Our common problems as freelancers

In a garden full of strangers, a common theme of discussion took me by surprise, that of the number of people freelancing and our common point of struggles. An accountant, a chiropractor, a translator, a French teacher, a voice coach, and a novice filmmaker like myself all faced the exact same issues as self-employees: how to find clients, how to promote your services and how to price them.


Freelancing can be alienating. But knowing that these professionals with a very different skill set than my own also suffered the same trail of problems, made it seem a bit less lonely. The accountant invited me to join the Facebook group called Freelancers in Belgium, from where I found out about the Freelance Business Day.


The event's agenda quickly revealed the same reality back at the potluck. I was determined to find at least 10 tips related to our common troubles. To my new freelance acquaintances, to anybody that might be interested in knowing how to pave a path as a self-employed, below my top takeaways from that day:


1) Opening time for marketing your business is priority

2) Systematically document and share some details about your projects on social media

3) Create a sales framework that starts with wishlist clients

4) Focus on why they need your business, why now, and why you (in this order)

5) Deliver high-quality work, freelancing is a trail of reference

6) Reach out to 5 connections every single week

7) Completed a project? Ask for reviews and referrals

8) Negotiate your price as high above the ladder as possible

9) Pricing is a value puzzle, you must create it while balancing various factors such as: income, time, marketing value, learning experience, network possibilities, fun, easy money, and intellectual challenge

10) Understand that as a freelancer you are constantly navigating in a sea of rejection. Learn how to swim these waters, and take advantage of as many good waves there are available to ride


For more about Freelance Business Day