Freelancers and consultants have to do the company’s chores by themselves. That is unbillable hours of labor. That is because freelancers and consultants have to fill in various roles of CEOs, and administrative assistants and, furthermore, get engulfed in random tasks. That takes away from the affairs that bring in revenue. A survey conducted by Upwork and Freelancers Union revealed that freelancers and consultants spend 47 percent of their time performing duties unbillable.
Freelancers and consultants have a ton of industry experience and expertise and bring their contacts to the business. On the other hand, remember that flourishing the freelance and consulting business is no cakewalk. Furthermore, you also have to compete with other freelancers in the market. That may seem to be a considerable challenge, but it is achievable.
Let us discuss strategies you can adopt for your freelance and consultant business.
1. Automation
For freelancers and consultants, the daily random tasks take up most of the time. So you can attempt to automate the random functions. That is, for instance, scheduling appointments. For freelancers and consultants, scheduling appointments with clients is a hassle. You can automate scheduling with appointment scheduling software like Picktime. Picktime lets you automate scheduling appointments with a simple click. Not only that, but you can also send automated messages over emails and SMS.
Furthermore, you can quickly link popular video conferencing applications like Google meet or Zoom. That is in case you have to consult the clients remotely. The software has other features, such as a dedicated 24/7 booking page, payment gateway integration, etc.
2. Online presence
Freelancers and consultants advise clients alike to improve their online presence. On the other hand, they do not attempt to improve their online presence. To begin with, you can create a website. In the meantime, you have to ensure that the website is informative and user-friendly. For user-friendliness, the website should be easy to navigate. To improve the website’s ranking on search engines, you can optimize the website for search engines. As a result, you can generate leads and later convert them.
3. Blog writing
You can also write blogs and publish them on the website. Initially, you would feel that you are giving away so much information. As time progresses, it will be beneficial. As you share your industry knowledge and experience, others can learn from it. Furthermore, you can also learn from others. As a result, you can share your knowledge and learn new things about the industry. Over the long haul, you can emerge as the industry expert and leader people look up to when they need advice.
4. Your niche
The market for freelancers and consultants has become highly competitive. Therefore, it is essential to determine your niche. Once you have identified your niche, targeting your clients will be much simpler. For instance, if you are a graphic designer, you can design logos for businesses, posters for marketing campaigns, and so on. But if you focus on a particular area, you will become an expert over time.
5. Client satisfaction
Retaining current clientele and acquiring new clients is essential for freelancers and consultants as any other business. Therefore, you have to focus on customer satisfaction. For instance, you can listen to your clients and understand what they expect from you. As a result, you can deliver what the clients expect of you. You need to be able to listen well to do that.
Furthermore, a happy customer means more business. For instance, if customers are satisfied with your services, they will definitely retain your services. Also, your services would be recommended to family and friends.
6. Offer additional services as your business grows
You can offer your clients additional services as your freelance and consulting business picks up the phase. It is also essential that you determine a niche and focus on it. But as you offer additional services, your clients would not have to look for alternative sources for services. That way, you can diversify your source of income and generate more revenue.
Furthermore, since the clients have confidence in your services, they would avail of the service. Remember that your additional service to your clients should complement the skills and equipment you already have. Otherwise, you will have to invest heavily in equipment and acquire a new skill set.
7. Look at your freelancing as a business
If you are a full-time freelancer or a consultant, you should consider it a business and treat it as such. That way, you can grow your freelance business and stay motivated. Running a freelancing business is similar to running a small business. There are many opportunities for freelancers across industries.
For instance, project management, social media management, content development, administrative support, etc. Also fueled by remote working culture. You can generate more revenue if you run as efficiently as a business, as businesses these days hire more freelancers to fill in the skill-set required.
8. Manage your time wisely
As a freelancer or a consultant, you have to master time management skills. Furthermore, a freelancer is the CEO of the business, administrative head, HR, operational manager, and so on. You have to fill in many shoes. That is why it is essential to master time management skills to stay organized. You may begin by creating a to-do list that includes all the tasks that you have to complete for the day, and as a result, that will improve your productivity.
You can also prioritize your to-do list by categorizing the tasks depending on urgency. For instance, urgent tasks and not-so-urgent tasks. You can also track the time you take to accomplish each task. That way, you will also be time efficient.
9. Look for potential clients
Being on the lookout for potential clients ensures freelancers a steady flow of work. Though you have enough clients, you have to look for new clients. That is because some clients approach you to enlist your service only when needed. Once you complete the project, they will have no need for you. On the other hand, some clients will approach you multiple times a year to enlist your services.
You also have to ensure that you can manage the volume of the workload when you get packed with many projects and when you have a hand-full projects. For instance, if you get loaded with many projects, you can consider outsourcing some of the projects or expanding the team. On time completion of the project will be made possible by this approach. Furthermore, having many clients, if satisfied, gives positive reviews about your services. That will also have a positive impact on expanding the business.
