Don't Start Freelancing Without Reading This First

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Freelancing may seem like an easy path to generating income, but the reality is it’s filled with pitfalls that can cost you time and money if you don’t know what you’re doing. So before you jump in, keep these tips in mind to avoid getting tripped up along the way. By following them, you should be able to start freelancing on the right foot and avoid common mistakes other newbies make when starting out on their own.

Finding Clients

It’s one thing to be a freelancer, but it’s another thing entirely to make money doing it. Fortunately, finding clients is easy if you know where to look. There are tons of freelancer directories that allow companies and individuals to post jobs and search for freelancers. Try Odesk, Elance or Guru; there are tons more niche-specific options as well like 99Designs or PeoplePerHour.

Stay Organized

When it comes to freelancing, organization is key. There are dozens of small tasks you’ll need to complete on a daily basis (many more than your full-time job). It can be easy to lose track of where you’re at if you’re not organized. Try using a project management app like Trello or Asana and make sure every piece of information related to your project is documented in one central location.

Develop a System

At a certain point in any freelance career, things become routine. A routine is one of your most valuable assets as a freelancer; not only does it help you work more efficiently, but it also helps you feel like you’re not running at 100 miles per hour all day, every day. Identify all of your hourly tasks and turn them into systems to make sure they are all handled efficiently—and quickly—every time they come up.

Keep Track of Your Income

Whether you freelance as a side job or full-time, it’s important to keep track of your income. Whether you have an accountant or do your own taxes, consider setting up a separate bank account for your freelancing money and make sure that you save enough of your earnings to fill out all of those tax forms at year’s end. If you don’t, freelancers know that they may not be able to come up with a dime when they owe Uncle Sam.

Create a Good Looking Website

A lot of freelancers say it’s incredibly important to have a good-looking website; but if you’re just starting out, that can seem like an insurmountable challenge. It doesn’t have to be—but it does take some time and money. If you can pony up for a developer or web designer, get their help in creating your first site (unless you're proficient with html); if not, look into WordPress themes specifically designed for freelancers and start building from there.

Grow Your Network

Networking is one of those things that everyone says they do, but very few people actually do it. It’s easy to get caught up in working or playing with your friends, but taking a few minutes each day to connect with people can make all of the difference as you begin building your freelancing business. Sure, you could spend time on Facebook or Instagram, but there are more productive ways to network; here are three suggestions

Establish Core Values

Making a living as a freelancer is a little different than working for an employer. While there are some similarities, each job has its own unique requirements. Establishing core values can make it easier to tackle jobs and work with clients effectively, making it far more likely that you’ll be successful—both today and in future projects.

Value Yourself as an Independent Worker

If you want to start freelancing, it's important to place a value on your work. If you undervalue yourself and don’t set an appropriate rate for your services, you will find it hard to get clientele. Similarly, if you overvalue yourself and charge too much, clients will be deterred from contacting you. It’s best to understand what your market worth is before getting started.