The Freelancing Success Code

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The Freelancing Success Code

Posted May 2, 2010 in Business, Getting Started

Freelancing is hard work, but it’s not impossible.

While most successful freelancers work extremely hard (which usually means putting a significant effort into their business), those who are serious about freelancing usually find that the effort is well worth it.

Yet, a surprising number of would-be freelancers are stuck. They don’t know how to start freelancing and once started they don’t know how to proceed. It’s almost as though there’s a secret success code that separates the successful freelancers from the rest. It seems like those who know the code succeed and those who don’t know it don’t make it.

Well, there isn’t really a secret freelancing success code (although some “gurus” may try to convince you otherwise). There are, however, some principles that all freelancers must follow if they are to succeed. In this post, I’ll share those principles.

Freelancing Success Principles

There’s lots and lots of success advice out there. Some of it is even pretty good advice. A lot of it, however, is subjective and only works in certain situations for certain freelancers.

There are a few things that are pretty much universal. Here are some of those principles that all successful freelancers must follow:

Get Started. Many people talk about freelancing, but never really get their freelancing business off the ground. They can’t succeed as a freelancer because they never even get started. You can talk all you want, but talk is cheap and talk alone won’t ever lead to freelancing success.
Do What You Say You’re Going to Do. Honesty is huge in freelancing (and in fact, is vital to any successful business endeavor). If you commit to doing something for a client, you need to do everything in your power to make sure that you live up to your commitment. If your clients can’t rely on you to get things done you won’t be in business long.
Make Money. Successful businesses make money. They cover their expenses and earn a profit. They may give something away as a promotion, but at the end of the day a successful businesses earns a profit. To be successful, know what your expenses are and adjust your charges so that your expenses are more than covered and there is a profit left over.
Don’t Quit. Many small business owners and freelancers give up way too soon. It’s normal for a young business to encounter difficulties and make mistakes. Often the only difference between a business that ultimately succeeds and one that doesn’t succeed is that one business sticks with it and learns from their mistakes while the other doesn’t.

Another Look at the Freelancing Success Code

I wish that I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me how I got my freelance business to the point it is today. As you can probably guess, I get that question a lot.

Sadly, most of the questioners aren’t satisfied with the real answer, which involves a bit of hard work on their part. Instead, they want some super-secret freelancing success code that will allow them to take the short and easy path to establishing a freelancing business without much effort.

I’ve read a lot of freelancing advice over the years. I’ve even read material from some of the self-appointed success gurus. What I’ve learned is that, while it’s possible to work more efficiently in some instances, there is no substitute for following the principles listed above. Without them, you don’t really even have much of a business.

What do you think?

Is there a secret freelancing success code after all? Have you found it?

What success principle would you add to the ones listed above?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by jenny-pics

About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 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. Laura is also on Google+.

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57 Comments

nszumowski
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:11 am

Monday will be my first day freelancing by choice, a little nervous but at the same time excited. At least I got past #1 and went for it after a couple months of debate, now to make it work…
Matt Pritchett
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:13 am

Great Post Laura!
It’s so true that many freelancers are looking for that “get rich quick” recipe that will give them a passive income of six figures with no setup, or clients that just give them money. No such thing exists! Even passive income takes work! But it is worth it, and it’s just plain fun! I don’t go to work, I go to something I love!
Laura Spencer
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 am

nszumowski–Welcome new freelancer! Best wishes on your new endeavor.

Matt Pritchett–That’s important, working on something that you love.
Cory
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 am

I would say the biggest key is to wait until you have a little padding in the bank and a fairly consistent client stream before you jump out there full-time. It is much harder to be sustainable if you go full-time too early or not quite prepared.

NETWORK! I cannot stress how important it is to network. Get out there and meet people, network, and market yourself! When you are a freelancer, marketing SHOULD be a 24/7 job for you. Never pass up an opportunity to tell people about your business or yourself.
Kenyan Freelancer
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 am

My secret is perseverance, patience and a lot of stamina to keep going even when the going gets tough. All the downs & sorrows one encounters should propel them to want and desire more. Above all you gotta love what you are doing!

@nszumowski Thank you for joining our bandwagon.
eve
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:52 am

I only recently went ‘full time’ for years I had been designing ‘on the side’ and never took it very seriously, resulting in horrible client results because I didn’t use contracts, didn’t have my own internal pricing down, and ended up hating it.

Once I went into it full time a few months back I decided to take it seriously, making contracts, invoices, REALLY consulting with the client before I started, etc. Because I treat it like a business things are going very well, I am booked out for the next 7 weeks, and have had mostly good results so far.
Drew Clarke
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:58 am

Good post. @nszumowski Best of luck. however, always have a plan B, as when work goes quiet, you’ve contacted all your contacts, done loads of networking and advertised as much as is sensible (or affordable), then to keep the cash coming in, always have something you can fall back on.

Me, I do plastering and decorating, obviously related to design! It brings the cash in though when I need it and having a practical skill is always useful – I don’t have to employ tradesmen to improve my house!
Chris Mower
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm

For me, the hardest part is getting over those bumps of “Whoa… this is going to be hard,” and then just doing it. Thinking about all the work can be overwhelming sometimes, but it’s not too bad once you get going and get out of first gear.
Ahmed Nuaman
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:28 pm

Good luck to all new freelancers! Don’t be put off by it; it is hard work and you do work long hours but if you deliver above and beyond the brief (which you *always* should), you soon become clients’ “go to” guy/gal and that’s the best part. Also, say yes to everything! It’s ok to be scared of a brief, but look at it this way: if it’s something you don’t know how to do, you learn something and you’ll raise your self confidence when you deliver!
Laura Spencer
May 2nd, 2010 at 3:25 pm

Wow! What awesome tips from the freelancing community. :-)

There’s a lot of collective wisdom among our readers.

Keep your ideas coming.
Rick
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:07 pm

First, what does the champagne glass have to do with anything? Don’t use a picture in the article just for the looks.

Get started, make money, don’t quit? That’s some incredibly wise advice. Wish I knew that before.
Jordan Walker
May 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 pm

Thanks for the article, I would also content that mentoring would be a successful endeavor for a freelancer. I guess you could do all the work all the time, but having someone else do the work while you are doing something else can be beneficial to business.
Allena
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:30 pm

So weird, Laura, today I just had a comment at freelancewrite.about.com from a person saying that I was being dishonest in encouraging people and saying you can make 40K as a freelance writer (which, honestly, if I was working full time, would be LOW). She said making numbers like that are like “finding a needle in a haystack”! I completely disagree with her, and agree with you: there is not a secret. THere’s no needle. It is totally and entirely possible.
Laura Spencer
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:40 pm

Hi Allena!

40K was a starting salary for technical writers in the corporate world a few years ago. I’m not sure what starting salary is today since I’m freelancing now.

The thing is, whatever you achieve as a freelancer is up to you. It’s totally based on how hard you work, how persistent you are, and how creative you are about finding work. However, the work will not come to you. You will have to find your work.

If you work 8 to 10 hours a day you should definitely be able to earn a living as a freelancer. I’m always irritated by those ads (there used to be one on TV where I am) that show the freelancer (or home business owner) floating in a pool with a voice-over that says something like “earn money while you play.” That just isn’t reality for most freelancers.

As for your commentator, I think a lot of new businesses do fail (and freelancers are basically new businesses). That might be what she’s referring to. However, those who succeed do so because of the drive and determination to keep on going.

Thanks for your comment! :-)
Sean
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:54 pm

You have to live and die by it :) otherwise don’t bother becoming a freelancer
Amber Weinberg
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:25 pm

@Rick A famous politician said “If it’s called common sense, why’s there so little of it?” Yes, it’s common advice, but it’s the truth and that’s the same answer I give to everyone who asks me the same question. There really isn’t anything secret to it.
Matthew Moore
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 am

With so much advice out there, it’s nice to get a refresh of how simple the path to success really is. Any freelancer needs to figure out their own system to get work and be successful, but there definitely are aspects that are fundamental to everyone’s businesses.
Solomon
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:40 am

I thought freelancing is the only option, due to the pressing needs at home and the erratic working hours. I thought I couldn’t make it, but thanks to the support I had through my wife who takes care of manning the expenses. But, I could make it on my own. I made a decent income out of it; not so much to boast of though :-)!

It is possible, but needs certain amount of time to get things streamlined. Only thing is we need to be patient and never to lost hope. I think this oft repeated advice is enough :).

If it is your dream to make it on your own. Invest your efforts early; and go through the tunnel early. You would be happy for doing it before anyone did it.
Milan Dobrota
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:30 am

I’m not sure how it goes for writers, but this is what you do to build a career in programming/design:

1) Build a portfolio. Do something for your friends/family or something on your own. Join open source projects. Learn as much as you can.

2) Network. Tell people what you do. Go to conferences. Mingle. Make use of social networking websites. Be consistent and patient.

3) When you get your first client, provide excellent service. Don’t just give your best, be the best! You want the client to tell everybody how good you are.

4) Over time you will get more and more work. Clients will start contacting you first. You will get more experience and raise your rates. Take some time to keep up with the new technologies to keep your skills from rotting.

5) Find a balance. Give back to the community. Be a mentor. Help others. Enjoy your life. Enjoy the freedom.
Allena
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:35 am

See, Laura, I think you and I have what can be psychologically explained as an “internal locus of control” (I control my fate, success, business) whereas my commenter has an “external locus of control” (the outside world pushes against me and controls my success).

I’m sure she won’t be pleased to hear that I’ve already hit last year’s profit and it’s only May ;).
Laura Spencer
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:55 am

Congratulations on your success Solomon! :-) Your story shows that hard work and determination DO pay off in the long run

Milan Dobrota–Thanks for the very specific and helpful steps for programmers and designers. Your comment shows that you’ve done the footwork it takes to make it as a freelancers.

Allena, I think to some extent that’s true. I do believe that there’s always something I can do to make things better. When I fail (and I do fail) at something, I try to learn from it and move on. Some people get stuck right there, at their first failure, and never progress. Congratulations on your success this year. :-)
Alan
May 3rd, 2010 at 12:10 pm

this is a really amazing article.i loved the content..
Johnny
May 3rd, 2010 at 4:22 pm

I’d definitely add “work hard” to the list. It may not result in a lot of income in the beginning but you’ll eventually iron out the business side of things and start earning the real dollars.

@Rick Mr Sunshine… aren’t all pictures used for their looks?
Paul Pritchard
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:07 pm

I dove into freelancing a couple months ago and I have to say that these types of sites have been a huge help to keep motivated. Most importantly, I have learned to resist the urge to compromise just to get some quick money. The right people are impressed when given a quote that is more expensive the rest of the pack, the wrong people say “this guy will do it cheaper, how about you?”
Lorena
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 pm

I just started freelancing on the side for a couple of publications (I’m a journalist/writer). So far, the work has been quite steady and has kept me busy outside of my regular, full-time job. As far as advice goes, I’d have to agree with Cory — networking helps bring in work and can lead to leads in the future. You never know when a friend, past client or colleague might be in the position to send you work, or recommend you for a project!

Also, underpromise and overdeliver — when you do this, you don’t set yourself up for promising more than you can do, and the client is even more pleased when they receive your stellar work in advance of deadline.
Issa
May 4th, 2010 at 2:11 am

Being a freelancer for nearly three years, I’s day what made me successful is simply: LOVE for work. I am passionate in what I do, which makes freelance work not just another job, but a hobby with the earning benefits. Nice sharing!
go4webapps
May 4th, 2010 at 8:32 am

great motivation tips for everyone who are freelancers…. thanks
McConnell Group
May 4th, 2010 at 1:26 pm

An additional point I would like to make is:

not to shy away from staying at your current job while you build your client list and portfolio. I am sure anyone of you can afirm that all the leg work put in after the 9-5 pays off. Once you have the ability to sustain yourself then you can freelance less stressfully.

Shawn,
Mike
May 6th, 2010 at 10:29 am

“Many small business owners and freelancers give up way too soon.” this is often seen in this type of IT business, and if any one stands again and work, i have seen many people working with success
Angel Jefferson
May 6th, 2010 at 2:38 pm

Good points Laura, well thought out.

The only thing I would add is that finding the freelance work is key–if you can’t find reliable streams of work, then you aren’t going to get anywhere. VWorker is the site that I have found to be the most reliable in providing work and providing security against getting ripped off. That combination is priceless to a freelancer.
Robin
May 8th, 2010 at 7:12 am

A very good article !!! keep it up
Stacey Abler
May 8th, 2010 at 9:56 am

Jenn Mattern of AllFreelanceWriting.com is mentoring me in the process. It has been great. Not only has she been encouraging and sharing “secrets” with me but it gives me accountability. I know she is waiting on me to get my list of assignments complete and it provides the motivation I need to get it done. I believe half the battle is just in getting started!
JT Long
May 10th, 2010 at 1:49 am

Great advice Milan for all types of freelancers.

One secret that seems to work for writers is to find a niche that interests you and become an expert on that topic.

Get to know the players, the language and the publications.

At the same time, expand the ways you can deliver content to include audio, video and social media.

Then work hard, but have fun.
Jack
May 13th, 2010 at 5:16 am

While most successful freelancers work extremely hard (which usually means putting a significant effort into their business), those who are serious about freelancing usually find that the effort is well worth it.
Kurt
June 17th, 2010 at 3:38 pm

Thanks for your great article, very inspiring! I have thought about how narrowing down my services could help me in the long run and I feel you have confirmed that above. I tend to try to put it all out there and it hasn’t really helped at all. Now if I could only dedicate to waking up early or staying up late to accomplish my business goals I would be much closer to that jumping off point from my 9-5.
Drew Clarke
June 17th, 2010 at 3:55 pm

@Kurt I think you’ve touched on an important point. When doing both freelance work and the 9-5, fatiggue is a big issue in that you work hard all day, then get home and work hard all evening. Unless your lucky to have boundless energy then this tends to take a toll and unless you know where to draw the limits, it can be fairly hard going.

I’d really like my life back! Personally I find my best AAA time is Sat and Sun early morning before the kids get up.
sathyam
August 6th, 2010 at 3:47 pm

thanks

cluetechnologies.com
Brett Widmann
October 27th, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Thanks for the great set of tips.
Acer Aspire
April 18th, 2011 at 11:49 am

Some interesting points here, i think a lot can be said for the discipline of freelancers. Working for yourself can be a tall order.
Teak Furniture Manufacturers
January 31st, 2012 at 7:38 am

The Freelancing Success Code | FreelanceFolder It’s exhausting to seek out knowledgeable people on this subject, but you sound like you realize what you’re talking about! Regards, Teak Furniture Manufacturers
ibanez ts
February 4th, 2012 at 7:24 am

Hello, this is a good post!

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