How to Build a Successful Freelance Business

You’ve decided to take the leap to working from home in your own freelance business. No matter what prompted you to do so, lay-off, health issues, etc., there are some steps you can take to make your freelance career more successful.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time
• Effort

1. Work a schedule. Make yourself a schedule for the day and actually work it. You may not have many projects at the beginning of your career but you can schedule time in each day for networking to build your business.

2. Polish up a resume tailored to your freelance career. Having an up-to-date resume with relevant experience will assist you in winning those jobs.

3. Join online companies whose purpose is to bring freelance workers together with employers.

4. Create profiles for your freelance business on all the social networking sites, i.e. MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, etc. Make sure you use these sites to network with other providers and potential clients.

5. Be professional in your freelance presence. Honor your bids for work and always meet your deadlines.

6. Have professional business cards created and make sure you hand them out or send them to your clients.

7. Learn where to look for work. Some ideas are in the resources section.

8. Using this information will help you to build yourself a successful freelance business.

Tips & Warnings

• Work as hard or harder than you would in a “real” job.
• Learn the going rates for your service so you don’t under or over charge.
• You may want to advertise your services.
• Send thank you notes to your clients after they’ve paid you for a job.
• You may have to start with some lower paying jobs to build up your reputation, treat these customers with the utmost respect. They will help build your business.

Resources

• elance.com
• iFreelance
• oDesk
• MySpace
• facebook

[MyJB]

on 11/27/2009 Interesting article on becoming a freelancer. 5*

[Coach4U]

on 8/6/2009 Thanks for the good tips on how to build a successful freelance business. "5"

[Gardengates]

on 5/30/2009 Promotion certainly is key in building a successful freelance business. Excellent suggestions.