Doesn’t it seem like everyone is looking for a freelancing career? Unfortunately, it’s not enough to have a great skill set, you also need to have a mature approach to freelancing and an appealing attitude. You need to stand out as an expert to your client, but come off cocky or like a know-it-all, and it can end as soon as it started. Trust me on this, I have been around here a while. Here are a few important things to remember as a freelancer. Put this advice to into action and you will be writing a similar blog post in 20 years. Wait…will we still have blogs then?
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
Take notes during client sessions. Use things like Apple Notes, Evernote or an old fashioned paper and pen. When the work is done, write what was completed on the client invoice. This shows you are taking their business seriously. Taking a few extra minutes to note things makes it much easier to look back on projects later on or refer to past issues. Plus, it’s fun to look back and see how far you’ve come in your freelancing career.
ORGANIZE YOUR TIME.
You might find that having a freelancing career makes it hard to organize your time. My days are structured in a particular way so that I can work on my business, client’s businesses and even fit in surfing. If you work remotely from home, you need to schedule time to do work on your own business while still practicing some sort of self care. For myself, I have found it helpful to schedule all my client appointments after 1 pm.
MAKE A HABIT OUT OF SELF CARE.
If I walk into a client’s business flustered from the day, they will pick up on that (and chances are, they are flustered themselves). I need to have a clear, calm head when I walk into someone’s business or work remotely. This is why I make daily surfing trips or dates with nature a permanent fixture on my schedule. You should too.
WORKING WITH HIGH PROFILE CLIENTS.
Working in SoCal, I’ve worked with a few high-end clients. Celebrities and well-known people often have personal assistants. Always treat the assistant as an extension of the client themselves. As high level executives to the client, they are often the main point of contact so treat them with the same respect you would show the client. Don’t ask for photos or autographs and take absolutely NO photos of their home or office. A little respect goes a long way for any client.
