Talking to new freelancers who see it as a job rather than like running a small business...
When I talk publicly about how I have been a full-time freelancer for the past 3 years, I find I get a lot of comments like "I tried that but no one reached out on my website" or questions like "oh what site do you use?" I think there's an assumption that freelancing is just posting your resume on your site and on Upwork and either the gigs roll in or you're no good at it.
Instead, the way I have thought of it is like running a small business: you craft what the "product" you're selling is (something you can do), you find out how to market that to your potential customers, and you build strategies to mitigate the risks your business could face. (All of this after, of course, you waste a couple weeks redoing your portfolio site and researching whether you need an LLC...)
To save myself time when people ask in the future, I wound up writing these thoughts into a blog post.
Is that how you went about it when you got started? Or is there another way of running a freelance career I haven't learned about yet?
Excellent read!
I've been meaning to write up something on topic of "you're small business, not an enployee" but never could find time.
Definently sharing this article the next time someone asks how to be a freelancer.
Keep up the good work Zack!