How to make more money as a freelancer

How to make more money as a freelancer

Becoming an agency seems like the obvious answer whenever you want to grow and make more money. Moving in to an office might seem rather inconvenient for those who became freelancers to avoid an office in the first place.

If you start your own business and link to a physical space, you might find yourself caught up doing admin work, staff management, meetings, pitches and other kind of work to manage your business which might keep you from doing the creative work you love. If you want to earn more money but you don't want to grow an agency, then you just need to up your game as a freelancer and here's how to do so:

Know the worth of your skills

Although freelancing is famed for not making much money, some freelancers are successful and earn a decent amount. If you are a struggling freelancer, you might wonder how this is even possible and the answer is because they are good, they know how good they are and they are not afraid to promote themselves as such and charge a decent rate.

You can tell they know their worth by reading their website profiles, Twitter bios and how they communicate, in general. They are well aware that they have valuable skills that people are willing to pay for and they communicate and charge accordingly.

Think of the money you invested in your studies or doing work experience and charge your clients accordingly. You just have to believe in yourself or fake it till you make it.

Start pushing for the money you deserve and aim to make more money in less time, so you have to slave away just to barely make it through the month.

Confidence

We are all drawn to confident people because they look like they know what they are doing. When you spend money or put your business at risk, you want someone confident to take the wheel and that person can be you. This might be hard for you if you are a little shy but you can work on that. Start with small things like your body language and your appearance. Someone who looks like they have already spent money on their appearance gives the impression that they know how to make money. You have to look like you are already successful. Invest in yourself and it will pay off.

Boost your skills

Just because you are a freelancer, it doesn‘t mean you don't have to move forward in your career. It's a competitive world out there and you need to be on top of your game by continuously improving or learning a new skill. Read books, take a course, research, and so on. If you don't, your competition will and then you will get left behind. In summary, make sure you have something that makes you stand out so your clients will want to put their money and businesses in your hands.

Avoid the world freelancer

It is unfortunate but the word freelancer has become a dirty word in some circles and it can be translate into cheap work for some clients, so they might try and bargain with you to bring your asking price down.

To avoid being taken for a cheap freelancer, try to present yourself as part of a professional studio or agency so your business sounds more established and reliable. Remember that your clients want a guarantee that your work will be properly done.

Acting like a studio and playing the part

If you are working from home, make sure your business address is from a professional office - either via a virtual solution or a co-working space. You might want to have a website with your own domain and this website should match your professional email address. You might also want to create professional-looking invoices to keep up the appearances.

If you want to look more professional, you need to have a solid online presence and a distinct identity on social media that will distinguish you from others and will make your business look reliable and professional. If you have to get paid like a bigger business, you need to behave like one.

Become an expert

You have to convince your clients why they have to pay more for your work when they can get someone else to do it for a lower price. What you are selling is quality and expertise. You need to offer a service that others don't and charge for it.