From independent writers and graphic designers to web developers and business consultants, freelance business owners face a set of challenges that are unique to the freelance industry. While freelance work boasts attractive flexibility and personal freedom, owning a freelance business requires self-motivation and lasting resilience.
Ensuring that your work remains consistent enough to support you financially and enjoyable enough to fulfill you emotionally can feel like a delicate dance. If you’re ready to supercharge your freelancing business, check out these five strategies that will have customers beating down your door in no time.
Capitalize on the benefits of a virtual office
If your freelance operation is a one-person show, there’s little to no good reason why you ought to splurge on expensive physical office space. Still, even the smallest of freelance businesses will require a mailing address and phone number. As such, a virtual office is practically a digital-age freelancer’s office dreams come true.
A virtual office like iPostal1 allows you to claim a professional business address, phone number, and mail inbox as your company’s own without it restricting you to a particular physical location. With a virtual office at your disposal, you’ll maintain a professional appearance while protecting the privacy of your phone number and home address and saving you tons of cash on pricey rent fees.
Expand your professional network
Teamwork makes the freelance dream work. While you may have come this far on your own, most freelance business owners can’t do it all. Teaming up with other professionals can offer you the support you need to specialize in that which you’re most skilled and provide you with the resources to expand your services. For example, a freelance graphic designer can increase their capacity for revenue-generating projects by teaming up with a copywriter and web developer and advertising a capability to produce fully built-out websites. With the right professionals on your side, freelance opportunities are endless.
Invest in your education
As demand for high-quality products in your market grows, so should your skillsets and level of training. By elevating your knowledge base and honing your skills, you’ll gain the confidence and practical competence to raise your prices and produce even more impressive work. Whether you choose to spend an hour each night watching training videos, make time to receive guidance from a veteran in your industry, or stick your nose in a book on the topic. You and your customers will be happy that you invested in the growth of your abilities.
Consider raising your prices
While the thought of asking for more money from new and existing clients may make your inner people-pleaser cringe, steadily raising your prices is a critical step to growing your freelancing business. As you gain knowledge and experience, the quality of your product will improve. The prices you charge ought to follow accordingly. Higher-paid freelancers have larger pools of funds that they can then use for professional skill development, overhead cost coverage, and product improvement, all of which your customers will benefit from. If you’re unsure about where to start, research going rates for other freelancers in your industry to make sure that you’re charging an appropriate fee.
Offer expanded services
Stepping out of your comfort zone and strategically offering complementary services can help you justify price increases and entice a broader spectrum of potential customers. As your existing customers what they wish they could receive in addition to your standard services so that you can offer even more comprehensive work.
In conclusion
Owning a freelance business isn’t always smooth sailing, but with the right tools on your side, you’ll soon be up to your knees in order requests and project payments.
