There maybe a few Christmas baubles lurking around, but 2021 is well and truly over. Another year is here.
2022 brings renewed hope and optimism to accomplish great things and become better than before, in freelancing.
By taking the steps to hit the reset button and blow away those festive cobwebs, you have a better chance of improving your freelance business for the New Year. Below are a few resolutions fit for freelancers and solo-preneurs.
Work on your individual brand
Branding is the most important aspect to help you stand out and set you apart from competitors in your niche. There can be nothing more important than building a personal brand as a freelancer because it serves as a guideline on how you represent yourself (as a person) in the increasingly crowded freelance market space.
You should start by setting up a website where you will showcase your work to your potential clients and where they can easily contact you. Get a logo, theme and a contact bio page. You should also refine your social media page and align your social media presence with your freelance brand then view your profile in a logged out state to see how your content appears to a potential client who might look you up online.
2.Find better clients
Have a list of possible clients who respect you, your skills and your rates then say sayorana to the toxic clients who have caused you way too much stress and anxiety in the past. Select your target- client-base, take steps to sign on clients that match your ideal persona and put your energy towards projects you love.
3.Network
Freelancers can often fall into the trap of working alone and thus becoming isolated because they often work at the comfort of their homes. Whether you are a newbie or a pro, having a circle of people who understand what you do and the challenges you face can be exceptionally to your business. Check out events that will allow you to connect with people in your field who share the same interest with you, offer advice and even share contacts- you might even get referrals out of it too. Score!
Hone your skills
Being a great freelancer doesn’t mean that you have to be on top of your field, but instead you’re keeping track of new developments and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and skill sets.
Identify a necessary skill or knowledge (within your industry) that you miss in your freelance profession and work on acquiring it either through hands-on experience through volunteer work ,listening to podcasts or through on-line classes. This will help you deliver better services and acts as a shield to become irrelevant.
Often resolutions are forgotten by the second week of February and that is rather disappointing because successful solo-prenuers and freelance professionals actively forge new targets each month, continuously review the resolutions they made at the beginning of the year and celebrate when they reach each milestone. That’s the key for a successful freelance business.