#16 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Freelance IT Consultant

Is freelancing really worth it? Sure, it is! But it takes a lot of hard work. Believe me, a lot of hard work...

How To Get Started as a Freelance IT Consultant

There are #4 things you need to have in mind:

1. Pick a niche
2. Believe in your work
3. Find a competitive value for your work.
4. Be up to date and aware of market needs.

No matter where you're currently at in your personal process of building a career as an IT Consultant Freelancer, you can make this work for you. I can't promise these tips will help you achieve that, but it should give you some insight into what can help you carve out a spot for yourself in the IT consultancy space.

Secrets to Long-Term Success as an IT Consultant Freelancer

Secret #1. Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals for Yourself

Whatever your goals may be, you need to stay accountable to them once they've been committed to paper.
Consistent evaluation is a must as well. You should check-in with yourself at least monthly to make sure everything you're doing is accomplishing either a short-term or long-term goal–and preferably those short-term goals will inch you closer to the long-term milestones.

Secret #2. Pick a Niche

While there are certainly some people doing business online that are jacks of all trades, not everyone can be Amazon. So, in the IT Consultancy arena it's important you select a niche that can help you differentiate yourself from the sea of people competing with you.
It makes it easier to systematize business operations when you're dealing with the same kinds of clients with similar needs on a regular basis.

Secret #3. Embrace Your Strengths

There are plenty of opportunities to improve your skills or simply focus on an area that suits your strengths.

Secret #4. Continually Seek Out New Opportunities

Your plate is full and you can’t possibly take on any more work? That can change this very tomorrow!
To combat the flux of freelancing, you should always set aside time to look for new clients and to invest in your own marketing efforts. Freelancing is unpredictable, so learning how to ride the tide is essential for longevity here.

Secret #5. Work on Your People Skills

As a freelancer, you've got no one else to sell your skills or your business but yourself. If you don't know how to pitch your services or maintain a positive relationship with clients, you'll struggle. Learn communication and customer service techniques that\u2019ll make it hard for anyone to say no or let you go.

Secret #6. Outsource What You Can

While you should always continue to do work yourself, it’s important to recognize when you need help and that doing everything yourself can actually inhibit growth. Things to consider outsourcing include accounting, task management, and social media. If your business gets so large you can’t handle your client load yourself, bring on another freelancer so you can work together on projects. Your clients should always know this situation upfront, however.

Secret #7. Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

You probably decided to go into this so you wouldn't have to report to one boss or client anyway. As tempting as it is to hunker down with one or two regular clients, you must diversify. Doing so will mean that the loss of one client won't take down your business.

Secret #8. Pay Attention to Time

Your time is valuable anyway, but as a freelancer, it's everything. With that in mind, it's absolutely critical you stay on task, keep within preset budgets, and never let your time be taken from you. Using a time tracker can come in handy so you see exactly how long a project takes you (so you can ensure you're billing the correct amount) and to prevent potential "time hog" clients from taking advantage.

Secret #9. Don't Deny Yourself Breaks

While you do need to push through sometimes don't ignore the signs of burnout. It can be just as detrimental to your business as losing clients. So, take regular breaks throughout the day. Work out. Go for a walk. Getting outside is especially important when you're cooped up behind the computer all day. And be sure to schedule a vacation here and there, too.

Secret #10. Keep Yourself Educated

Software products are always releasing new core updates. Web design trends change. Changes to your target industry can also affect the work you do. The more you can stay on top of your area of specialty and learn new ways to do it better, the greater likelihood you'll stay in business for the long term.

Secret #11. Stay Active Online

People trust freelancers who can demonstrate that they practice what they preach. Stay active on social media. And use best practices in both of these areas. If anything, it'll help you to bring in more business.

Secret #12. Don't Break Away From the Freelancing Job Sites

These are a good place to start if you don't have any other source to draw clients from, despite many people say that "they're not going to get you anywhere in the long run" I verified that they are wrong. You will find any kind of jobs, but once you establish yourself and have a decent portfolio, you will need just 2 or 3 clients to make a living as a freelancer.
Focus on long-term projects and building relationships.

Secret #13. Don't Be Afraid to Set Boundaries With Your Clients

Time hogs, difficult clients, and ones who always pay late (or not at all) aren't worth your time. That's when you're first starting out and when you've been at this for years. You need to work with people who respect the work you do and the value you provide. To do anything less is to walk down the road of self-sabotage.

Secret #14. Review Your Pricing and Services Annually

Are you losing money anywhere? Is there a certain offering you have that's particularly profitable? Take time to review what works and what doesn't and do some tweaking to the areas that could use an overhaul.

Secret #15. Always Convey Confidence

Even when you’re feeling unsure of yourself, you must convey confidence. You have to at least look like you believe in yourself. If you don't at least appear confident, no one will want to use your services. There are times and places for being self-effacing, but promoting your work isn't it. That doesn't mean you have to be cocky, but you shouldn't undercut yourself either.
If you believe in your work, other people won't be able to help it but to believe in your work and your worth, too.

Secret #16. Be Competitive

Research your competition continuously. The least-skilled workers are the losers in globalization.

Wrapping Up

Remember: success doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and commitment. But with some effort and the right mindset, there's no reason you can't make it, too.

Want To Know More About Me?

You can head to my Upwork profile here: Upwork Profile

Here's my LinkedIn profile: LinkedIn Profile

My StackOverflow profile: StackOverflow Profile

And last, but not least, my personal site: Smart IT Ninja

Best of luck!