Ready, Set, Freelance!

A freelance career is not just limited to writing. There are several avenues that you can choose to depending on your interests and capabilities. However, there are many pros and cons of being a freelancer that you should be aware of.

Once upon a time, freelancing for a living was possible only in large cities where 'creative types' gathered and congregated. But the dawn of the 21st Century has changed all that. Today, as long as you have access to the Internet, you can work anywhere. If you have a laptop, you can even work while on 'vacation' or while traveling. Even most major hotels these days advertise high-speed Internet connections to attract those of us who can't leave home without our machines. And with today's growing technologies, a freelancer doesn't just have to be a writer. He or she can be an accountant, a computer tech, a web or a graphics designer. Still, there are several important things you need to know before you dive into freelancing for a living. First, however, let's discuss some of the pros and the drawbacks to freelancing so you're aware of what to expect.

The Pros:

• Setting your own work schedule. Freelancers pretty much decide when, where and how long they spend working on a particular project. You control the time at or away from your desk and can decide your own vacation schedule.
• No Boss! While you do work for clients, it's not the same thing as having a boss breathing down your neck, and while your client's can fire you if they don't like their work, you also have the ability to cut them loose as well.
• The sky's the limit on earning potential. Conventional salaried jobs pay the same no matter how much time you work or how much effort you put into a project. With freelancing, you determine the number of projects to take on and what to charge your clients. You can work a lot, or a little. It's up to you.
• You choose the place to work. You decide where you want to work. You may opt for a home office, or the garage. You may even rent office space. But it's your space and you have the power to decorate or arrange to your own tastes and needs.

The Drawbacks:

• Overworked and Underappreciated. Especially when you start freelancing, you may feel obligated to take on as many jobs as you can, but there's a real danger in burnout if you don't pace yourself. Most clients want you available 24/7, so you have to make sure you're able to access a phone or your emails on a daily, sometimes hourly basis.
• Demanding clients can try the patience of anyone. While most clients who hire freelancers are easy to get along with, there are times when a client will drag his feet in paying, so try to take measures to protect yourself.
• Income fluctuates when you freelance. Some months, you may earn enough to pay your expenses with some left over, while other months; jobs may slow down to a trickle. Be prepared for those months.
• Separating your 'work' time from regular home 'down' time may be more difficult when you can't leave a physical job location behind at the end of the day. Even while trying to relax, those pending jobs may pull at your attention and keep you up until the wee hours.

Now that you generally know what to expect, it's time to get started. Here are six
easy ways to begin:

The most important thing is to pick a career niche that you love. Whether it's
writing or web design or accounting, remember, you'll be doing this day in and day out, so make sure you can be passionate about it. If you do, that passion will show through in your work, and clients will recognize that.

Save up some money before you quit your 'day job'. Remember, as a freelancer, you won't have that regular paycheck, health insurance and other benefits that you may be used to. So make sure you have some money saved up to fall back on while you're building your client base. A common rule is to have enough money put aside to pay your bills for a six-month time frame. If you can't do that, you may want to keep your day job and freelance part-time until you get going.

Don't wait for clients to find you. Even before you land your first client, start marketing your services and let people know what you're doing. Then start researching some job leads.

Always try to be prepared to have a list of references and samples of your work ready for a potential client. Even if you don't have a large resume to start, include what you have and include at least three different samples of previous work. Client feedback is an important tool for freelancers, so make sure you get it.

Take care of your finances. You will need to keep track of your invoices, payments, bills and receipts to use at tax time. Unless you feel comfortable doing all the accounting and tracking for your business, you may want to consult an accountant to do it for you. They'll inevitably save you money in the long run.

Go Global. Today, the Internet is a freelancer's best friend. Either build your own website or hire someone to do it for you, but do it. Keep it simple and straightforward and include your web address on all your correspondence.

This information should help you find your starting point for your new freelancing career, but there is something that no one can do for you. And that is desire. Your desire to succeed will stand you in good stead as you slowly build your business. It takes hard work, and if you're not willing to put one hundred percent into your new business, you'll find yourself destined to fail. Develop a thick skin, don't give up and never stop seeking new clients. Now get going…

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