PMs to strangers:

• The message must absolutely be personalized.

• Don't make your message too long.

• Always add a call to action.

• As long as the person hasn't written "I'M NOT INTERESTED", keep going!

I recently received payment for a freelance project from March 2023....in January 2024...

It doesn't matter if your customer is a startup, a small business, or a firm. People will always try to pay you as late as possible.

Put a clause in your contract/invoice about getting paid within the month.

That's the best advice I've ever had!

Imagine you're a freelance web developer. A client, after approving the final website design, suddenly demands a complete redesign without any extra pay or time extension. It's a huge task, clearly outside the agreed terms. What's your response?

You have to say no!

The contract allows you to set up a framework and limits. It establishes clear boundaries and expectations with your clients, promoting a healthy and mutually respectful professional relationship.

Your time and skills are precious.

Here are some red flags from potential customers:

1. They don't respect your time. They call you whenever they want.

2. They don't know what they need. They'll change their minds 10,000 times and your mission will never end.

3. They over-negotiate. It shows they don't respect your work or your expertise, and therefore your value.

My last tip: don't forget that the service you sell is linked to your personality. You're not just selling a service, you're selling yourself!

Get started on your freelance journey: