AfriBlocks Network
The gig economy continues to fuel the growth of freelance work and many professionals are transitioning towards using their skillsets as freelancers. Our community is always open to new freelancers with any level of experience. One of the questions we get regularly is what freelancers need to have to ensure that their workflow is smooth. So here are four must-haves for any freelancer.
- Rate Card
This is one of the most important things you need to have as a freelancer as it helps you to avoid being underpaid and having to go back and forth with every potential client you meet. A well-put-together rate card has a clear indication of the exact services that you provide, and how much you charge for those services.
Make sure that your rate card covers as many of the things you do as possible. You want to avoid having to go back and forth with a potential client over how you charge for a job. Do your research about industry rates and how other freelancers are charging for the work that they are doing. If you are working through a platform like AfriBlocks, you might not need this as most platforms do that bit for you. However, it is a handy thing to have because you never know when you might need it.
- Comprehensive Profile and Portfolio
An extensive profile and portfolio help anyone who comes across it to understand who you are and how good you are at what you do. The profile should contain personal information that is necessary for a client to know and any other information that can help market your brand such as your social media accounts. The portfolio is a collection of your best work that clearly shows the best of your abilities. Clients want to know one thing: can you get the work done? Your portfolio should be able to answer that question concisely on your behalf.
- A Project Management System
As a freelancer, it is likely that at some point you will be handling a couple of projects simultaneously. When you have a few projects on your hands at the same time, it becomes important to have a system that allows you to manage the projects so that you do not fall back on any of them. A proper project management system allows you to have a clear sight of the stages in which each project will be on, the tasks that are pending, and indicators of the time it will take for you to complete each of them.
This system can also feed your portfolio as it can tell you which projects you have completed and the exact tasks you completed on said projects. As a result, you can tap into it as a resource that helps you build a comprehensive portfolio. Make sure that you are proficient in at least three project management software so that you can also collaborate well with other team members or clients when a project you are working on requires that you use a project management tool.
- Cloud Storage
One thing about freelancing, you will always need to go back to your previous work. For starters, the work you have done today may find its way into your portfolio five years from now when you find a client that wants the exact same thing done. Cloud storage is one of the best investments that you can make in your freelancing career.
You can also use cloud storage as a way to keep resources and tools that you have found useful in case you need to get back to them. All those files and documents you receive may come in handy so make sure you have a reliable online drive where you are keeping them. Take time to regularly visit your cloud storage to organize your stuff and get rid of what has become obsolete.
These four tools are must-haves for any freelancer and they can help you elevate your career. Make sure you master the management of your projects to keep you on top of what you do. Always back up your work through cloud storage to ensure that you do not lose any of it. The end goal is to be the very best at what you do, and part of that involves using tools to make you more organized.
