There are a lot of things to be said about being a freelancer.

If you’ve worked online then you’ve probably heard the term ‘freelance writer’. It’s pretty common at this point. There are a lot of ads out there trying to entice people to work for one company or another. The thing about being freelancer is that you don’t belong to any single company. You aren’t beholden to anyone unless you want to be. There is your reputation to consider, since as a freelancer this is one of the main tools that will help you to become known to various sources and employers. If you don’t have a stable to great reputation, then you might not be able to drum up that much business.

You’re not connected, but that’s a good and bad thing

As a freelancer, there are a lot of resources at your disposal and you’re not going to upset anyone by looking to one competitor or another for work. But you’re not typically connected to one employer. The downside of this is that you typically won’t have the same benefits. A company isn’t going to give you benefits if you’re taking on various jobs for other competitors.

So to be blunt, you’re not an employee, you’re a temp that can be used as needed. In this manner it’s tough to get into freelancing since you have to work even harder to gain any loyalty. This does open up your options though. You can take on work from anyone who wants to use your services. But at the same time, there is the general idea that they can ditch you any time they want.

There are ways to ensure your success

I won’t go into every single point you need. The success you want is based around how much work you’re willing to do. But if you want a single bit of advice that will help, if you’re planning on going this route, it’s this:

Keep every bit of documentation. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple agreement written up between you and the client, or a verbal agreement that’s recorded. Protect yourself and your interests by making sure you document every job. Otherwise, match up with jobs you feel will get you paid. Work outside your comfort zone when you can, and definitely build your own reputation. There will be a few more articles to come on freelancing, but for now, just take this last bit of advice.

Have fun with freelancing, and whatever you do, just keep moving forward.