Freelancing Coach Shares 12 Tips to Be a Better Freelancer

I became a freelancing coach by accident, in a way. After earning my first six-figure salary, starting a blog, booking speaking events, and getting published by multiple blogs and media outlets, I realized other people were watching. And listening. And eventually, asking questions. They wanted to start freelancing too, and knew that I could help them. So, freelancing coach became my next credential.

While my freelance coaching sessions are usually tailored to the individual, there are several pieces of advice I hear myself repeating often. Here are 12 tips you can use to become a better freelancer, with or without a freelance coach like me. But first...

Who is freelance coaching for?

Freelance coaching is perfect for those who are struggling to find direction or focus in their freelancing career. It can help you if you're feeling lost, or if you're not sure how to move forward. A freelance coach can help you identify your goals and create a plan to achieve them.

To use coaching to its fullest potential, I suggest doing the following:

• Find a freelance coach who specializes in the area you need help with.

• Avoid a one-size-fits-all program that isn't tailored to your specific needs.

• Be clear about what you want to achieve before you start working with a coach.

• Be prepared to do the work required to make changes in your freelancing career.

• Be open to feedback and advice, and be willing to make changes based on what your coach suggests.

• Follow through with the plan you create with your coach, and be accountable for your own progress.

• Be willing to invest in yourself, and in your freelancing career.

• Be patient, and remember that change takes time.

• Don't be afraid to ask for help or ask questions if you're stuck on a step.

• Be persistent, and don't give up on your goals.

• Choose a freelance coach who gives you direct access to their expertise, not just a pre-recorded course.

• Keep thinking positively -- your mindset is everything.

• Enjoy the coaching process, and celebrate your successes along the way.

These are pretty basic tips, but they can help you set the right expectations before you go spending any money on a freelancing coach.

How can a freelancing coach help you become a better freelancer?

As a freelancing coach, people ask me how to be a better freelancer. But it's just as important to understand why you should listen to a freelancing coach in the first place.

For starters, coaches push you to reach your potential. They know lots of things you don't and willingly share helpful information that will make you a better freelancer.

Working with a coach is an investment in your success. This one-on-one mentoring gives you a chance to enhance your own expertise by learning directly from an expert. Share the specific problems you're encountering and get real actions and solutions that apply to you.

A coach is also a great source of encouragement. When you think you can't do it, a coach can help you find one more way you haven't tried yet.

Coaches are also great at answering questions you haven't yet thought to ask. You don't know what you don't know, but a coach has an uncanny way of helping you make these discoveries.

Using a freelancing coach isn't a sign of failure. It has nothing to do with your own expertise and capabilities as a freelancer. Quite the opposite, in fact. 

Working with a freelancing coach is a sign you care about your business and improving your skills, knowledge, and services. It shows you want to succeed and are willing to invest in yourself to take your career to the next level.

That's the real value of coaching. The sooner you recognize it, the sooner you can start adding that value directly to your bottom line.

While my coaching sessions are usually 1:1 and tailored to the individual, I find myself repeating lots of the same information, advice, and tips to my students. So, before you book a session, check out these 12 tips to be a better freelancer:

Tip 1. How can you stand out from other freelancers?

No two freelancers are quite the same. But clients need an easy way to tell why you're the better option. Based on job title and services alone, it's not always obvious.

As a freelancer, one of the best ways to stand out from the competition is to niche down and specialize your skills in a particular area. This way, you can become an expert in your field and be known for the high-quality work that you produce.

In order to niche down, you need to first assess your strengths and weaknesses. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Once you have a better understanding of your strengths, you can start to focus on a particular area that you can specialize in.

For example, if you're a freelance writer, you could specialize in writing blog posts, articles, ad copywriting, or web copy. If you're a graphic designer, you could specialize in designing logos, infographics, or social media graphics. Most freelancers niche down even further by choosing a specific industry or vertical to target.

Once you've decided on a specialty path, make sure that you're constantly honing your skills in that area. This way, you can become an expert in your field and more easily attract the type of clients you want to work with.

Tip 2. What are some ways to get more clients?

There are a few ways to get more clients as a freelancer. I suggest starting by building your business's foundation.

In my course, How to Market Yourself as a Freelancer, the first steps I share are to build credibility and visibility.

Before you start pitching clients, make sure you have a portfolio in place, as well as some form of an online presence and brand. These are important because once you do get clients, you need to have all the pieces in place to make them want to hire you. Otherwise, you'll have spent all that time trying to attract attention but have no way to close the deal.

From there, you can start networking and building relationships with potential clients. One of my favorite sayings is "Your network is your net worth." It all starts with people you already know. Even if they can't benefit from your services, they might know someone who can. Plus, your friends and family are great ways to get some online reviews that will help you attract more clients.

You can also try cold pitching, which involves reaching out to potential clients who you think could use your services. Include a video introduction or a custom report to give them a taste of your ability. There are tons of opportunities to stand out to turn your cold pitch hot.

My course covers these ideas and more in greater detail, which you can check out here.

Once you experiment with some ways to get clients and know what works and what doesn't, you can create repeatable systems to keep your freelance client list full. Having a predictable way to get new business when you need it builds your confidence in ways nothing else can.

Tip 3. How do you keep clients happy?

Once you do get clients, you'll need to work just as hard to keep them happy and continue using your freelancing services. Granted, not every client can be pleased all the time. But you can win bigger and lose smaller by doing the following:

• Understand their needs and wants by asking great questions

• Provide quality work that needs little or no revisions

• Meet deadlines

• Communicate effectively

• Go above and beyond their expectations

These might sound like very basic things to do. And truthfully, they do set a pretty low bar. But because so many other freelancers don't do these things, doing the minimum makes it easier to stand out and create positive experiences.

Tip 4. What should you do if a client isn't happy with your work?

If a client is unhappy with your work, the first step is to try to understand their perspective and see if there is anything you can do to improve the situation. Be honest with yourself -- is this really your best work? If not, fix it. And if so, keep asking questions to get to the root of the problem.

If the client is still unhappy, you can try offering a partial refund or a discount on future work. I recommend using this strategy sparingly and not making it your default. Clients that get a discount once will expect it every time. Plus, if they're already unhappy with your work, chances are they're still not going to remain a client even if you try to smooth things over.

For clients that can't seem to be pleased no matter what, I find it best to end the relationship. This frees up your time to do your best work for other clients, plus it allows them to find someone else that better aligns with their needs.

Tip 5. How do you deal with difficult clients?

As a freelancer, you will inevitably run into a difficult client at some point. The best way to deal with them is to be professional and direct. Explain what the problem is and what you need from them in order to move forward. If they are unwilling to cooperate, then you may need to consider ending the relationship.

For particularly difficult clients, communication feels impossible. (Trust me, I've had a few of those myself, and it wasn't fun.). To improve communication, I vent my feelings verbally before I respond to them via email. This allows me to say my true feelings without repercussions. Once I get rid of that negativity, I can type a more professional reply that doesn't escalate the situation.

Most importantly, try very hard not to take anything personally. This is business, and even though you might have great relationships with some of your clients, this might not apply to all clients. Understand things from their perspective. Maybe they're short-staffed, super busy, or just poor communicators. Those aren't excuses to be difficult, but knowing their side of the story can help you improve your approach with them.

Tip 6. How do you get clients to pay their bills on time (or at all)?

One of the biggest challenges facing freelancers is getting clients to pay their bills on time. The longer they take to pay, the more it impacts your profit, growth, and income. And no one should feel cash-strapped after putting in the work.

Naturally, you expect to get paid for your services. But there's always the possibility that some clients won't get their invoices, won't pay their invoices in a timely manner, or - gasp! - purposefully try to avoid paying anything at all.

Going to their home and shaking them down isn't an option. Instead, try some of my favorite payment coaching tips:

• Get everything in writing.

• Make sure you explain the payment terms before you start work.

• Send invoices as soon as the work is completed.

• Follow up with clients who haven't paid within a reasonable time frame.

• Consider using a service that helps manage invoices and payments.

• Be prepared to negotiate payment terms if a client is having difficulty paying.

• Don't be afraid to ask for a partial payment if a client is having financial difficulties.

• Be willing to take legal action if necessary.

• Keep good records of all your correspondence with clients.

• Inform the client you will add a late fee if their delinquent invoices aren't paid within a certain timeframe.

• Remind clients they cannot legally use your creative work until they complete the payment, and that if they do not pay, you can reuse their content you created for another client. (This one works like a charm!)

There's no foolproof way to get paid. But you can minimize any payment issues by being clear and upfront about payment expectations.

Tip 7. What are some red flags to watch out for when taking on a new client?

I recently hosted a webinar with Fiverr on how to spot difficult clients "in the wild." If you've ever watched a nature documentary, you probably know that poisonous or dangerous animals are more easily spotted than non-dangerous ones. They might be brightly colored or have patterns that stand out. I like to think that terrible clients also bear some visual clues as a warning to stay away from them.

When taking on a new client, there are a few red flags to watch out for:

• If the client is constantly changing their mind or is indecisive, this could lead to a lot of wasted time and frustration. It's a sign they don't know what they want, and without a clear goal, you're not being set up for success.

• If the client is not clear about what they want or has unrealistic expectations, this could also lead to a lot of wasted time and frustration. Hint: their communication won't get better.

• If the client is not willing to pay a fair price for your services, this could lead to you feeling undervalued and taken advantage of. They'll fail to see the value you deliver.

• If a client doesn't respect your boundaries, they won't respect your work. Clients that send a series of text messages in short succession, call you after hours, or try to dictate the entire project fall into this category.

• If clients try to offer you a price before they learn your rates, they probably can't afford you. Granted, some clients are on a budget. But clients that immediately push price before seeing the value you can bring to them are usually the hardest to please.

• Stay the hell away from clients that want scope creep without pay creep! This is a major red flag for clients that crave control and don't want to pay high prices for high-quality work. They'll take advantage of you in a heartbeat.

It's important to be clear about what you want and expect from a client before taking them on, in order to avoid any potential frustration down the road.

Tip 8. How do you deal with scope creep?

Scope creep is one of the most challenging aspects of freelancing. It's when a client asks for more work than what was originally agreed upon. 

As a freelancer, it's important to set clear boundaries with your clients and to be firm when it comes to scope creep. Here are some tips on how to deal with scope creep:

• Set clear boundaries with your clients from the start.

• Be firm when it comes to scope creep.

• Communicate with your client if they are asking for more work than what was originally agreed upon.

• Keep a detailed record of what was agreed upon so you can refer back to it if needed.

• Offer alternatives to the client if they are asking for more work than what was originally agreed upon.

• Charge them for it.

Coaching other freelancers on how to manage scope creep is one of my favorite topics. It takes a lot of freelancers by surprise, especially if you have a manipulative client who knows exactly what they're doing. But remember -- this is YOUR business, and you get to decide how to run it. As a professional creative, you deserve to get paid for all the work you do, regardless of someone else's inability to see your value.

Tip 9. What are some things you can do to improve your workflow?

Improving your business workflows can help you to stay productive, organized, and able to take on more clients. There are a few key things you can do to improve your workflow as a freelancer:

• Always have a written contract with your client that outlines the scope of work and deliverables. This will help avoid scope creep and nonpayments.

• Set up a system for tracking your time and invoicing your clients. This will help you stay organized and on top of your finances. If you don't charge an hourly rate and instead work on a flat fee per project, tracking your time can still be beneficial to you. It gives you an idea of how much you make per hour and can help you decide whether you need to charge more for your work.

• Set up processes for how you manage your schedule. For example, I use a daily planner on my desk to handwrite each assignment for each day. This gives me a quick and easy source of reference so I'll know what's happening in my business at all times. I also use Asana to track projects I'm working on with my freelance writing team. Doing this ensures nothing falls through the cracks, plus I can avoid taking on more clients than I can handle.

• Take care of your own health. You can't personal finance, time manage, or passion your way out of brain fog, fatigue, and back pain. You'll be naturally more productive when you are feeling your best, and your personal health means everything to your success.

Whatever you do, do it consistently. Building a successful freelance business means creating predictable systems that help you do more with your time. These systems can take some time and effort to set up, but the result is worth its weight in spades.

Tip 10. How do you set your freelance rates?

As a freelancer, one of the most important things you can do is set your rates correctly. If you charge too little, you'll end up working for less than you're worth and may have a hard time making ends meet. If you charge too much, you could price yourself out of work altogether.

To make matters even more complicated, freelance rates come in all shapes and sizes. Take Fiverr, for example. Freelance gigs start at just $5 but can be as much as $100 or more!

Rates can also depend on the work being performed. For example, freelance web developers charge more than freelance social media managers. It all depends on the complexity of the project, the freelancer's expertise, your desired income, revenue and business goals, professional background, and other factors.

Here are some coaching tips to help you set your own freelancer rates:

1. Do your research

2. Consider your experience, ability, and skills

3. Consider the market rates

4. Consider your company overhead costs (e.g., office space, tools, marketing, professional development books and courses, etc.)

5. Consider your desired income

6. Decide on an hourly, per project, or retainer basis

7. Decide if you're willing to negotiate

8. Set your rates and test the market

9. Be prepared to justify your rates

10. Review your rates regularly

11. Consider your ability and availability to accept new clients

12. Decide if you'll work solo or collaborate with other freelance talent

Since I started freelancing over six years ago, I've raised my rates a few times. I can justify this because I've learned more about my field. The quality of my work has improved. And I have more clients and therefore less time, which means my time comes at a premium.

Tip 11. How do you raise your rates without losing all your clients?

Raising your rates as a freelancer can be so rewarding -- and a little scary. What if you price yourself out of your clients' budgets? What if your clients expect more work from you if they have to pay more for your services? These types of fears can hold back freelancers from charging what they're really worth.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when raising your rates as a freelancer:

• Give your clients advance notice of the rate increase, ideally at least a month in advance. This way, they have time to budget for the increase.

• Explain your reasoning for the rate increase. Whether it’s because you’ve gained more experience or because you’re now offering additional services, be sure to let your clients know why they’re paying more.

• Offer a discount for clients who agree to the new rate. This can be a one-time discount to help soften the blow.

• Be flexible with your payment terms. If a client is having trouble budgeting for the new rate, offer to spread out payments over a longer period of time.

Yes, you can successfully raise your rates without losing all your clients. But you should do so delicately and reasonably.

Tip 12: How do you grow your business when you're out of bandwidth?

In order to grow your business, you need to be able to take on more work. But if you're already struggling to keep up with the work you have, how can you possibly take on more?

One way to free up some bandwidth is to delegate or outsource some of the services you're currently doing. This can be anything from hiring a virtual assistant to handle some of the administrative tasks to hiring a freelance writer to help with blog posts or other content.

Another way to create some extra freelance bandwidth is to streamline your processes and systems. This might involve automating some tasks or investing in new tools or software that will help you work more efficiently.

Finally, you might need to simply plan and schedule your time more effectively. Time management is my secret weapon for taking on new clients and projects. This might mean saying no to some non-essential tasks and priorities, or it might mean setting stricter boundaries around your work hours.

Whatever route you decide to take, remember that growing your business is a marathon, not a sprint. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are successful freelance careers.

Wondering if freelancing will give you freedom?

I became a freelancer because I wanted more flexibility and success in my career. I wasn't happy punching someone else's time clock. I didn't have close connections with their clients. I wasn't interested in building someone else's dream. I had goals of my own, so I started freelance writing.

Freelancing evolved into speaking at events, and now freelance coaching services. And soon, a book and a podcast. It's all part of a bigger business and life I'm building for myself.

However, I will say that a freelance business might not be the best move for everyone.

Successful freelancers need strong work ethics. Time and money management skills are also must-have qualities. You need to be able to handle rejection, bounce back from failure, and keep loving what you do. Freelancers must also be good sales and marketing people, so you'll need to know how to promote yourself and your freelance business, close deals, and make tough decisions based on the best interests of your business.

In the beginning, it was work, work, work all the time. That takes a special kind of person who can hustle and grind without burning out. It also takes vision. Ideally, you should have an idea of what you want the freelancing life to look like for you. That gives you something specific to aim for.

Now, more than six years later, I have more free time for myself (one of my main goals when I started freelancing). I am making more money than I was when working for someone else. I love what I do.

Small business owner, freelancer, entrepreneur -- whatever you call yourself, the best way to find out if this lifestyle is right for you is to try it on for size.

I offer one-on-one freelance coaching sessions for freelancers at every stage of their business journey. It's not a program, not a get-rich-quick scheme, and not a bunch of fluff. It's pure, honest advice from one freelancer to another. I've been there, know what works well and what doesn't, and can help you decide what step to take next that will help you build a successful freelancing career.

Check out my freelance coaching packages and take the next step to a rewarding career!