Why Freelancers Need Strong Teamwork Skills in a Solo Career

Why Freelancers Need Strong Teamwork Skills in a Solo Career

by | Dec 19, 2024 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post contributed by Mike Potter, a skilled writer who brings expertise in career development and professional growth to his craft. With a strong grasp of workplace trends and hiring practices, he produces impactful content that guides readers in building standout CVs and exploring rewarding careers.

If you’ve taken the plunge on a freelance career, chances are you’ve accepted the idea of working solo indefinitely. Maybe that was even part of the draw. Working independently can be fulfilling, giving you space to call the shots and set your schedule. But if you think solo working skills are all you need to thrive as a freelancer, think again! While initiative, resilience, and drive are all essential for freelance success, teamwork is arguably just as important.

Why do freelancers need strong teamwork skills?

Even if you spend most of your workday alone, everything you do is ultimately in service of your clients. Building strong relationships with them is essential to your success. A foundation of strong teamwork helps you build trusting relationships with your clients, understand their expectations, and deliver exactly what’s required.

When you understand your clients’ needs, you can collaborate and communicate more effectively at all stages of a project. If you work with associates, suppliers, or other freelancers, this spirit of teamwork will also help you maintain healthy working relationships and deliver top-tier service.

Top teamwork skills for freelancers

There are multiple ingredients to effective teamwork. Here are some of the core skills all freelancers need to develop in order to exceed their clients’ expectations:

  • Communication: Successful freelance work depends heavily on effective communication. Whether you’re working remotely or on-site, you’ll need to be consistent and clear in your client messaging, setting their expectations and delivering on them. That’s how you build trust.
  • Adaptability: Having the flexibility to shift in order to meet your clients’ needs is essential to building productive business relationships. This could mean changing deadlines, responding to requests for work on shorter-than-ideal notice, or working to accommodate your clients’ communication preferences.
  • Problem-solving: Your clients chose to work with you because you provide a service they can’t or don’t want to fulfill themselves. You bring expertise and experience to the table, and you can solve problems for them. The more you lean into your role as problem-solver and work to make their lives easier, the more successful you’ll be in time.
  • Interpersonal skills: Soft skills are just as important as hard skills. Your ability to build relationships with your clients can’t be undervalued. While the quality of your work needs to speak for itself, at the end of the day, people want to work with people they like. Get to know your clients. Treat them with respect. And watch your relationships flourish.
  • Willingness to receive feedback: Feedback helps you grow as a service provider, and receiving it with openness is a green flag. It signals to your clients that you can adapt to incorporate their feedback, and that builds trust in time.

How to develop your teamwork skills as a freelancer

It’s easy to lose perspective when you’re working independently most of the time. And if it’s been years since you’ve worked on a team, let’s be real — your teamwork skills might be a bit rusty! That’s natural. Here are some simple ways to flex those muscles:

  • Ask for feedback: Direct feedback from clients can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you deliver high-quality work, but your communication could use some improvement. Open up to honest feedback and you’ll get the pointers you need to grow.
  • Define your responsibilities: Clarifying and defining your responsibilities can help you deliver exactly what your client needs and expects. Make sure you’re aligned on the key deliverables at the start of every project, then make plans to check in and discuss progress at a regular cadence.
  • Participate in a group activity: You can develop your teamwork skills outside your freelance work by participating in a group activity or volunteering on a regular basis. Collaborative activities give you regular social contact too, so you can exercise your teamwork skills in a low-pressure setting.

Showcase your teamwork skills to land prospective clients

Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure your teamwork skills shine through when pitching new clients:

  • Ask for client testimonials: Feedback and testimonials are the best way to demonstrate credibility. If you have a positive working relationship with your client, politely ask them to provide a brief testimonial that you can use in your applications and proposals.
  • List teamwork skills on your resume: If you have a resume that you share with prospective clients, you can showcase your teamwork skills there. Use resume templates from sites like CVwizard.com to make a good impression.
  • Showcase finished work in a portfolio: Most freelance work requires collaboration with an internal team or other freelancers. Adding examples of finished projects and highlighting the folks you collaborated with can help demonstrate your teamwork skills too.
  • Leverage your LinkedIn: LinkedIn is an invaluable resource for freelancers. It acts as a networking tool and a site to showcase your industry knowledge, and it can double as a career portfolio, featuring client feedback and examples of successful working relationships. Use the skills section to gain endorsements from previous colleagues and clients, and your recommendations section to list testimonials.

Flex those skills

Consider your freelance career an ongoing opportunity for skill development and personal growth. None of us are stagnant — we’re constantly evolving in our personal and professional lives. You can lean into that growth by intentionally working on your communication and collaboration skills. With time, you’ll notice your relationships improving and your business blossoming. Good luck!

 

My 2025 Reflection & Goal Planning Template

My 2025 Reflection & Goal Planning Template

by | Dec 2, 2024 | Blog, Featured, Resources

Embracing the transition from one year to the next fills me with a sense of joy and anticipation. For me, it offers a golden opportunity for introspection. While I recognize that time is ever-flowing and a mere calendar shift doesn’t encapsulate our essence, it serves as a valuable juncture to delve deep and reflect.

It gives us a moment to discern what brought us fulfillment, what left us wanting, and be really thoughtful about what we want in the next year of our lives.

This year, I spent a lot of time crafting a personalized reflection and goal-setting template, experimenting with various iterations until I discovered the process, outline, and structure that resonated most with my journey.

While sharing my process, a number of you expressed your desire to use the same document, so here I am extending an open invitation for you to use this same framework.

Follow the guidelines below, or tailor it to reflect your unique aspirations. Whatever you choose, I’m wishing you success in 2025, whatever that looks like for you.

Notes on how to use this document

  1. Start with reflections
  2. Let those guide you into what you want 2025 to look like at a high level
  3. Outline your 4-5 categories of goals (personal wellness, money, etc.)
  4. Write down your high-level guiding phrase(s) and word
  5. Fill in goals beneath each

*You may need one additional layer to further map out how you’re going to meet those goals.

Examples:

Guide words: abundance, intention, contentment, growth

Guiding phrases: I will build deep, meaningful relationships. I will be more aware of my spending habits in order to grow wealth. I will prioritize my own physical and mental well being above all else.

Follow along with me on social for more goal-setting, business, and wellness tips:

If you’re a google docs user, here’s the link so you can easily copy & start working.

And if you want to see my filled-out version of this doc, my vulnerable reflections and aspirations, they’re all finalized here.

2024 Reflections

(1-2 sentences)

  1. What did you love about 2024?
  2. What made you feel good in 2024?
  3. What did you struggle with in 2024?
  4. Which decisions had positive impacts?
  5. Which decisions steered me off course?
  6. What do I want to take with me from this year?
  7. What am I ready to let go of?

 

2025 High Level

(1-2 sentences)

What do I want the next year of my life to look like?

 

2025 Goals

High-Level Guide Word:

High-Level Guiding Phrase: 

 

Category Example 1: Personal Wellness

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

Category Example 2: Relationships

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

 

Category Example 3: Money

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

Category Example 4: Fun

Guiding Phrase:

3-5 Goals:

1.

2.

3.

 

Accountability

Fill this out, print it and put in your office.

Reflect back bi-weekly or monthly to assess progress.

 

50+ Places to Find Freelance Work

50+ Places to Find Freelance Work

by | Oct 24, 2024 | Blog, Featured, Resources

If you’re new to freelancing, figuring out how to land your first client (and your second… and your third) can be a little tough. Do you cold-email prospective clients offering your services? Do you focus on networking and hope for a referral? Or do you pour your energy into building your online presence and generate interest that way?

Well, those are all great options, actually. But let’s be real: When you’re facing down your next rent payment and scowling at your dwindling bank account, the priority is finding freelance work fast. Fortunately for all of us, a lot of other people have faced this problem in the past. And some of those people have built entire freelance marketplaces and communities to help solve it.

Below, we’ll share some of the best sites to explore if you’re looking to land your next freelance gig quickly or you just want to keep the doorway open to new clients. These sites are categorized by specialty, from general freelance sites to sites focused on marketing, writing, design & more. Further down, we’ve also featured several international sites that feature freelance jobs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe & the UK, and Latin America.

Let’s dive in!

 

Here are the best sites to explore if you’re looking to land your next freelance gig quickly.

General Freelance Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelancers in all regions and all specialties

Harlow

Yours truly. The Harlow Freelance Job Board is chock-full of new gigs for freelancers across industries and verticals. You can filter by skill, company & more to find the right role. We include pay when it’s available and encourage you to pitch your rate when it’s not. We also highly recommend signing up for the Harlow freelance newsletter to get a shortlist of the hottest jobs delivered to your inbox every week, plus inspiration as you build and grow a sustainable business.

Cave Jobs

Cave Jobs manually combs the internet daily to find and upload freelance gigs and remote jobs posted by Team Leads, Founders, CMOs, Heads of Content, and even business owners on their feeds.

The Daily Lead

Get fresh freelance leads every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from The Daily Lead — a Substack with over over 3,000 subscribers.

Founder Gigs

Founder Gigs by Alex Friedman is a newsletter that curates fractional roles for founders who want to supplement their income while continuing to build other businesses and revenue streams.

Freelance Opportunities

Make space in your inbox every Friday for Kaitlyn Arford’s Freelance Opportunities newsletter. It’s chock-full of opportunities for journalists, copywriters, social media managers, and more.

Mylance

Get fractional jobs delivered to your inbox as soon as they’re posted directly from the company’s website. Get on Mylance’s list.

NoDesk

Work from anywhere. NoDesk specializes in remote freelance jobs and gig work all over the world, primarily in the tech industry. Add “freelance” or “contract” to the search bar to find roles that suit your needs, or search by function/specialty.

Remotive

Similar to NoDesk, Remotive features vetted tech jobs all over the world, and you can explicitly search for freelance or contract roles to find a solid selection of quality opportunities.

Surely + Work

Surely + Work has hundreds of open freelance jobs across professions, industries, and locations. You can find some great niche roles here. Dig in!

We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is one of the largest remote work communities in the world and is jam-packed with a diverse set of freelance opportunities. From graphic design gigs to engineering positions and everything in between – they’ve got you covered.

 

General Freelance Marketplaces

For freelancers in all regions and all specialties

Freelancer

If you’d prefer to browse gigs, Freelancer is a great option. They feature freelance job listings, so you get a bit more info about the project up front, and you can submit quotes to “bid” on them if you’re interested. Like Fiverr, you’ll still create a profile to attract people looking to hire, and you’ll be paid when the client marks the job as complete. Unlike Fiverr, Freelancer offers flexible pricing options and lower fees.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Fixed Price or Hourly
Transaction Fees: 10%

Freelancing Females

Functioning as a community, directory, job board, and resource hub, Freelancing Females is a haven for self-identified women who work for themselves. You can browse their job listings and resources for free and sign up for their membership to get listed in their directory, join their Slack channel, and gain access to live workshops and exclusive discounts. On their site, they also feature a rad rate sheet where you can see what other women are charging around the world.

Membership Fee: $18/quarter or $59/year
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

FreeUp

Another player in the freelance marketplace, FreeUp offers more flexibility with pricing and more consistency with payments. You can charge whatever rate you’d like (the fees are on the client) and you’ll be paid out weekly for your work through PayPal or Payoneer. FreeUp practices a bit more discretion with their “hires”—you need to apply to join as a freelancer, interview with a team member, and pass a test in order to be accepted. But once you’re in, you can enjoy access to their community benefits, like 24/7 support and vetted, high-caliber jobs.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly
Transaction Fees: 0% (client pays fees)

Guru

If you’re looking for a lot of flexibility and a powerful system to back you, Guru knows what’s up. This freelance marketplace is free to join, but they offer a range of membership options that can cater to varying needs and support you as you scale your business. Their free plan limits you to sending 10 quotes per month, which is fine for most freelancers anyway, so you can skate by at no cost (besides transaction fees) unless you want more powerful features, like Premium Quotes and boosted rankings to help you stand out.

Membership Fee: $0 to join, costs to upgrade
Pricing Options: Fixed Price, Task-Based, Hourly, or Recurring
Transaction Fees: 9% on their free plan (but you can agree to split up to 5% with the employer)

Shoutt

Looking for creative, marketing, or technical work? Shoutt is a commission-free marketplace featuring over 1,000 open roles (all added within the last 7 days — so they’re guaranteed fresh). Sign up for a free account to browse or become a paid member to apply and create contracts.

Membership Fee: $0 to join; $19.99 to apply to jobs
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

Toptal

Similar to FreeUp, Toptal extensively vets its freelancers, conducting interviews to assess your skills and matching you with relevant jobs. Their clients range from Fortune 500 businesses to Silicon Valley startups, so you’re guaranteed high-quality projects with top companies around the world. Best of all, they don’t take a cut from your pay, so you get the rate you want. If you’re looking to make a career of freelancing and you have a strong resume, joining Toptal is a great move.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly or Weekly
Transaction Fees: 0% (client pays fees)

Twine

Twine is a freelance marketplace for creatives, developers, and marketers. You can build a one-page website on their platform to showcase your work and apply for jobs in just one click. It’s free to get started, but they do charge transaction fees for some payment processors. And you can upgrade to their Pro plan to unlock more features.

Membership Fee: for Free plan: $0; for Pro: $7.49 per month (billed yearly) or $13.99 monthly
Pricing Options: Lump Sum or “Vault” payments
Transaction Fees: variable

 

Freelance Design Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelance designers in all regions

Authentic Jobs

Authentic Jobs is a job board for designers, developers, and other creatives. They feature solid listings from reputable companies, and you can browse and apply free of charge. Check out their listings today if you’re looking for leads.

Smashing Magazine

If you’re looking for a simple place to find and get the job done, look no further than Smashing Magazine’s job board. Clients post jobs and gigs here regularly, so you can scan the list on your own time and apply as you wish. There are no fees or memberships—just a handy collection of opportunities.

 

Freelance Design Marketplaces

For freelance designers in all regions

99designs

99designs has been helping designers find work since 2008. Their unique platform allows you to work 1:1 with clients or participate in design contests to win a job. Designers are vetted and receive more perks as they take on more projects, ascending from Entry Level to Mid Level to Top Level as they gain experience on the platform. As your level increases, your fees decrease, making it a platform worth investing in.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Fixed Price, Task-Based, Hourly, or Recurring
Transaction Fees: 15% at Entry Level, 10% at Mid Level, and 5% at Top Level, plus a 20% client introduction fee applied to your first $500 of income (which is waived if you win a client contest)

Dribbble

Acting as both a freelance job board and a membership marketplace, Dribbble is a flexible option for designers to find work. You can scan their list of opportunities for free or join their Pro Business plan to get their daily leads newsletter—AKA high-quality gigs in your inbox daily—so you don’t have to chase down opportunities.

Membership Fee: $15/month paid annually or $20/month paid monthly
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

 

Freelance Marketing Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelance marketers in all regions

Content as a Career

Get work-from-anywhere marketing roles delivered to your inbox every Friday by Content as a Career. The opportunities are hand-selected by one of our favorites, Tamilore Oladipo.

Top of the Funnel

This free Slack community for content marketers and SEO specialists features fresh job opportunities, resources & more. Join TOFU today.

Yentalist

Yentalist by Olivia Dreizen Howell and the Fresh Starts Registry crew features a curated list of great remote marketing jobs. It’s updated a couple of times a week with the latest and greatest.

 

 

Freelance Marketing Marketplaces

For freelance marketers in all regions

Advisable

Similar to MarketerHire, Advisable hooks you up with tailored opportunities based on your experience and preferences and puts great care into vetting the freelancers before accepting them as “Advisable Specialists.” You can join for free, and if you make it through the application process, you’ll enjoy a steady flow of new work. If you want extra benefits, like higher-quality clients, greater exposure, and even custom lead gen campaigns, you can apply to join their Advisable Elite program, which is also free.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly
Transaction Fees: 20% for payments <$10,000; 10% for payments >$10,000; 5% for payments >$25,000

MarketerHire

For seasoned marketers seeking freelance work, MarketerHire is a game-changer. They qualify clients for you and take care of contracts and payments, so you can skip the business management and still enjoy a full pipeline. Oh, and it’s free. MarketerHire carefully screens and vets all the freelancers on their site, accepting less than 5% of applicants, so if you’re an expert who only wants the top jobs available, this site is for you.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: Hourly
Transaction Fees: N/A

 

Freelance Writing Job Boards & Newsletters

For freelance writers in all regions

The Career Design Newsletter

The Career Design Newsletter by Dan Marzullo brings you weekly freelance writing gigs and advice on building a creative business doing work you love.

Freedom With Writing

Freedom With Writing is a website that acts as a matchmaker for freelance writers connecting them with editors and publishers who are seeking their work. In addition to e-books, case studies, and other resources, they also send reviews of companies that hire freelancers and sites to help you find the freelance writing gig that works for you.

Freelance Framework

Get daily freelance writing gigs delivered straight to your inbox from Freelance Framework, a newsletter by content marketer Chris Bibey.

Freelance Writing Jobs

Freelance Writing Job Board is updated with fresh freelance writing and blogging jobs every day. If you’re seeking online writing jobs, part-time on-site jobs, internships, or more – they’ve got them for you.

The Freelance Writing Network

The Freelance Writing Network has paid and free versions of their Substack, all aimed at helping writers find the best new gigs. Their paid subscription includes early access to weekly jobs, high-paying gigs, and a weekly round-up of bonus opportunities, like fiction & poetry submissions, retreats, and more.

Kat Boogaard’s Newsletter

Kat Boogaard is a freelance writer who has a weekly newsletter full of not only awesome freelancing gigs, but tips, advice, and other content to help you expand your freelance business. Subscribe to her newsletter today to get job leads sent directly to your inbox every week.

Peak Freelance

Peak Freelance is another ripe community for freelance writers to find jobs, connect with other writers, and bolster their skills by learning from showcased experts. You can browse their job board or sign up for their newsletter for free access to top job leads, contribution opportunities, and writing tips. And if you want more, you can become a member or join their Slack to connect and grow with other writers.

ProBlogger

For content writers on the hunt for gigs, ProBlogger is a great place to start your search. They feature all sorts of freelance writing projects (not just blog posts) so you can pick and choose and apply based on your preferences. Plus, ProBlogger offers a cool hub of resources for bloggers looking to grow, so if you’re into that, sign up for their free newsletter to get the latest and greatest.

SuperPath

SuperPath offers a much-needed community to freelance writers who are looking to network, connect, and find job leads. Their Slack channel is the place to find like-minded writers who are navigating the same ups and downs as you, and their job board is an awesome spot to nab new writing gigs fast. You can create a job seeker profile to seamlessly apply to jobs on their site.

The Writer’s Job Newsletter

The Writer’s Job Newsletter is a newsletter that delivers some of the best paid writing jobs directly to your inbox every week. Oh, and did we mention that it’s free? If you’re a writer looking for your next gig, we highly recommend subscribing – while you’re at it, give them a follow on Twitter, too!

 

 

Freelance Writing Marketplaces

For freelance writers in all regions

Draft

Want a steady stream of freelance content writing work? Draft is the spot. If you’re accepted to the platform, you can browse and claim writing jobs—no proposals, no hassles. You just need to deliver the work by the deadline, and you’ll get paid out by Draft at the end of the week. It’s a great way to get consistent income without the pressure of searching for work and managing operations. To join, you’ll need a strong portfolio.

Membership Fee: $0
Pricing Options: $0.05-$0.30 per word for writing; $0.03-$0.10 per word for editing
Transaction Fees: 0%

 

Freelance HR Marketplaces

For freelance HR specialists in all regions

HR Lancers

HR Lancers is a freelance marketplace dedicated to connecting HR professionals with great work. If you’re in the US or Canada, you can become a member for free to search their marketplace or pay a fee to feature your profile.

Membership Fee: $0 to join, $7/month to feature your profile
Pricing Options: N/A
Transaction Fees: N/A

 

 

International Freelance Job Boards

For freelancers in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe & the UK, and Latin America

The freelance job sites below are focused on specific regions of the world. If you’re an international freelancer looking for gigs in your field, you can start your search below. We’ve included a combination of international job boards and marketplaces serving Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe & the UK, and Latin America. For some sites, you may need to add specific search criteria (e.g. “freelance” or “contract”) in order to filter out full-time and part-time work. Happy hunting!

 

 

Africa – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

AfriBlocks

A growing marketplace for Pan-African freelancers in design and tech, AfriBlocks offers an abundance of resources in addition to their job board. Become a member of their community to create a freelance profile and begin browsing their job listings.

Elharefa

Elharefa is a freelance marketplace serving Egypt exclusively. They have jobs in design, media, writing, translation, marketing, sales, and more. Check out their current opportunities and register to create a profile.

JobVine

JobVine is freelance marketplace based in South Africa. They connect freelancers with businesses seeking quality support across an array of functions, from design and development to marketing and project management. Create a profile to get registered and listed, and begin receiving client leads. It’s worth noting — on their free plan, you do have to pay per lead. You can upgrade to a paid plan for access to unlimited leads and more.

RemoteAfrica

Want to work from anywhere in Africa? Explore the RemoteAfrica job board for a wide variety of roles across verticals and industries. Though their job board primarily caters to full-time, part-time, and contract work, you can find freelance roles by adding “freelance” to your search query. RemoteAfrica also has an active freelance Slack community if you’re interested in networking.

 

 

Asia – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

Glints

Looking for freelance work in Singapore? Glints is one of the top job boards in the country and they feature a selection of freelance roles across an array of industries. Filter by “Job Type > Freelance” to see their latest additions. You can scope pay, required experience, and more, and apply for roles that fit the bill.

Tech in Asia

If you’re seeking remote freelance work in Asia, check out the Tech in Asia job board for the latest opportunities. At the time of publishing, they have a dozen listed freelance gigs in Indonesia, ranging from admin work to content creation to sales.

World in Freelance (Japan)

Find new clients, land exciting projects, and bolster your portfolio. World in Freelance (Japan) features remote freelance opportunities with funded Japanese startups and larger, established companies. Explore their job listings today to see if there’s a match.

 

 

Australia – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

Rachel’s List

Rachel’s List is one of the top freelance marketplaces in Australia. It’s a hot spot for businesses to find reputable freelance journalists, copywriters, and content specialists. You can register to get listed and upgrade to a paid plan for full access to their job board. Or, stick with their free plan and purchase a 24-hour pass to apply to any gigs that catch your eye.

SEEK

Land your next freelance gig via the SEEK job board. They break down pay, experience requirements, and more. You can search for freelance roles to find the latest and greatest. You’ll just need an account to apply.

 

 

Europe & UK – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

EU Remote

Seeking freelance work in a European time zone? The EU Remote job board features 100% remote opportunities from companies around the globe, with working hours that suit European & UK applicants. They also offer special access to their freelance community — the largest in the region.

Faruse

Find an English-speaking gig in Europe on Faruse — a job board with hundreds of open freelance roles across every imaginable vertical. Type “freelance” into the search bar to whittle it down to roles that meet your needs.

Freelance UK

Get listed on the Freelance UK marketplace to match with credible businesses seeking expert support in your industry. You do need a premium membership to access their job listings, but they don’t take a cut from your pay, and they don’t charge hidden fees.

Major Players

Major Players is an international talent agency with offices in London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. They feature hot, vetted, high-paying roles with established companies, primarily in Europe and the UK. As of posting, they have 16 open freelance opportunities in engineering, marketing, project management, and sales. Scope them today.

 

 

Latin America – Freelance Job Boards & Marketplaces

SoyFreelancer

If you’re looking for Spanish-speaking freelance roles in Latin America, check out the SoyFreelancer job board. They offer a huge range of roles across an array of functions and industries.

Workana

Workana is the largest freelance and remote work site in Latin America. They connect freelancers with startups, entrepreneurs, and established companies looking for seasoned virtual support. Register for an account to explore their open roles.

 

Managing Inconsistent Income as a Freelancer

Managing Inconsistent Income as a Freelancer

by | Oct 10, 2024 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post contributed by Indiana Lee. Indiana is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest who often writes about business, leadership, and marketing. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Freelance work is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s no secret why. Contracting yourself out as an experienced knowledge worker with a refined set of skills essentially makes you your own boss. You can make a living off the work you do best. You choose the projects, you fulfill your obligations on your schedule, and over time, you build a brand for yourself that draws new clients in.

However, what often gets undersold is how difficult it can be to work as a freelancer, at least initially. The market is crowded with would-be freelancers looking to trade on their skillset. Standing out amidst the herd isn’t easy without a detailed resume of accomplishments and references. Plus, work can be inconsistent in both pricing and quantity — some clients want their contractors to heft the world on their shoulders for pennies on the dollar, while others pay well but provide work only seasonally.

If you truly want to become a full-time freelancer, you have to prepare for the inherent uncertainty. You need to ensure that when work isn’t available consistently, you can still cover expenses and live semi-comfortably. If you aren’t sure how to do that, you’re in the right place: This article will give you tips and tricks you can leverage to coast during financial uncertainty and, through diligence and perseverance, realize your dream of full-time freelancing.

Create a Budget

Your very first step is a basic but often overlooked one: Know how much you need to make. Creating a budget will give you a month-to-month breakdown of finances based on your total net income, obligations, and expenses. Ideally, your budget should act as a continual reference point to track your financial health, especially for freelancers whose income may vary week to week. You can check your budget to identify and plan for months when your income after expenses is lower.

However, a budget is only useful if you keep it realistic and stick to it. And let’s be real — the average person isn’t great at following a diligent budget. But it’s an essential admin task for freelancers. Best practices for budget maintenance include:

  • Projecting income based on available tasks
  • Eliminating unnecessary expenses, like digital subscriptions and takeout
  • Automating utility payments and estimating future ones by tracking changes over time
  • Leaving room for payments on credit cards or other outstanding debts
  • Putting money aside monthly for health and transportation emergencies

Keeping a consistent eye on your budget as income varies is the best way to ensure your bills will still get paid, even during economic stress.

Minimize Your Expenses

But how do you deal with it when monthly expenses, like internet bills or utility payments, become unbearable? With inflation on the rise, chances are your expenses will also rise over time. Unfortunately, utility bills are a necessary expense, not just for comfort, but for work too — especially for those of us who work from home.

Fortunately, in some circumstances, you can negotiate your bills down, making them more affordable. Your internet plan, for example, may included unneeded features or a higher-than-necessary data cap. Try conducting research on competitor pricing and calling your provider to negotiate your monthly price based on market rates. You might get a lower offer or find a plan that better suits your needs — all without spending extra on “features” you don’t need.

Utility bills can be negotiated similarly, as utility providers are also guilty of including “services” and fees you don’t use. Keep a close eye on the services you’re paying for and make sure to reach out if something seems amiss.

    Diversify Your Income Streams

    Finally, if you find it challenging to secure a steady stream of clients in your niche, try expanding your service portfolio. Look into other markets that might fit your particular skillset. Ask existing clients if there are adjacent projects or tasks you can help with. And dig into unexplored niches in your field. These tactics can help you widen the net and find new income streams when your main sources dry up. Creating multiple income streams is also one of the best ways to create a freelancing career that endures. Once-in-a-while major projects will only carry you for so long. Building a steady foundation takes time, but it’s worth it in the long run.

    Future You Will Thank You

    Making your way as a freelancer is an exciting and sometimes daunting adventure. It pushes you to think more strategically and creatively about all facets of work. And that’s part of why we choose this path, right? We get to call the shots. That includes the day-to-day choices that might seem small, but that add up in the long run. Make sure you’re setting yourself for success by thinking of future you. Follow the steps above, and you’ll gain a bit more control over your financial picture and prepare yourself for a more easeful work life.

    Creating an Effective Out-of-Office Strategy for Freelancers

    Creating an Effective Out-of-Office Strategy for Freelancers

    by | Sep 5, 2024 | Blog, Resources

    This is a guest post contributed by Indiana Lee. Indiana is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest who often writes about business, leadership, and marketing. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

    Freelancing gives you the freedom and flexibility to set your own working hours and take time off when you need it. You don’t have to ask your boss for a lunch break or get vacation time approved. You can devote as much time to leisure as you’d like, so long as you get your work done. The flexibility can be incredible. And if you want to maintain positive relationships with your clients, an effective out-of-office strategy is key.

    Letting your clients know when you’re unable to work will set their expectations and safeguard your reputation as a trusted freelancer. And it doesn’t have to be difficult. Adopting technology like automated emails and virtual assistants can help you “work” when you’re away from the desk too, with little to no oversight. This is key if you rely on a regular flow of new clients and need to keep communication constant, even when you’re on break.

    Below, we’ll explore some of the basics of a solid out-of-office strategy.

    Planning a Break

    If you’ve been working for yourself for some time, you know that taking a true vacation is easier said than done — particularly if there’s good money to be made at work. Freelancers don’t get PTO or sick days, so every day you take off can put a dent in your income.

    However, failing to take breaks will only lead to burnout, reducing your passion for work and damaging your health. Burnout can be a serious issue, particularly if you work in a creative field like graphic design or content writing, where you need to be firing on all cylinders.

    Rather than waiting until you fall ill, get proactive about taking vacation as a freelancer. Plan a trip weeks or months in advance. Start by creating a calendar based on your upcoming project deadlines, then work backward to identify the best dates for you to travel or rest.

    You can mitigate any negative consequences with effective project management skills like:

    • Communication: Send out an email letting your clients know that you’ll be away from work for a while, so they can plan accordingly. You may not be an employee, but giving them a heads up is a great way to foster transparency and build trust.
    • Time Management: Once you’ve set your dates, work to wrap up any projects and key tasks ahead of schedule. This reduces your stress and gives you some wiggle room to complete the last-minute work that inevitably crops up before you step away for an extended break.
    • Organization: Be kind to future you. Organize your existing projects so you can hit the ground running when you return to work. With a clear picture of what’s waiting for you post-vacation, you’ll be able to stress less and relax more.
    • Budgeting: Make sure to invoice your clients before you leave, or schedule invoices in advance before you take time off. Ensure that you have a steady inflow of income by planning a vacation budget too, so you don’t have to worry about over-extending.

    A little planning and preparation can meaningfully improve the quality of your time off. Knowing what lies ahead will help you truly rest and recover, so you’re actually nourished and revitalized by the time you get back.

    Automating Key Tasks

    Automation is foundational for freelancers who want a life outside of work. Simple tools like out-of-office replies can keep your business humming along even if you’re thousands of miles away. Plus, the consistent communication shows your clients that you’re serious, dependable, and trustworthy — all important green flags in a freelancer.

    Automating basic tasks offers peace of mind for you too. You don’t have to worry about returning to full inbox, neglecting client requests, or going cold on social. You can set up a chat bot on your website to answer FAQs, include proactive answers and resources in your auto-reply email, and even schedule social posts in advance, so you don’t miss a beat. Automation reduces the usual disruption of going offline and keeps the lights on.

    For some added help, you could even hire a virtual assistant to:

    • Answer client questions while you’re decompressing
    • Complete administrative tasks like invoicing, scheduling, and social media monitoring
    • Gather and analyze industry data relevant to your field
    • Complete website maintenance
    • Create content while you’re away

    Managing Your Workload

    Let’s be real — most self-employed people struggle to take time off at a regular cadence. Juggling multiple clients with little support often means you’re busy year-round. But again, failing to take time for yourself will only exhaust you in the long run. Here are some ways you can reduce your workload when you’re wearing multiple (or all) hats:

    • Delegate tasks to trusted subcontractors and virtual assistants
    • Use time management techniques like Pomodoro timers to stay on task
    • Block time to work on high-pressure projects that must be completed in advance
    • Set clear, time-oriented goals

    If you do decide to work with subcontractors, be sure to give them a monthly checklist to ensure they’re up to speed on all of the essential tasks that need attention during your leave. This should act as a guide in your absence, so you’re less likely to get stuck fielding calls and emails when you should be lounging on the beach.

    Enjoy your vacation!

    Creating an effective out-of-office strategy may require more upfront work, but it’s worth it if it means you get to enjoy your downtime. A good pre-plan helps you maintain solid relationships with your clients too. As a client, it’s refreshing to know exactly what to expect when a freelancer is out of office. And as a freelancer, it’s relieving to know you can operate a business without being available 24/7. We all need breaks. Give yourself the gift of some serious, uninterrupted time off this year by planning for it. You’ll thank you later. Happy vacationing!

    7 Must-Have Skills for Building a Thriving Creative Business

    7 Must-Have Skills for Building a Thriving Creative Business

    by | Sep 3, 2024 | Blog, Resources

    This is a guest post contributed by Sophia Bennett. Sophia is a skilled chronicler of the world of business and real estate. With a sharp eye for detail and a passion for these subjects, she provides valuable insights and inspiration to her readers through her writing. When she’s not working on her craft, Sophia can be found seeking new experiences and adventures, always on the lookout for the next great story to tell.

    Ask any freelancer who’s built their own creative business how incredibly fulfilling it is. Then, ask them how challenging it was. The answer is likely to be 50/50 — half gratifying, half grueling.

    It’s a fact. Whether you work in graphic design, copywriting, illustration, photography, interior design… building a business from the ground up requires grit, determination, and a mix of hard and soft skills to see you through.

    While employees at conventional businesses may wear a few hats, creative freelancers wear all of them. They’re responsible for day-to-day operations, client work, marketing, finances, and more. It can get overwhelming at times, and sap the energy you’d normally devote to your creativity, originality, and inspiration — the stuff that makes your business truly unique.

    Juggling all these skills and priorities can be difficult, especially in the context of an ever-evolving landscape that affects you and your clients. That’s why we’ve created this list of must-have skills to cultivate as a creative entrepreneur. You can use this as a development roadmap to bolster your skills with time and build a thriving, independent business that’s harmonious, productive, and, most of all… profitable.

    1. Innovation

    In the entertainment industry, they say you’re only as good as your last performance. In a creative business, you might say you’re only as good as your last great idea. Part of what makes a truly successful creative business is the constant pursuit of fresh ideas, original concepts, and unadulterated innovation. Creatives make the choice to push on with the belief that there’s a better, clearer, or more impactful way to deliver a message, market a product, or share a vision.

    This pursuit of innovation has defined many of the world’s most iconic and memorable creative brands. It takes a sort of brilliance to sustainably connect with changing audiences, meet shifting client needs, and keep up with endless technological advances. Creative professionals (that’s you!) who can rise to meet the moment in the face of immense change will always have an advantage.

    2. Time Management

    Time is of the essence in just about every industry. But time management is a real struggle for many creatives, who tend to take a less linear approach to their work. With evolving project scopes and goals, plus different creative visions fighting for the spotlight, knowing when to put the ideation hat down and focus on simply getting the work done is critical.

    Strong time management skills help creative businesses structure their workflow more effectively and tackle both big and small projects in a more methodical way. Conceptual agility is still important, but so is a degree of rigor when it comes to managing work hours and meeting deadlines.

    3. Communication

    Clear communication and understanding with your clients is crucial for a thriving creative business. When your goal is to bring a client’s creative vision to life (be it a book, website, restaurant plan, or fashion editorial), communication allows for free-flowing collaboration between the contributors and stakeholders. Creative entrepreneurs need access to a central digital communication platform, where they can discuss progress and keep up with client feedback.

    If there’s a brick-and-mortar office, regular in-person meetings with clients and a culture of open communication can resolve misunderstandings and setbacks between collaborators. If real-life face-to-face meetings aren’t possible, use one of the many online collaboration and communication tools available. Slack, Zoom, Teams, Google Meet… there’s no excuse not to communicate these days. Even good old email works, too!

    4. Empathy

    Empathy is the hardest soft skill in any industry. However, it plays a particularly strong role in the creative sector. An empathic approach makes for more cohesive working relationships. And it allows you to deliver more engaging and impactful work. When you practice empathy, you can see the situation from another’s perspective. You can understand where your clients or collaborators are coming from and what their deeper goals and needs are.

    This is an incredibly useful heuristic for creative projects, such as developing a new marketing campaign, designing a website for a niche audience, or collaborating with difficult or particularly needy clients. Plus, transcending the superficial helps you forge healthy, lasting, and mutually respectful relationships.

    5. Diversity

    When you’re entering uncharted creative territory, thinking outside of the box and opening up to a range of perspectives can be a game-changer.

    As a creative freelancer or entrepreneur, your pool of perspectives might be limited. After all, you’re probably a team of one. But you can still expose yourself to diverse style, culture, industry, and people by working with clients and brands from varied backgrounds and niches. Collaborating with other creatives can be a great way to hear unique perspective, get inspired by fresh thinking, and learn new skills.

    6. Adaptability

    It’s impossible to discuss creative success without touching on adaptability. All businesses need to be adaptable to survive the notoriously changeable landscape — digitally, culturally, technologically, and otherwise. But creative brands, in particular, need to adopt an agile mentality.

    Without strong adaptive skills, creative businesses might struggle to keep up with the popular trends, audience patterns, and informational currents of their industry. You might need to pivot your product offering as behavior changes, update your online portfolio or social media pages, or add new services to your list. If you feel the tug to change, do it!

    Adaptability is the gene of a surviving business.

    7. Problem-Solving

    What is a creative brief if not an abstract problem to solve? Having comprehensive problem-solving skills is one of the most important aptitudes for a creative entrepreneur.

    Problem-solving is an invaluable tool for navigating complicated briefs, dealing with difficult clients, working on tight deadlines (and tight budgets!), and finding new ways of connecting with new audiences, clients, and collaborators. Build up your gumption for facing challenges, and even learn to take pleasure in it. The more courage you have to face obstacles, the more gratifying this work will become.

    The Takeaway: Use Your Skills to Find the Right Balance

    Striking a balance between innovation and efficiency is not always easy in the creative sector. For every project to truly flourish, soft skills are needed. Nurturing client relationships and creative visions calls for a mixture of all of the above. And with the right skills, your freelance creative business can do more than just survive; it can thrive.