Chapters
You don’t have a corporate ladder to climb, but there are endless opportunities to grow as a freelancer. <tweet-link>Learning more, developing new skills, and gaining access to cutting-edge technology opens new doors, some in ways you couldn’t expect.<tweet-link></tweet-link></tweet-link>
As we close with this final chapter, we want to provide a guide into the future of your successful freelance business. As you look ahead, we hope you can use these tips to keep moving onward and upward in every area of your personal and professional development.
New clients are key to expanding your business. Unless you operate in an overly narrow niche, there will always be new people to work with. Growing your client pool to include these new businesses may require adjustments to your client-finding processes. Some options include:
If one method doesn’t work, keep adjusting and improving until you find one that does. There are hundreds of thousands of people looking for freelancers to hire, so don’t give up.
Even as you find new clients, you should be working to increase the value you can offer. You could:
Show clients that you are dedicated to offering the best work by investing in your career. You will grow as a professional and stay ahead of your competitors in both potential and reputation.
Now that you are more established in your freelancing career, you can charge more for your services. You may also want to consider changing the way you charge your clients.
If you’ve been charging by the hour, consider switching to a fixed-price or retainer structure. Rather than just being paid for your time, you can charge more for your experience and value. This gives you more freedom with your time and often appeals to a greater number of clients.
Raising your rates reflects your growth as a freelancer and the level of value you can provide with your work. Remember, <tweet-link>the amount you charge also determines the type of client you attract. Moving into a new price bracket gives you access to higher-paying clients and projects.<tweet-link>
You may want to evaluate your rates a few times a year, though you don’t have to change them every time. You can raise your costs when you add a new skill, complete a game-changing project, or when you want to start making more per year.
Not sure what to charge? Give chapter 3 another read for tips.
You may be asking, how do I raise rates for my current clients?
There are a couple of options:
To keep the delicate balance of having the right amount of work and clients, consider using Hectic to manage your client relationships. This feature visualizes your pipeline, letting you know what’s next and where your client base currently stands. You can easily see when you need to pursue more work and when your schedule is booked.
Designed to help you maximize billable hours, Hectic streamlines client management. Use our client screening tool to instantly separate the projects you want to pursue from those you don’t. Then, with one click, you can send your customized proposals to convert prospects into clients. You will always know where you stand with clients both past and present, easing your uncertainty so you can move forward with confidence.
<tweet-link>When you work for yourself, there’s no need for stagnant complacency. Looking ahead at your career provides the opportunity to strategize bigger and better things in the future.<tweet-link> Here are some of the ways you can continue growing your business.
Expanding your business into an agency gives you access to higher project prices, broader reach, and greater capacity for work. Outsourcing your work to other freelance professionals both increases your opportunities and gives them a steady stream of income.
You can’t freelance without learning a ton, so why not give it back to others who are just starting out? Selling materials, videos, classes, and seminars gives you a passive stream of income that also helps others succeed. There are endless topics and mediums for these courses, so find the one that works for you.
As we mentioned earlier, combining your services with another freelancer’s gives you an undeniable advantage over your competitors. Working with someone else also encourages growth. You will have access to a variety of new clients and fields, creating new possibilities for you both.
Sometimes freelancing isn’t the right answer. Life circumstances, personal obstacles, or even new insight may make a return to an employed position the best option.
That doesn’t mean you failed or weren’t cut out for freelancing. It just means it’s time for a new direction. And that’s more than okay.
Some of the struggles you may be facing include:
If you’re looking for an employed position, see if you can find a part-time position first. Creating a hybrid schedule of both working and freelancing can show you if this is the right direction to take. You may find that one of the options below produces the results you need instead.
Relating to any or all of these points doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to move on, however. You may just need a break, help, or a better way of doing things.
If you are questioning your freelance career, we encourage you to do three things.
You are not the first or last person to feel this way. In fact, we’ve all been there. By working to create a better freelancing experience with Hectic, we’re hoping more people can continue pursuing their dreams and finding success in their passions.