If you have just started on your freelancing journey or feel stuck and can’t move forward, this post is for you. Growing your freelancing might seem like a challenge. After all, you are going it alone, which you haven’t done before.

There are a few things that you need to think about, though:

• What does success look like to you?
• How will you quantify your freelance growth?
• What have you done to prepare yourself for?
• Do you have the skills to take yourself forward?

Once you know what your business goals are, you will define what your future success will look like. In the meantime, here are a few things that you can do to propel your business forward.

Protection

The more clients you have, the more likely it will become that you need to have the proper protections in place. If you are outsourcing your work often, you will need to ensure you have the correct agreements in place.

If you have been working for clients without insurance until now – it’s time to fix that. More prominent clients will need to see you have all of the proper protection in place for you and them.

Professional liability indemnity, device insurance, health insurance are just the start of what you need. Since insurance can be a minefield, you must have the correct information as soon as possible, including what you need to do if your claims are rejected. In the case of a rejection, you can contact insurance claim attorneys to help you get what you are entitled to.

When it comes to protection for you and your client, it is a good idea to consider having NDAs in place too. This will ensure a level of respect and security for the information passed between you and the client.

Repeat Clients

Depending on the type of business you do, it might be more beneficial to have repeat clients. Repeat clients are an incredible asset that can help your business grow at speed.

They will become a reliable income source, and over time you will be able to create processes that speed up the work.

Long-term clients are worth more than their weight in gold; since you are familiar with the client – and them with you – there is no onboarding, and you know you can get the work done to the best of your ability.

While there is a lot to be said for short-term clients and exciting new projects, it is essential to aim to have a range of long-term clients.

Long-term clients allow you to skip much of the admin work and focus on the work – which means your productivity is higher too.

This is a win-win for both you and the client.

Pricing

In the early days of your freelancing, you most likely priced yourself to be competitive and start earning money. But as your experience grows, so should your prices. The freelancing world can be tricky because they don’t want to discuss what they are charging most of the time. So this leaves many freelancers at a loss. In the end, you need to decide what it is you need to earn per year to live comfortably, and how many hours you want to work.

There are some industries where people are happy to discuss what they charge, and when you find this information, you will notice a significant discrepancy. There will be some freelancers charging thousands and some charging less than you. This can give you a good indicator if you value money or are grossly undercharging.

Another point is that you shouldn’t be worried about putting your prices up. The right clients will always pay your fee. For clients you have had for a while, you might consider a gentle increase after some discussion. Often if they are happy with the service, they will accept a small bump.

Increasing your prices will mean you need to work fewer hours to make more money – allowing you to work on other projects or improve your skills level.

Be Your Spokesperson

If you are not your biggest fan – then who will be? It is always worth investing in marketing and promotion, but you need to factor in that you are the face of the business as a freelancer. You need to be just as visible as the services that you provide.

It can be uncomfortable to put yourself forward for things, but public speaking, networking, and even writing content can make a huge difference in how you are perceived – and the type of clients you attract.

Don’t be afraid to talk about just how good you are at what you do – and why you should be the top choice.

Create Your Ideal Client

The best part of freelancing is that you get to choose your clients – and this means you don’t work with people you don’t like or that you know they will push your boundaries and don’t respect you.

When you start freelancing, there is an urge to take on as many clients as possible – even ones that don’t fit with your ethos. Over time phase those clients out, and replace them with ones you would be proud to do business with.

Create a profile of your ideal client. Consider their budget, where they are located, what their business goals are, and where you might find them. This profile will be what you use to make sure you only work with the clients you want.

It is also crucial that you consider your reputation when you are taking on clients. Some clients will have a reputation in their industry – and that might rub off on you. Be sure to do your due diligence when it comes to vetting the clients that you take.

If they don’t fit the profile that you have created – don’t take them on as clients, even if the money they offer is above average. Focus and repetition are the fastest way that you can grow your freelance business.

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