Freelancing
Freelancing
part-1
What is a freelance job?
or
What is freelancing and how does it work?
part-1
What is a freelance job?
or
What is freelancing and how does it work?
Freelancer does what he loves to do,
A freelancer, or independent contractor, is a self-employed individual who
doesn't have to commit to a single, long-term employer. Instead, they work
independently for several different companies or clients. Working place is Basically all over the Internet.
A freelancer usually offers services to businesses and often to multiple clients at a time. The type of work freelancers does vary. ... The regularity of freelance work can vary.
Many freelancers work for the same set of clients over a long period of time.
It's easy. Simply post a job in a marketplace or in a website that you need completed and receive competitive bids from freelancers within minutes. Whatever your needs, there will be a freelancer to get it done: from web design, mobile app development, virtual assistants, product manufacturing, and graphic design (and a whole lot more).
Further, freelancing allows you to set your own price, which is often higher than what you'd make as an employee doing the same work.
The freelance business that gives more flexibility to create a lifestyle that we love, we’re seeing an unprecedented shift in the way companies function around the world.
A freelancer usually offers services to businesses and often to multiple clients at a time. The type of work freelancers does vary. ... The regularity of freelance work can vary.
Many freelancers work for the same set of clients over a long period of time.
It's easy. Simply post a job in a marketplace or in a website that you need completed and receive competitive bids from freelancers within minutes. Whatever your needs, there will be a freelancer to get it done: from web design, mobile app development, virtual assistants, product manufacturing, and graphic design (and a whole lot more).
Further, freelancing allows you to set your own price, which is often higher than what you'd make as an employee doing the same work.
The freelance business that gives more flexibility to create a lifestyle that we love, we’re seeing an unprecedented shift in the way companies function around the world.
Why Freelancing is better than any other Desk Job?
There is saying that Freelancing is for
those who have no jobs to do. That is totally wrong definition. On
the other hand,”freelancers” know that there is nothing more real than that to
be at the same time the owner, director and the financial manager.
Many people say that they would not be able to live without the security of a
traditional business. We ask ourselves, what is a good safe? What is so great
in life in which someone from the personnel department, which at the same time
you never met, may at any time decides that your position is no longer required
to the company?
Freelancers usually do not have a contract with their employers, and it gives them the freedom to leave work at any time if they do not like working conditions or they find a better job.
The claim that small businesses are more maneuverable than traditional companies is largely proven. For the time that tree company’s Collegium spends in the decision on initiating the process of researching an excellent business opportunity, a freelancer will decide, gather a few colleagues and quickly start with realization. Freelancers are accustomed to receiving the blows. If the job stops or does not reach success, they can try something completely new and different tomorrow — not next year.
Utility costs, equipment, insurance, and running the business from the office building has become too expensive. If the profit is insufficient, jobs can fail because of the accumulation of these costs. Freelancers, but on the other hand, almost have no additional cost, they can get started by just registering at freelancing sites like Fiverr, ODesk, Freelancer and UpWork. Even when they get harder times, they have no problem to overcome the crisis with toast and soup from the pouch.
Who has more chance to survive economic shocks: a big company engaged in one activity or an entrepreneur who knows how to do five things at once? Freelancers are themselves in their work. That speaks to that they constantly further educate, constantly wide network of contacts and work hard at acquiring new skills that can make them more competitive in the work they are dealing with. Happy days practicing one service or product are long over.
Working from home is an ideal solution for balancing work and family or private life, during which you can successfully make for a living and support yourself and your family. Working from home and thereby carve out a comfortable life, it is fully possible. But, only if you are willing to work hard. The obvious advantages of such operations are often sufficient to lure professionals from the offices in the comfort of your home.
If you are hardworking, smart and have the knowledge and skills, very quickly will advance both professionally and financially. Freelancing offers great opportunities, a variety of activities and a large number of employers who need good workers.
Sometimes it is a pleasure to dress up, but everyday wear suit can be a burden. Informal dress while performing work from home is a true ‘gift from heaven’. Just imagine how good it is to have the possibility every day to carry only what you want.
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of freelance jobs is that you can take a vacation whenever you want and of course if you want you can work on holidays while this is not the case with the office work.
Freelancers usually do not have a contract with their employers, and it gives them the freedom to leave work at any time if they do not like working conditions or they find a better job.
The claim that small businesses are more maneuverable than traditional companies is largely proven. For the time that tree company’s Collegium spends in the decision on initiating the process of researching an excellent business opportunity, a freelancer will decide, gather a few colleagues and quickly start with realization. Freelancers are accustomed to receiving the blows. If the job stops or does not reach success, they can try something completely new and different tomorrow — not next year.
Utility costs, equipment, insurance, and running the business from the office building has become too expensive. If the profit is insufficient, jobs can fail because of the accumulation of these costs. Freelancers, but on the other hand, almost have no additional cost, they can get started by just registering at freelancing sites like Fiverr, ODesk, Freelancer and UpWork. Even when they get harder times, they have no problem to overcome the crisis with toast and soup from the pouch.
Who has more chance to survive economic shocks: a big company engaged in one activity or an entrepreneur who knows how to do five things at once? Freelancers are themselves in their work. That speaks to that they constantly further educate, constantly wide network of contacts and work hard at acquiring new skills that can make them more competitive in the work they are dealing with. Happy days practicing one service or product are long over.
Working from home is an ideal solution for balancing work and family or private life, during which you can successfully make for a living and support yourself and your family. Working from home and thereby carve out a comfortable life, it is fully possible. But, only if you are willing to work hard. The obvious advantages of such operations are often sufficient to lure professionals from the offices in the comfort of your home.
If you are hardworking, smart and have the knowledge and skills, very quickly will advance both professionally and financially. Freelancing offers great opportunities, a variety of activities and a large number of employers who need good workers.
Sometimes it is a pleasure to dress up, but everyday wear suit can be a burden. Informal dress while performing work from home is a true ‘gift from heaven’. Just imagine how good it is to have the possibility every day to carry only what you want.
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of freelance jobs is that you can take a vacation whenever you want and of course if you want you can work on holidays while this is not the case with the office work.
Just from the mentioned above and many
other reasons, freelancers are stable in their jobs. They cannot be dismissed,
returned to a lower position or moved. Do not depend on whole life on the
wisdom of the invisible managers. They do not care to lose a customer because
they know how to come up with new ones.
While the rest of the world can meet
the rows of employment bureaus, freelancers still pay for the loans, buying in
local stores, feed their children and pay their taxes. Unlike large companies
that could be closed because their presence in a particular market does not pay
off, they continue to contribute to society in good or bad business times.
How
to Earn Money by Freelancing?
First of all, you need to be determined
that you want to be a Freelancer. Obviously, you need to have some skills like
Web Designing, Graphics Designing, Application Developing, Data
Writing, Digital Marketing, Project Planning, Consultancy, Programming,
Software Development, Accounting, Customer service Etc. Choose your working
field that you are good at. Follow some steps given below to earn money
by Freelancing.
Step 1: Determine what you are good at, commit to a life of freelancing, and sign up in a Freelancing marketplace.
Step 2: Set up your profile or Brand. ...
Step 3: Develop business-savvy skills.. ...
Step 4: Identify Your Target Clients ...
Step 5: Find projects and start bidding ...
Step 6: Set Strategic Prices for Your Services ...
Step 7: Build a High-Quality Portfolio Website. ...
Step 8: Create Examples of What You Can Deliver (on Your Portfolio Site).
Step 9: Always give Quality Service.
Step 10: Gather Good Review as much you can by giving quality service.
Decide what type of freelance work you are committed to doing. Freelancing jobs are as broad as the workforce, and you need to identify what it is you want to do before you can begin to do it. View your skills as valuable resources that are worth charging and receiving pay for.
Reflect on what you're good at. Just about every type of skill can be turned into a freelancing opportunity. Keep in mind that you're "secondary" skills, like researching and writing, for example, can be just as useful as a specific set of skills unique to a profession (e.g., graphic designer or computer programming). If you know you're a strong writer, then you could develop a freelance writing business.
It's very easy to believe that you don't have the necessary skills or experience, but in fact you actually need very little experience in order to get started freelancing. Instead, believe in your abilities and focus on producing good work.
To get your freelancing operation off the ground and becoming profitable, you need to think about how you will market yourself and your products/work. This is called branding. You need to create a brand for your what you're selling and how it sets you apart from the competition - this is your "identity and includes your website, logo, tagline, blog, and social media accounts, among other aspects.
Your brand should clearly communicate what you do that is special and what you offer that is worth buying. Try to narrow your focus to a specific industry. For example, if you decide you want to do freelance writing, you might only decide to write for online travel sites and business and thus be a freelance travel writer. Or you might decide you want to write for business and corporate websites. Specializing within the field (in this case, the very broad field of writing) will make you more attractive to potential clients because it shows you have a particular rather than a generic set of skills, also known as a niche.
However, don't let the brand be your primary focus. You could have a huge Instagram or Twitter following, but that doesn't really pay the bills. Don't worry about followers or retweets, and instead focusing on producing quality work. That's the ultimate way to build your freelancing business and earn money
A lot of potential clients are less interested in your specific qualifications than in a demonstrated ability to do the job. They want to see samples of your work and decide whether you're a good fit for their particular project. So building a strong portfolio of your work (samples as well as past projects) is key to building your business and in fact, you shouldn't launch your freelancing business until you have this portfolio. Include as well testimonials of people and organizations who you've worked with. Reading glowing reviews will help boost your profile among prospective clients.
Generating submissions for your portfolio takes time and resources. If you have no paid assignments or previous work to put in a portfolio, create some by offering your services pro bono or taking your free time to produce some.
Remember that more is not always better. Although volume can be good and help with self-promotion, it's also important to try to incorporate some bigger and higher profile jobs, rather than just building a portfolio full of the smallest and least lucrative projects. If you want to make big money by working with high-paying clients, then you need to show those clients that you can produce the kind of work they're looking for. Again, consider offering pro bono when you're first starting out.
Don't launch your freelancing career until you've actually created the products or provided the services you plan to sell. Having the portfolio shows clients that you've actually done what you're telling them you can do.
You may be a freelancer, but you also need to be a businessman or woman. To successfully earn money as a freelancer and turn it into a career, you need to become familiar with the basics of operating a business, like taxes, bookkeeping, marketing, etc. In many cases, these business basics will take more time than the actual freelance service or product you offer!
Consider talking to friends (in real life or online) who've earned money freelancing about the business ins and outs. You could also consult a number of books and online sites about how to start up a business from the ground.
Although it might seem premature to worry about the "business" of your freelance work, having a business model with goals, deliverable s, benchmarks, and so on can help you determine the scope and scale of your freelancing operation. A clear business model and transparent accounts and books will also show clients that you're the real deal - a professional freelancer and not just someone working in their pajamas at home.
Once you have a portfolio, it's time to get out there and start pitching to clients. Freelancing successfully is a numbers game — the more potential clients you locate and reach out, the more likely you are to get work and, most importantly, get paid. You can begin by tapping into your personal network of family, friends, and old coworkers. Ask them for referrals; this can help bring in some startup work that can get your freelancing operation off the ground. However, you'll also need to make the first move and branch out in a lot of cases in order to earn good money. When pitching your product or services to new clients, pitch only to those clients who are relevant. And pitch to a lot of them.
Try the 10-before-10 rule; pitch to 10 potential clients before 10 in the morning during the work week.
If you're still working other jobs, set aside some of your free time to start building up a client network that you can draw on in the future.
You should know who your target clients are if you've branded yourself properly. Remember that businesses want to work with freelancers who seem like their services/products were designed just for the needs of those businesses. The concept of specialization, mentioned above, creates this sense.
You could also try using a freelance market. There are several online freelance marketplaces like Elance and oDesk, where you can offer your services and look up and pitch to clients. These can be very useful for freelancers just starting out.
Don't jump right in and hedge all your bets on freelancing right away. Freelancing can be a great way to earn money, but it can also take a considerable amount of time to build up. Make sure that you are 100% committed to investing your time and effort into freelancing before you decide to quit your other job(s).
Keep in mind that a lot of the steps in Part 1 can be undertaken while you are still working at your day job. Focus on setting the ground plan for freelancing while still earning a stable income and you'll feel more confident and comfortable taking the leap.
Since as a freelancer, you are your own boss, you need to make sure that you're doing what you need to do. While most people get excited at the prospect of not having a boss looking over their shoulders, it's also important to remember that bosses keep you motivated and give you feedback on your progress. Without a boss, you'll need to do this yourself most of the time.
Engage in daily and weekly reflection about the work you've done to make sure you're hitting your targets. If you're not, then you need to have a serious look at your work habits and system.
Other people - such as editors or mentors if you're a freelance writer, for example - can also help provide accountability. At the end of the day, however, you're the boss to be the boss.
Step 1: Determine what you are good at, commit to a life of freelancing, and sign up in a Freelancing marketplace.
Step 2: Set up your profile or Brand. ...
Step 3: Develop business-savvy skills.. ...
Step 4: Identify Your Target Clients ...
Step 5: Find projects and start bidding ...
Step 6: Set Strategic Prices for Your Services ...
Step 7: Build a High-Quality Portfolio Website. ...
Step 8: Create Examples of What You Can Deliver (on Your Portfolio Site).
Step 9: Always give Quality Service.
Step 10: Gather Good Review as much you can by giving quality service.
Decide what type of freelance work you are committed to doing. Freelancing jobs are as broad as the workforce, and you need to identify what it is you want to do before you can begin to do it. View your skills as valuable resources that are worth charging and receiving pay for.
Reflect on what you're good at. Just about every type of skill can be turned into a freelancing opportunity. Keep in mind that you're "secondary" skills, like researching and writing, for example, can be just as useful as a specific set of skills unique to a profession (e.g., graphic designer or computer programming). If you know you're a strong writer, then you could develop a freelance writing business.
It's very easy to believe that you don't have the necessary skills or experience, but in fact you actually need very little experience in order to get started freelancing. Instead, believe in your abilities and focus on producing good work.
To get your freelancing operation off the ground and becoming profitable, you need to think about how you will market yourself and your products/work. This is called branding. You need to create a brand for your what you're selling and how it sets you apart from the competition - this is your "identity and includes your website, logo, tagline, blog, and social media accounts, among other aspects.
Your brand should clearly communicate what you do that is special and what you offer that is worth buying. Try to narrow your focus to a specific industry. For example, if you decide you want to do freelance writing, you might only decide to write for online travel sites and business and thus be a freelance travel writer. Or you might decide you want to write for business and corporate websites. Specializing within the field (in this case, the very broad field of writing) will make you more attractive to potential clients because it shows you have a particular rather than a generic set of skills, also known as a niche.
However, don't let the brand be your primary focus. You could have a huge Instagram or Twitter following, but that doesn't really pay the bills. Don't worry about followers or retweets, and instead focusing on producing quality work. That's the ultimate way to build your freelancing business and earn money
A lot of potential clients are less interested in your specific qualifications than in a demonstrated ability to do the job. They want to see samples of your work and decide whether you're a good fit for their particular project. So building a strong portfolio of your work (samples as well as past projects) is key to building your business and in fact, you shouldn't launch your freelancing business until you have this portfolio. Include as well testimonials of people and organizations who you've worked with. Reading glowing reviews will help boost your profile among prospective clients.
Generating submissions for your portfolio takes time and resources. If you have no paid assignments or previous work to put in a portfolio, create some by offering your services pro bono or taking your free time to produce some.
Remember that more is not always better. Although volume can be good and help with self-promotion, it's also important to try to incorporate some bigger and higher profile jobs, rather than just building a portfolio full of the smallest and least lucrative projects. If you want to make big money by working with high-paying clients, then you need to show those clients that you can produce the kind of work they're looking for. Again, consider offering pro bono when you're first starting out.
Don't launch your freelancing career until you've actually created the products or provided the services you plan to sell. Having the portfolio shows clients that you've actually done what you're telling them you can do.
You may be a freelancer, but you also need to be a businessman or woman. To successfully earn money as a freelancer and turn it into a career, you need to become familiar with the basics of operating a business, like taxes, bookkeeping, marketing, etc. In many cases, these business basics will take more time than the actual freelance service or product you offer!
Consider talking to friends (in real life or online) who've earned money freelancing about the business ins and outs. You could also consult a number of books and online sites about how to start up a business from the ground.
Although it might seem premature to worry about the "business" of your freelance work, having a business model with goals, deliverable s, benchmarks, and so on can help you determine the scope and scale of your freelancing operation. A clear business model and transparent accounts and books will also show clients that you're the real deal - a professional freelancer and not just someone working in their pajamas at home.
Once you have a portfolio, it's time to get out there and start pitching to clients. Freelancing successfully is a numbers game — the more potential clients you locate and reach out, the more likely you are to get work and, most importantly, get paid. You can begin by tapping into your personal network of family, friends, and old coworkers. Ask them for referrals; this can help bring in some startup work that can get your freelancing operation off the ground. However, you'll also need to make the first move and branch out in a lot of cases in order to earn good money. When pitching your product or services to new clients, pitch only to those clients who are relevant. And pitch to a lot of them.
Try the 10-before-10 rule; pitch to 10 potential clients before 10 in the morning during the work week.
If you're still working other jobs, set aside some of your free time to start building up a client network that you can draw on in the future.
You should know who your target clients are if you've branded yourself properly. Remember that businesses want to work with freelancers who seem like their services/products were designed just for the needs of those businesses. The concept of specialization, mentioned above, creates this sense.
You could also try using a freelance market. There are several online freelance marketplaces like Elance and oDesk, where you can offer your services and look up and pitch to clients. These can be very useful for freelancers just starting out.
Don't jump right in and hedge all your bets on freelancing right away. Freelancing can be a great way to earn money, but it can also take a considerable amount of time to build up. Make sure that you are 100% committed to investing your time and effort into freelancing before you decide to quit your other job(s).
Keep in mind that a lot of the steps in Part 1 can be undertaken while you are still working at your day job. Focus on setting the ground plan for freelancing while still earning a stable income and you'll feel more confident and comfortable taking the leap.
Since as a freelancer, you are your own boss, you need to make sure that you're doing what you need to do. While most people get excited at the prospect of not having a boss looking over their shoulders, it's also important to remember that bosses keep you motivated and give you feedback on your progress. Without a boss, you'll need to do this yourself most of the time.
Engage in daily and weekly reflection about the work you've done to make sure you're hitting your targets. If you're not, then you need to have a serious look at your work habits and system.
Other people - such as editors or mentors if you're a freelance writer, for example - can also help provide accountability. At the end of the day, however, you're the boss to be the boss.
Where To Find Work?
There is a lot of marketplaces out there. If you’re just
starting out, you may not have that large of a network. That’s alright because
there are plenty of job boards and websites out there designed specifically to
help freelancers find a job. Some of the more well-known job boards and
freelance websites are O
Desk, Fiverr, Guru, Freelancer.com, People per hour, 99 design, Demand Media
etc.
Freelancing isn’t necessarily like other businesses where there’s always the fear the competition. Freelancing embraces more of a community vibe. And, that’s why you can connect with other freelancers in your field. Not only can you seek their advice, they may throw you a gig here and there when they can’t handle the workload.
You can interact with fellow freelancers by joining online forums like The Freelance Forum, Work At Home Forum, Talk Freelance, or by searching for industry-specific forums for freelancers. Additionally, most of the websites listed above have forums for you to connect with other freelancers.
Freelancing isn’t necessarily like other businesses where there’s always the fear the competition. Freelancing embraces more of a community vibe. And, that’s why you can connect with other freelancers in your field. Not only can you seek their advice, they may throw you a gig here and there when they can’t handle the workload.
You can interact with fellow freelancers by joining online forums like The Freelance Forum, Work At Home Forum, Talk Freelance, or by searching for industry-specific forums for freelancers. Additionally, most of the websites listed above have forums for you to connect with other freelancers.
How To Work With Clients?
The most important thing is dealing
with clients. Without clients, your freelance business isn’t really going anywhere. And
while you’ll come across great clients who you may even consider a friend,
you’ll also have to deal with those clients who you wish you never met.
Regardless, of which end of the spectrum you’re dealing with, working with
clients is essential. And, here are the best ways to work with them so that
your experience will be as painless as possible.
First off all that may sound obvious, but when working with a client both parties need to be on the same page. This begins during the pitch phase by being aware of what exactly the client is looking for. If you’re unclear about what the client is looking for, don’t be afraid to ask a question. It’s not fun working on a project, turning it in, and having the client reject it because you misunderstood what they were expecting.
Specifically, you and your client both need to agree on important components of a project like deadlines and a budget prior to starting a project. Let’s say that you design a website and the client is upset because there aren’t any images when it’s all said and done. That may not be something that you normally do, but now the client is furious because they assumed that there would be images. This should have been discussed prior to the launch of the project.
Make Good Communication with Clients. Think about all the times that you’ve had a problem in either your personal or professional life. I bet you’ll notice a common theme - the source of the problem comes back to a lack of a communication. While it may seem a bit like overkill, there’s nothing wrong in asking your client for feedback or direction, keeping them updated on the status of the project through reports, and even just dropping them a quick email to see how everything is going.
Communication not only prevents any headaches, it’s also an effective way to strengthen the relationship between you and your client.
Be easy to clients. To survive being a freelancer you have to be flexible. After all, deadlines and the scope of the work can change throughout the course of a project. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be a pushover. Be up front with a client and explain to them what can be done and when it can be accomplished. If that’s going to be an additional cost, then you need to inform the client that there will be an additional fee. So, if you’re that web designer you can add those images, but it’s going to cost the client a bit more money.
Thanks to technology, there are plenty of apps and software that can help you manage and communicate with clients. Some of these tools include Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Skype, etc..
First off all that may sound obvious, but when working with a client both parties need to be on the same page. This begins during the pitch phase by being aware of what exactly the client is looking for. If you’re unclear about what the client is looking for, don’t be afraid to ask a question. It’s not fun working on a project, turning it in, and having the client reject it because you misunderstood what they were expecting.
Specifically, you and your client both need to agree on important components of a project like deadlines and a budget prior to starting a project. Let’s say that you design a website and the client is upset because there aren’t any images when it’s all said and done. That may not be something that you normally do, but now the client is furious because they assumed that there would be images. This should have been discussed prior to the launch of the project.
Make Good Communication with Clients. Think about all the times that you’ve had a problem in either your personal or professional life. I bet you’ll notice a common theme - the source of the problem comes back to a lack of a communication. While it may seem a bit like overkill, there’s nothing wrong in asking your client for feedback or direction, keeping them updated on the status of the project through reports, and even just dropping them a quick email to see how everything is going.
Communication not only prevents any headaches, it’s also an effective way to strengthen the relationship between you and your client.
Be easy to clients. To survive being a freelancer you have to be flexible. After all, deadlines and the scope of the work can change throughout the course of a project. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be a pushover. Be up front with a client and explain to them what can be done and when it can be accomplished. If that’s going to be an additional cost, then you need to inform the client that there will be an additional fee. So, if you’re that web designer you can add those images, but it’s going to cost the client a bit more money.
Thanks to technology, there are plenty of apps and software that can help you manage and communicate with clients. Some of these tools include Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Skype, etc..
How to Get Paid?
Ya, you are doing everything for getting paid, right? Getting
paid is another one of those necessary evils that freelancers must face. Without
receiving a payment for your work, you’re pretty much defeating the purpose of
being in business for yourself. Thankfully, getting paid isn’t as much as a
hassle as it used to be thanks to software from sites like Due.com that allow
you to invoice clients in just a matter of minutes - and because you signed
that contract. But, you can also guarantee getting paid by taking the following
advice.
#Be Professional
Professionalism is required, If you’re rude to your clients, consistently late on projects, deliver subpar work, and have an outdated website, then why would a client make paying your invoice a priority?
Always be a professional by having a website that highlights your work, over-delivering on a project, meeting deadlines, and being polite.
#Be Flexible With Rates and Payment Options
Not all clients are going to be able to afford your rates or even use all of the services provided. Does that mean that you decline their business? Let’s say that you’re a marketing agency and a local deli just wants you to help update their website and put some money into Facebook ads, but aren’t concerned with you sending out press releases or writing daily content for them. Then it’s fair that you have rates for the clients who are only looking for part of the services.
Additionally, you want to accept multiple forms of payments from your clients. Not only does this make it easier for them to pay, it also speeds up the payment process. The most invoicing software gives you the ability to accept eChecks, credit/debit cards, or through a payment gateway like PayPal.
#Bill Up Front
Most freelancers require some form of payment up front. This amount will vary from industry-to-industry, but a deposit that is 25%-50% of the estimate is pretty common practice. Your contract should also detail if you are receiving interim payments - let’s say 50% up front, 25% in the middle, and the final 25% when completed.
#Invoice Promptly and Frequently
When you don’t have recurring clients, make sure that you either bill weekly or immediately following the completion of a job. This not only keeps the cash flowing into your bank account, it also ensures that you won’t forget to send out that invoice.
Invoicing software from Due.com or Invoice Ninja allows you to either set-up recurring client profiles or automated billing. This means that you can create an invoice in a snap or set-up recurring billing, which means that the client’s credit card or bank account is automatically deducted each month in the amount that you’re owed.
#Never Work Until You’re Paid
Why keep working on a project for free when you could be working for a client that actually pays you for your services? As any freelancer will tell you, you never work on the next project until you’re paid for the last job. However, that doesn’t mean that you just send out an invoice and wait for a payment. If the due date is rapidly approaching, contact the client and find what’s going on. Maybe they accidentally misplaced your invoice or maybe they’ve been out of town.
#What if a Client Doesn’t’ Pay?
What happens when a client hasn’t paid an invoice for a freelancing job? There are a couple of different routes that you can explore.
As previously mentioned, you can simply contact the client and inquire about the status on the payment. If an email doesn’t get a response, you may want to give the client a call or stop by their office if they are located in the same area as you are. If you aren’t assertive enough, maybe ask a friend, family member, colleague, or assistant who has a chance to contact the client.
If the client won’t respond to your calls or emails, after several reminders, then you may have no other option than to consider handing the invoice over to a collection agency.
A little Advise Work Hard.....................................................
Thanks for reading. Keep your eyes on the blog for next part. Let us know further What you want to know? regarding Freelancing just give a comment below...
#Be Professional
Professionalism is required, If you’re rude to your clients, consistently late on projects, deliver subpar work, and have an outdated website, then why would a client make paying your invoice a priority?
Always be a professional by having a website that highlights your work, over-delivering on a project, meeting deadlines, and being polite.
#Be Flexible With Rates and Payment Options
Not all clients are going to be able to afford your rates or even use all of the services provided. Does that mean that you decline their business? Let’s say that you’re a marketing agency and a local deli just wants you to help update their website and put some money into Facebook ads, but aren’t concerned with you sending out press releases or writing daily content for them. Then it’s fair that you have rates for the clients who are only looking for part of the services.
Additionally, you want to accept multiple forms of payments from your clients. Not only does this make it easier for them to pay, it also speeds up the payment process. The most invoicing software gives you the ability to accept eChecks, credit/debit cards, or through a payment gateway like PayPal.
#Bill Up Front
Most freelancers require some form of payment up front. This amount will vary from industry-to-industry, but a deposit that is 25%-50% of the estimate is pretty common practice. Your contract should also detail if you are receiving interim payments - let’s say 50% up front, 25% in the middle, and the final 25% when completed.
#Invoice Promptly and Frequently
When you don’t have recurring clients, make sure that you either bill weekly or immediately following the completion of a job. This not only keeps the cash flowing into your bank account, it also ensures that you won’t forget to send out that invoice.
Invoicing software from Due.com or Invoice Ninja allows you to either set-up recurring client profiles or automated billing. This means that you can create an invoice in a snap or set-up recurring billing, which means that the client’s credit card or bank account is automatically deducted each month in the amount that you’re owed.
#Never Work Until You’re Paid
Why keep working on a project for free when you could be working for a client that actually pays you for your services? As any freelancer will tell you, you never work on the next project until you’re paid for the last job. However, that doesn’t mean that you just send out an invoice and wait for a payment. If the due date is rapidly approaching, contact the client and find what’s going on. Maybe they accidentally misplaced your invoice or maybe they’ve been out of town.
#What if a Client Doesn’t’ Pay?
What happens when a client hasn’t paid an invoice for a freelancing job? There are a couple of different routes that you can explore.
As previously mentioned, you can simply contact the client and inquire about the status on the payment. If an email doesn’t get a response, you may want to give the client a call or stop by their office if they are located in the same area as you are. If you aren’t assertive enough, maybe ask a friend, family member, colleague, or assistant who has a chance to contact the client.
If the client won’t respond to your calls or emails, after several reminders, then you may have no other option than to consider handing the invoice over to a collection agency.
A little Advise Work Hard.....................................................
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