Freelancers A to Z #015 Five Tips on How to Boost Your Freelance Game
Freelancers A to Z is a series of roundup posts with captivating curated blog posts, podcasts and articles.
My purpose is to give you as a freelancer a place where you can find support and help with productivity, motivation and time management issues. Here you will find simple yet powerful hacks to improve your productivity and boost your freelance business instantly.
Are you ready?
In the age of technology and advancements, we’re always aiming to have a job that is best suited to our wants and needs, allowing us to get their work done effectively. That’s why the desire to work from home seems to be more trendy than ever in recent years, among people of all ages.
Everyone seems to be pushing hard to earn that well-paying job, that is also just a few taps away when it comes to getting actual work done. While it may not be as easy to score that perfect job right away, it can be very rewarding to work as a freelancer once you have made it through.
After you get in the groove of allowing yourself to work day in day out, there is always that temptation of doing your very best. Often, freelancers struggle to keep up with a demanding schedule and aren’t able to deliver the goods on paper.
In that case, setting your mind on the right track and knowing your job well enough can really be a game-changer for you and your career. Keeping that in mind, here are some handy tips and tricks for you to keep in mind while you are freelancing.
1
How to Master Social Media?
Social media is a bonus tool in the modern age of communication that every freelancer must have. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram have played a pivotal role in the job market over the years. Effectively using social media accounts can really be your secret ingredient of success while freelancing.
Not only are social media platforms a great way of keeping in touch with your clients, but also these sites are an excellent source of referrals. Having at least one social media account that allows you to take part in discussions and sharing content should be more than enough to get you started.
Consider social media as your new best friend in your journey as a freelancer. The more information and experience you share on social media platforms, the greater the chances are for you to bloom.
Furthermore, connect with groups of your interest to really make the most of your social media experience. For instance, if you are looking for content writing jobs, joining a content writing group would really help you discover more opportunities to work and socialize with potential clients.
2
How to State Your Freelancing Job in a Resume?
As a freelancer, perhaps the most daunting challenge is trying to ensure the safety and quality of your work. Where the independent life is really assuring, many people see it as a way of being lazy.
How can you state your freelancing job in a resume? The blog first answers the question of do you need it on your resume and the answer is simple: if it has helped you and is your main source of income then yes.
Creating multiple resumes, says the website, can really up your game because you’d have a list of things you have successfully accomplished. You can list your freelance work in different ways; chronologically, on the basis of your skill set — the project that clearly represents your skills — and combination.
The article asks you to show your work, be ruthless, and state your work with utmost confidence in your resume, only then will you be able to make an impression.
3
How to Protect Yourself from Cyberattacks?
Everything is open and accessible in the vast world of the internet. With such openness and free availability of information, there are also some serious risks associated with them too.
You could be working peacefully one day and wake up the next day, to find out that your account password was mysteriously changed by someone. As we become more and more connected, cyberattacks also seem to be on an equal rise too.
To keep yourself protected from such a scenario, make sure that you take all steps to protect your computer from cyberattacks. One of the most basic steps that you can take on your end is to keep a strong password on all of your accounts.
Set your password to something that you can easily remember too, and also something that is not easy to guess. According to the article, beware of scammers who may trick you into giving them your personal information over false advertising.
Only use company authorized software to do your work on, and frequently use VPNs while working. You would also want to keep your kids as away from your machine as possible, keeping them busy in their toys rather than playing with your freelancing account.
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4
Proven Strategies to Find Your Next Freelance Gig
It can be a hassle finding the right job for you that also meets your requirements. While there are tons of freelance jobs out there, keep an eye out for jobs that really appeal to you.
Keeping in touch with friends and family who are established in their own businesses is the first step in finding your freelancing job. Could they possibly be looking for the same person that ticks all your requirements?
Or maybe they could help you find the right clients to work for. Inquire about all available work opportunities and don’t be shy to advertise your work to them either. Sometimes, they might require you to explain your work before you are underway.
Most of the time, they are already into freelancing and probably employed somewhere themselves. You could either directly send them a link to your portfolio, or use a social media platform such as Facebook.
E.g, making a post to reach out to your circle that says: “I have been working as a freelancer at company XYZ for the past few months, and it's really working out well. You can check out my work at this link.” What better way than to search within your own circle for a job that is best suited for you.
5
Why You Should Be Visible in Freelance Communities?
When you are freelancing, you become a part of a large community of freelance writers, who are just like you. Each of those freelancers has their own set of experiences and sources of work, which can be a real bonus for any community they are an active part of.
Be more active in freelance communities and discover an uncapped world of possibilities with the help of fellow freelance workers and future clients. Not only would you encounter projects that you have never done before, clients you have never met before, but you will also gain access to information that is not readily available on the internet.
Being actively involved in freelance communities ensures that you know what you are doing. This could either be some taxation policy that you are not aware of, certain payment methods that you have not encountered before, apps and software to boost your productivity as a freelancer, how to get more referrals as a freelancer, and many more hacks that you could use to become a successful freelancer.
Moreover, when you have established yourself to become an important member of any freelancing community, you will automatically become the first preference for clients. It would be a routine business to recommend you as the first choice freelancer due to your active presence in the freelancing community, boosting your opportunities and reputation as a freelancer.
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All work and no play…
The last thing I would like to share with you is music. It has a special place in my life. For that reason I listen to music when I work. However, as some of you already know, it’s also because I want to cut off the noise caused by my neighbors.
This week I’d like to introduce you to Ane Brun and her new album “After the Great Storm“.
Last but not least: in the next issue your playlist can appear in this place. So leave in comments your favourite music that you love to listen when you work.
One last thing
In the comments below let me know what do you think about this issue of Freelancers A to Z. Tell me what do you like, what is not so good, what do you want more of. I need to know everything.
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The next issue will be available in two weeks.
Take care and have a nice time
Mariusz from the Time Continuum App