The notion of what defines a traditional workplace structure is evolving as the freelance economy continues to grow and as more employers need their services. No longer are independent/freelance workers confined to working remotely and juggling many projects for various companies. You can now find freelance workers in corporate offices, marketing agencies, and other 9-5 businesses working alongside full-time employees. In fact, independent workers currently make up 34% of the American workforce and experts expect that number to increase to 50% of the private workforce by 2020.
Even as freelancing becomes more prevalent and employer hiring behaviors are changing, it can still be nerve racking to make the jump from a full-time marketing employee to joining the freelance workforce. But in reality, you may have more job security and benefits as a contractor than you do as a salaried employee. Discover 5 ways you can start preparing to become a freelance marketer now to ensure you will have success if you decide to make the transition in the future.
Build Your Network
One of the best things you can do as a freelance marketer is to start networking and letting people know that you’re looking to transition into contract marketing. Let former colleagues, friends, and even family know about your plans and your expertise. With an increased emphasis on marketing in growing businesses, you never know who might have a need for your services. Also, it takes time to build up a client base so you don’t want to wait until you’ve quit your job to let people know about your plans.
Don’t just reserve your networking to your existing group of contacts. Make sure you’re active on social media, especially LinkedIn, and reaching out to new professionals. Go to networking groups, become a regular at industry events, and even frequent local coffee shops and coworking spaces. The more people who know about your services and skills, the better chance you have of finding work when the time comes.
Showcase Your Personal Brand
A huge part of finding new clients and gigs for freelance marketers is done online and through social media. Since someone is not meeting you face to face, their first impression of you is going to be from your LinkedIn profile or personal website. Even though you’re selling your skills, you’re also selling yourself. And if people don’t like you, then they’re not going to buy your services.
Make sure all of your social media profiles are accurate and positively reflect the skills you’re trying to showcase. Get active on Twitter and LinkedIn, participate in industry conversations, and position yourself as an expert in your field. This won’t happen overnight and is something you can start building today.
Create a Portfolio
You can tell potential clients about your skills and expertise, but oftentimes it comes down to them seeing actual work samples to really make a decision on whether or not to use your services. One way you can showcase your talent is by creating a personal website or an online portfolio.
For example, if you’re looking to become a freelance graphic designer, make sure you have a personal website or work samples that show off your skills and creativity. If you have a sloppy or unfinished personal website, it reflects poorly on your work and may discourage a potential client from using your services. Also, make sure the samples your provide accurately represent your work and the services you’re offering.
Find a Mentor
There are many different tips and articles on the internet about working as a freelancer, but some of the best advice will come from someone who actually has experience working as a contractor. There are many forums and Meetups dedicated to freelancers, but you can even meet other freelancers at coffee shops or coworking spaces. And even if they’re not freelance marketers, they can still provide advice for getting clients and may know a client who needs your services.
Apply For Freelance Opportunities
When you’re just starting out as a freelancer, it may be difficult to find steady work and contracts on your own, but you there are many sites dedicated to helping place freelancers in contract roles with top companies. According to research from Randstad, 72 percent of HR professionals consider finding workers a challenge because the talent pool is lacking, and a separate study found that 70 percent of companies had hired a freelancer.
This research shows that there are companies looking to hire freelancers for their specialized skills. Sites like Guru or marketing staffing companies help freelancers connect with current open contracts. You can either apply to specific open marketing positions or submit your resume for recruiters to review.
The transition from full-time employee to freelancer may seem scary at first, but with the right preparation, you can have a more successful career as a freelance marketer.
