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Freelancing is a competitive field, and as a profession, it’s not very secure. That’s why in order to succeed as a freelancer, certain qualities will set you apart. Freelancing is a lot of fun and is a great way to keep your creativity budding, as long as you keep the following factors in mind.
- Superb Research Skills. As a freelance writer, it’s likely that you won’t always be allowed to pick your topics, but that you will be expected to sound like an expert. As long as you have access to sources and are willing to put in the time and research, it will definitely show in your work.
- Time Management. Many freelancers work from home and balance other projects, assignments and jobs. In order to meet deadline, it is vital to have outstanding time-management skills. Because you won’t always have a boss dictating your schedule, you’ve got to be able to organize your own. Self-discipline is a must. Mastering time management is easier than you think.
- Awesome Communication. Because you may not necessarily be stepping into an office every day, being reachable by your superiors is very important. What’s even more important is maintaining a professional tone. With so much communication not occurring face to face, it’s easy to get lazy with your emails. However, these messages are among the very few impressions your employers will be getting from you – so you must make them count. Being professional means avoiding certain phrases that can be extremely counterproductive for both you and your employer.
- Flexibility. Flexibility is among one of the many benefits of freelancing. You’re pretty free to pick your own schedule and write about what you choose, but freelancers who broaden their boundaries are the ones who will be valued. There will certainly be topics outside of your comfort zone, but picking them up anyway and being willing to put the extra time into them goes a long, long way.
- Reliability. Missing deadlines is among the biggest freelance no-no’s, and flaking on assignments will red flag you moving forward with the company. Being available at a moment’s notice will put you at the top of the list for sure. Your supervisors will appreciate how dependable you are and will most likely reward you in the long run.
- Attention to Detail. Meeting deadline means nothing if the finished project is just so-so. Attention to detail means that you’ve hit every checkpoint of your assignment and have done so with little questioning. You must also make sure that the copy you are submitting is practically pristine with little error. This means your grammar is on point and there is not a typo in sight.
- Creativity. While some freelance gigs are straightforward, others like writing and design require a great deal of creativity. As a freelance writer, I often have to find unique and interesting content ideas that the audience will enjoy. This often requires out-of-the-box thinking to look at popular topics in different ways and find out what hasn’t been covered yet.
- Be Receptive. Accepting feedback, criticism and direction is part of any writing job and is extremely important when it comes to freelance. Be receptive and modest when receiving instructions and edits. Both are important for continued success.
Freelancing should be an enjoyable and challenging career, but figuring out how to make the most of it is really important. Making sure you hone in on these seven qualities and working to enhance them in yourself will ensure that your profession is more satisfying for both you and your employer.
