The freelancing working environment is a strange one. This is because your environment remains static, but the working relationships and responsibilities you may foster online or through other commissions can be varied from day to day. Not everyone is cut out to work freelance, but not every freelancer is cut out to work a normal job in their field. Often, people dip in and out to freelancing, not always using it as a sole source of income but as a means to develop their best income stream.
No matter your reasons, your competency, the people you work with and the skills you offer to commission, considering these working tips can have a large impact on your overall comfort, happiness and effectiveness in this role. The early days of freelancing can be hard and worrisome, but over time you may find comfort developing your self-reliance:
Pay Proof
Working freelancers expect the flow of their income to vary frequently. It’s smart to use a working generating unit that needs each job completion to be verified, and uses services like PayPal to try and secure the potential for disputes from either sides. Some commissions come in independently, and may pay you half to begin with and half upon completion. You may be lucky enough to work with some form of a more systematized content production house, allowing you to subcontract solely for them and adhere to their payment standards, which are often more official and uniform. No matter how you access your form of funding, keeping track of everything can be greatly simplified if you create pay stubs using an official service to track your income. This can help you gain physical proof, and if verified by the payment provider, can help you effectively validate that document for use in tax and archiving purposes.
Communication & Reach
It’s important to always be available as a freelancer if you are offering your services on the internet. A valid email you can reach from multiple devices, an instant messaging offering like Hangouts or Skype, and even potentially a mobile phone or landline number for regular and respected clients you’ve built a cordial relationship with can be important. Staying available does not mean responding right away. Setting your own hours is an important task, so never feel obligated to respond at all hours of the night because a nasty precedent can be set from that point on! The main lesson is to open many forms of commission requests, to standardize that format in a manner you feel appropriate, and to monitor this first contact for potential income and collaborative customer care day after day.
Testimonials & Portfolios
Build a portfolio. You can use this to show examples of your work, be that artistic, content writing, or anything else you offer. Open a website to show this, and ask for testimonials from your most valued clients in exchange for a discount. These two options can help you secure more business, and help you achieve the art of staying reachable and discoverable.
With these simple tips, you’re sure to develop your working capacities in the best manner possible!
