Many more reasons Freelancers do it Better

Many more reasons Freelancers do it Better

A happy worker is a productive worker, and it's hard to find a happier lot than freelancers. Whether they're entrepreneurs, Web workers or something in between, freelancers enjoy a better lifestyle than their cube-dwelling brethren. Read on for 101 reasons why.

Time

Contrary to popular belief, freelancers and other people who work at home don't sit around watching talk shows all day. There are, however, a few perks that come along with having a flexible work schedule.

1.     Time is on your side: If you charge an hourly rate, clients aren't likely to drag their feet on the details you need to get the job done. Compare that with office workers, who often have to wait for information to funnel through various bureaucratic channels.

2.     There's a two-hour wait? That's OK, I'll bring my laptop: Errands that might require office workers to take an extensive lunch break or half day out of the office can be turned into productive work time for freelancers.

3.     You can work through lunch and get done early: Eating lunch at your desk is slightly less depressing when you're at home, and it saves time.

4.     Squirreling away "me time":You can load up on work now so that you can do some serious relaxing later.

5.     Meetings about nothing: Corporate workers are often required to attend time-wasting meetings — like quarterly sales reviews or monthly team meetings — that are scheduled to happen whether the employee is needed or not. Freelancers may need to attend meetings with clients, but they're easier to control.

6.     You can shop when the store is empty: By adjusting your schedule, you can go shopping without dealing with crowds.

7.     Opting out of a daily commute saves time: The average commute is about 23 minutes each way, adding up to almost an hour each day that you could be doing something better.

8.     "Sure, anytime between Wednesday and Friday is fine": Waiting around for the cable guy doesn't take time out of your life if your office is at home.

9.     You can work when you're most productive: When you work at your peak hours, you can save time in efficiency.

Sticking It to the Man

Big corporations have a tendency to serve high-ranking employees and shareholders above rank-and-file grunts. This is how freelancing helps you and even others escape their tyranny.

10.You have the ability to help other small businesses save money: As a freelancer, your overhead costs are lower than a large firm, which means that you can offer a more competitive rate that is friendly to small businesses.

11. Layoffs aren't a concern: A freelancer's pink slip often comes in as a trickle rather than a sudden force. You'll be able to see it coming and take action to stop it instead of living at the mercy of fate and budget cuts.

12. Following your heart is easier: You can choose to eliminate working with organizations that conflict with your ethics.

13. No awkward performance reviews: Performance reviews seem slightly biased toward management, don't you think? Every organization is different, but they generally consist of "this is what you're doing wrong/right" and "this is how we're going to control you in the future to make you do more of the right." Freelancers just don't have to deal with that, as performance can be rated on whether or not your clients decide to come back for more.

14.Unscrupulous accountants can't cheat you out of your retirement fund: Remember Enron? Their employees lost pensions and savings when the company collapsed due to accounting malpractices. Freelancers generally don't participate in sponsored retirement plans of this sort, leaving them to invest in a variety of funds of their choosing.

Money

Although working as a freelancer can make for a rocky financial road, following this path can lead many workers to higher earnings than their office-dwelling peers.

15. You'll learn more about personal finance: Freelancing rarely provides a steady paycheck, so it offers a good lesson in responsible saving and spending. It also promotes investment, as you'll have to consider your own retirement future.

16. Save on child care: Instead of paying for full-time care, you may be able to cut care back to part-time hours or even work out a schedule with your spouse that allows you to eliminate child care altogether.

17.  Casual clothing is cheaper: If you're working at home, it's not likely that you're wearing a designer suit on a daily basis. The opportunity to wear more casual clothes will save you money, as they're often cheaper to buy.

18. You'll learn more about taxes: Freelancing involves filing taxes that are often more complicated than an office worker's. Most are subject to self-employment taxes and quarterly payments. It sounds like a drag, but it can spark a motivation to take advantage of more public programs.

19. Save money on car maintenance: By not commuting, you're reducing wear and tear on your car, extending its life.

20.   Save money on fuel: On the same note, not commuting helps you avoid spending lots of money on gas.

21. You can get rid of your car altogether: If it works for your situation, you may be able to opt out of having a car at all. That means no car, insurance, inspection or registration payments. That's on top of the savings you're probably already enjoying from not really driving your car.

22. Your level of career-loathing spending is reduced or eliminated: Expensive vacations, trips to the spa and gallons of fruity alcoholic drinks are often indulged in because of a need to release work- related stress. Freelancers are generally happier and more satisfied by their work, so this type of spending is not as prevalent.

23. Save on dry cleaning: Work clothes are often dry clean only, but work-at-home clothes are generally wash and wear.

24. Home-office tax deduction: If you use a specific part of your home solely for working, you qualify for a tax deduction.

25. Better pay: Freelancers generally earn more because employers don't have to deal with the overhead of keeping a full-time employee.

26. When buying a house, you don't have to consider a daily commute: A commute time of zero allows you to buy a home in a more affordable but possibly far-flung area.

27. Control over your hourly rate: Freelancers decide how much to charge for their services, determining just how much their time is worth.

28.Your hobbies are cheaper: Just because you do something as a profession doesn't mean you have to stop doing it for fun. For example, photographers can take high-quality photos of their own family using professional equipment they've purchased for paid work.

29. If you need a raise, you can increase your rates or work more: Freelancers aren't subject to scheduled .0368-percent raises per year.

Relationships

Freelancing benefits workers by allowing them to devote more time and attention to relationships they want to pursue, while eliminating those that aren't worth the trouble.

30.  You're not stuck with Crazy for the next 30 years: Every office has a Crazy; that one person in the group that just isn't right and will never, ever leave the company. Office workers are stuck with this person until retirement, while freelancers are done with Crazy once the project is complete.

31. You'll learn the fine art of networking: Freelancers often get a majority of their work through contacts and word of mouth, so the incentive is there to get out and sell yourself.

32.  Freelancing is more personal: As you develop networking relationships and come to see loyal clients as friends, you realize that freelancing is infinitely more personal than dealing with others as a corporate employee.

33. Your dog loves you more: If you're at home, your dog doesn't need to be kenneled or taken to doggie day care. In fact, Pooches just might be treated to a mind-clearing stroll around the block.

34. You choose your boss: Everyone answers to someone, and freelancers are no exception. However, freelancers answer to clients, a boss that can be chosen and changed with relative ease.

35.  Stinky food? Who cares!: If you're all by your lonesome, no one will mind if you eat a gouda, sauerkraut and pepper sandwich with anchovies.

Mental Health

Whatever your work arrangement, there's no denying that employment is a see-saw of both stress and satisfaction. These are the ways in which freelancing tips the scale in your favor.

36.  Control freaks welcome: Freelancers have to take on many roles, from marketing to accounting. A desire to have your hands on every little detail is not only acceptable, it's preferred.

37. You can donate your talent to a worthy cause: Doing a little pro-bono work isn't just fulfilling for your soul, it's also an excellent word-of-mouth marketing tool. You're free to volunteer your services this way when you're the boss.

38. Diversity: Instead of doing the same thing day in and day out, you can pick up a variety of projects to keep you occupied.

39.  You decide what to work on: Freelancers can drop clients that just aren't worth the hassle.

40.You can balance risk: Corporate employees have all of their eggs in one basket. Freelancers generally work for more than one client at a time, so if you're dropped by one client, you don't get completely wiped out.

41.You can do what you love: Freelancing allows for the freedom to take on projects that pique your interest.

42. Avoid traffic stress: For most people, traffic is not fun. In fact, it's downright infuriating. Freelancers who work at home avoid commute-related stress.

43.You'll satisfy your hunting-and-gathering instinct: Most freelancers spend about half of their time drumming up business and half of their time actually working.

44.It's hard to get bored: Freelancing is a lot like chronic job-hopping. Once you have a chance to really get tired of the way things work, you're already moving on to the next big thing.

45. No office politics: Office cliques, management brownnosing and superiority complexes just don't hold up when there's no structure to support them.

Physical Health

Even the most low-impact office work can have a negative effect on your health. This is how freelancing eliminates or improves on the health problems that plague office workers.

46. No fluorescent lighting: Fluorescent lighting has the power to suck the life out of you. If you're freelancing at home, you have the option to use more health-friendly ambient lighting or even ultraviolet bulbs.

47.You're safer: Not having to commute means that fender benders, floods, snow and ice aren't a daily concern.

48.Ergonomics are simplified: When offices buy furniture, it's generally of the one-size- fits-all variety. If you're in charge of buying your own equipment, you're able to create a workstation that fits your body better.

49.No workplace violence: If you're not working in an office, you don't have to be worried about the day when Joe Office worker finally hits his limit and goes ballistic.

50.You don't have to eat on a schedule: Many weight-loss programs recommend that you eat smaller, more frequent meals during the day. Working at home makes it easier to follow this type of regimen.

51.Lunch is a home-cooked meal: If you work at home, you have an opportunity every day to eat a healthy, home-cooked meal for lunch instead of something greasy from the drive-through.

52.You don't have to burn as much sick time: No one wants to work when they're sick, but it's more manageable at home. Plus, you're less exposed to illnesses at home, so chances are that you'll be less likely to pick something up in the first place.

53. You can use an exercise-ball chair and no one will think you're insane: Exercise balls are touted as a healthier alternative to traditional office chairs, but it's hard to imagine using one in a traditional office. Working at home, you're free to exercise while sitting without judgment.

54. Power napping is easier: If you're freelancing at home, taking a health- and productivity-boosting power nap is as easy as walking a few steps to your bedroom or favorite couch.

55.You can eat healthier foods: It's not likely that you keep a vending machine stocked with sugary snacks at home, but you probably have a refrigerator that's great for keeping fresh, healthy foods available.

56. You'll be less tempted to eat junk food: Office food is a very strange phenomenon. Three-day old donuts that would otherwise not pass muster are quickly gobbled up due to a toxic mix of boredom, compulsion and a simple a desire to get something for free. Ultimately, it often results in poor nutrition choices while on the job. Freelancers don't have to deal with this. That is, of course, not counting last night's leftovers.

Motivation

Motivation is what drives you. Whether it's a fear of your boss or a genuine love for your field, motivation can greatly affect your job satisfaction.

57. Higher productivity benefits you, not your manager: When office workers can complete a task more efficiently, the company benefits. When freelancers find higher productivity, they benefit themselves.

58.You'll get credit for everything: When working for a corporation, workers generally give up the right to own their work. So if you're working for a large advertising agency and you come up with the next big thing, the idea belongs to the company, whether you stay there or not. Unless you agree to contracts stipulating otherwise, working as a freelancer allows you to put your name all over everything you produce.

59. You can learn more: By working with a number of different clients, you may pick up different insights and perspectives on an industry.

60. You define your own future: Freelancers don't have to worry about whether or not they have "management potential"; they're already the CEO.

61.You'll develop an impressive portfolio: When working as a freelancer, excellence tends to snowball.

62.You can flex your creative muscles: As a freelancer, you have the ability to seek out clients who need the kind of services that you want to provide.

63.You'll be challenged: Whether it's figuring out your legal status or dealing with a demanding customer, freelancing presents new hurdles to climb, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

64. Rewards are immediate: Freelancers don't toil away for 20 years just to be presented with a gold watch and a pat on the back. Instead, they get work, bonuses and positive networking that's worth infinitely more.

65. Pushing yourself pays off: Your growth is only limited by your imagination and effort.

66. Your motivation is based on production, not a time clock: If you finish work faster than you were supposed to, you won't have to kill time until 5 p.m.; when you're done for the day, you can actually be done.

   Working Conditions

Your working environment can have a huge impact on your productivity and happiness. These are the ways in which freelancers have the upper hand.

67.You control the volume: If you like ambient noise, you can work with the radio on or go to a coffee shop. If you prefer absolute quiet, you can keep it that way. Office workers have little to no control over the noise in their environment.

68.Your house will be cleaner: If you're at home all day, you're bound to be irked if it's dirty, and you may feel compelled to clean up your act.

69. You don't have to feel cramped: Sharing spaces with your co-workers is a thing of the past.

70. You can use Firefox if you want to: Instead of having to conform to a corporate IT policy, you're free to choose your own preferred software.

71. Solitude: Some find freelance work to be lonely, but many others enjoy the solitude that it offers.

72. Increased productivity: Working outside of an office environment usually means that you're subject to fewer distractions and thus are able to be more productive.

73.Catch a breeze: Unlike many office environments, your windows at home can actually be opened.

74.  Rocking out is OK: You can listen to music or watch TV in the background without worrying about bothering a cube neighbor.

75.You can have the corner office if you feel like it: Working at home means you don't have to compete with co-workers for prime office real estate.

76.You'll never get behind on laundry or dishes: Workers sometimes need to take a quick break to clear their mind. Office workers might grab a cup of coffee. Home workers can knock out some quick housework.

     Flexibility

    Freelancers are generally able to define how, when and where they work. This fosters a situation that allows them to take care of      business, plus a few other things.

77.You can go on your kid's field trip: When Junior's class needs a chaperone for the zoo, you can just rearrange your schedule instead of having to worry about requesting time off and qualifying for paid leave.

78.Your work hours aren't set in stone: If you find yourself wide awake at 4 a.m. with lots of ideas, you can knock out some work on the spot and maybe even get done early for the day.

79.You can hop in the pool while it's still light outside: If you feel like taking a swim in the middle of the day, it's only a matter of working later or harder.

80.Your vision is important: Clients value your opinion.

81.Working vacations are possible: If you're one of those crazy workaholic types who can't bear to be without work to do, you can take your show on the road.

82.Take your grandmother to the doctor: Spend time with your elderly relatives who may not get much attention while other family members are at work. You can always adjust your schedule to accommodate the extra time.

83.Relocation isn't a big deal: If you decide it's time to move to a different city, you don't have to worry about finding a new job.

84.You can go back to school: If you want to pursue further education, you can make room in your day to attend classes.

85.You can accommodate a disability: Whether it's limited mobility or agoraphobia, working at home as a freelancer can open up doors to those who might face challenges in an office setting.

86.Work is wherever you want it to be: Whether it's the couch, the coffee shop or even the beach, your location is completely your choice.

87. You can always go back: Even if you give up your freelance lifestyle temporarily, you're not surrendering everything. You'll still have your contacts, portfolio and a wealth of industry knowledge. In the corporate world, leaving a job often means starting at the bottom of the totem pole somewhere new.

88.You can expand your reach: Instead of limiting yourself to one employer in a specific location, you can spread yourself out to firms all over the country and even the world.

89.You can set your schedule to accommodate your family's needs: If you need to start work early to finish in time to get the kids to band practice, you have the flexibility to do so.

90.You can pick up and stop work at any time: With a flexible schedule, you can sporadically pursue other interests instead of being chained to a desk for eight hours at a time.

     Is This the Fun Part?

     These reasons aren't life-changers, but they are fun little perks that come along with being a freelancer.

91.It's easy to nurse a caffeine addiction: Whether you're at home or using public wifi, chances are you're not far from a nice cup of coffee that's better than the usual office swill.

92.You'll always have a last-minute gift: Freelancers specializing in personal services can offer their assistance as a gift.

93. "Freelance" just sounds cool: Cube dwellers are naturally jealous of freelance workers, and that's perfectly alright. So what if it's because they think you work in your underwear?

94. You get to use really neat tools: The Internet is full of fun applications that are designed to make a freelancer's life easier.

95.Every day is Casual Friday: We've already touched on this, but it's just so fun to rub it in. Jeans? OK. Shorts? Sure.

96.You might end up in the paper: If you create a compelling press release for your freelancing business, media outlets may publish it and give you bragging rights.

97. You can have a beer with lunch: Who is going to notice or even care?

98.You can feel smug about saving the environment: By eliminating the need for a separate office space and commuting emissions, you're greener than most office workers.

99.You may score free travel: Clients might want to fly you out to their site.

      100.You have an excuse to buy an iPhone: You need an effective device for phone,     email and text Communication, don't you? 

       101.If your red stapler gets stolen, the list of suspects is significantly shorter: Your productivity.Suffers if you have to hunt down office supplies that walk away. If you can narrow it down to the cat, your 11-year old and your spouse, making interrogations simply take up less time.

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You should know about freelancing full-time

You should know about freelancing full-time

For most of us, freelancing full time seems like a dream come true. We get to be our own boss, work our own hours, and are responsible for our own success. It all sounds great – and it is, but freelancing full-time isn’t for everyone. While some freelancers thrive on being their own boss, others find that they’re not as good at working for themselves as they were working for a company, or in their 9 to 5 job.

A lot of people thrive on working full-time in a traditional office setting. Whether it’s because they love working in teams, like to bounce ideas off each other, and be able to share a joke with a colleague sitting in the cubicle next to them, or because they are too used to it to be independent, there are people who may not be suited for the freelancer‘s life. So before you take the plunge, consider the following aspects of a freelancer’s life to see if it is your cup of tea, things like

1. You Will Be Working Alone

Freelancing can be a lonely profession. While previously you work right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of an office environment, now you’re working from your home, isolated from society.

The kids will be at school, your significant other would be at work and you will definitely be home alone working on your laptop, Mac or PC. Apart from when you go for interviews to pitch your services or to meet partners you can collaborate with, sometimes you could go an entire day without using your voice! Before long the isolation will start to affect your mood and work.

If you’re used to having people around while working, consider sharing an office with someone or go rent a desk or cubicle and embrace the co-working phenomenon.

2. You Hold Yourself Accountable

Freelancing full time means you’re responsible for yourself and your work more than ever. There’s no one around to monitor how much work you’re getting done or whether you’re meeting your targets.

For you to be successful as a freelancer, you need to be accountable for yourself. Otherwise, you might end up spending half the day tweeting and going through your RSS reader.

Your work will suffer and your clients will see the effect in the work you turn in. There are plenty of tools, apps and methods to help you stay focused at work but at the end of the day it boils down to having the self-discipline to run yourself and your work.

3. You’ll Need Self-Discipline

When you first start freelancing full time, it’s so tempting to give it your all and work late nights. But what those late nights really do is make you so tired that getting up in the morning is difficult. Then you think, since you’re working for yourself, you can set your own hours making it okay to sleep in.

That’s where you’re wrong.

If you sleep and wake up late, your entire day gets realigned. Instead of working through the morning, you’re working through the night. Not only is that unhealthy, it turns all your waking hours into working ones.

Stick to your office-going work hours and your freelancing business has a good chance of making it. After all, clients don’t burn the midnight oil – they keep to office hours and that’s also when they are most likely to contact you with the latest updates. Keep yourself available.

4. You have to Deal with Clients

Unless you’ve directly dealt with your company’s customers and clients during your office years, your very first roadblock is going to be dealing with clients.

When interacting with clients you need to be courteous, direct and helpful in your communications with them. There’s no room for exasperation or sarcasm – even when they are horrid to work with. Think of it this way: your client is now your boss and you have to treat them like one.

A lot of clients stick with freelancers who are easy to work with and always go out of their way to deliver 100%. So impress your client, and you’ll have smooth sailing for the most part.

5. You must learn to negotiate

In a full-time job you’re paid a fixed salary each month with a raise every year, medical insurance, paid leave and other perks. In freelancing your earnings are directly dependant on your rates and there are no perks in freelancing.

In order to succeed, you need to be able to negotiate reasonable freelancing rates for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with starting out with low rates – as long as you steadily raise them as you gain a reputation for yourself and are always improving your skill set to deserve higher pay.

Failure to negotiate rates means that you’ll be stuck with low rates – and nobody else is going to help you raise your rates.

Here’s a quick tip for raising rates: always quote a rate that is higher for your new clients compared to your present clients and work your way up as you get more projects.

6. You Mustn’t Let Emotions Take Over

Freelancing doesn’t give you a buffer against irate clients, unreasonable demands and rejections. Instead of hearing the news from your boss or a colleague, you’ll be hearing it directly from the client.

Whether it’s a rejection (they’re the hardest to take), an unreasonable demand or just a disgruntled client, you’ll need to handle the situation with tact.

Keep your emotions in check and instead of going on the offensive, do damage control. Clients are your life line; you can’t afford to alienate them.

7. You must know what’s Trending

As a freelancer, you’ll need to stay on top of the trends in your industry to stay ahead of the game. It doesn’t mean you waste time trying out everything, but figure out which trends affect you directly and how you can use them to your advantage.

A few years ago, when blogging became the next best thing for business, freelancers who quickly establish their own blogs managed to not only get more clients but also established themselves as leaders in their niche.

As a full-time freelancer, you need to keep an eye on emerging trends and have the ability to quickly figure out which trends would benefit your freelance business the most.

8. You Need Your Family and Friends

Before you make the jump, make sure that your family supports your decision. When you start freelancing, things are pretty stressful. You’re spending a majority of your time finding clients and are constantly worried about making ends meet.

If you don’t have your family’s support (and I’m not takling about just financial support) your stress level is going to spike through the roof.

There are going to be days when you’ll feel like it might not work. That’s when family support matters the most. Just having someone – a partner, spouse, your parents or even one of your big-eyed kids – tell you that it’ll all work out or they believe in you, can go a long way in boosting your confidence.

Friends are also a great source of support during the first few months too. They can help spread the word about your services and refer you to folks in their social and professional circle if they are looking for a freelancer.

9. You Must Have Extra savings

Before you leave your full time job, start freelancing on the side. It’ll help you gauge your chances of success and when you do switch to freelancing, you’ll have some clients already.

But here’s the catch. After a while, you may feel confident that their payments can keep you afloat, but don’t expect when you do go full-time with freelancing that you’ll have the same clients beating down your door with work.

Think of it as setting up a business from scratch. You’ll eventually need to go out there and find clients – which takes a lot of time and networking, something you will be disadvantaged after removing yourself from the scene by quitting your job.

Until you’re making enough to make ends meet or turn a profit, you’ll need to dip into your savings to get by on a monthly basis. Try to have enough savings to last 6 months before you quit to go full-time freelancing.

The Secrets to Success

The secret to succeeding as a full time freelancer is to treat it as a business. You’re the CEO of your freelance company. You’re the one responsible for everything related to it.

Stick to the work ethics you conform to during your office-going days and you’ll be fine. The only difference is that you can take a break when you want to, and work extra hours when needed. You get to spend more time with your family since you’re spending less time getting stuck on the way and back from work and not to mention those epic-length meetings.

Set your own hours: if you can get your work done in 4 hours instead of 8, no one’s forcing you to stay in the office. How cool is that?

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Know how to start Freelancing with no Experience

With freelance work being such an enticing prospect, no one would blame you for giving it some serious thought. However, a common issue does simply not know how to start. Fortunately, building a successful freelancing career is easier than it seems — just follows the steps below.

1. Choose Your Craft

Just about everything can be outsourced these days. That's why there's a strong likelihood that the skills on your resume contain one or more freelancing opportunities.

You may be required to think outside of the box — we're not all graphic designers or programmers. However, you may find that your "secondary" skills can offer up freelancing opportunities. For instance, if you are a strong writer, then you have the potential to develop a freelance writing business.

Don't be paralyzed by a preconception that you do not have the necessary skills or experience — you would be surprised how little experience you need in order to get started. A little faith in your abilities will take you a long way.

2. Create a Brand

If you plan to succeed in the world of freelancing, you will need to create a strong brand that sets you apart from the competition. Your brand is your identity (i.e. your website, blog and social media accounts) and it should clearly communicate your unique selling proposition — what you do that makes you special.

With that in mind, you should narrow down your focus to a specific industry. For instance, as a graphic designer you might choose to do branding work for digital start up businesses only. This form of specialization will make you far more attractive to a specific set of prospective clients and give you a greater chance of success. You can try to cater to all and sundry, but you will probably only provoke indifference.

3. Build a Portfolio and Source Testimonials

The world of freelancing lacks the red tape of the corporate world. Many prospective clients are not concerned with qualifications; they simply want to see what you have done in the past and judge whether it is the right fit for them.

Therefore, if you are good at what you do and can demonstrate your skill through a quality portfolio and positive client testimonials; you have every chance of success. The conundrum, however, is in building a portfolio without experience.

Many freelancers will react to this by picking up the smallest and least lucrative jobs around, but that puts them into a vicious cycle of bargain-basement work. To work for high-paying clients, you need to demonstrate that you are worth big money by doing good work.

So don't be afraid to do pro bono work for the right clients when you are first starting out. The free work you do at this stage can ultimately be priceless when it clearly communicates your worth to future potential clients via an extensive portfolio and glowing testimonials. Also, offering your services at no cost is a gentle introduction into the world of freelancing where you do not feel the pressure of having to deliver a service of requisite value.

4. Start Pitching

You should only seek paying clients when you are able to demonstrate your abilities (and your reputation) with a quality portfolio and testimonials. Once you have done so by working on pro bono jobs, it's time to start pitching.

But whom should you pitch? Well, if you branded yourself correctly then you should know exactly whom to pitch. By having such a narrow focus, potential clients are far more likely to take you seriously than if you offered a generic service. Businesses want to work with freelancers who seemingly came into existence to serve them specifically — you can create this illusion through specialization.

Potential clients can be found everywhere: from Google to social media to your doorstep. The possibilities are endless.

The two keys to successful pitching are relevance and volume. Only pitch those clients who fit the mold of your brand and pitch a lot of them. Ruth Zive of Marketing Wise, a content marketing firm based in Canada, had a "ten before ten" rule when she first started out as a freelance writer — she would make sure to pitch ten prospective clients before 10 a.m. every working day. Those numbers add up quickly.

5. Play the Odds

Ultimately, securing freelance work is a numbers game — the more prospective clients you contact, the more likely you are to find work. That is the equation you should keep in mind. If you have a reasonable skill set and create a quality brand, there is no reason why you cannot succeed in the world of freelancing like so many others have before you.

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