Four Insanely Simple Strategies For Freelance Success

Little things go a long way.

I’ve been in the freelance trenches for nearly 25 years. There have been ups and downs. There have been failures and victories. While I might have done a few things differently in the past, I have never regretted my decision to go freelance.

In those years, I’ve learned some very key, simple strategies any freelancer can employ to make their business a success. While my own work has been in book design and, more recently, writing, these tips can be applied to any freelance field.

Meet deadlines, avoid overbooking

It’s always surprising how many times I’ve had clients mention how more than half the freelancers they’ve worked with failed to deliver on the agreed-upon time. Granted, they were likely not using experienced or very professional freelancers, but it’s still surprising how big of a problem it can be.

The lesson from this is simple.

Meeting a deadline already puts you ahead in building a positive client relationship and puts you in a better position for repeat work.

Easier said than done? Not really. After making a reasonable quote for how long it will take you to complete a project, don’t double-book yourself for that time period. Believe me, I understand the temptation to never turn down work — even if it means squeezing projects into competing time slots.

The problem with double-booking is that it increases the risk of missing a deadline — possibly two.

That’s a great way to lose clients.

Similarly, make sure you know what other obligations you have going on. If you’ve promised a 1,000-word blog to someone for the next day, but you also have a family event planned that day or even just mundane chores like shopping and laundry that can’t wait, you’re going to have a harder time.

Manage your time well, and you should be able to meet any reasonable deadline you’ve set. This may take some practice, but get to know your limitations and make them for you, not against you.

Communicate, even when it’s hard

There is nothing more frustrating than when a client or freelancer suddenly goes silent. From there, it’s a short journey from frustration to anger. A business relationship is just that — a relationship. It needs communication to work.

There could be many reasons why communication breaks down. Real-life issues could suddenly come up. Family members get sick or die. You could get sick. One friend of mine recently suffered some devastating identity theft issues and found themselves with empty bank accounts and missed mortgage payments. That sort of thing is going to make anyone break for a bit.

This is a mistake I used to fall into every now and then. Life would become overwhelming, and I’d shut down for a few days. The hardest thing was trying to re-establish a connection. Sometimes I was able to salvage it. A couple of times, I wasn’t. People, for the most part, are pretty understanding, but there’s a limit.

When life goes too far beyond your control — whether you’re the freelancer or the client — it’s essential to let the other party know that something has come up. Don’t just go dark.

Answer your phone. At the very least, answer your emails. Delays or problems can often be worked around, and if they can’t at the moment, at least you haven’t burned any bridges.

Encourage clear communication

Sometimes communication issues come in the form of a lack of clear guidance or failure to lay out details about the job or the contract.

You and the client are not on the same page.

That’s okay… at first.

Take time to make sure all questions you have are answered, and any questions the client has are likewise addressed. Know the scope of the job, the expectations, and when it’s due. Make sure the client knows how long it will take, how much it will cost, and what your revisions policies are,

Best to avoid surprises when building a successful working relationship.

Deliver what the client wants

If the client wants 700 words on computer password best practices, don’t hand them 1,000 words on how to set up a firewall. Yes, they’re both related to cybersecurity, and you’ve even produced more than initially asked for, but a piece on firewalls is not what the client was looking for at that time.

Yours is not to ask. If you want repeat business, build yourself a reputation for delivering what’s asked for. Be the person that the client sees as dependable and who always provides.

My best, most long-term business relationships were with those in which I developed the reputation of being their “go-to” guy. I may not have been the cheapest, but I was always reliable.

Do that, and your freelance career will be an assured success.

I love being a freelancer. I’ve made my share of mistakes in the past. I’m likely to make mistakes in the future.

That said, if you keep these three key strategies in mind as you build your own freelance career, you’re going to enjoy a great return on that investment.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.