Advice For Making The Leap To Freelancing
Thinking about making the leap to freelancing? Many people have been making the jump from employment to self-employment in recent times, and it is easy to see why. Freelance work puts you in control of your career with the ability to set your own schedule and be your own boss. Additionally, you are in control of your earnings, and many people find that they end up making more money through freelance work. It can be challenging at first to get up and running and also a daunting change to make. Here are a few tips that should help you to make the leap.
Have An Emergency Fund
First, you should always make sure that you have an emergency fund when freelancing. This is because your income can fluctuate each month, plus it might take you a while to start earning a reasonable amount at first. You should have 3-6 months worth of expenses tucked away somewhere that will be easy to access. When first getting started, you might want to continue working in some kind of employment for stability until you are ready to make the switch.
Build A Strong Presence Online
You also need to build a strong presence online for your freelance business. You should build a high-quality website with information on your background, experience, skills, services provided, and any other key information. You should also have a portfolio of your work along with testimonials from those that you have worked with. It is worth hiring a digital marketing agency that will then be able to boost your visibility online.
Find A Co-Working Space
You may want to work from home as a freelancer, and this can be one of the perks of the job. Even if you have a dedicated home office, it is still a good idea to find a co-working space that you can use. This is so that you can get out of the house and avoid cabin fever, have a space where you can host meetings, and network with other freelancers and entrepreneurs. You can find high-quality co-working spaces in desirable areas like Shoreditch at thebrew.co.uk with flexible and affordable terms to keep your costs down. Working in areas like this could also give your business a boost by working in a thriving and creative area.
Grow Your Network
Leading on from this, you also need to make an effort to grow and maintain your professional network as a freelancer. A large professional network will help you to find new clients, discover new opportunities, increase awareness, and build your profile. You should try to network in person as much as possible (be sure to carry business cards) and then use social media as a way to maintain these relationships over time.
These tips should come in handy when making the leap to freelancing. Many people are turning to freelance work to gain greater control over their careers and to become their own bosses, but it is a daunting leap to make, and you need to make sure that you are well prepared.