The world of freelancing is an exciting one, filled with possibilities and empowerment. However, it also has more than its fair share of pitfalls to avoid. One of the biggest potential problems of being a freelancer comes with your presentation. You may know that you’re amazing at what you do, but little errors will make you seem like an amateur. The best advice is to present yourself in the same professional light that small businesses do. These simple tips will help you accomplish exactly that.
Connect Everything to Your Domain
If you’re a freelancer who gets work, there’s a good chance that you’ve already made a portfolio on the Web to showcase your talent. If you’re still running off a Wordpress or Blogspot, that’s the first thing you need to change. Once you have a professional domain name, you’ll want to start integrating everything with it.
One of the major items to integrate is your email address. Some people are reluctant to do this because having a Google ID or other similar address provides specific advantages like the following ones:
- The use of Google Documents,
- Tracking appointments with Google Calendar,
- And networking with Blogger.
Luckily, many email hosting groups provide Google application integration. That means you can continue to use Google’s services and synchronize with other systems while maintaining your professional email address.
Invest in Security
Freelancers often leave security as a low priority, even as they continue to grow in their chosen fields. However, nothing says “don’t trust me” quite like sending someone a virus. To prevent this, invest in antivirus software for your computer and in higher-class email hosting security to prevent any form of malware from commandeering your message.
Security goes beyond protecting your clients from viruses and spyware. Backing up files is another area where you need to protect yourself and customers. Having backup versions of your files, contracts, invoices, and more will reduce the potential fallout of a computer crash. The use of external hard drives, online storage, or flash drives is one way to protect your important documents.
Organize Client Notes
Assuming you’re attentive to your client’s needs, you’ll have plenty of notes on your interactions. While notepad files and email records provide a solid start in this sector, it can quickly become painful to manage all the data. Beyond that, if you ever want to collaborate with another individual or group, the transition is a maelstrom. By investing in a contact management system, such as Sales Junction, Batch Book, Sales Force, or Inside Sales, you can improve that part of your work.
Use Professional Documents
You can create makeshift invoices, contracts, proposals, and client hour tabulations on your own. However, it’s a good idea to invest in dedicated software that makes you look like you own a professional business.
When you take the right steps to make your freelance business into a professional one, you can enjoy the freedom associated with freelancing. You can work where you want, when you want, for whomever you want. Investing in simple extras like those mentioned above can help you run a successful business.
