So, you've finally taken the plunge into the world of self-employment. Firstly, well done! It's a huge decision, a scary decision, and likely not one you've made lightly. So, kudos to you for ripping the band aid off!
Since going freelance back in 2021 I have truly found the work life balance I used to only dream about, and made my work days work for me. I'm no longer a slave to my laptop, nevermore will I suffer from micromanagement or feel trapped by the toxicity of presenteeism.
I get asked a lot by marketers considering making the move to freelance for the best tips and advice I have for them, or what I wished I knew when I did it myself, and while I didn't really know what I was doing and jumped right in at the deep end, there are a few things that I've learned over the years that are definitely worth sharing!
Find your community
Whether that's the wonderful Women in Tech SEO community, the incredible Digital Marketing Union, the very specific Neurodivergents in SEO or the free spirited Digital Freelancers Slack channel that I started when I didn't know where else to find people to talk to, it's so important to surround yourself with like-minded people who will support and encourage you, who will share advice when needed, or who you can just chat shit with when you need a break from your silly little emails.
Market yourself
Probably the hardest piece of the self-employment puzzle for many freelancers is shouting about their own work. I'll admit, this is still something I struggle with - even as I enter my fourth year of freelancing. But sharing your wins on LinkedIn or BlueSky or your right wing social media of choice is one of the easiest ways to get your experience in front of potential clients, and build up a network of connections that could help you secure your next project.
Go with your gut
This one can take some time to really finesse, especially if you've come from a toxic workplace that doesn't place value on "good" vs "bad" opportunities, but you need to listen to your gut if something feels off. If you're getting bad vibes from a potential client, or you're seeing red flags in the discussion stage, don't expect those things to change once you're on board and tied into a contract.
I don't know a single freelancer who doesn't have a story of an opportunity they said yes to despite alarm bells ringing in their heads, just because they were desperate for work or didn't want to pass on working with a certain brand. Trust me when I say that these opportunities are few and far between, and there are way more good than bad - you need to trust your instincts more than ever when it's just you.
Know your worth
This is something most freelancers will struggle with in their first year, especially if they have come from an agency and have a view of how much the work is billed out at vs what you were getting paid, but whatever you think is a good starting day rate - it's not. Increase your fee immediately.
Don't know where to start? Freelancer platform Yuno Juno releases an annual report which highlights the average day rates of freelancers across a range of industries and professions, which gives a really good benchmark of where you should be basing your own rate. Don't forget that as a freelancer your day rate needs to not only cover your own time and labour, but also: taxes, cost of your equipment, holiday and sick pay, any tools you purchase to do your job, and more.
I repeat: increase your fee immediately.
Get an accountant
Unless you love math and are a sucker for punishment, don't mess around with your own businesses finances. Hire a professional. Even if it's just to have a free consultation to find out what you need to be aware of as a freelancer, or to simply get a pro to do your tax returns for you, HMRC is no joke. Get an accountant.
I'd love to know what else you think new freelancers should know before they jump in, or what you yourself would like to know - let me know in the comments!
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