3 Time-Tested Ways to Kick It Up a Notch
Posted November 27, 2008 in Marketing, Productivity 9 Comments »
As a freelancer you’re probably always looking for ways to take your business to the next level. You not only want more business — you need more business to succeed.
The desire to ramp your business up a notch may be especially intense during these challenging economic times when the freelance marketplace may be more competitive than ever.
The good news is that you can do it. You can ramp things up, and you can grow your business. Almost any business can do this by making a few simple changes.
Here are three “tried and true” techniques that you can use right now to grow your freelancing business:
1. The “One More” Rule
Many years ago a former supervisor challenged a group of us. “Imagine what you can achieve if you work just one extra hour per week” she encouraged us. She was right! Doing just a little bit more on a regular basis can yield big results in the end. You can easily apply this principle to your own business. If you’re a writer, try writing one extra article (press release, chapter, and so on) each day. If you’re a coder, try coding one extra line each day. If you are contacting potential clients, try making one extra contact. The possibilities for applying the concept are endless, but the positive results for your freelance business are real.
2. The “Plus ___” Principle
Take a good look at your business. What is it that you currently offer to your clients? Chances are that you’ll be able to identify one specific product or service: programming, web design, writing, and so on. Now, brainstorm about what services or products would complement the product or service that you already offer. Find a way to add them to what you offer. Suddenly, you’re not just a web designer — you’re a web designer plus an image consultant. You’re not just a writer — you’re a writer plus an editor. Expanding your offerings to existing customers is a natural way to expand your business.
3. The Scheduling Precept
Whatever business task you are performing, schedule it. Whenever I’m faced with a large project, I “schedule” milestones to help keep me on track. This is not something clients generally require me to do — rather it is something that I do on my own so that I am assured of staying on track. Likewise, administrative and marketing tasks should also be scheduled. It’s very easy to accidentally let networking or answering e-mail eat up an entire day, but if you’ve scheduled a limited time each day to deal with each then the time shouldn’t get away from you.
What tricks or techniques do you use to boost your freelancing business?
Why not share them here?
About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 19 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts
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9 Comments
Preston Lee
November 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pmExcellent tips! I love the one about doing just one more thing. Thats what I do to keep business up. I always make sure and do just a little more than expected for each of my customers. Whether it’s getting the product done earlier than the deadline, or giving them something for free or at a discount, I find that doing something extra really helps them get excited about telling others. When my current customers are more than pleased, they tell their friends to come to me for work.
Recently i designed a logo for a company and then offered pros and cons for certain ad specialty stores in the area. I gave them an idea of places I preferred and why. They appreciated the extra effort I put in and not only gave me a bonus, but recommended me to some other clients.
Going the extra mile for everyone is definitely a must!
Thanks for the post!
Laura Spencer
November 28th, 2008 at 12:09 pmI’m glad that you liked the post Preston! Thanks for sharing your own personal application.
Jeremy
November 28th, 2008 at 7:26 pm#4 Organize your files, on the computer and off
One of the key features in my setup is the proper organization of all of my resources, on and off the computer. It helps me kick it up a notch when I know exactly where everything is. Occasionally I have to take a couple hours to reorganize, but I win this time back many fold.
Laura Spencer
November 28th, 2008 at 8:45 pmGreat tip Jeremy!
Organization is indeed a key part of freelancing. In fact I could write an entire post on it. (Maybe I will.)
Debbie
November 29th, 2008 at 12:05 amJeremy’s tip is very good – one thing I do besides use my desktop planner is on my large whiteboard, I write in the next 2-3 tasks I can do (not all of them, just the next couple of things I can do right away without waiting on other things to be finished first) under the name of each active project.
That way if I have a certain amount of time available I can see all the tasks that can be done at once.
Adrienne Tange
December 1st, 2008 at 12:22 pmGreat tips on growing your business! I definitely will start using #1 and #3. Here’s another idea: collaborate with experts who have complimentary skills to combine services. If you are skilled in writing Web content team up with a Web designer and graphic designer to create a Web site service package. If you are skilled in writing training materials team up with a trainer to create a training service package.
Rene Kriest
February 17th, 2009 at 7:13 pmAn upside down approach. Nice points and well put! I highly recommend to go for the extra mile (#1). It is getting lonely there, really! :)
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