Getty
With all the layoffs in tech world and other industries this season, we should expect many talented new members of the freelance revolution. Among them are likely many with no prior experience in freelancing or running a business.
What might they expect? How can we help them experience early success?
There’s no doubt that experienced freelancers are an optimistic and enthusiastic community. The Global Survey on Freelancing identified that experienced freelancers describe themselves as more optimistic (65%), more flexible and adaptable (66%), more committed, (70%), more willing to accept accountability and responsibility (70%), more able to work well with people at all levels (74%) and more likely to show real grit and resilience (59%).
The survey found two-thirds of freelancers enjoyed their work, were satisfied with their financial results, and had enough or more opportunity to stay busy and earn a comfortable wage. And, felt they had greater flexibility and control over their work, schedule, and managing work-family conflicts.
It’s an attractive scenario for many professionals. But getting started and earning early success can be challenging, whether as a full-time freelance career moonlighting with a side-hustle while holding full-time work.
The Global Survey found that new freelancers – those in their first year of freelancing – predictably had more difficulty than experienced hands. On each of the survey items below, new freelancers struggled when compared with experienced freelancers:
· This company knows how to work effectively with freelancers
· Work deliverables, milestones and timelines are generally fair and realistic
· This client requires top quality work from freelancers
· My client manager knows how to work well with freelancers
· I have access to the information I need to meet my deliverables for this client
· Client team members are friendly and helpful when I have a question or need
· I am treated fairly and with respect in my dealings with this client company
· I am paid fairly for my work for this client company
It’s not surprising that new freelancers would be challenged. For example, only 44% of new freelancers felt they were fairly paid. First year freelancers typically lack the experience or comparables to set competitive rates, and often feel pressured to undercharge or do additional uncontracted work, something more experienced hands are able to manage or deflect. And, experience obviously has an impact: 53%, of freelancers with ten plus years of experience said they were compensated fair, 20% more.
In some areas the spread between new and experienced freelancers is considerable. For example, 60% of new freelancers say they are treated fairly and with respect versus 73% of highly experienced freelancers. In fact, the biggest jump is between those just starting out and those with 1-3 years of experience.
Freelancer first is a new philosophy influencing talent marketplaces. The freelancer first philosophy emphasizes freelancer success in addition to providing service to organizational clients, and focuses on how marketplaces and platforms can more fully support and prioritize freelancer success and prosperity.
How can a freelancer first oriented marketplace support early freelancers beyond the basics? Here are six actions that can help propel a new freelance career.
Build awareness of success requirements. Freelancers, do your homework. Platform teams, be straight with new freelancers about freelancing challenges. Share the data from the Global Survey with new freelancers. Remind them that a talent marketplace or platform is only one source of opportunity, that they are responsible for generating their work and must learn and practice the disciplines of networking, business development, and client success management. Platform leaders, review the survey research to improve programming in key areas where new freelancers struggle. How well are these topics covered in the on-boarding, toolkit, and educational support that new freelancers experience?
Early work. Nothing better motivates a new freelancer than winning early paid work. It reinforces the courage of having made the change, reduces fear and uncertainty, and psychologically enables freelancers to see themselves as working independent professionals. Claiming status as a working freelancer is a big first step. Marketplaces like Hoxby.com and Contra.com are examples of platforms that offer at least some early paid opportunities for their freelancers within the marketplace. Smart marketplaces turn to their freelancers first when paid work is required.
What’s your story. It’s business malpractice for new freelancers to start selling their time before they have a fix on their personal MVP. Freelancers having difficulty answering “why should I hire you?” are less likely to have their pick of projects. A Forbes piece said this:
“Do you have a great elevator story about yourself: what makes you special and attractive as a work colleague? In no more than 30 seconds, you ought to be able to describe what makes you the right person for the opportunity, and show that you understand the task, have directly relevant expertise and experience, and a compelling work style. Another 30 seconds should be enough to provide just the right anecdote to color your self-description and make you stand out in the mind of a potential client, employer or interviewer. A great personal story take time, work and feedback to get right. Put in the time and effort.”
Peers helping peers. New freelancer success is meaningfully increased when helped by a more experienced colleague who knows the ropes and has an interest in helping first time freelancers have a successful year one. The best on-boarding processes are personal, connecting new members with an experienced and engaged colleagues. Big marketplaces may have to automate this process to reach all new members, but smaller ones often deliver peer support through a success coach or community member. But, however its done, connecting new freelancers with experienced and successful colleagues, is a powerful springboard.
Client due diligence and curation. Is this the right client for a new freelancer? Is it the right first project? The curation process of most platforms utilizes an algorithm that matches on freelancer technical skill and experience, and somewhat on professional skills fit. An additional factor – Is this a good project for inexperienced freelancers? – would be very helpful.
Freelancer education. Beyond the education most marketplaces provide, there are some sources of excellence for individuals and their platforms to consider. For the new freelancer, Underpinned.com, a UK platform, provides highly regarded education on the fundamentals of freelancing, and sets up new freelancers for success. Freelancebusiness.eu offers new and experienced freelancers excellent continuing education. Honeybook.com and Wethos.co are two well-respected platforms catering to the needs of independent business owners (IBO), and provide startup tools, essentials and continuing support through regular chapter meetups. CTW offers freelancers a regular community discussion of issues and topics of interest; for example, a recent meeting focused on the research of emergentresearch.com on freelance nomads. Platforms like uplink.tech and codecontrol.io in Germany, fring.work in the Netherlands, and Upstackhq.com in the US and Romania provide similar community support to their freelancers.
Pay attention for those who need additional help. Two-thirds of freelancers in the Global Survey were pleased with their situation, consistent with surveys by Upwork.com and others. But, the remaining third feels less successful, less satisfied, and unsure whether freelancing is right for them. Perhaps more marketplaces and platforms would find it helpful to hold occasional virtual workshops on “Is freelancing for you?” for professionals who aren’t sure freelancing is working for them.
Viva la revolution!
