So you’re ready to make the leap to full-time freelancing. We want to simultaneously give you a high five and solid pep talk. Turning freelancing into a full-time career is equal parts rewarding and challenging (more or less depending on the day).
Here are seven practical tips for making the transition from part-time freelancing to a full-time career:
As a freelancer, your portfolio is your calling card and a key part of your marketing efforts. Be sure to include your best work, and showcase a range of skills and experiences that will appeal to your ideal clients.
Selling your services is a necessity to keep your business in business (yes, even if you hate selling). Pitch dream clients, network with other freelancers, and use social media with intention within your niche.
As a freelancer, you'll need to be disciplined and organized in order to manage your workload and stay on top of your deadlines. Your routine doesn’t have to be complex (our founder Geoff suggests starting with making your bed). Start when you want, flex where you need to, but create a rhythm that signals when it’s time to get work done.
No one is going to challenge you to grow except yourself. While you are in charge of your schedule now, we know as well as you do that the first thing to go when client work gets busy is the "book you were going to read this afternoon." You'll need to continuously learn and develop your skills in order to stay competitive and in-demand. Invest in your education and professional development, and be willing to learn new skills and technologies. And intentionally mark off time in your calendar every day or every week for personal development (pro tip: you could make it a recurring task in Moxie for a reminder and a hit of good feelings when you check it off).
This is what makes your career in freelancing one of the most stable choices you can make. Having multiple clients gives you multiple income streams making it almost impossible for you to lose all of your income all at once (take it from career freelancer, Satta Hightower). Multiple clients help protect you from economic downturns and other risks, and provide a steady flow of work and income.
When your work is always with you, it can be easy to blur the lines between work and personal life. It's important to set boundaries, and establish a healthy work-life balance that allows you to enjoy your professional success without sacrificing your personal time. No one is going to enjoy your flexible schedule if you don't.
The transition to full-time freelancing can be challenging, and you may encounter setbacks and obstacles along the way. It's important to stay positive and focused, and to surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and mentors. If you love a newsletter, might we recommend The Weekend Comment by Junhan Chin - always making you better because you read it.
A freelance business doesn’t build itself. It takes intentionality and resilience, but also comes with flexibility and pride in doing work you love. If you’ve got a skill and a dream, let Moxie support the business side of your freelancing while you get to the work you love.
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