No matter what industry you’re in, being a freelancer who does purely online work is a bittersweet experience. There are definitely a lot of perks that come with working freelance and providing virtual assistant services or other services remotely. These include working from anywhere in the world, choosing how many or how few hours you want to work each week, avoiding the daily commute, and for some people, complete flexibility when it comes to their work hours.
However, most freelance jobs online have a very short lifespan which means that you don’t have job security. You can be teeming with clients one week and entirely at a loss why you’re suddenly out of work the next. Still, many freelancers and online workers agree that the perks of going freelance outweigh the risks — you just have to be smart about it.
If you want to make sure that your freelance career blossoms, here are 5 useful tips on how to be a smart freelancer.
Don’t settle for a single regular client.
As mentioned, the lifespan of freelance jobs isn’t that long. You’re lucky to have a regular client paying you to work 40 hours a week for a couple of years! That’s why it’s important to have backup jobs in case a major source of your income suddenly disappears. This way, you won’t be left completely empty handed when your full-time client suddenly pulls out.
Plan your day.
Even if you have 100% schedule flexibility, you still have to have a general plan for your workday. This will help you stay on track and remain productive.
When applying for a job, keep your options open.
Don’t think that just because you want a full-time job you can ignore the part-time job offers you get. Because you’re working freelance, you have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to what takes up your hours. Instead of having one 40-hour-per-week client, you can have two clients that each require you to work 20 hours. Remember, you’ve got a lot of flexibility now and that applies to more than just your schedule or workplace.
Have a designated workspace.
Even if you don’t have a lot of space for a full-fledged home office, you can still have a little corner of your room as your designated workspace. This means that you will only work when you’re in that part of the house. This will help you avoid distractions and stay focused on your work.
Go outside and work with other people from time to time.
Don’t forget to socialize! It’s amazing that you get to work from home in your pajamas, but it still helps to socialize every now and then. Go to your favorite cafe or to a local coworking space maybe once or twice a month. Aside from keeping your social life healthy, this can also help you expand your professional network.
When you work as a smart freelancer, you will definitely have a long and fulfilling career, and you won’t have to go back to a regular office job anymore! The freelance lifestyle can be challenging, but the perks truly outweigh the risks.
This work from home course is suitable for everyone who is transitioning to working from home, including those who are new to remote working and those who already work as a regular part of their work week.
Watch this video for more details.
Work at home quickly became the go-to alternative to working in a physical office space.
People from several industries have adapted well to operating remotely and have been able to enjoy the numerous benefits that this practice accompanies.Working at home is not just the ideal solution for employees but the clients as well.
Running a company requires one to bear the costs of assorted services and belongings including electricity, rent, administration, internet connectivity, data storage, housekeeping, office furniture, and more.
Also, you feel less stressed when working in a home environment, which leads to a happier professional life and may improve customer satisfaction as well.
Time and money-saving People who work from home would be able to save a substantial amount of money spent on transportation, gas, parking fees, vehicle maintenance, lunches bought out, and more.
It also increases the chances of a positive outcome of their work.
