However, because of the casual nature of the work, some freelancers are in danger of ignoring the legal implications of working on the side. You might not think your side venture counts as a business but it does, and you have certain responsibilities as a result.

Whether you’re planning on setting up a full blown business or are just thinking of an occasional casual thing alongside your job, the rules are the same and you still need to register as self-employed with HMRC if you plan to make any money from your ventures.

The good news is that it’s fairly easy to do.

What does being a sole trader actually mean?

As a freelancer, you’re going to have to register as self-employed and more specifically as a sole trader.

Despite how it sounds, it doesn’t actually apply to people who just work alone. So you can take on staff if you want. It just means that you’re solely responsible for the business.

How to register

You should register as soon as you can after starting your business and can through the government’s website here.

You have until 5^th October in your business’s second tax year in order to do so. If you don’t register in time you won’t face a penalty as long as you send your tax return and pay your bill on time.

How you register will depend on whether you’ve ever sent tax returns before.

Never sent one?

If you’re a sole trader who has never sent a tax return, you need to tell HMRC you want to be a sole trader by registering as a new business.

You will then register for Self-Assessment tax returns which you’ll use to report your income at the end of every tax year, and National Insurance at the same time. For more information about the different types of National Insurance you need to know about, click here.

Sent a tax return in the past?

If you’re a new sole trader who has sent a tax return before as an individual for things like investment or rental income, you will need to register as self-employed.

You will also need to register for Class 2 National Insurance using a CWF1 form. This will allow you to continue using your Self-Assessment account.

In order to do this, you will need your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) so that HMRC can link your accounts. You can find this on your previous tax returns, online account or from documents from HMRC. Contact HMRC is you can’t find your UTR.

Starting up again?

If you’ve ever registered or done business as a sole trader, then you will need to reregister in order to set up trading again. You will need to reregister using the CWF1 form and your UTR so that you can use your existing account.

The process of registering as a sole trader will take around 10 working days, or up to 21 if you’re registering from abroad. This is because HMRC will post you an activation code which you will need when you sign into your online account for the first time.

Once you’ve registered and set up a system for managing your finances you can then go about growing your business. You may even want to hire an accountant who can take care of your bookkeeping and taxes so that you’re free of the stress and the time that you could be spending elsewhere on working on your business.

Your responsibilities

The work’s not over once you’ve registered. As a business owner, you have certain legal responsibilities in order to comply with HMRC’s rules to avoid getting penalised.

It’s important to make sure you’re always running your business by the books and aware of how much tax you’re going to owe so you don’t get hit either with a nasty surprise or even a fine if you don’t pay your taxes on time.

In order to keep your business above board, you will need to do the following:

• Keep records of sales and expenses, including bills for expenses
• Send a Self-Assessment tax return each year
• Pay income tax on your profits and Class 2 or 4 National Insurance
• Settle debts
• Register for VAT if your turnover reaches the threshold of £83,000

Hiring an accountant will make this process easier as they will be able to give you the best advice regarding things like expenses and tax efficiency as well as making sure that your business is doing everything the right way.

Hiring an online accountant and using a free accounting software like Pandle will help you save money.

Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post How to Register as Self-Employed as a Freelancer appeared first on Freelancer News.

We’ve put together some of the key points that a freelance contract should include, whatever format it’s in.
 

The basics of freelance contracts

Cover the basics first of all. You should have the details of both parties on either side of the agreement written down, although you will know them already. You should have a written overview of the work needed that both sides read and agree to. It should be made clear that you are not an employee and should not be treated like one.
 

Be specific about the project

You should put together a highly detailed proposal and outline what you will be doing and what the client will be getting for their money. It is important that no one is able to misunderstand or twist the wording of the contract.
 

Agree a time frame for delivery

You should come to an agreement on a deadline for the project to be delivered. Though deadlines are never much fun, they are important and also help you to schedule your other duties/jobs around this project. That being said, you may need to have some flexibility on deadlines. Any changes to this should be communicated as soon as possible and agreed to by both sides.
 

Who is your point of contact?

Sometimes you will get different people from the same organisation offering feedback and requesting changes they might not necessarily have discussed with each other. That will leave you working for different people and it will quickly become confusing. Agree to make someone a single point of contact so that the information you receive is consistent.
 

Rates!

Clearly state your hourly, daily or project rate! Think about itemising your fee so that the client can see where their money is going. Many clients will underestimate the amount of time and energy that goes into preparation and research.

It is a good idea to ask for a portion of your fee upfront and the amount should be stated in the contract. Some freelancers prefer instalments throughout the project or a simple 50% before and 50% after.
 

Does your quote include the cost of alterations?

It is natural for the client to want some alterations in the work. As a freelancer you should account for this and try to include about two edits in your fee. Some clients may try to squeeze more work out of you, even if it’s ‘just a little bit’. Those little bits all add up and it’s important to put your foot down and not get into the habit of being taken advantage of. Extra work should be chargeable.
 

Payment terms for freelancer agreements

Invoices commonly ask the client to pay within 30 days unless you make your own. You will also need to decide how you will accept payment, and whether that is convenient for the client. It’s also worth considering whether or not you want to charge late payment fees. If you do, let your client know if advance!
 

Do you want to include a cancellation fee?

Also known as a cancellation clause, the kill fee is a procedure in place if the client decides to cancel the project half way through. You should be compensated for the work that you have done because you could have been spending that time working on someone else’s project.

It is up to you how much your kill fee is but it should at least cover the work you’ve done up until cancellation. Generally, most clients will be fine and expect this clause and the ones that aren’t are generally the ones you need the clause for.
 

Confirm the delivery details

You should agree how the project will be delivered to the client. This will largely depend on what line of work you are in but whichever way you choose to deliver, make sure it is simple and convenient for the client. You want this part to go as smoothly as possible if you hope for repeat clients.
 

Who owns the Intellectual Property rights?

To avoid having your work stolen, you should put in writing that you retain ownership of all your own work until you receive payment. If your client refuses to pay, they cannot legally use your work and you have grounds to sue.

Find more resources for freelancers in our info hub, or contact us for help!

The post What Should I Include in my Freelancing Contract or Agreement? appeared first on Freelancer News.

A popular alternative to home working is the café, but is it really that beneficial?

The pros of café working

A change of scenery

There’s a lot to be said for a change of scenery. Life can get pretty stale sitting at home, slogging away on your own. Plus, seeing the same four walls everyday can be boring.

Motivation

Setting yourself a time to get there can bring order, routine and motivation to your day. And although nobody’s paying any attention, it can encourage you to get the work done.

Inspiration

The things and people you see, and the conversations you overhear (come on, it’s not just me) can all inspire you and provoke those lightbulb moments.

Social interaction and combating loneliness

Humans are social animals and interaction with others is important for our mental health. If you don’t just work from home, but live alone too, then your contact with other people may be limited. Working in cafés gives you the chance of at least a smile from someone else, and with luck, a chat.

The Cons of café working

The cost

Few cafés or coffee shops are happy to let you sit there taking up space unless you buy something, and prices are usually higher in places that belong to a chain and boast Wi-Fi. If you don’t need Wi-Fi, or you’re happy to do any research required via the data on your phone, you can reduce your costs by finding smaller or privately run cafés.

Outstaying your welcome

However slowly you try to eat and drink, there’s only so long you can make that coffee, cake or sandwich last. Then comes that crunch point, when you look up and realise you finished your last coffee half an hour ago and are now under intense and unfriendly scrutiny from someone behind the counter.

Non-existent Wi-Fi

A lot of places (looking at you, Costa) require you to sign in before using their free Wi-Fi. Others might forget to mention that the free Wi-Fi is actually only for the first 15 minutes, and then you’re expected to start paying.

There’s nothing worse than buying yourself lunch and a coffee somewhere and then discovering you’ll need to go elsewhere to actually get a decent amount of work done. (Tip: Always check the Wi-Fi from the safety of the back of the queue first!)

Distractions

Having a lot going on around you can be great for tackling feelings of isolation or loneliness. However, depending on what you’re doing and how you like to work, having people around you can be rather distracting. Especially in a loud environment, or with intrusive people. You could always get extra focus listening to white noise to block out the background noises, check out A Soft Murmur and The Sea Cast

Strangers who are too sociable (or too strange)

Social interaction is great, but there are some people who don’t know when to stop—or take no notice of your cues indicating that it’s been lovely meeting them, but you’re jolly busy, thank you, and need to get on. And sometimes, there are strange conversations and situations to deal with too; strangers who plonk themselves down at your table, despite a myriad of other seating choices, and launch into bizarre monologues.

Café; coffee shop; pub; library; co-working space; home. Where’s your favourite place to work?

The post The Pros and Cons of Café Working appeared first on Freelancer News.

Hmm, all sounds rather lovely. Think I’ll try it myself.

Hold on. I did try it myself, 6 years ago, albeit only on a part-time basis until recently, and I have friends who freelance too. That means I know what you should be thinking about before you slap your resignation letter down on your manager’s desk and flounce out the door to start the life of working bliss described above.

Do you have skills that are saleable as a freelancer?

Some industries have been choc-full of freelancers since before freelancing was a Thing. Writers of all kinds have been freelance for, well, centuries, along with artists and sculptors. Creative industries are dominated by freelancers and IT is close behind, particularly where web skills are concerned.

A lot of small web design businesses are actually solitary freelancers plying their skills.
However, there are still some industries where freelancers are few and far between and the opportunities for making a self-employed living are few, so do your research.

How many people out there are doing what you want to do—and doing it successfully?  It’s a bit like eBay. Just because there are people out there asking £100 for a supposedly rare CD doesn’t mean they’ll get it; the sold listings filter tells a different story.

How many long-term freelancers are out there in your industry, and does your skill set match or exceed theirs? And is there room for you in the market? Yes, that sounds like business talk. Get used to it! You’re proposing to become a one-person business.

Freelance in haste, repent at leisure

If you’re searching for a new job—a new employed job—what do you do? You find out as much as you can. What’s the wage and the working hours? How flexible is your employer and what’s your line manager like to work for? Do you get a good vibe from the working environment and the people when you go for a look around or an interview? What are the perks and benefits? You need to do as much research, if not more, before you decide freelancing is the right path. Think I’ve gone off my rocker? Read on.

How much do you need to earn—and can you?

Freelancers don’t get perks and employer benefits, nor do they get sick pay, annual leave, parental leave, carers’ leave or employer contributions into their pension. If you’re earning 25K in your job, think about how much all that leave, which you currently get for free, is worth. Freelancers must earn enough to cover all the time they want or have to take off, pay all the money necessary into a pension and ideally pay into an insurance that will pay out if they are ill or unable to work.

Then, of course, there’s the cost of equipment, resources, stationery and software (not just for the job you do, but the admin. That’s all down to you now. You’re boss, employee and admin staff (we’ll get to your other roles later). What about internet, energy, mobile and landline costs? Or the cost of hiring a workspace if you won’t be working from home? Public liability and professional indemnity insurance?

While business expenses can be claimed against tax, you need to earn the money to pay them upfront, and giving yourself 25 days of annual leave does not count as a business expense (unfortunately). As you can see, 25K as a freelancer is a lot less than 25K as an employee. Unless drastically reducing your standard of living is something you’re fine with, start calculating how much you need to earn to maintain the same standard of living as you had as an employee.

Then ask yourself if earning that much is feasible with your skill set and within your industry. Root around in forums and freelance marketplaces. How much are people charging and earning?

Leave one job, take on many

Congratulations! It’s your first day as a freelancer. Now look in the mirror. Spooky… you seem to be seeing double. You’ve just split into an employee and a boss. Whoops! There (both of) you go again. Who are those other two people? Ah, the admin assistant and bookkeeper any small business needs. Oh no! It’s not stopping! Who are these next four? Ah, this will be the  marketing director, social media manager, web designer and content creator…

The stark fact is that unless they’re in a sales-based role, most employees have their work handed to them on a plate. The paperwork they need to handle is put on the desk, details of the next pipe they need to fix comes through on their phone, customers turn up to eat the food they’re paid to prepare. Their national insurance contributions, tax and leave allowances are handled by other people.

On your first day as a freelancer, unless you’re very lucky and/or well-prepared, there will be zero work to do. In fact, you’d do well to count this as annual leave and take it off your allowance…

The work isn’t there unless you generate it, pitch for it, seek it or attract it. How to go about it is a subject for a whole other article (or several), but my point here is that if you’re a shrinking violet, freelancing isn’t for you. Freelancing isn’t about tucking yourself away cosily at home and having less interaction with that most pesky of things, people. You need money, and money comes from work, and work comes from people. You will need to interact with clients, discuss budgets and estimates, and sell your skills and services confidently. If you don’t act like you believe you can do it, why would anyone else believe you can (and be willing to gamble their money on it?).

While some of the roles above can be outsourced to experts (web design, accountancy etc.), that will cost money, and there are some roles you will have to take on yourself. Marketing, admin, keeping your website up-to-date, maintaining professional social media accounts; it’s not just about doing your job (the one you’re trained for) any more. And these tasks take time, even though you’re not paid for them—something else you should think about when considering the earnings, pay rates and time dynamic.

Can you be your own boss?

Old school friends were discussing my freelance career at our very small reunion recently. My friend Della (names have been changed to protect the innocent) shook her head.

“I could never do that,” she said. “I don’t mind working from home occasionally, although to be honest, I prefer being in the office. I’ve got a proper office chair and desk there; when I work from home, I get backache! But it’s not that. I wouldn’t be able to focus on my work. There would be too much temptation! I’d end up spending half the day watching Netflix or reading a book! I just haven’t got the self-discipline.”

Della has a successful and lengthy career in insurance and is used to an office environment, and I don’t hold her lack of ability to freelance against her one bit. We’re all different. But her point about self-discipline is important. Most freelancers do struggle, at some point and to some extent, with focus and distractions (you’ll find a swathe of articles on the subject on the internet). With luck, they find strategies to overcome them by making changes to their environment or working practice.

However, some people just aren’t made for freelancing. They can’t be firm enough with themselves to be their own boss, they’re not driven enough to get in the work they need, and—another point pre-freelancers rarely think about—they don’t cope well with the stress of not knowing how much they’ll earn next month,  if they’ll even have any work,  or if this this new client will like their work/actually pay them/ leave a bad review on a freelancing site. That’s fine; just make sure that’s not you before you resign.

If I’ve made you think, then my work here is done. Don’t feel bad if freelancing isn’t for you; the economy needs employees and many households need at least one person with a steady, reliable income! If you’re sure freelancing is for you, hold fire on slapping that resignation letter down for a while. Put money aside for a financial safety net, do your research and perhaps dip your toe in the freelancing waters, finding a small project or two you can complete in your down time and contacting potential clients.
Good luck!

The post Considering Freelancing? 5 Things You Should Think About First appeared first on Freelancer News.

If you’re new to working with clients, then you might be wondering how best to approach the client relationships. Here are some tips for ensuring clear and effective communication.

Don’t just rely on email

Email is easy and preferable for those a bit nervous about speaking to clients. However, some clients will prefer to speak via phone or on Skype. Giving them the option gives them reassurance, especially if this is their first time hiring a freelancer online.

Be informal (where appropriate) but not sloppy

Some clients will prefer informality as it makes you easier to speak with and more approachable. However, this isn’t an excuse to get sloppy. Always proofread emails for spelling mistakes and never type in text speak. Abbreviations are fine if they’re understandable and correct.

Match your client’s language

We’d recommend starting off fairly formal and matching your client’s tone in emails. For example, if a client emails with “hi” then there’s no need to be overly formal in your responses. You can say hi back. This way, if the client prefers formal communication you can just continue your approach without coming across poorly to them.

Avoid emojis

If you’re trying to win a new client and have emails littered with smiley faces, it doesn’t send out a great impression. You want them to see you as a professional first and foremost because they’re trusting you to complete quality work. Again, if it’s something your client uses, then feel free to include them every now and then.

Schedule in meetings

Whether it’s in person or over the phone, it helps to have regular check-in times, particularly if it’s a big or ongoing project. This gives you both a chance to talk about the work, any changing requirements and keep everyone on track.

Draw up a contract

While you’re discussing the project in the beginning, it’s a good idea to get everything down in writing and have both parties sign it. This ensures that everyone knows what’s required of them and if in the event that there’s disagreement, it can be used to refer to. It’s also a good place to discuss any policies you have such as payment terms and late payment penalties.

Are you struggling to communicate with new clients? What’s your go-to communication tool? Let us know your thoughts.

The post New Freelancer? Here are Some Tips for Communicating with Clients appeared first on Freelancer News.

Develop passive income streams

If you can produce books, videos or anything that you can monetise or sell, then bingo: you have a passive income stream. Anything that you can produce and then go on to earn from again and again, with little or no further input from you, is a bonus. Passive income streams may not always earn you a fortune, but that steady trickle of money still adds up and means there’s still money coming in even if you have no work for a while.

Play to your strengths

Think about what type of work earns you the most money; what type of work you enjoy the most; and where your specific expertise lies.

If your answer to all three of these prompts is the same, then deciding where to focus your attention shouldn’t be difficult! If not, you may have to consider what’s most important to you.

Developing a niche can be useful because:

• Your knowledge of an area increases as you focus on it
• Your name and work will become associated with that niche, making you a go-to expert

At the same time, consider ditching the projects and clients that are unrewarding financially and/or intellectually. While freelancers are inclined to try to turn their hand to anything when they start out, long-term, specialising is a better strategy.

Diversify

Diversify? I hear you cry. But you’ve just told me to specialise! To develop a niche!
Yes. But within that niche, diversify.

I know freelancers who started out as photographers and then found the clients they were working for often wanted a few words written about their photos, or even a paragraph. Or more…

They took courses, honed their writing skills and began to offer photo-heavy articles in the kind of publication where they’re appropriate (sport, nature, walking, tourism and travel). Conversely, I know writers who were so often asked for photos to go with their articles that they sharpened their photography skills and began to supply the whole package.

I lost a charity contract once because the charity was looking for graphic designers and writers for children’s leaflets – or people who could do both. They loved the sample I sent with my quote, but… you’ve guessed it. The contract went to someone who had design skills as well and had offered to produce the entire leaflet content.

Consider the type of work you’re often tempted to go for but never do, because you’re aware it requires skills you don’t have. Think about work you are doing and any closely related topics or products; what could you add to your offering to make a complete package?

Pass on your skills

Teaching your skills to others can be another great way to make extra money. Whether it’s giving speeches at conferences, running workshops or seminars, recording audio or video tutorials or teaching your skills to adults at a local college, passing on your expertise and knowledge is a service worth paying for.

Do some research to see how you could teach independently and/or offer teaching to educational establishments or other clubs and institutions.

Have a marketing week (or even just a day)

Review how you advertise your services and what works and doesn’t. What other outlets or methods could you use? Devote some time to developing a new advertising strategy and materials. Create a basic mail shot and then customise it for target groups, such as family and friends who can pass it on to others; potential clients; past clients; and yes, even regular clients, who may only use some of your services and not appreciate all you have to offer.

Spend this time promoting yourself and what you do in every way possible, legal and decent – or indecent, if you prefer! You know what they say about publicity…

It’s easy to stop trying anything new, either because you’ve become complacent or because you are struggling and have become convinced nothing you do will make a difference. But don’t stop! Put your thinking cap on and find ways to use these ideas to boost your freelance income.

Do you work with multiple income streams? Which is the most profitable one for you? Please share your thoughts below.

The post Five Ways to Increase Your Freelance Income appeared first on Freelancer News.

Insurance

The best reason to get a deposit is so you’ve got some insurance in case the client does a runner or refuses to pay. While it might seem like a rarity, clients disappearing without paying is actually pretty common.

There may be disagreements, misunderstandings or the client may have had no intention of paying in the first place.

While a deposit won’t make it sting any less, it will be something at least so you’re not missing out 100%.

Filter out clients

Asking for a deposit will filter out the people who have no intention of paying. One way to tell whether they’re looking for free work is to ask for a deposit first.

If they try and get out of it or are a bit vague when the topic of payment comes up, they might not have even factored you into their budget. Steer clear of these clients!

How much to ask for

If you’ve decided to ask for a deposit in the future your next question might be how much to ask for. There’s no rule really. Some will ask for 10% of the final fee, others will ask for 50%.

Those who ask for more usually have a lot of experience and a solid reputation. Freelancers starting out will struggle to sign anyone on if they’re expecting 50% upfront because they don’t have the experience or authority in the industry yet.

Sticking with your decisions

Some clients will try to talk you down. It’s up to you whether you let them. Just know that if you do it once, you’ll probably do it again. Plus if the client intends to pay you your fee, you should ask yourself why they’re trying to get out of paying a deposit.

When should you ask for a deposit?

Many freelancers will only ask for a deposit with new clients so they’ve got a chance to experience the working relationship first. We’re not suggesting asking for a deposit every time a client wants new work if it’s too disruptive but that’s up to you and your personal circumstances.

Other freelancers will make it a policy of theirs to always ask for deposits for long-term projects. Long term projects could mean going a long time before getting any money, not ideal if you’ve not got much work coming in.

Other ways to protect yourself

Another way to protect your interests is to have late payment terms. Plenty of freelancers state in their contracts that there will be a fee for late payment. This will hopefully deter clients from paying late or will filter out those who will anyway. If not, you are somewhat compensated for your wait.

Do you ask for a deposit upfront? Have you ever had a client disappear without paying? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

The post Freelancers: Should You Ask For a Deposit Upfront? appeared first on Freelancer News.

Well it’s finally happened. It’s probably taken you by surprise and you’re wondering what to do about all this new work coming in. We’ve put together some tips to help you manage this busy period effectively.

Outsource

Outsourcing work can help you take on more but give you the breathing room you need.

If you do outsource your client work make sure you’re careful to pick someone who can create work in line with your style and experience.

If you are hesitant to outsource client work, there’s nothing stopping you from outsourcing admin tasks, bookkeeping or other tedious bits that are slowing you down or getting in the way.

Turn down clients

A lot of freelancers have trouble saying no to new clients. This is probably because they’ve been in a position where they’ve had to say yes to everyone to make ends meet.

It doesn’t always have to be that way. You are allowed to turn work down and should if you feel like you’re unable to give each new project 100%.

Offer to work at a later date

If you don’t already book clients well in advance you can offer this to clients who are willing to wait to work with you. The good thing about being too busy is that clients will see you’re in demand and are worth waiting for.

Become more efficient

If you find you don’t have a lot of time for client work it could be that you’ll benefit from tightening up your business system. Look for new ways to save time and you’ll be able to maximise your capacity.

For example, write blog posts or send query emails in batches. This can save you the time lost from jumping from one task to another during the week.

Try to automate as much as you can, e.g. social media posting, bookkeeping, sending payment reminders.

Raise prices

Starting with new clients, try raising your prices. You’ll naturally book fewer clients in but you’ll receive more money for your time. This can help to make client lists more manageable and also can help you grow.

Have you reached your working capacity? How are you dealing with it? Let us know!

The post What to Do When You Hit Your Working Capacity appeared first on Freelancer News.

If this is your first quiet period it can be quite nerve wracking. However, there are a few things you can do to make the most of it.

You could use your time to relax, streamline your business or improve your business in a way that makes quiet periods few and far between. Here are some ideas for filling in a quiet period, any time of year:

Get outdoors

While it may not bring in extra work, working outside can give your mood a boost which can do wonders for productivity levels.

It’s also a nice change from working in an office all day. No one wants to be stuck inside when the sun is shining.

Give your business a belated spring clean

While it may be a bit late in the year to call it a spring clean, summer could be a better time to do it anyway if this is your quiet season. You could rethink your operations, streamline your onboarding process, edit your contracts or overhaul your system for managing accounts. Anything that helps to make your process more efficient is only going to be a good thing.

Revamp your website

All websites need a refresh every now and then, from branding to content to navigation. Why not take this time to give your website a bit of TLC? Assess your website and remove bits that aren’t working for you anymore. It’s best to do things like this when you’re not overwhelmed with clients so you can spend enough attention on it.

Develop new skills

If you don’t have much work coming in, this frees you up to spend more time on improving your business and your skillset. This could end up being an investment which makes the quieter months less deafening.

You could develop skills related to freelance work, learn about web design or accounting to reduce the cost of outsourcing or learn a new skill you can add to your list of services to increase your profits.

It’s easier than ever to learn new skills with online courses, Youtube videos and helpful websites and forums.

Batch blogging

If you’ve found yourself with some unexpected time on your hands, then it might be worth giving your blog some attention. Writing blog posts to keep your website fresh can be a bit tedious and time consuming after a while. Most people would rather be focused on client work but blogging can be a useful marketing strategy.

Many blogs end up dying out because people simply don’t have time for them. A quiet month could be a good opportunity to write a big batch of blog posts to last you for months to come.

Go on holiday

If you’re not too worried about this quiet period and can comfortably ride it out it might be best to just take this as much-needed holiday time. Getting away in the quieter periods of the year may make it easier for you to relax so that you’re refreshed when business picks up again.

Consider seasonal work

Some businesses get busier when yours is quiet, so you might decide to take on a temporary position whilst your freelancing clients are elsewhere!

What do you do when the quieter months set in? How do you make the most of the summer? Please share your thoughts and tips in the comments.

The post How to Make the Most of the Quieter Summer Months appeared first on Freelancer News.

So, how can you go about finding clients? You need to make potential clients aware of who you are so that they can find you or seek you out, and you also have to go looking for them or their projects.  Here are thirteen methods of alerting and finding freelance clients!

1. Your website

Don’t tell me you don’t have one. Put down that chisel, leave that mammoth leg for someone else to chew and get with the century. Even the most analogue of skills needs to be promoted digitally.

A website is essential to tell the world who you are and what you can offer.

2. Offering a freebie

I’m not normally an advocate of freelancers working for free, but small projects that offer a concrete chance of further work can be worth considering. Do your research before offering free work or saying yes

3. Cold pitching

Make a list of companies that would have use for you skills and get in touch, preferably with a small but perfect sample of your work.

4. Phone a friend (or family member)

Widen your circle of contacts by bringing in the contacts of your friends and family. You may expect every friend or relative who knows a potential client to offer up this information the minute you declare you’re going freelance, but anecdotal evidence from freelancers suggests this isn’t the case. Freelancer forums are full of people declaring, “and then she told me she knew Steven Spielberg!”

Your friend’s friends, your family’s employers – they could all be a potential client in disguise.

5. Use social media

You don’t have to spend a fortune on an advertising campaign, but you really should have a presence on at least one of the major social media platforms. In practical terms, this means Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

If you’re not a social media user or have only used it for personal reasons, bear in mind that using it to promote your freelance business is very different, so seek out some tips, such as Ten Tips for Using Instagram for Business.

6. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is social media, I hear you cry. It’s not really, though, is it? However, it is a powerful tool in your search for contacts, connections, projects and jobs, so get yourself a profile, populate it with your experience and work history, keep it updated, make connections and sign up for those job emails.

7. Online freelance marketplaces

There are many, and all have different pros and cons. Some charge you for looking for work, while others don’t – but may take such a big cut of your earnings that you’re left wondering why you bothered.

One or two will only let you look at projects but not ask questions unless you pay a higher fee. Given the semi-literate and vague nature of some project postings (‘Someone to proofread my book’; 20-page dog anecdotes book? 600-page fantasy novel? This week? This year?), this just isn’t practical.

Some sites penalise you or charge more if you don’t earn a certain amount on their platform every month, which can be expensive if you’re a part-time freelancer, have clients outside the platform or have the audacity to go on holiday or be sick. Others insist you download software so that your client can take a look at your computer screen whenever they feel like it (so much for the freedom of freelancing, eh?).

Read the small print and ensure you know exactly what your outlay will be and what earnings you will be left with.

8. Job boards and general advertising sites

There are freelance jobs boards out there and some general job boards do feature remote or freelance jobs. Advertising sites like craigslist and gumtree may feature them as well, although suitable posts can be very thin on the ground, so don’t make them your first port of call!

9. Sector sites

There are often sites specific to your sector that either focus on particular jobs or have a jobs page. If you’re a freelance writer, for instance, searching freelance writer jobs will bring up a whole host of these sites. Similar sites exist for most freelance-heavy sectors (design, videography, photography, software development, website design).

10. Referrals

Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals or testimonials from people you’ve worked with. Even in this digital, work-from-anywhere age, there is still power in the personal recommendation of someone we know; we like to hear that someone’s good at their job from a person we trust.

11. Advertising in print (or writing!)

Where and how you advertise your services will depend a lot on the sector and scope of your freelancing. My wedding cake was made by a cake maker who had put a picture and his contact details on a postcard in a local shop window, and if cake-making is your thing, this may still work well for you. Large, ornate cakes don’t always travel well, so a lot of your trade may be local.

People also tend to look more locally for tradespeople and IT or mobile phone repair services. Freelancers, for a lot of the more physical projects are likely to be sourced nearer to home, so consider advertising in local directories, publications and papers.

12. Advertising online

If you offer digital services or submit your work digitally, then the ideal home for your advertising is online. Online directories, social media, other sites, Google – there are lots of options. Investigate them, price up the advertising campaign you would want to run and then decide what best fits your purpose and your pocket.

13. Make contact with those contacts!

If you’ve made contacts through previous employment or freelance work, don’t just forget about them or presume they have no work for you because you haven’t heard from them.

Christmas, the New Year, Easter or any other appropriate festivals are great time to touch base with previous clients or old contacts, sending them friendly season’s greetings and including a list of your services and a website link in the signature. It’s a subtle way to remind them of your existence and what you can offer.

If there’s no handy festive occasion on the horizon, what about a quick message to check on the progress of a project they were launching or the health of their new business?

Where do you find clients? Which of these methods have worked best for you? Let us know.

The post 13 Ways for Freelancers to Find Clients appeared first on Freelancer News.