Top 14 Best Tips for Freelancers and Consultants
Freelancing and consulting can be rewarding but challenging careers. You need strong time management, marketing, financial, and client relations skills to thrive as an independent worker. This comprehensive guide provides tips for Freelancers and Consultants across all these key areas to set you up for success.
Table of Contents
Define Your Niche
Defining a clear niche is one of the most important things you can do when starting. A niche helps you:
- Identify your ideal client
- Determine services to offer
- Set rates
- Market yourself effectively
First, get very specific about the industries, services, and types of clients you want to work with. The narrower, the better, at least initially.
Industries
What fields interest you and match your existing skills/experience? Common options include:
- Technology
- Business
- Marketing
- Healthcare
- Finance
Focus on industries you have worked in or relate to your background.
Services
Now drill down into the types of services you want to offer, such as:
- Web development
- Copywriting
- Social media marketing
- Business analysis
- Accounting
Target 3-5 core services to start. You can expand later.
Client Types
Finally, identify the types and sizes of clients you want to work with:
- Startups
- Small business
- Corporate
- Agencies
- Non-profits
Small/medium businesses and startups may be easier to land as clients early on.
Defining a niche sends a clear message about your speciality area and expertise. Niching down makes you stand out and helps attract ideal clients.
Set Your Rates
Pricing your services can be hugely stressful. How do you know what to charge? These tips will help you establish rates:
Research Industry Standards
Thoroughly research typical fees charged by other freelancers in your niche. Account for factors like:
- Experience level
- Location
- Project scope
This gives you a baseline for competitive pricing.
Calculate Your Costs
Determine your monthly expenses so you price profitably. Account for things like:
- Taxes
- Insurance
- Equipment
- Software/tools
- Marketing
- Professional development
Tally up costs, divide by monthly hours and add your desired hourly wage.
Test Different Rates
As you start, try quoting different prices to gauge client reactions and see what sticks. You can increase rates later as you build a clientele and portfolio.
Be confident in backing up your pricing with the value you provide.
Craft a Stand-Out Brand
Creating a solid personal brand provides credibility and makes you look polished. Essential elements include:
Logo
Have a logo designed that represents your services and personality. Use it prominently on your website and other branding materials.
Tagline
Your tagline encapsulates what you do in a short, memorable phrase like “Helping startups launch with web solutions.”
Website
Your site showcases services, work samples, testimonials, and contact info to generate leads. Use high-quality images and copy.
Business Cards
Business cards make you look professional. Include pertinent contact/service details.
Email Signature
Include your logo, tagline, website, and contact info so it’s in every email you send.
With branding in place, you shape consistent messaging about your freelance services and expertise.
Track Time Meticulously
Careful time tracking does several things:
- Helps schedule realistically
- Allows invoicing clients precisely for time invested
- Identifies efficiency issues
- Calculates the proper hourly rate
Time Block Schedules
Create a weekly calendar blocking work, meetings, admin tasks, etc. This keeps you organised.
Timesheets
Whether a simple spreadsheet or app, use timesheets to record hours daily. Tag entries with client name, project, and task details.
Set reminders to fill out your timesheet to maintain accuracy—invoice directly from your records.
Analyse reports to see where time goes and identify productive vs. wasted time. Adjust schedules accordingly. This helps efficiently manage a freelance workload.
Master Productivity Techniques
Freelancing involves extreme multi-tasking between client work, marketing, admin, accounting, etc. Use these techniques to enhance productivity:
Batch Similar Tasks
Group-related tasks to be more efficient. Check emails, invoices, etc., just twice a day instead of constantly stopping to address them.
Block Distractions
Disable notifications, close unused browser tabs/apps, and turn off smartphones to avoid disruptions that hamper productivity.
Prioritise the MITs
Rank daily to-dos by Most Important Tasks (MITs) — the big stuff moving your business ahead. Focus effort here before lesser tasks.
Sticking to a system that structures when and how certain activities get done prevents wasting time and leads to greater output.
Automate Finances
Get finances locked down through automation to function more efficiently.
Invoicing
Use invoicing software that generates invoices quickly from timesheet data and allows setting recurring invoices for retainer clients—Automate follow-ups on late payments.
Taxes
Plug tax deductions and income into accounting software so taxes are ready to file at year-end.
Payments
Sign up for PayPal, Stripe, or similar to enable accepting client payments online simply by sending an invoice link—auto-deposit payments into your bank account.
With the financial aspects of freelancing automated, you save administrative hassles and endless number-crunching.
Build Your Network
Expanding your professional network brings several advantages:
- Generates referrals
- Opens doors to collaborations
- Provides peer support
- Gains you insider industry access.
Use these approaches to actively network:
Attend Conferences,
Connect with those in your field at industry conferences and meetups, and follow up afterwards with your new contacts.
Guest Post
Contribute guest articles for popular blogs read by your target clients to gain exposure.
Comment Online
Comment on LinkedIn discussions, Reddit threads, Quora posts, etc., that are relevant to your niche to share your perspective and expertise.
The more quality relationships cultivated, the more word spreads about your freelance services.
Craft Client Agreements
Using client agreements formalises services offered, rates, timelines, policies, etc., to set clear expectations upfront. Essential elements include
Scope of work
Precise project details include vital objectives, specific services rendered, deliverables, milestones, etc.
Timeline:
Define project duration, milestones, and due dates to keep things on track.
Payment Terms
Specify rate and payment schedule — project basis, hourly, monthly retainer, etc., invoicing frequency, methods accepted, and late fee policy.
Revisions Policy
states the number of rounds of revisions covered and additional charges if exceeded.
Putting agreements in place keeps all freelance jobs running far more smoothly and guards against misunderstandings.
Structure Your Workday
Without office hours surrounding you, freelancers must impose structure on the workday to stay on track.
Start and End Times
Define your regular work hours and stick to them consistently. Avoid burnout from unchecked hours.
Breaks
Schedule regular short breaks for meals, exercise, etc., to recharge. The productivity boost offsets any ‘lost’ time.
Tasks Lists
Outlining daily objectives and crossing them off as completed gives a sense of structure and progress.
Imposing order around your daily work routine keeps energy and motivation strong long-term.
Market Yourself Strategically
Consistent marketing brings new leads and projects your way. Dedicate regular time every week. Tactics include:
Email Newsletter
Send a monthly or quarterly newsletter with helpful tips, case studies, or news relevant to clients. Offer practical takeaways that position your expertise.
Guest Columns
Reaching out to trade publications or high-authority blogs to contribute columns raises your visibility as an industry thought leader.
Case Studies
Creating written or video case studies to showcase successful client projects demonstrates your capabilities. Post them prominently on your site.
Execute marketing campaigns systematically to expand your client base and achieve a steady stream of new business.
Stay Financially Healthy
Maintaining steady cash flow and financial health takes conscious planning as a freelancer.
Emergency Savings
Build up a cash buffer of 3-6 months of basic living expenses to draw from if paid projects dry up for a stretch.
Retirement Savings
Even if income fluctuates month-to-month, automate a percentage of every check into retirement savings.
Financial Forecasts
Project monthly income and expenses over the next 3-6 months to anticipate highs or lows and budget appropriately. Having projections helps guide saving vs. spending decisions.
Late Pay Fee
Charging a defined late payment fee in client agreements alleviates cash shortfalls from invoices paid behind schedule.
Collections Policy
Outline specific steps you’ll take to pursue outstanding invoices, like sending them to collections after 60 days, so clients know you’re serious.
With innovative financial habits in place during healthy times, you’ve got a cushion when business fluctuates.
Hone Your Expertise
The best way to attract clients is to position yourself as a trusted expert. Never stop learning.
Continue Education
Enrol in courses or certificate programs to strengthen existing capabilities or expand offerings with new skills like SEO or UX design to stay competitive.
Read Industry Publications
Stay on top of trends impacting your clients by regularly reading niche blogs, magazines, forums, etc., curated to your field. Cite articles when relevant to showcase your knowledge level.
Follow Thought Leaders
Follow prominent influencers in your speciality on social platforms, subscribe to their content, etc. and share thoughtful commentary on their posts to get known.
The more seasoned expert you become in your niche, the more credible clients perceive you to be.
Manage Client Expectations
Communication is vital in effectively collaborating with clients. Set the tone early.
Define Your Process
Explain your standard operating procedures around meetings, feedback cycles, progress reporting, etc., so clients know what to expect.
Outline Timeline
Provide delivery time estimates for each phase of a project and clue clients into when waiting periods may happen, like code reviews or testing cycles.
Request Feedback Proactively
Don’t wait for clients to weigh in. Raise discussion points or project aspects you want input on to foster engagement.
Reinforcing project flow and timing preempts clients from unrealistic assumptions. You control the process.
Expand Client Services Strategically
Additional services beyond your core competencies serve clients more entirely over the long term. But take a calculated approach.
Audit Client Needs
Talk to existing clients about common issues/objectives. Given their growth goals and pain points, see what add-ons would naturally serve them.
Review Resource Levels
Realistically map if you have the bandwidth, skills, and tools to deliver a quality job. Don’t overextend your abilities.
Price Service Profitably
When adding a service, thoroughly research pricing so you don’t underbid just to win jobs. Account for actual costs.
Broadening services strategically provides lasting value to the clients you want to lock in.
Conclusion
Being an effective freelancer or consultant combines strong time management, financial, marketing, client relations and other business skills alongside your core service offerings. Implementing processes and best practices across all these areas sets you up to survive and thrive. Stay agile and responsive to client and industry changes, and your independent career can flourish.
Freelancers and Consultants FAQs
What are some of the most essential things freelancers should do when starting?
Define a specific niche and identify your ideal client profile rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Establish rates and a billing structure tied directly to your costs and profitability goals. Ensure branding assets like your logo, website, business cards, etc., are professionally done to support credibility. Have client contracts and processes in place from day one to properly frame projects and expectations.
What does working as a consultant generally involve?
Consultants focus on providing expert advisory services, guidance, data analysis and strategic recommendations to clients instead of doing hands-on execution. Projects typically have defined scopes like evaluating current business practices and pain points, conducting research and interviews, diagnosing underlying issues, and presenting actionable solutions. Deliverables usually involve reports, plans/ frameworks, presentations or workshops.
How much should I be marketing my freelance services?
Aim to allocate at least 20% of your monthly hours to marketing efforts like creating and distributing content, connecting with your network, following up with promising leads, etc. Consistency is key — set reminders to work on marketing every week without fail. Push past the tendency to set marketing aside when client requests ramp up. The payoff is a healthy sales funnel.
When should I raise my rates?
A good benchmark is increasing your rates by 10-20% every 1-2 years. But you can bump them up more quickly when starting as you build experience and a portfolio. Justifying rate hikes becomes more manageable the more expertise you develop. Of course, factor in rates typically charged for your niche services.
How do I improve my productivity as a freelancer?
Start by analysing where your time goes each week and identify wasted time that can be recouped through better habits—group similar types of tasks to complete them in batches rather than constant task-switching. Block distractions and notifications during work hours. Designate daily MITs — your Most Important Tasks to ensure you move top priorities forward consistently. Feel assured about setting boundaries on work hours and taking regular breaks to recharge.
