Sponsored by Jobtonic:
We’ve all wanted to be our own boss. Making your own hours, growing your business, and starting an entity has never been easier. As a freelancer, you can launch your business and start procuring clients quickly.
However, there is a right way and wrong way to start your business. The following nine tips will help you start a long-lasting business:
1. Don’t Quit Your Job – Yet
You still have to pay bills when starting out. This means you’ll need to work your regular 9 to 5 job and then start working on your business. Start networking, conduct a job search, and learn the right places to find jobs in your industry. JobTonic.com has work from home and freelance listings that are frequently updated.
2. Write a Business Plan
Online templates and software will allow you to write a professional business plan. Even if you don’t need funding, a business plan will:
- Allow you to set goals
- Dictate business parameters
A plan will outline everything from products and marketing to business goals one, five, and even 10 years in the future.
3. Save Your Money
You’ll need to save money for equipment, products, office space, and even for slow work periods. Maintain a budget and never use all of your business capital on frivolous purchases. Starting with a nest egg will allow you to get through rough periods without financial hardships.
4. Decide Your Rates
It’s easy to set a lower rate in an attempt to get more work. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal scenario. Instead, you’ll want to determine and invoice clients for your:
- Rate per hour
- Time spent through emails
- Time spent talking to clients
You’re a one-person company at the moment. Adding in charges for communication is a very smart choice.
5. Start Networking
The easiest way to get clients is to have a huge network of people you can go to at any time. You’ll want to be everywhere possible. This means creating accounts on:
- Industry sites
You’ll want to join Twitter chats, join tribes on Triberr and also start commenting on industry blogs. Try to use the same avatar or picture on all platforms so people begin to know your name and face.
6. Create a Marketing Strategy
How will you reach clients? You’ll want to start building relationships and begin marketing as soon as possible.
Determine your marketing mediums and how you’ll try to reach potential clients. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to adapt your strategy as you grow. Just remember to continually market your business.
7. Track Everything
You need data to be able to track your success and what’s holding your business back. A few things you’ll want to track monthly include:
- Hours worked
- Success of marketing
- Time spent on client work
- Profits and losses
- Income totals
This information will allow you to track your success as your business grows.
8. Be Prepared for Mistakes
Clients and customers will be unhappy. Heck, you’ll make mistakes even when you think you’ve done everything perfectly. Be prepared for mistakes and embrace them. You’ll make many mistakes along the way, but success will be found by learning from these mistakes and growing as a professional.
9. Do Your Best
Finally, put your heart and soul into your business. Do everything in your power to make your business and work a success. If you do great work, your customers will come back, and they’ll tell their friends about your business.
These basic tips will allow you to start a freelance business that is sure to grow. With time and patience, you’ll be able to nurture your business so it’s successful for years to come.
