How to Work Strategically as a Freelancer without Experience.
Let’s be honest…
“Hoping things work out” isn’t a strategy method.
In my opinion, it’s the reason most creative businesses fail.
There’s no 101 class on how to work ON your business, not IN it (unless you’re investing thousands of dollars into coaching).
And with more than 50% of freelancers never experiencing strategic planning, leadership or project management in their careers prior to starting their business, how do we expect them to excel?
It all starts with confidence.
Confidence to hold yourself accountable to set boundaries in YOUR business, and make changes to improve, you will forever be stuck in this chaotic mindset, hoping that your business will just find its groove on its own.
And we both know that will never happen.
That being said, I’ve got a few simple & strategic moves you can absolutely implement TODAY. In doing so, you’ll open up room in your calendar (and mind) to do the even harder work on your business, like auditing.
1. Set Hard Prices
The easiest way to continue working in a state of burnout is to charge based on emotional value, not deliverables.
You know that I believe Valued Based Pricing is bullshit.
VBP is inconsistent, so instead, I rely on my hand-dandy Bills Method.
If one project is $1000 and another is $4000, you will forever be in a state of “I hope to hit $X annually”, rather than knowing each project costs $X, and only need 4 clients to get there.
This single change can absolutely create a ripple effect in your business.
Knowing you only need 4 clients, now your marketing plan has a direction. Your discovery calls become less blasé and more intentional, and your calendar gets a fucking break…
2. Use Your Calendar
Fun fact: calendars are meant to manage your availability and remind you when you have limits & commitments.
So why not use it to your advantage?
Knowing at all times when I have space to work on new projects or learn, powers me through mundane work. Not to mention, keeps me sane when 80 different things are going on.
Pick a damn calendar app and put your availability on it & stick to that schedule. If you’re booked, you’re booked.
Clients that really want to work with you will wait. I promise you. So leave the fear in 2022 & stop taking clients who feel their project is an “emergency”.
3. Template-out Deliverables
Some people may find this a tad controversial, but I could care less. The reason you never have time for new, fun projects or are constantly burnt out, is that you aren’t working strategically sneaky.
Chances are you are booking the same projects over & over again, and even worse, booking multiple clients with the same deliverables at the same fucking time.
Horrible.
But what makes it not horrible? Templating out as much as possible, to minimize the repetitiveness. Here’s an example:
Always building websites in Squarespace? Create a wireframe template with pre-built pages in your account; smash duplicate, plugin in the content, and boom you’re done.
Now days or weeks of work will only take you hours.
By automating and templating AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, you can focus on higher-level activities, such as what your availability for 2023 will look like, and when you can finally hire that marketing assistant.
And you’re probably thinking, “I won’t do that, it’ll cheapen my brand”. Heard that a million times…
Let me ask you then, how was I able to relaunch my agency, work with 20+ clients, launch three new products, and take 4 weeks of vacation this year? 🧐
It’s because I work strategically sneaky, and you can do it too.
To recap: when you stop leaving your business to chance and start putting minor changes in place, HUGE things can happen.
