How to become a successful freelance- 2014

Outsourcing and social media mean there's never been a better time to freelance. Check our top tips to see if freelancing can work for you!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm writing this a couple of feet from my room, sporting saggy pants and trainers, taking note of my iPlayer. My commute from the sleeping room took seconds; I've nobody telling Pine Tree State what to try and do. Jealous yet? Or area unit you "between jobs", aware you are only 1 good plan far from changing into a web billionaire? perhaps you must go freelance.

I've been freelancing for twenty eight years, and apparently have a natural ability for it – or total inability to address offices, relying however you verify it. I still bear in mind that day in August '83 once, having unsuccessful my journalist coaching exams, my boss aforesaid, while not a trace of irony: "I'll see that you simply ne'er add newspapers once more." And his surprise once I replied: "Thanks."

Although here i'm twenty eight years later, proving him wrong. Having spent most of my operating life as a standup comedy author, I ne'er fanciful i would be writing articles for the Guardian. Being freelance very will take you anyplace.

"It's not for everybody," says Jon Frank Norris, WHO runs Freelanceadvisor.co.uk, "but a lot of ANd a lot of it's changing into an possibility you must take into account." John brasier, WHO runs PCG, the closest factor freelances have to be compelled to a trades union, agrees. "Employers area unit trying a lot of to source their work, there area unit a lot of opportunities, and nice tax advantages once functioning from home."

After nearly twenty years within the banking sector, John Davis left his post as product and selling director for Barclays Business and went freelance in Jan. "I knew I wasn't fascinated by ascent any up the company ladder," he says, "and saw a chance to make a business. The work I do is not abundant completely different, simply less big-business politics and fewer pointless conferences."

All proof points to a large increase in freelance work throughout the economy, and therefore the world. "The business is flying," says Matt dramatist, CEO of freelancer.com, WHO describes the web as delivering "a tectonic shift to society by disrupting the world labour market". Freelancer.com is like eBay for freelances: leader offers work, freelances bid for the work, and that they became one among biggest websites within the world. Some 930,000 comes are outsourced thus far, for $80m (£50m) of earnings. "One freelancer in India makes near $1m a year building $65 websites. He currently has eighty folks operating in 3 style facilities, because of building his name in concert of our high freelancers."

Some criticise freelancer.com for dragging pay rates down. Frank Norris says: "They reward low-quality, quick-turnaround work and fully predate the freelancer/client relationship." however freelance musician/photographer/lecturer/designer Danny Fontaine may be a fan. "Since connection freelancer.com my work has apace accrued. My rates area unit competitive however the bulk of eminent bids do not move to the most affordable bidder. Employers desire a sensible job done in order that they do verify the standard of your work."

Are you able to freelance? Here area unit my high ten tips:
1 Don't.

If you are presently operating, area unit you content to allow up the weekly wage packet, pension, company of workmates and paid vacation leave? "Are you suited to freelancing?" asks brasier, "is your skillset marketable?" albeit you are eager to attempt it, you may realize changing into part-time a gentler approach of easing into freelance.

"I love it," says Davis, "though i am a lot of showing emotion concerned currently. And it's more durable to let alone at the top of the day."

2 Is there a marketplace for what you do?

"Are you one among several doing what you are doing, or one among a few?" asks John brasier. in line with Frank Norris, high-end freelance internet designers area unit in huge demand. "Competition is therefore fierce for the most effective folks at Google, Apple and Facebook, that there is no incentive for the highest few to travel freelance."

On the opposite hand, social media is massively over-subscribed. "It's a boom market and there's a coffee barrier to entry," says Frank Norris. "We have to be compelled to actively search out technical folks once we would like web site development, however area unit approached by social media 'gurus' on AN virtually everyday."

"Everyone ought to be brooding about making a business," says dramatist. "Create employment, instead of take employment. there is ne'er been a far better time, you'll be able to virtually currently screw off the rear of a mastercard."
3 be a part of your union/PCG

Call Pine Tree State AN old school out-of-the-loop lefty, however even within the cut-throat world of freelance you may use the sort of security offered by a trades union. they will facilitate with recommendation and contracts, and it's lonely acting on your own, and you'll be able to meet fellow strugglers. If there is no obvious union for you then be a part of PCG. "We exist alone to seem out for freelancers," says brasier, "to defend and assist you, to guide you thru the principles and laws." Also: get a pension. (I'm sounding sort of a archosaurian reptile currently.)
4 look out the pc

You can run your entire business on a portable computer currently. sadly it is the same place wherever you'll be able to scan funny articles from The Onion, tell your Facebook mates what you Greek deity for lunch, ANd become an professional at American state Hold 'Em. do not child yourself that googling your name and searching up your competitors on Wikipedia is analysis.
5 you're the corporate

Barrie says you'll be able to source everything you are no sensible at, however no matter you are doing you wish to grasp basic accounts, marketing, packaging and every one the opposite tedious admin that you simply currently have to be compelled to handle. With customers, arranged what quantity you are being paid at the beginning. confirm they bear in mind they owe you cash. you're your own invoice department still.
6 Learn to be yank

Now you are now not operating for big Conglomerate International, you're virtually actually competitive  with large Conglomerate International, and lots of others, for work. therefore you've got to try and do no matter it takes to induce your name and business out there. Facebook, Twitter and an internet site area unit your beginning points. this can be no time to return over all Hugh Grant.

Moose Allain was AN creator before changing into a regular creative person and artist in 2007. He produces a large vary of labor that he sells via his web site, art fairs, ANd an more and more position on Twitter.

"I don't need to slide into selling speak," says Allain, "but in an exceedingly sense we're all 'marketing' ourselves all the time." to seek out out a lot of concerning ne'er missing a chance for self-publicity, begin following Pine Tree State on Twitter @cohendave.
7 aren't getting unwell

You're now not operating for the person, you're currently He (or She). the person ne'er liked  you taking the time off for that hangover from hell, and currently you are Him, daily off may be a day's lost pay. Seriously, if absence is a vital a part of your work life, do not go freelance.
8 unhealthy day at the office?

Now that you are answerable, each unhealthy day feels abundant worse. Learn to simply accept that we tend to all have times like this, and tomorrow is another day, that brings Pine Tree State to...
9 bromide Corner

Cliches area unit cliches as a result of they are sometimes true. each job is your business card, on a daily basis may be a new starting, you are solely pretty much as good as your last job.
10 Plan, plan, plan

Never mind work-life balance, initial you need to get the work-work balance right. you wish to create cash currently, ideally you are outlay 2 to 3 days every week doing that. however you furthermore may have to be compelled to grasp wherever the work is returning from in six months, and a year's time. therefore you wish to be aiming towards obtaining a lot of work then. If following few months area unit jam-packed with gaps wherever paid work ought to be, arrange what to try and do therewith time. Plan today, tomorrow, next week, month and year...
11 … however be versatile

See what happened there? i used to be attending to create this a ten-point arrange however complete halfway through that there area unit over 10 key points. therefore I modified my mind. that as a contract i'm able to do. this can be one among the good blessings you've got over those that add offices. you'll be able to amendment your mind on the spot, and not have to be compelled to report back through a sequence of command.
12 Have a life

Manage some time well; grasp once you are going to complete work nowadays, and stop. As a contract it is easy to be "on" all day and night, and it's particularly annoying once you awaken at 3am composing that fairly boring email reply you meant to send the previous day. cut and do one thing fully unrelated to figure. you will arrive lots underclassman following day.
Moose Allain's tweet recommendation

I started tweeting as AN experiment, i attempted to be original and amusing and sometimes denote photos. My following accrued once one or 2 folks with sensible followings began recommending Pine Tree State. rapidly folks were asking if they may get the work i used to be golf stroke on-line.

It's important to not be perpetually merchandising. I provides a ton of original material to my "audience" and that they do not mind Pine Tree State plugging my work sometimes. If they do, they do not tell Pine Tree State, or they simply unfollow! Your audience is automatic therein sense, that is one among the items that makes twitter a strong selling tool.

It's AN improbably helpful vehicle for trialling concepts and merchandise. we tend to recently launched a variety of mugs. I denote some early styles and got some nice feedback, and commenced to make anticipation from those that needed to shop for them. {when we tend to|once we|after we} went into production we sold  out our initial batch simply through twitter. therefore on behalf of me it's become an explicit medium still as a social networking tool.
Where to induce recommendation

freelanceadvisor.co.uk All the most recent news for freelancers and numerous nice recommendation.

pcg.org.uk terribly useful no matter your level of expertise. £120 pa to learn fully. They conjointly run internationalization.org.uk that is on twenty three Nov 2011.

freelancer.com "Free to sign in or bid, we tend to solely charge commissions once you begin creating cash. This starts at 100% for freelancers."

Worldliness.com Funny stories, beautiful mugs.