8 Great Habits of a Successful Freelancer

Having the freedom to work for yourself and being your own boss certainly has its benefits. Becoming a freelancer gives you the opportunity to work the hours you like, choose the projects you work on and choose the ways in which you work, too. But as a freelancer you also have just one person to depend on when you are trying to be successful - yourself! Here are eight rules the best freelancers follow to help them succeed:

1. Market Yourself
Not everyone likes to do it, but as a freelancer, you'll need to be prepared to constantly market yourself. If you want business to come your way, you'll have to go out and find it. This means calling or emailing people, attending events associated with your field, advertising if possible, networking and even hosting your own meetings with potential clients - one-to-one or in a larger group.

2. Be Persistent
Be prepared to handle rejection, but also be prepared to persist when you feel there is still a window of opportunity. If you don't get a response to your email or voicemail message, contact the person again until you get a response. If a client says they are not interested in your current work, call them again when you have something more suitable to show them. Try not to be annoying, but do all that you can to remind people about who you are and what you have to offer them.

3. Be Professional
Set a high standard of professionalism for yourself and your freelancing business. Meet deadlines, deliver what you promise, always be polite, have a standard of quality to your work and don't slack in any areas. This is always something that clients look for in their freelancers.

4. Follow Up
Take the time to follow up communication with your client after completing a piece of work. Thank them for their business and ask them what they thought about your work - both what they liked or felt could have been better. Feedback is always invaluable when a person is looking to continually improve. At the same time, by maintaining your communication with clients, you might ask if there are any future projects they could have for you or suggest they keep you in mind if some come up.

5. Build Your Reputation
Although all the above points contribute to this field, it is important to recognize the need to have a long-term strategy of building up your reputation. By being consistent with your quality of work and the manner in which you handle your clients and their needs, you'll develop a good reputation, i.e., for being dependable, punctual, professional and delivering a high quality of work. This means clients will be persuaded to use you again and recommend you to other potential clients, too.

6. Be Proactive and Creative
When trying to gain more business, you'll need to be as proactive and as creative as you can. Never stop looking for more ways to generate new business even when you are already working on projects. Put yourself out there and approach everyone you can think of who could potentially use your services - join forums, online and offline networking events, mention your work to friends and family, take every opportunity to hand out business cards, etc.

It helps if you can be creative with your marketing approaches, too. For example, if you are a writer and a national magazine rejects your story, try a different angle for a local newspaper. If that doesn't work, approach a website or popular e-zine. Sometimes, you might have to offer your services for free, e.g., speaking at an event or offering to write for a charity publication, before you can reap the rewards of having more business come your way.

7. Have a Niche
Most freelancers who are successful have learnt to master and specialize in a niche of their field, e.g., a children's sites web designer or medical health writer. This helps you build up a reputation and client list in a chosen niche field and helps you stand out above freelancers who have less specialized knowledge.

8. Create a Website
Today having a website is a necessity for all freelancers. Someone once described not having one as being like a person who has no phone in their office! A website will help show clients that you are credible and a professional. You can use it to show examples of your work, help brand yourself, help to sell you and your work, and direct clients to your contact details, thus helping you in your business networking efforts. It doesn't have to be elaborate or cost a fortune - even a simple website will help boost your credentials.

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