10 things I realised, that make a pro freelancer

1. Do what you can, outsource the rest

I don’t want my skills (or lack thereof) to be the blocker for an awesome gig. It’s so possible to hire someone in to fill the gaps, and it means your portfolio of work and network grows and grows and grows.

2. A.I. is a huge upsell

Using A.I. helps me work faster, broader, more creatively… I am the still the “silver-bullet” in my work, but A.I. upgrades it from a pistol to a friggin’ shotgun. And clients dig that they know they’re working with someone who’s staying ahead of the game - because I’m likely ahead of their competitors too.

3. If you don’t plan a vacation in advance, it won’t happen

I suck at this. But it’s easy to work non-stop when you’re taking in projects as they come. Taking a vacation mid-client is hard, so don’t. Plan it for next year already, even if it’s just marking the days off your calendar. It seriously helps with burnout, motivation, and reasonable boundary-setting… all of which clients respect.

4. Network trumps portfolio, always

All the time and energy you were going to put into building and updating and maintaining your portfolio? Ye, spend that on meeting and engaging with people. You’ll see 100x return on your time that way. (FYI: I can count the number of people who’ve asked to see my portfolio on one hand).

5. If you value yourself, so will others

Thinking you charge too much means your customers will think that as well. Charge what you think it’s worth, and be confident in that; then, show customers why. They’ll appreciate and respect the fact that they’re getting a premium product. It’s like take out vs. a Michelin-star meal - there’s a reason people pay for the latter. BONUS: People brag about the Michelin-star meal they had to their friends… (See: Network trumps portfolio)

6. Social media isn’t for everyone

If your customers don’t use Instagram, why do you? Build a following where-ever you want to, but make sure you know why you’re doing it. Don’t just do it because every other freelancer you see is doing it. They’ve probably thought about why they use the channel they do. You should to.

7. You can (and should) be vulnerable with customers

Time and again, my customers reach out a hand, and even some of their own vulnerability, when I open up a little bit about where I’m at, what I think, what I’m feeling… It’s not only very freeing, but it also builds really genuine relationships with people. And it builds trust. Don’t dish out therapy V2 to them, but just be a human being, you know?

8. You have to really know why you’re doing this

Freelancing can get tough, and you have to know why you’re doing it if you want to push through those valleys. The hills are amazing, but it’s those uphills after the valley that suck if you’re half-arsing it. Plus, knowing the “why” helps you with #5 of this list. The knock-on effects of understanding this point are far-reaching.

9. Create, create, create — at every possible turn

The best way to show who you are — and, moreover, figure out who you are, as a freelancer — is to create as much as you can! Even if it’s tangential to the work you do, showing up and creating “stuff” is the best sale pitch you could ever make. It shows an energy, a discipline, and an ethic that customers value… and it helps you broaden your own scope of what you can actually do when you put the time into it. Priceless.

10. Work fast and small

I find that my customers truly appreciate that I work in small iterative chunks, rather than delivering big things in one go. Firstly, it makes it less likely I spend time on something that needs course-correcting or adjusting; and secondly, customers feel wholly involved in the process right from the start. They go from customer, to partner… and that’s something that keeps them coming back.

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