by Randy Place
Now that the unemployment rate in America stands at almost 9%, this is as good a time as any for Your Career Service to revisit the working world of the freelancer. This is how the unemployed become self-employed. The reason?
Lots of my job-finding clients, facing long job searches due to fewer jobs and more competition in their work categories, have decided to opt out of the corporate rat race by trying freelance work for awhile.
If you’ve entertained similar thoughts about going the consulting or freelance route, Your Career Service presents five tips for getting started and keeping going –
- You need to determine what you’ve got to offer potential clients. That’s the first step. Freelancers most often offer what they now do on the job; they make a freelance business of doing their current jobs for other companies.
- When you decide to apply your skills as a freelancer, it’s a temptation to have just one company as a client. That’s a lame idea. Your best bet is to attract a group of core clients. Many freelancers discover most of their business comes from a few to a half dozen good clients with whom they can work on a regular basis. Your business will grow at a steady rate because of the referrals given to you by clients who appreciate your work.
- You can get clients for your new freelance business by getting visibility. Join networking groups, social clubs, industry associations, and committees in your church, synagogue, and community.
- After you’ve become a success at getting a few leads, telephone potential clients instead of sending e-mails. It’s a more personal way to introduce yourself. This will be uncomfortable at first for introverts and those with no customer service or selling experience. With practice, however, you’ll almost get to like making solicitation calls.
- The idea is to involve potential clients in conversation. This, to inquire about their needs and how you can help them. Personal contact not only helps you to connect, but it’s an opportunity to research an organization as you converse.
Your Career Service presents more tips on how to attract customers for your freelance business next week. In the meantime, click here to read “Freelance work – how to be successful,” a previous post on Your Career Service.
