1. Market Yourself – Network,
Network.
You need to tell people who you are, what
you bring, and how you could be service to them. You have to constantly market
yourself for success and build a referral network.
Internet is a valuable tool for
freelancers, especially if you have website. It serves as a point of contact
between you and your potential clients.
You have to present yourself as to who you
are and what you do and the skills and values you bring. Market your business
as it is the key to a steady flow of new and repeat clients. Market on how your
freelance business is better then similar business.
It’s not enough to what you know but, who
you know. Use social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedln and
other online communities like freelancer.com to meet, greet, and expand your
network, and get your business in front of prospective clients.
Through these networks get feedbacks to
fine tune your product or service. Not only that, you can get your first break
through these networks and referrals. These sites can also be used to develop
and maintain relationships with clients.
2. Get to know your competitors.
Study and research your competitors in
trade journals, social sites, freelance forums, and visit their website. Pay attention to what your competitors do. Learn
from them, they may be doing something right which you can be implemented in
your business. Understand that you don’t know everything and be open to new
ideas and new approaches for your business success.
You need to know who all your competitors
are, not just the obvious ones, but the ones who are meeting the needs of your
customers with products/ services which you do not offer.
Resist
the urge to compete on price. Trying to undercut every competitor is a losing
race. Instead, focus on providing greater value.
3. Follow-up.
For
a successful business it is very important to follow-up to maximise
opportunities. Stay in touch with them long after the sale, puts you ahead of
the competition. Customers will feel appreciated with a follow-up. People do
business with people they KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST. A committed follow-up strategy
will increase your referrals with your customers and clients. By doing a
follow-up you can remind them about your product or services you are offering.
Follow-up can also be an acknowledgement for using your product or services.
4. Get Organised.
To be successful in any business it is
very essential to be organised especially for a freelancer as he/she is
responsible for everything. You need to have a good plan and organisational
skills. Take your time and plan out all necessary steps to achieve success.
Make sure your work environment is
conducive to maximise productivity. Keep it neat and tidy and minimise
distractions. Schedule your work hours and set a routine. Being organised will
help you complete tasks within time. Have a check list or to-do-list as you
complete a task heck it off your list. Schedule your time; keep a calendar of
meetings and deadlines. Set up a system for your workday; effectively
prioritise email correspondence by using an auto filter.
5. Stay Focused.
You
are not going to start making money the moment you start your business, it
takes time so stay focused in achieving your short term goals. Constantly keep
doing the things necessary to be successful, because success will not come in
one night. Set goals so as to measure how well is your business doing, devise a
plan to reach and achieve these goals. Always be on the look out for ways in
improving your business and make it stand out from the competition. Keep a
positive attitude, as a good attitude is a great asset for a freelancer.
Believe in yourself.
Conclusion:
Starting and running
a successful business can be rewarding and challenging. There are few things
more satisfying than launching and owning your own freelance business. Starting
a business is not complicated, but running it successfully requires focus,
discipline, perseverance, and motivation. However, success will not come over
night - it requires a long-term focus and that you remain consistent in
challenging environments. Be prepared to adapt, innovate, and invigorate, so
that your freelance business will break-out to the next level of profitability.
Remember in business the only constant is change, so adapt and prosper.
Follow me on facebook/outsource2me
Follow me on facebook/outsource2me
