Are you stuck, feeling that freelancing is squeezing you, and wanna blow your biz up?
Improper strategy, poor time management, and subpar work deliverables create hurdles. It would help if you had a proper business growth plan and solid motivation to kiss your goal of reaching $2,000 to over $10,000 a month.
In this blog post, you have a proper road map for building a freelance business. What are the best ways to lift your freelance business? How can you be a successful entrepreneur in 2024?
Let’s start with a guide on how to start a freelance business.
How To Start A Freelance Business?
Do you want to start a freelance business and are tangled about where to start it?
Starting a freelance business is not a one-day effort. It requires a lot of dedication, consistency, and skill set.
To make things simple for you, here are some steps you should follow to help you decide:
How to Legally Start a Freelance Business.
Identify Your Niche and Skillset
When you drive a car, you first learn the driving rules and then get your hands on the steering and foot on the brake. Similarly, the first step is identifying your skillset and niche before starting freelancing.
To identify your niche, here are the following questions you should ask yourself.
- What am I passionate about?
- What am I good at?
- Which field do I have a good understanding of?
- What problems can I solve with my skills?
When you write and answer these questions, the skill set you want to sell comes to mind. There are a lot of skill sets in which people get experience, such as….
- Copywriting
- Graphic Designing
- Social Media Management (SMM)
- Amazon or Shopify VA
- IOS app Development
- Translation Services
- Video Editing with AI
- Facebook Ads Management
- Guest Posting/Email outreach
- PPC marketing & SEO
Choose freelance business ideas or freelance work ideas according to your interests and knowledge.
Create a Portfolio
After you identify your skill set, the second step is to build your portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of work samples showing your skills and expertise. It is like a project showcase for your services.
A solid portfolio should include:
- A comprehensive introduction about yourself and your education
- Your core skillset.
- Samples of your past projects.
- 5-Star Reviews of satisfied clients.
- Contact information like Email, Contact Number, and social media links.
Make sure the contact number and email you provide is active and working.
Set Your Rates
Now, you’re about to rock the freelance game, but one question keeps bugging you: how much should I charge?
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- Know Your Worth
- Search your competitor profiles & see how much they are charging
- Add software subscriptions, office supplies, and a killer cup of coffee
- Mid-Level Freelancer: $30 – $75 per hour.
- Freelance Guru: $75-$200+ per hour.
Check your skill rates in markets like Fiverr and Upwork. Understand how much people charge hourly, then set your rates accordingly.
It is best practice to make your rate low during the starting point. But take your skill set seriously. Set a rate that is reasonable to you and your client.
Also, select the payment method, whether you will be paid hourly or project-wise.
Build Strong Connections
Create a strong network to market your skillset. Make your profile on various social media platforms like….
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Freelancer.com
- Guru
- Quora
Build a professional profile on this platform and set it according to your skill set. Uploading your original picture and professional name on your profile is best. Stay active on all these platforms.
Market Market and Market
Sometimes, creating a profile on social media platforms needs to be fixed. It would help if you did something unconventional to get high-ticket clients. One way to do this is to market your skill set.
You can do it with the following methods.
- Create your professional website.
- Collaborate with other freelancers or businesses to brand your skills.
- Use paid advertising on social media platforms like Facebook or Google Ads (PPC).
- Make networking with agencies or companies.
- Attend workshops or seminars related to your skill.
Remember, the website is the best way to brand your skill set to the broader level.
Consistency and Dedication
As said; “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Freelancing is not a one-day game. You need to be active on all the platforms where you build your profile and access all your services.
In Fiverr, staying online for at least 21 hours and responding to clients as soon as possible is best. On Facebook, join the group related to your skill and pitch the client there. You can’t only get a project if you give enough time to your business.
You know the detailed process of starting a freelance business, so let’s explore the 12 ways to grow your freelance business.
12 Ways To Grow Your Freelance Business To The Peak
Do you want to expand your business but need help figuring out where to take the first step? These 12 ways to grow your freelance business are the goldmine.
1. Expand Your Skill Set
When you master one skill and offer services to the client, do not stop here. It’s the best time to move to the next skill, which is highly demanding and pays more than your first skill.
For example, if you are a graphic designer, design company logos for clients. But with time, you should expand your knowledge of designing business cards, website banners, and media graphics.
When you expand your skill set, you have new opportunities to grow your business faster than one skill set.
2. Collaborate with Fellow Freelancers
Collaboration provides you with two significant benefits.
When you are stuck at some point, other freelancers help you to identify and solve the problem. Secondly, the workload is divided, and you can do quality work on time.
Moreover, collaboration with other freelancers helps you to offer package deals to clients. For example, you are a tech writer and collaborate with a graphics designer. You offer a company the opportunity to write an article with the design of their logo at the same price.
3. Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
As a business owner, it is essential to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This helps you determine where you should focus more and where you should focus less.
For example, you are an expert writer with excellent grammar skills but need more social media management skills. Take a course on social media management to tackle this problem.
Your freelance business will get stronger every day you hustle on those weak spots.
4. Go for Elite Clients
When you gain experience in your skill set, you may target premium clients with a $5000 or $10,000 budget who feel free to pay well.
Higher rates are NOT odd if you are a niche specialist.
For instance, a UI/UX project for a complex e-commerce app could lead to $ 5k- $ 10k.
This involves multiple user journeys, IOS device support, and user research to optimize the shopping experience. Now, you can command premium rates.
5. Attend Workshops and Seminars
To expand your freelance business, attending workshops and seminars related to your skill sets is best.
Attending seminars helps you to make new connections with business owners and potential clients.
Search online for…
“[Your niche] + free workshops” or “[City name] + freelance workshops.”
Facebook and Eventbrite are genuine treasure homes for local events.
6. Get Testimonials and Feedback
To become a successful freelance businessman, get feedback from your client about your services. This will give you an idea of how much clients are satisfied with your services.
- Take feedback in video form.
- Upload this video on your social media platforms.
- Try to get 5-star reviews (goldmine)
It attracts more new customers because they impress the organic feedback from people who already hire you.
7. Build Network with Agencies
One of the best ways to promote your freelance business is to build your connection with agencies. Agencies have a large number of clients. They outsource freelancers from other countries and pay more than freelance expectations.
How to Hook Up with an Upwork Agency?
- Browse Job Postings:
Look for Job postings that mention agency ownership. Look for phrases like “We are a digital marketing agency…” or “Our agency is looking for…”Check the “Teams” Section:
Some freelancers’ profiles on Upwork list themselves as an agency partner. Look for that profile and send a connection invite.
8. Create Packages
Another way to grow your freelance business is by creating packages. It is best to offer package deals to your client. The main benefits of creating packages are two-fold.
First, retain your old client to work with you long-term. Secondly, packed attracts new clients looking forward to budget deals.
For example, if you are a graphic designer and offer package deals like:
- One professional company logo design with a social media banner ( $90)
- Website banner design with business slogans ( $150)
When you offer these deals to your clients, they hire you for their work.
9. Build Your Brand-True Gem
Branding is essential for your business to reach its peak. For a freelance business, create a strong portfolio of services and use social media to brand your services.
Use social media platforms like:
Mid-Level: $3,000 – $7,000 per project (5K+ reach, established portfolio)
Experienced: $7,000+ per project (10K+ reach, expertise in specific branding areas)
10. Stay Updated with Industry Trends
In the digital world, freelancers should be updated with the industry trends and polish their skills according to the latest trends.
If you are a web designer, you should be aware of….
- Content Management Systems (CMS) (WordPress or Squarespace)
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma Advancements
- Visual Design Principles
- Advanced SEO Principles
- Latest Design Trends in UI/UX
Having up-to-date knowledge of your industry trends helps you to provide quality services to your clients. It also allows you to stand up for your services from other freelancers who need to polish their skills.
11. Keep Clients Informed Every Step of the Way
What’s the best way to stay in touch with your clients as a freelance business?
Of Course …. keep them in the loop!
Update them about their project and your changes according to their requirements. In this way, clients will feel more secure and trust your services.
You can schedule a weekly or bi-weekly meeting with your clients. Regular updates can help you prevent misunderstandings or miscommunication.
You build a healthy, friendly relationship with your client. Additionally, you can offer some suggestions that help their business.
12. Boost 2X efficiency by Investing in Tools and Software
Great software tools add professionalism and efficiency to your work.
Invest in good designer software like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom for a graphic designer to provide your client with high-quality design.
Investing in “Grammarly business” would be a gem for an email copywriter.
This way, you can provide top-notch services to your clients and attract more business opportunities.
By following the above 12 ways, you can increase your freelance business and achieve success in your career. Remember, hard work and consistency are critical factors in growing any business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which freelancing business is best?
Content writing, graphic design, and copywriting are some of the best ideas for freelancing. It depends on individual preference.
Is freelancer good for money?
An absolute yes. A freelancing person earns more than those in traditional jobs. Even in the social media market, monthly income is more than $4,000.
Can a freelancer become rich?
It depends on your dedication, consistency and work hard in the right direction. There is not any warranty of becoming rich in freelancing.
Conclusion – 12 Ways To Grow Your Freelance Business
It would help if you used multiple strategies and techniques to increase your freelance business. Remember, there is not a single step that leads to success. You should set your goals, work hard, and add consistency.
Avoid taking multiple projects at a time because it can affect the quality of your work. Instead, focus on building a portfolio, getting positive feedback, and branding your services. The above 12 ways can boost your freelance business to the next level.
Remember, success comes from continuous learning and improvement in your skills.
