2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
Newcomers to the freelance industry believe that they need to take on any task, for any customer caught on the Web, in order to earn some money, build up a reputation and experience, and in general somehow "unwind" as an independent specialist. But in reality, the situation is somewhat different. You don't have to take on everything that is offered, and here's why.
Why customer selectivity works
Mike McDerment, CEO of FreshBooks, formerly ran a small freelance design agency. And he changed his approach to pricing and picking orders so as to take into account not only the hours spent, but also the quality of work. He selected projects so that they would suit his employees in terms of schedule, price and conditions. As a result, a group of freelancers under his leadership began to earn more, while saving time to complete orders (which would not have happened if they grabbed on to everything).
In addition, this selective attitude has allowed Mike to earn himself a reputation as a designer with whom everyone wants to work (and it is not so easy for a freelancer to achieve this if he takes on everything that comes under his arm).
How to be selective
For starters: take customers only in the area that interests you, in a specific thematic niche, in a specific technology, relationship format, etc. Depending on the choice you made, your future work and professional reputation will take shape.
If you are a designer and prefer to work on the creation of logos, then devote yourself to the selection of customers in this particular niche. If you like writing texts with mobile app reviews, focus on this topic. If you want to do video reviews, study, pull up your skills, manner and technical base in this direction. If you are developing for a specific platform or technology, grow professionally in this area. And you should select customers for yourself on freelance exchanges and thematic resources, too, in the direction you have chosen.
The choice of customers and projects will allow you to work more productively and with more inspiration than in the case when you are engaged in a routine of all stripes and directions. Motivation has a huge impact on efficiency, which means how much money you can make and what projects you can take on.
And do not accumulate a snowball of projects by taking on everything that is offered to you. Know how to give up on time those projects and tasks for which you obviously do not have enough time and skills.
When selectivity hurts
Before you start ditching new tellers right and left, make sure your current professional position allows you to take such a risky and responsible step.
Be honest with yourself: after all, selectivity is a good trait for a person who has certain skills at a fairly high level, has some experience and solid competitive knowledge in his field. If you don't have enough experience, strive to gain it, improve your theoretical knowledge and practical skills, so that the selective attitude towards projects and customers has objective reasons.
When starting your freelance career, take your time to overclock 90% of your new customers. However, do not be a "scavenger" who does all the work in a row, even the deliberately low-paid and inconvenient.
What will ultimately result in a selective attitude towards work and clients
The myths that selectivity hurts and scares most potential customers away from you are akin to the idea that everyone should have a typical lifestyle, accepted clothing standards, or a recipe for a successful career, a happy family, and corporate goals achievement. There are no universal recipes; so here. Do not be afraid to be judiciously selective and discard projects that are known to be unprofitable, unrealistic, or unjustified. Yes, getting more orders in the short run is a cool feeling. But in the long run, it will result in constant lack of sleep, overwork, decreased quality and more moral, physical and financial losses than you can imagine.
So be selective and work only with those and on those conditions that seem objective to you! And you will have freelance happiness:)
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