Reassure them of your commitment to the project and the importance of getting it done and discuss the progress that has already been made. Also, remind them of where you stand with the current budget along with making changes that were previously discussed. Address the topics, if any, that are important to discuss and let them know when the next scheduled call should be and where your progress should stand by then. Finally, be clear on when you’ll be available and when you won’t and explain why.
Be aware of your client’s cultural characteristics and you’ll avoid making any embarrassing remarks. Remember, the rules may not always be the same in both your country and your client’s. You should also take into consideration holidays they may be observing and don’t mistakenly set up a meeting during a holiday that they may have taken time off for.
Showcase your skills and expertise on social media because that’s where clients are looking as well. Build a presence on platforms like LinkedIn where many organizations and those who have the budget to pay more are seeking top talent like yourself.
Make yourself visible on platforms that are specific to your work. For example, if you’re a freelance software engineer you should be offering your services on platforms that focus on this area and where potential clients are seeking freelancers within this field.
Are you sharing your expertise, knowledge, and skills to a large enough audience? Share what you know via podcasts, webinars and even E-learning platforms where you have the opportunity to teach those who are interested in your field and possibly earn passive income from an additional channel.
Do you work in an area that doesn’t offer much pay? Consider switching over to a field that can offer you a higher income. Research what the most in-demand skills are and see if any of those areas interest you.
You are more likely to receive better paying gigs when you and others collaborate to generate larger opportunities and look for clients together. Instead of thinking about the hourly pay, think about the size of the project and the opportunities that may come about from that.
Raising your freelance rate is an important part of growing as a freelancer, however, if you already have a well-established client base, it can be a bit tricky. Before you go ahead and have the conversation with your clients, make sure that you do your homework.
Being straightforward is extremely important when working with clients and it’s also the best approach to take when raising your rates. No need to send them a long email or text message about the fact that you want to charge more. Instead, set up a call and speak to them directly.
While you’re about to charge more for the same services, your client will want to understand what they’ll gain from this increase. Be clear about what you’ll be offering them in exchange for your new price and explain to your clients how the increase will benefit them.
Explain to your clients that you’re bringing up your rate due to what’s fair and that it’s totally acceptable for someone with your background, experience, and expertise. It’s up to you to make them fully understand your position and what you’re worth.
Be picky with which clients you want to raise rates with. Meaning, for more marginal clients, who are typically the more loyal, you may want to increase your rates only slightly, or not even increase them at all. For other clients that typically seek your unique skills, you’ll for sure want to increase your rates.
If some of your clients are struggling to accept the full increase, do your best to be flexible and even offer them more time until you make the change. For example, if they are not ready to pay you more, at least give them more time. This way you don’t harm the relationship and lose them. Don’t ever make your client feel rushed.
Artificial intelligence is slowly becoming more mainstream and sooner or later, you’ll find that it will be replacing customer support work that’s done by freelancers as well as customer success. In fact, a recent survey found that 70% of large organizations require workers to have both automation and AI skills.
As businesses worldwide were forced to shut down their stores as a result of COVID-19, many shifted to operating their business solely online. With digital businesses on the rise, you should take advantage of this and learn how to build and develop a professional site.
Cloud computing is another technical/hard skill that many companies are seeking workers for. Having cloud technology expertise has quickly become very essential for larger organizations so if you’re thinking of growing your skill set, then this is one that many are looking for.
Software development skills have been on the list for the most in-demand tech skills for quite some time now. Demand is also growing faster than across most areas of IT due to the increasing number of apps on the market.
It’s important that you future-proof not only your technical skills but also your soft skills. We gain more work with our hard skills, but we could easily lose opportunities if we lack some basic soft skills. Below are the most critical soft skills to own.
Whether you’re going part-time or full-time, working as a freelancer can truly feel like you’re in the jungle. From knowing how to set your rate to working with clients from different parts of the world, you’ll have to learn how to work hard during every stage.
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There is a lot of advice I can share on how to become a successful freelancer, however, I’d like to focus on the first step, in miniature, what you need before you approach your first client.
Your internet presence is crucial to winning new clients. Clients will Google potential freelancers before we hire their services. At the very least, you need a basic website but you can also use any spare time you have to build up your presence across the web.
Your website doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, unless, of course, your skills are web development and design. It simply needs to highlight your skills and contact details while being optimised for the right keywords, for search engine optimisation, to ensure people find you through Google or Bing.
Choose the social media you use the most and are the most familiar with. Don’t forget to separate your personal and professional profiles online. Your friends will be useful for spreading the word, but your professional persona needs to centre around your work, not the family roast on a Sunday.
There are many websites that allow you to add your business profile to their database. Some act as a marketplace and will charge if you win work through their site. Others are simply informative for clients seeking out your skills. A business profile on sites such as TechCrunch ensures you’re searchable in all the right places.
Your next step is to build a portfolio, this may involve offering your services for a lower cost or for free. This may sound counter productive but the benefits are far reaching. For instance, when I started out as a copywriter and marketing consultant many years ago, I wrote articles for a dollar each. I was over the moon to be paid anything for doing a job I loved. It took just a few months of building my portfolio before I was offered 100x that for my articles. Last year I was shortlisted as the Best Role Model in IT, and I won the Working Mother of the Year Award in 2014 (excuse the trumpet blowing, it’s unavoidable sometimes!) I would never have achieved any of that if I didn’t start out understanding the need for clients to see my work before they invested in me.
You can also use examples of work you’ve carried out for family and friends, previous employers and through courses. Even now, I still offer my services for free, as I offer a free initial consultation, as when you have professional skills in tech, it can be a big investment for a client to make, they need to discover if you will gel.
When freelancers come to me for advice on gaining their first client, one of the biggest obstacles they face is being able to blow their own trumpet. Let’s face it, we’re proud geeks, we’re not necessarily sales people and it can feel strange to constantly promote our skills to potential clients. Unfortunately, this is a skill you do need to hone in order to win work, you need to be completely confident in your own ability and believe you can do the job better than anyone else (or cheaper, or quicker, or you can provide more value for money). Your portfolio will help with this as it proves what you can do, while it’s also a great idea to gather testimonials, references and positive feedback from anyone you’ve ever offered your services to.
As females, we’re fortunate, as most of us love to help a fellow woman in tech get her feet on the ladder of professional success. There are also many groups and platforms we can join to spread the word about our services, while receiving support and advice from members. Seek out the groups that speak to you and connect with influential people over Twitter and LinkedIn. Trade favours with friends and offer others an incentive for recommending your services.
As there are so few women in tech, you’ll find that once you have your first client your list will snowball. Word of mouth is still the most effective form of advertising, and as long as you’re good at what you do, the clients will come to you. Don’t forget to take advantage of all the help on offer from websites like this, and remember there are a lot of women in business who will happily help you to succeed. All you need is the ambition, determination and passion for hard work.
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Are you a freelance computer worker hoping to work in the United Arab Emirates and broaden your horizons? Fortunately for you, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide that not only illuminates the route to realising your desire but also provides you with useful, doable actions. Now let’s get started!
The UAE is a burgeoning hotspot for digital talent in addition to being a tourism destination with futuristic cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Due to its tax-free income policy and dedication to technology advancement, the nation attracts freelance IT workers from around the globe. However, how can one enter this profitable market?
You should familiarise yourself with the local regulations and visa procedures before packing your baggage. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled the ‘Freelancer Visa,’ which is designed to draw in foreign talent in a range of fields, including technology. You can live and work as a freelancer in the United Arab Emirates with this visa. Nevertheless, there are a number of requirements to obtain this visa, such as a business plan, evidence of your freelance employment, and occasionally a local sponsor.