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Freelancing can be a great way to make money and set your own hours, but it's not always as easy as it sounds. In order to be successful as a freelancer, you need to have certain qualities. Read on to find out what they are!
Freelancer Quality #1: Perseverance
If you want to be a successful freelancer, you need to have perseverance. This means that you need to be able to keep going even when things get tough. And they will get tough because starting a freelance business can be quite challenging. From finding clients to believing fully in yourself, you will face rejection and obstacles that can be hard on a personal level. However, if you have the wherewithal to continue, you will be on the right track.
Of course, perseverance alone is not enough. You also need to have talent and skills in your chosen field. However, even the most talented people will not find success if they give up at the first sign of trouble. If you want to be a successful freelancer, make sure you have the perseverance to see it through.
Freelancer Quality #2: Self-Discipline.
One of the most important qualities you need to be a successful freelancer is discipline. When you work from home, it can be easy to get distracted by things like the TV or your bed. However, if you want to be successful, you need to be able to focus on your work and get it done in a timely manner.
Another important quality is self-motivation. When you're a freelancer, there's no one breathing down your neck to make sure you're getting your work done. You need to be able to motivate yourself to stay on track and meet deadlines.
If you have these qualities, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful freelancer.
Freelancer Quality #3: Open and Honest With Clients
To be a successful freelancer, it is important to be open and honest with your clients. This means being upfront about your skills and experience. It also means being honest about your availability and timeline for completing projects. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to freelance work.
It is also important to be clear and concise in your communication with clients. This means being clear about what you are offering and what you expect in return. Clients should always know what they are getting, and when they can expect to receive it. Clear communication will help to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication down the road.
Finally, it is important to be professional at all times. This means maintaining a positive attitude even when things get tough. It also means being responsive to client inquiries and meeting deadlines. Professionalism is key to maintaining good relationships with clients and keeping them coming back for more work.
Freelancer Quality #4: A desire to learn.
One of the most important qualities you need to be a successful freelancer is the desire to learn. As a freelancer, you will be constantly learning new skills and knowledge in order to keep up with the latest trends. You need to be able to quickly learn new things and adapt to change.
Social media, email lead generation, affiliate marketing, copywriting, content creation, graphic design, all these things change over time and have new requirements that need to be continually relearned and refreshed. If you don't like learning, then maybe consider a different direction for your entrepreneurial endeavors.
Freelancer Quality #5: Organization
Being an organized person is one of the most important qualities you need to be a successful freelancer. This means keeping track of your deadlines, your client’s instructions, and your own schedule. It can be helpful to use a project management tool like Trello or Asana to keep everything in one place.
Another important aspect of being organized is being able to budget your time wisely. This means knowing how long it will take you to complete a project and then scheduling your time accordingly. If you underestimate the amount of time a project will take, you may find yourself struggling to meet your deadline or working too many hours without breaks. On the other hand, if you overestimate the amount of time a project will take, you may find yourself with some free time that you could have used to work on another project.
Being an organized individual also means being able to keep track of your business finances. This means knowing how much money you have coming in and going out. This is really important when it comes to tax season. In Canada, we have to pay our own income tax at tax time. (More on this later.)
Overall, being an organized person is going to keep you from having a lot of headaches as a freelancer. If you can keep track of everything, you will be on point.
If you have these qualities, then you have a good chance of being a successful freelancer. However, it is also important to note that success as a freelancer is not guaranteed. There will always be ups and downs in any freelance career. If you find you are lacking in one of these areas but still want to dip your toes into the world of freelancing, I suggest honing your skills in the area that is weakest. My weakest area is organization. Gasp! I know, but it's true. My work station is a mess most days. I like to think of it as organized chaos, and so long as I am getting work done on time, I am okay with that.
What do you struggle with the most? What can you do to improve? Drop a comment below with your greatest freelance struggle and we can work on it together!
Discover how to set your prices: How to Set Your Prices as a Service Based Business.
For more on Pinterest best practices, pinning strategy, and business, be sure to follow along with Blogatcha! Written by Pinterest manager and mom, Amber Flinn. My goal is to help educate those interested in Pinterest, small business, entrepreneurship, and social media. I welcome guest submissions, so if you think you have a great idea for an article, please reach out!