As Per Wikipedia : Freelance
(sometimes spelled free-lance or free lance), freelancer, or freelance
worker, are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and
not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance
workers are sometimes represented by a company or a temporary agency
that resells freelance labor to clients; others work independently or
use professional associations or websites to get work.
CAN YOU TURN FREELANCING INTO LONG TERM BUSINESS ?
There are so many people who are confused that "Is freelancing a good choice for long term ?" "Can we turn freelancing into long term business?"
Simple and clear answer is YES, WHY NOT ??
YOU CAN TURN FREELANCING INTO A SERIOUS LONG TERM BUSINESS. BUT HOW ??
BECOME PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR FIELD
Doesn't matter if you are doing content writing, blogging, web designing, graphic designing or Video editing etc. You have to sharp your skills and become professional in this field to outshine other freelancers.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Dress for the job you want, rather than the job you have.” Well, as a freelancer you have the opportunity to reinvent yourself with every new assignment, and your goal should be to present a coherent, confidence-inspiring professional face.
Being a consummate freelance professional means different things to different people, but there are a few common denominators. First of all, the three P’s: strive to be punctual, polite, and precise in all of your communications. Answer emails right away and be proactive whenever possible. Second, brand your business every chance you get. Emails, invoices, business cards, your Facebook page—these are all opportunities to promote your brand identity.
MAKE A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE OR A PORTFOLIO
Have a strong portfolio and a strong online presence so that people and clients can know you what you are and how you are going to benefit them ?
Having a strong online portfolio is extremely important in current times, given how everything around us is marked by a powerful digital presence – be it an individual or a brand.
This is especially true if you’re doing an online job hunt or looking for potential clients for your freelancing business. Your online portfolio represents you in the digital platform and gives your employers or potential clients a reason to hire you.
That’s why it’s important for your portfolio to be impressive enough to be able to grab your employer’s attention instantly.
LOOK FOR LONG TERM CLIENTS
Every client is like a god but long term client is on another level. Run for long race, it is okay to take work from small short term clients but keep your main target on long term ones.
No business is successful without having someone to buy their services or products, which is rarely made possible without a creating a loyal community. And this is no easy feat.
But if you want your business to continue growing, the next step is to add in a level of consistency — and that starts with landing long-term clients.
I mean, what’s better than having recurring work month after month, and seeing payments arrive in your bank at the same time?
The more time you spend on keeping your current clients happy, the less time you have to put out to land new ones. And this will open up your schedule for more innovation and creation — which leads to more income.
NEVER DISAPPOINT YOUR CLIENTS
Always cross the expectations of your clients and never disappoint them it will help you to maintain your reputation and name in this business.
Being faced with a disappointed customer can be a gut-wrenching experience for any business person and it can also be problematic for your business.
But unfortunately, you can’t run crying from your disappointed customer and barricade yourself in your room until the problem blows over because you’re in a professional environment.
Research by the White House Office of Consumer Affairs and American Express has indicated that customers are twice more likely to share negative customer service experiences than positive ones.
So, what can you do to salvage good will?
Considering that the top two reasons for customer loss are poor treatment and failure to solve a problem in a timely manner, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive & RightNow,these two pearls of wisdom from yours truly will help steer your ship through the troubled sea of disappointed customers.
1. The solution is a solution.
2. Time is of the essence.
Step One: The solution is a solution
It might seem obvious but the key to turning around a disappointed customer is resolving the issue that let them down in the first place. Customers would rather receive a solution than anything else.
Step Two: Time is of the essence
The key is not just what to do, but when to do it.
A disappointed customer must have their problem dealt with immediately. It shows that despite their previous experience, you prioritise them above all else.
If an immediate solution is impossible, the first steps towards the ultimate solution have to be taken. Then you can provide them with a definite timeline so that they can expect a resolution at a specific time.
If you like How to Turn Freelancing into a Long Term Business , Read Also: How to Creatively Turn Problems into Opportunities in Business.
SET GOALS FOR EXPANSIONS
Working for yourself and by yourself is great, but do you want to work similarly for entire life ? Your freelancing talents can easily be turned into a multi-worker operation. By hiring other talent to do parts of the client jobs you bring in.
Whether you have just started freelancing or have been doing it for years, you’re most likely aiming to secure consistent work and progressively make more money over time.
So, it’s crucial to ensure you stand out against the rest in the job market. After all, the nature of freelancing means you compete with other candidates across the globe — not just those in your city, state, region or country.
