A career path in freelancing is very unpredictable due to its constant changes in client demands, trends, and industry shifts. This uncertainty makes it important to stay competitive as a freelancer, especially if it is your primary source of income.
A steady flow of work and a set path for advancement isn’t guaranteed, which is why freelancers are encouraged to continuously adapt and evolve to ensure they remain in demand and their client base stays strong.
In this blog, we’ll explore various strategies that can help you stay relevant as a freelancer. By the end, you’ll hopefully have a better understanding of how to position yourself to have a successful freelancing career.
1. Build and enhance your skills
Continually improving your skill set over time is one of the many ways to stay competitive as a freelancer. This doesn’t only imply staying updated on trends and advancements in your field, but also actively seeking out opportunities to learn new tools and technologies. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, mastering the latest software or exploring new design trends will make you invaluable.
Learning new things obviously takes time and can be challenging, but it is very important to do so if you wish to not be washed over by new and hungrier freelancers (a growing field).
2. Diversify your portfolio
If you’re a web developer who only focuses on creating standard websites, you may catch the attention of some people, but imagine if you were more than that. A web developer who not only creates websites, but also custom-built applications will undoubtedly broaden their appeal to more clients.
When you showcase work that demonstrates your ability to tackle different challenges, you can make yourself even more appealing. Going off our first point, developing new skills (and in turn diversifying your portfolio) isn’t easy and takes time, but it will definitely be worth it in the long run.
3. Network effectively
Having a digital presence on professional networking sites like LinkedIn or Upwork is one of the best ways to build your networking pool and can even help you attract new clients. In addition to this, assisting meetups, conferences, or webinars related to your field can help you meet-up with valuable connections.
Another (and often overlooked) way to grow your freelance business is by referrals from your most satisfied clients. If they were referred to you by one of your clients, chances are they know who you are and how you work, so no need for lengthy introductions.
4. Set competitive pricing
Pricing is often seen as a delicate balance between trying to stay competitive and valuing your skills appropriately, which is why many freelancers struggle with setting it. Researching what others are charging can help you find a fair range, but it’s also important to consider your Unique Value Proposition (UVP). Instead of charging by the hour, you can consider value-based pricing— charging based on the impact of your work.
It’s also important to remember that being flexible with your pricing can ensure that you remain relevant as a freelancer.
5. Listen to your clients
One of the best ways to grow and stay in demand as a freelancer is to actively seek feedback. By doing this, you can gain insights into areas where you may be excelling or where there’s room for growth. An effective way to gain these insights is by scheduling a one-on-one conversation, where you can directly ask for feedback.
However, if your client base is large or if time is limited, an alternative method is to send out surveys. Obviously, it isn’t as personal and the responses may be more vague, but nevertheless, a well-structured survey can allow you to gather feedback efficiently and without requiring a significant time investment from either party.
Conclusion
As you’ve now seen, staying competitive as a freelancer is all about being active rather than passive. Freelancing is not a set-it-and-forget-it career, but rather one that requires consistent effort, adaptability, and a willingness to learn.
So, in the end, the only thing truly standing in the way of your growth is you. Your mindset, determination, and ability to take initiative are all key factors that will separate you from the competition.
