What image comes to your mind when you think of freelancing? A nerd with a cup of coffee looking rich?
CAREER COUNSELLING
What image comes to your mind when you think of freelancing? A nerd with a cup of coffee looking rich? Dollars popping up in your bank account? Well, I see a lazy person sitting on a comfy armchair, with chips and soda on the side, working on a laptop to earn a salary higher than someone grinding in a traditional office for more than eight hours everyday.
Whatever images we have in our heads will always be deceiving as this mysterious world of freelancing can only be deciphered when experienced firsthand.
As someone drawn to the idea of freelancing, I recently attended a session, ‘Roadmap of Freelancing’, organised by PUAN Karachi in collaboration with DORTS and PAK Global Maheshwaris Forum at Lincoln Corner, Liaqat Library. Immediately, struck by the Gen Z energy in the room, I understood how desperate the younger generation is to find their own ways of earning money, and to not fit into the corporate world where freedom is almost unattainable – also, I felt really old as a millennial!
Let’s delve into some of the key discussions at the session to give you a flavour of freelancing:
Freelancing is great, but not an easy path
Shifa Kashif, a digital marketer and creative strategist, started her freelancing career during the pandemic. After exploring her interests extensively, she realised digital marketing was where she was going to thrive. She shared some lessons she learnt along the way:
* Discover your interest, because that is going to take you to your first client. Your interests will turn into your strength with training and practise.
* You learn so much from the resources online, but also don’t underestimate the power of learning from others. Learning from people 10 years ahead cannot just help you learn industry secrets but also save time. And there is so much to learn from other people’s mistakes, too.
* Before you begin, eliminate false expectations, such as, ‘’freelancing is a get-rich-quick scheme”, because it requires significant time and effort.
* Adopting a long-term mindset from the very beginning will help you move towards your goal one day at a time. There is no speeding up!
Getting your first client
Neha Shafiq, a 20-year-old, sales and marketing specialist, shared her expertise on securing clients through social media, networking and email marketing.
Identifying your ideal client
To get your first client, you need to identify your ideal client persona (ICP). Research their industry, needs, and pain points. Use this information to create a targeted pitch highlighting your skills and services.
Crafting a compelling pitch
Use all the information you’ve collected to develop a personalised pitch. Show off your skills and services, and talk about how you can solve the client’s problems. Make them believe that they really need your services. Use psychology to make your pitch more compelling.
Following up
Yes, emails get dumped, but emailing is the only professional way to stay in touch with your potential clients, pitching your offer and highlighting your unique value proposition. Use email extensions like Hunter or Email Finder to find email addresses. Divide your email pitch into four steps: introduction, problem identification, solution, and call-to-action.
Utilising freelancing platforms
Use freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find clients. Create a solid profile and pitch your services. Follow up with potential clients and highlight your skills and services. But the truth is these platforms are saturated and for beginners it could get really frustrating to find clients. So in the initial stages, invest time on building your profile: do some tasks for free and request people to post a review for you, for instance.
Leveraging Facebook groups
The power of Facebook groups is huge! Join Facebook groups related to your industry or niche. Identify pain points and offer solutions. Target prospects and pitch your offer. And do connect to fellow freelances on such groups, help them and seek their help when stuck.
Leveraging LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an unexplored and underrated territory for many freelancers, but it is actually the most powerful platform for offering services to clients. Create an impressive LinkedIn profile and post daily. Starting from a professional portrait of you on display to courses and certificates you have, fill your profile with everything you have got in terms of skills, education, and experiences. Use LinkedIn’s search feature to find potential clients and identify their pain points. Pitch your offer and follow up. Your foolproof pitch will bring them to your profile, and your well-crafted profile will seal the deal.
Freelancing can be an extremely freeing experience if done right! A lot of learning and the courage to face disappointments are the only two things you need to be a freelancer!
Uncertainty. In giving up a regular salary, you must accept that you will never be entirely sure where your next paycheck is coming from. This can be unnerving for some.
Competition. In some freelance areas there is a lot of competition from other freelancers. If you aren’t careful and strategic this can drive the prices down to unsustainably low levels for your work.
Unpredictability. When you work for clients, you need to be able to respond to their timelines. Sometimes this might clash with your own needs or timelines.
