Finding freelancing tough? Read my top 5 tips for growing your resilience
An edited version of this content originally featured on my LinkedIn page. To read these tips as I release them, come and connect over here!
You need really thick skin to be a freelancer.
Not only do you have to:
Stay visible (when it’s often the last thing you feel like doing)
Make difficult decisions ALL the time, often publicly
Convince yourself (and then persuade prospects) you’re the best choice
You then often have to deal with clients
Questioning your prices
Asking for proof and reviews and endless samples
Not paying on time
Disappearing completely
PLUS if you’re a creative freelancer, and have poured your heart and soul into a piece of copy or a logo design or bank of photos, any feedback feels more personal. And I think that’s the hardest thing.
Because it’s all down to you. To create, react, assert, persuade, prove and PIVOT All. The. Time.
Some days, it feels too much. Why do we do this?!
5 things that have helped my resilience over the last 14 years are:
Do your research, then show your research. Even as a creative freelancer, our work often relies more on sales techniques and customer research than creative interpretation. For example explaining how your decisions are based on what customers are saying gives your work credibility and removes any subjectivity.
Build frameworks and processes that work for you. Clients find it incredibly reassuring to be guided by an expert who has a tried and tested method. It also helps you by reducing the constant decision-making.
Often the best way to price a project is based on the value to your client. But remember this is not reflection of yourvalue. The two are completely separate. A copywriter charging 10k for a website is not ‘worth’ more than one charging 1k.
Be as transparent as possible. Share prices before your sales call – even ballpark figures. If you get tongue-tied on calls and know you’re selling yourself short, prepare a couple of short slides in advance. That’s helped me massively – I include the process, similar projects I’ve worked on, maybe a testimonial, and the estimated investment.
Build a support network, both for when things get tough AND when you’ve got stuff to celebrate
Looking for extra support in your freelance copywriting business? I’d love to help – just get in touch for a chat.