10 Tips for Running a Freelance Business (Part 2)
10 more freelancers share the advice they would give others
Ever wished you could get experienced freelancers to give you their top tips on running a freelance business? You’re in luck! As part of my Freelance Insights series, I ask freelancers from a range of industries the same five questions, including what one tip they would give other freelancers about running a freelance business. You can read Part 1 here, and I’ve compiled some more of their answers in this post. Happy reading!
1) Do the work today
Stick with some kind of discipline, because that's something I learned the hard way. As a freelancer, there will be days when you won't feel motivated to do things. You need to have the discipline to still do the work. The work you do today will probably reap benefits in 3 months, so if you do nothing today, there'll be nothing for you in 3 months.
Ishan Beri, social media strategist
2) Look after yourself
YOU are your most important asset, so you have to look after yourself mentally and physically. It's a cliché one, but it was a necessary lesson I had to learn quite early on in my business. It's tempting to take on all the projects and work all hours of the day, but burnout isn't pretty. Eat well, move your body, and prioritise sleep! Schedule in time to switch off and do something fun.
Abi Smith, social media marketing consultant
3) Package up your services
Have some set packages or programs, even if you're willing to work beyond them. One tip I was given once was not to think of selling yourself but rather selling your product. Even if your product is actually a service, packaging it up can help make it feel like a product because it has a defined beginning, middle, and end. And don't forget that the client sees you as the expert and often wants you to tell them what they need! Setting boundaries is good for both sides of the relationship.
Sarah Blake, content writer & consultant
4) Stay in your own lane
Stay in your own lane and don't look at what anyone else is doing. Do what feels right for you! There's so much stuff on social media that would make you think no-one has any struggles and everyone is thriving from day 1, instantly knows how to run a business, has all the tools they need, is selling out events all the time, is making 6 figures... It can make you feel really inadequate and make you follow a path you don't necessarily want. There are lots of different ways to grow, so it's a question of learning what you want from your business.
Jen Eastwood, social media marketer
5) Show up for yourself
Start your day on your own terms. In order to build a life of freedom, you need to do more than show up for everyone else - you have to show up for yourself. Something as simple as that could be how you completely change your approach to creating a life and business you love and feeling like you've made progress immediately. The life you want is very simple - it's your focus, drive, and openness that will make it a reality.
6) Invest in your business
Invest in your business and your skills as soon as you're in a financial position to do so. I saved the pennies and did everything myself for quite a long time - I figured out website design, taught myself SEO, and my branding was non-existent. I could definitely have invested a lot sooner. When I finally did invest in courses and my professional branding, I felt like people would take me seriously and I should take myself seriously. It was one of the best things I've ever done, professionally.
Katie Uniacke, copywriter and translator
7) Show your business love
You have to be responsible for your business. It can't run itself - your business is an entity of its own but it doesn't have any authority. You have to be that authority - you have to show up for it, do the work, make the decisions, and give it energy, time and love. It can't do it by itself! Whenever I'm making a tough decision in my business or I have to have an uncomfortable conversation, I always remember that because it can't protect itself, speak up for itself or grow itself. I have to be that person who does that. Seeing it as a separate entity that needs us but isn't us - so we have to feed it and give it energy - that's been really helpful for me.
8) Take uncomfortable action
The biggest thing I'm always saying to myself and to clients is to take uncomfortable action. If my business has taught me anything, it's that you never feel 100% ready or that you know everything you might need to know, but you learn in the best way by just taking uncomfortable action and doing something. My advice if you feel stuck, you're not sure what to do, or you feel a bit unmotivated is to take some action, and you're learning either way. 9 times out of 10 I think it helps you move in the right direction.
Alice Benham, digital marketing coach
9) Stand for something
Show up whole and dare to not just do something but be something, stand for something, then let the people who need that, your prospective dream clients, see them. That way, there'll never be a disconnect between the anticipated and the actual buyer experience - and that's when every buyer, down the line, grows into another strong voice for your purpose, another marketing coup.
Nicole König, copywriter & marketing coach
10) Look at the overall picture
Make sure you're taking time out of your business regularly to really look at the overall picture. It's so easy to get stuck in and do the work, and when you've got clients you aren't thinking about how you'll bring in the next ones. When you're doing marketing, your head can be so focused on what's happening in that moment that you aren't thinking about what'll happen in 3 or 6 months time. Treat yourself like a big business would and make sure you take a step back to do future planning, whether that's every month, every quarter, or every year as a minimum. That'll help ensure you're making the right choices now to go in the direction you want to go in.
Charelle Griffith, marketing strategist
Found these tips useful? All the freelancers featured are part of my Freelance Insights series.
Hi, I’m Susie
I mentor freelancers on pricing so you can earn a decent living doing what you love.
I’m a translator, editor, chocoholic, crochet addict, animal lover, and budding gardener (get it?) who loves empowering others to achieve their goals.
