Money Makers: Freelancing Tips

International Freelancers' Day is tomorrow, September 21. According to a report issued by the International Freelancers' Academy –  the organization behind International Freelancers' Day – 90% of freelancers are happier than they were before they went freelance. Nearly half say they have more time, and more than three-fourths say that they are optimistic about their business prospects for the next 12 months. There are challenges too. The report shows that finding clients is rated as the biggest challenge faced by freelancers. But with a strong plan, new freelancers can give themselves a great chance of success while reaping the benefits of being their own boss – more free time to spend with their family, for instance, and having more control over their income. There are a number of things that freelancers can do to increase their chances of getting the best out of their new working arrangements. By following DoNanza's five-point plan, outlined below, freelancers can set themselves up to succeed.Attitude – Adopting the right attitude is key to succeeding as a freelancer. Motivation and self-discipline are key to making the freelance life work, so develop a five-year plan. Create specific, measurable goals which can be ticked off as they are achieved. Creating a sense of accomplishment helps to maintain motivation.Back office setup – New freelancers need to think very carefully about the tools they will need to work on projects effectively. They'll need a backup system such as BackBlaze, while tools such as Google Docs and Dropbox are ideal for sharing documents and working on collaborative projects. The billing aspect of the business shouldn't be overlooked, either – smartphone apps such as ExpenseMagic can be used to log receipts for expenses claims, while accounting software such as Wave is ideal for keeping on top of invoices. Be realistic and flexible – There have been some significant shifts in the kinds of jobs on offer for freelancers since DoNanza was set up in 2009, as well as the relative rewards for these jobs. For example, demand for translators has increased since 2011, but the average reward offered for translation jobs declined over the same period. Freelancers should think about which skills they can offer as a freelancer and shouldn't be afraid to work on developing new skills to take advantage of shifts in the marketplace. Client relationships – Freelancers need to work on the relationships they have with their clients. Making sure they behave in a professional manner at all times could make the difference between winning more projects and being cast aside. Responding to emails promptly, following through on requests for information and being willing to ask pointed questions when more details are needed in order to complete a job are key considerations.Advertising – DoNanza's data shows that on average, every project advertised on a public job listings board will receive 30 applications. As any time spent on pitches that don't succeed is wasted and doesn't earn a freelancer any money, freelancers who want to get ahead of the competition should consider advertising their services online. One way of doing this effectively on a budget is to use DoNanza's 1-Click Advertising App, which lets freelancers get private job requests sent directly to them – there's no need to worry about competitors or put in an unrealistically low bid.About DoNanza: With more than 287,000 members, DoNanza is a one stop shop for freelancers giving them access to searchable job listings and all the tools they require to keep their business running smoothly. DoNanza also offers freelancers a way to advertise their services online and greatly increase their chances of winning new projects and clients. *IFA stats taken from: http://www.internationalfreelancersday.com/2012report/