By Joey Trebif
Founder, CareerAlley
So you want to be a freelancer? Freelancer, contractor, consultant, self-employed – these all have similarities but can be different as well. Working as a freelancer typically means you are self-employed and offering goods or services to others.
According to Dictionary.com, a freelancer is “a person who works . . . selling work or services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer”. The best part about being a freelancer is that you can typically set your own hours as well as pick and choose who want to work for.
The bad news is that until you build your business up, you are likely to have times where you don’t have any work. Take a look at CareerAlley’s 5 Ideas for Starting and Running Your Own Business – Career Alternatives. There are a number of things you can do to build your business and you need to consider all of your business support needs.
1. Networking
Now’s the time to let everyone you know (business acquaintances, family and friends) that you are now freelancing. This will help you build your network of potential clients. Be prepared to give your 30 second “this is what I do” speech to everyone you meet who asks you what you do. This is a very important way to network and advertise what you do. This is typically called an “elevator speech.”
Another key resource is industry and trade associations. Join the ones that make sense for your career and participate as much as possible. Taking leadership positions in these organizations can also help you grow your business.
2. Put the Right Infrastructure in Place
Sounds scary, but makes great sense. Ensure you create whatever legal entities you need to setup and run your business. Make sure you have a good understanding of any licenses or registration you may need in your municipality. A great resource for helping you figure out what you need is the Small Business Administration. For those of you in the UK, take a look at http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk.
What about your website? Everyone looks to the Internet for finding whatever they need. This includes products and services. You must have a website where people can find you as well as read more about what you do. As you grow your business, add testimonials of those you’ve worked for. Recommendations are very powerful.
Build out your marketing plan. Advertising in local papers and bulletin boards placed in local businesses certainly helps. Another great idea is to see if you can setup a “How to” night with your local Chamber of Commerce or Public Library, giving some demonstrations on your service or product. This is a great way to advertise and to meet people.
3. Find Others to Work With
Partnering with “complimentary” business can definitely help you grow your business. As an example, if you are starting a tile installation business, perhaps you could partner with a plumber. Or, maybe you are building a graphics design business – partnering with a marketing pro or a website developer might work for you. One thought is to think about businesses, products or services that either precede what you might offer or follow what you offer. Keep in mind that it’s not all about you. There are benefits for partners as well (they gain from your business network as do you from theirs).
4. Create a Business Plan
This can be boring and challenging but it is a necessity. You need to have a plan which includes funding (cash flow, funding equipment and supplies, incorporating your networking and marketing plan, etc.). Regardless of your location, the “http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk” from the SBA is a good place to start to help you figure out what you need. Try not to over-build your plan, but don’t leave out the important parts either.
5. Set Yourself Apart from the Competition
What makes what you do better than the competition? It’s important to define these values to give you an advantage in your advertising. It could be anything, from offering products/services that no one else offers to providing discounts and promotions (tied to your marketing plan).
This article was written by Joey Trebif at CareerAlley and was republished with permission.
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