Working as a freelancer has loads of benefits. From being able to work from home to being able to make your own hours, there are countless reasons for going freelance that inspire hundreds of people every year to choose to work independently.
Before you make up your mind to go freelance, however, you need to decide on what type of work will best suit you. Perhaps you’re in a job in which you feel unfulfilled, and would like to change careers. Maybe you are already in an industry that you love, but desire the freedom to do things your way. Whatever your reason for going freelance, choosing the right line of work will go a long way to ensuring that you are successful.
Choose to Write Professionally
Many people decide to take writing on as their freelance industry of choice. This is most likely because writing is something the majority of us know how to do, and writing on a freelance basis sounds like it might be a fun idea. But writing professionally is just as fraught with difficulties and pitfalls as any other career path, and it’s important to understand just exactly what writing professionally entails, before branching out on your own.
Know How to Advertise Yourself
Just as with any other type of professional, all writers need to advertise themselves. This means knowing where your strengths lie, having enough experience to be able to catch the eye of potential clients, having a body of work which can show off your skills, and being fully conversant with modern pricing structures. Writers also face the added difficulty of working in an oversaturated market, in which there are thousands of other independent professionals who are willing to offer their services for reduced rates. With this in mind, you need to be able to offer something that other writers do not. This could be anything from world experience for travel writers, to a particular palette for food writers. You may also find that you can edge out competition by offering a quick turnaround or additional services, such as proofing.
Finding Help to Overcome Challenges
Going freelance also entails other challenges which will need to be attended to, and which can make transitioning from in-house employment to independent work much more difficult. Processes such as doing your taxes can be complicated and time consuming. However, there are resources to help you make the process of going freelance a little easier, from the contracting opportunites offered at www.net-work-1.co.uk to certain benefits which will help you offset the cost of setting up a home office.