If you approach freelance work with the right attitude, you can avoid many of the problems associated with freelance work and maintain a healthy work/income balance that will keep you going throughout the year. As a freelancer, time is money, so it is important to manage your time and finances effectively to maximize your income. Follow these tips to avoid the feast or famine cycle in your own freelance endeavors. I. Networking For many freelancers, networking is the part of the job they hate the most, but proper networking is what can save you from times of famine. Always keep in touch with past clients and attend as many networking events for your field as possible. Connect with anyone and everyone that you meet and spread the word about your freelance business. This will help people think of you when they need a service, and will lessen the effort that you need to put into cold calling by having potential clients approach you first. II. Cold Calling Cold calling is a part of any freelance business, whether you actually do it on the phone or not. Freelancers have to contact companies and actively try to find work. Many freelancers only look for new work when their current job has ended, but a focused search for new work even when fully employed will help prevent gaps between jobs. You can always hire a helper to take over some of your extra work if you get too much at once, but if you go without work for several weeks or months, that is potential income that you will never recover. III. Search for big clients Bigger clients are typically willing to pay more. The bigger the client, the larger the project usually is and the higher the salary. Often, one job from a large client can pay the same as multiple jobs from smaller clients. Manage your time wisely and search for clients that will pay you the most for your efforts. Big clients like to see professional portfolios and past work, so make sure you have an impressive portfolio and resume that helps you stand out from other freelancers. IV. Manage finances V. When you get in a bind If you follow the above steps, you will eliminate much of the dead time that many freelance workers see from time to time. However, even with outstanding effort, it is possible that you may experience a gap in income-producing work. When this happens, you don’t have to give up. There are many options that can help you sustain yourself during periods of low-income. Set aside some money from each check while you bring in money to help cover the expenses between jobs. If you fall far behind, a short-term loan is a great way to help sustain your business until you find paying work again. All of these tips can help prevent the feast or famine lifestyle of the typical freelancer. Not only will you have a steadier income throughout the year, but you will also appear more professional to potential clients, which could lead to additional work. Follow these tips and you will stay on the path of steady work while increasing your income. Featured photo credit: This time, we go on the count of one via Shutterstock
