Getting Started as a Freelancer By Julie Staley

1. Freelancers are individuals who hire their particular skills, such as
consulting, writing, or designing, out to clients and companies. Essentially,
a freelancer creates her or his own business and acts as its single
employee. For this reason, freelancers must be talented, driven, and well-
rounded enough to take care of all the tasks associated with relating to
clients and completing the agreed upon work. Here are some tips to
starting your own successful freelance career:
-- An important aspect of establishing oneself as a freelancer is creating a
public image. By developing and promoting a succinct, catchy name for
your enterprise, it will be much easier for prospective clients to remember
and pick you out, and therefore to develop a strong client base. Create a
logo, business cards, stationery if necessary, and a website.
-- In order to get hired, people first have to know about you. Networking
plays a critical role in a freelancer establishing his or her client base. There
are also numerous websites and forums that provide connections between
clients looking for talent and freelancers looking for work.
-- In the beginning, you may have to charge a low rate to spark the interest
of possible clients. As you continue to generate business, begin
researching what competitors charge for the work you are doing and raise
rates.
About the author: Julie Staley has served numerous roles at local television
stations across the United States, including production assistant, reporter,
anchor, and news director. She currently provides freelance acting services
for commercials on local television