How to be a Successful Freelancer

Ever wonder why some freelancers get all the work, while you struggle
to acquire your first venture or even regular work? You may imagine
that the most important factor to becoming a prosperous and gainfully
contracted freelancer is to be highly skillful at what you do, but you
‘d be incorrect. While being an expert at what you do is important, it
is not the most critical part of being successful. There are lots of
more important reasons why some freelancers get all the work. Here are 7
capabilities customers gather you to possess when they look to hire a
professional freelancer.

What Customers Want When Hiring a Freelancer

Clients like freelancers who:


1. Are Professional


That means turning jobs in when you say you will and following
through on the procedure you drafted with them. For example, if you say
you’re going to supply an initial draft in two weeks, you supply an
initial draft in two weeks. It also means responding to phone calls and
emails promptly, and treating your customer like you ‘d desire to be
treated. Extremely good client service is vital to keeping potential
clients and solid word-of-mouth advertising. Professional freelancers
honestly get and hold more customers.


RELATED: How to Succeed on Elance


2. Are Charming


You have associated with idiots before, right? No one prefers to work
with a jerk or any person that makes them feel bad. Being favorable to
associate with is simply not difficult; it involves having a genuine
attitude, being flexible and softhearted, and being easy to talk with.
We all have negative days. However, you’re a business operator and it’s
your obligation to make your client feel respected.


3. Have an Exceptional Attitude


Be amenable, completely ready and able to listen closely to feed-back
(positive and negative). It may also mean being willing to negotiate
with your timelines and your rates. You do not need to bend over
backwards and pass up hard earned money to accommodate; however, if you
are willing to work with your clients for a win/win outcome, they ‘ll
thank you for it. This is very likely one of the most powerful reasons
why some freelancers get all the work, while others struggle to get by,
or garner only tiny jobs for insignificant money. Frame of mind is
everything! You are in the service buisness. Work for your prospects and
treat them as you’d like to be treated.

4. Are Trustworthy


Honesty is the best policy. If you can not do something, or do not
have knowledge of something, just be straightforward with your client.
They may not be delighted but it’s undoubtedly preferable than being
lied to or tricked.


5. Are Happy to Learn and Improve


Clients like providers who enjoy to be trained and who are
continually boosting their business. It is excellent when you can
express to a prospect, “I was at a seminar last week and I definitely
think such and such strategy would work for your project, what do you
think?” It reveals to them that you’re regarding them them and that
you’re more than just a freelance provider. You can also act as a
consultant. This is plus and serves to set you apart from other
freelancers.


RELATED: How to Start Freelancing and Succeed as a Freelancer


6. Are Available


This is hard for some freelancers because they want to work different
hours, they don’t keep routine business hours and perhaps they just
don’t enjoy conversing on the phone or making themselves easily
available. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to your customers to be able to
touch base you in a method that they feel comfortable with and when
they’re available. That will not mean you must keep 24/7 business hours,
but logical business hours and availability is vital. As is being
available via telephone and e-mail.


7. Are Fantastic Listeners


Being a wonderful listener means two things – it means actually
understanding what your client is telling you and it means knowing when
to ask questions. It is too easy to devote your time talking with a
customer and feeling like you have got to advertise yourself when the
fact is, if you solely listen to what they have to say and ask a few
questions, you’re better off. People want to be listened to and they
wish to know they have been listened to much more than they long for
your sales pitch.


This should really answer that burning question of why some
freelancers get all the work. Much of a profitable freelance business is
the by-product of maintaining good customers and good word of mouth. In
fact, you can fill your schedule with these two simple things. If you
want to be among those freelancers who get all the work, follow these
simple tips and you will be well on your way to realizing your freelance
business desires.




Recommended Books on How to be a Successful Freelancer:

• Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business
• Start
  a Business: Make Money Online on Elance – Everything You Need to Know
  to Start Earning Thousands of Dollars from the Comfort of Your Home
  (Making Money Online Series Book 3)
• Freelance Freedom: Starting a Freelance Business, Succeeding at Self-Employment, and Happily Being Your Own Boss
• The Fortunate Freelancer (Make Your Own Luck Book 1)
• My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire

 Adam Bauthues would like to invite you to visit his brand
building strategies success blog, The Project Marketer! To learn even
more about building a bestselling brand, please visit
http://www.ProjectMarketer.com