Freelancing is a big, catch-all term for anyone who does specific work for clients without a full-time employment commitment. Freelancers are self-employed—which means you are running your own business—and do contract work per project or per hour for a flat fee or for an hourly rate. Most projects are short-term but successful freelancers usually retain clients over a long period of time, some for several years. You can work remotely or in-house.
Although the work varies greatly, there are some skills (and some traits) that successful freelancers share. Whether you’re at the beginning of your freelance career and thinking about exploring it further or you’ve been doing it for a while and want to see some improvement, these common skills of successful freelancers will help you focus on the areas that are most important to start and grow your business.
1. Passion for Their Work
Freelancers love what they do! They have found a niche in which they are subject matter experts or can provide exceptional service. They believe in delivering the best work for their clients and take pride in doing so.
How do you stand out from the freelance competition? What is your USP? Digging into what makes you special shows how you can translate your passion into a benefit for your client—and makes you the go-to freelancer they turn to.
2. Communication Skills
As a freelancer, it’s critical that you are clear in your communications with clients. That means everything from your phone calls to your written agreement to your delivery of your final work.
Open dialogue and setting clear expectations for the delivery of your work are imperative for your success.
3. Consistency and Flexibility
The best freelancers consistently reply to emails promptly, deliver work on time and on target, and can pivot if the project changes—which it does often!
The work might vary depending on the project and topic, but you should always be professional and responsive in your dealings with clients.
4. Responsibility and Self-Discipline
As a freelancer, you are entirely responsible for getting that project done. That means you need to be highly disciplined. You cannot let a quick break checking your social media accounts turn into a two-hour delay when you’re on a deadline.
5. Time Management and Organization
Speaking of deadlines, freelancers work under deadline, some of which can be very tight. I’m often working on three to five projects for different clients (in very different industries) in the same day.
Good time management is a skill freelancers likely already possess but they continue to fine-tune it as they continue their career. Staying focused and meeting your deadlines are critical for success.
6. Business Sense
Again, freelancing is running your own business, and that includes so many business skills you never may have used or thought about! You’ll need to know about pricing your services, bartering services, strategies to get clients, negotiating, networking, sending pitches, invoicing, dealing with taxes, and more!
But you can develop systems and reach out to professional experts who can help. You don’t need to figure out everything all at once. (If you haven’t already, check out our Freelance Success Framework training where you can join the course and community that will give you the proven steps and support to land a steady stream of clients and build the lifestyle and income you want.)
7. Resiliency
Working as a freelancer is often a roller coaster. Clients’ budgets run out and work dries up. A pandemic appears out of the blue and puts a halt on all the in-person events you had planned for clients. Your computer gets a virus, and it takes you two days to get back online again.
Everyone experiences setbacks, but it’s your job to learn from those lessons and bounce back. Are you not pitching enough to cover for clients who run out of money mid-year in their marketing budget? Did you not have a computer backup? There are some things you can plan for to prevent derailing your business.
Watch More: Freelancing as a Career
In this episode of the Freelance Success Framework podcast, Nicki and Kate shed light on the common freelance myth that freelancing isn’t a real “career” and why freelancing is more “real” than most other careers.
Your Turn
What are some skills you possess that have made you a more successful freelancer? Let us know in the comments below!
