You,Want,Freelancer,amp,#63,He DIY So You Want to be a Freelancer? Here's How!

When starting a new work at home business it is very easy to become consumed by it. We spend so much time trying to get the business up and running that we may end up becoming burned out and lose our motivation. There is so much to learn and Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in

Copyright 2004 Vishal P. RaoNot that long ago, freelancing was something people didmainly in larger metropolitan areas where work for writers,artists, and other creative types was plentiful and easilyaccessible. Today, however, the freelance landscape hasdramatically changed. For one, you can live practically anywhere in the world and still be able to maintain a successful freelance career. Notto mention that the creative fields aren't the only areas where freelancing is popular any more. Today, accountants, trainers, computer technicians, etc. areall able to earn a living as freelancers. Regardless of the freelancing field you are interested in, there are some important things you should know that will help you get started and get successful.Before we discuss those, however, we need to talk brieflyabout the pros and the cons of being a freelancer. You needto know both sides before you make your decision so youtruly understand what you're getting into.Freelancer Pros1. You set your own scheduleAs a freelancer, you get to determine what time you get outof bed and what time you turn in at night. You get to decidehow much vacation time you can afford to take this year andyou can elect to skip work one afternoon to spend time withyour children.2. You don't work for a bossEven though you are answerable to your clients, they don'twield the same power over your life that a boss does. Yes,they can fire you, but you can also quit working for them ifthings get too difficult.3. You determine how much you earnWhile a conventional job pays a set amount of moneyregardless of how hard you work (and in some cases how longyou work), freelancing allows you to make practically anyamount of money that you wish because you determine how muchyour services cost and how many jobs you take on at onetime.4. You are able to work from your own officeWhether you prefer working in a home office or renting spacesomewhere to do your business, you are in charge ofdesigning and maintaining your own comfortable office. Youget to pick the people you work with. You get to pick thetype of computer, post-it notes, and bottled water that youuse on a daily basis also.Freelancers Cons1. You can become overworked quicklyWhen you start working steadily as a freelancer, it becomesnearly impossible for you to truly take a vacation. You haveprojects and clients that need your constant attention, sobeing gone or getting sick even for a day can put you behindschedule.2. You have to deal with clients who can be more difficultthan bossesMost of the clients freelancers work with are genuinely goodpeople, but there are others out there that are not. Everyfreelancer has probably been ripped off by a client at onetime or another, even if they take steps to protectthemselves.3. You don't have a steady incomeUnless you have one or two truly constant streams of work,you can expect your income to fluctuate dramatically. Somemonths you may feel like you struck the lottery while othersmay make you think you're heading for the food stamp line,especially when you are starting out.4. You don't have a way to separate work from home lifeIf you have a home office, you may find it difficult torecognize the difference between being at home and being atwork which means that while your watching television oreating dinner you may begin to feel like you're actuallystill on the job.As you can see, each positive has a negative aspect as well.However, many of these negatives can be easily handled onceyou have experience as a freelancer, but to get to thatpoint, you need to know how to get started.Find Something You Enjoy DoingThis is critical to your success. If you don't already havesomething in mind to do as a freelancer, you need to be surethat you pick an activity that you truly love. Remember, youwill be doing this type of work every day. Also, the moreyou enjoy your work, the more passionate you are about it.Potential clients will spot that passion and will be moreinclined to work with you.Save Some MoneyMost freelancers actually start out as conventional 9-5workers. In fact, many of them maintain their full-time jobsin addition to their freelance work for the sake of a stableincome, health insurance, or other benefits. If you chooseto go freelance full-time, however, you need to be sure tohave a comfortable nest egg in the bank. Most experts agreethat you should have enough money in your savings to coversix months worth of your basic necessities. If that soundsimpossible, then try juggling some freelance work with yourregular job for awhile. Save up all of the money you earnfrom your freelance work and use that as your nest egg.Start Finding Clients TodayOne mistake that freelancers often make is that think theycan only start networking and marketing their services afterthey've gotten started. The truth is that if you'reconsidering becoming a freelancer, now is the time to startnetworking and marketing. Let people know that you arethinking about going solo and get their reactions. Startbuilding a database of possible job leads. In fact, you maywant to line up some work beforehand so you can be sure ofhaving an income initially.Be PreparedMost potential clients will want to see references and/orsamples of your work before they give you a project. Youneed to have these prepared in advance. Don't wait untilsomeone calls to possibly offer you a project to get yourportfolio in order or to line up some qualified references.Have those ready to dispatch as soon as you get off thephone or finish the email.Find an AccountantThe most difficult part of freelancing can be the handlingthe financial aspects: tracking invoices, staying on top ofbills, figuring your yearly taxes, etc. Unless you arealready skilled in accounting, you need to find someone tohelp you out with this from the beginning. It makes it muchsimpler for you and for the accountant.Start a Web SiteUse the Internet to your advantage. Create aprofessional-looking but simple web site advertising yourexperience and your services, then place it on the Internet.It's one of the best ways of attracting new clients.These suggestions will help you start your freelancingcareer on the right foot, but the most important key to yoursuccess will be your perseverance. If you give up easily ordon't follow through with things, you may never truly makeit as a freelancer. You must be able to take rejection. Youmust be self-motivated, and you must be persistent. Onlythen will you be able to experience firsthand all of thebenefits of being a modern freelancer.Useful sites:http://www.elance.com/http://www.guru.com/http://www.allfreelance.com/ Article Tags: Freelance Work