Desperation. It’s one of those loaded words, isn’t it? When you hear the word “desperate,” what comes to mind? Needy? clingy? pathetically single and alone on a Friday night with a pint of ice cream and a romantic comedy on repeat? Yeah, we thought so.
In freelancing, as in dating, desperation is a major turn-off. Just like you wouldn’t want to date someone who is desperate, neither do your potential clients want to hire someone who is coming across as needy. As a freelancer, it’s important to remember that you are a highly sought-after commodity—there are always people who want to hire you! Showing desperation not only makes you look bad, but it also weakens your negotiating power when it comes to rates and job terms.
So how do you avoid looking desperate when approaching potential clients? Follow these simple tips and you’ll be on your way to landing that dream gig in no time.
Never Settle for Less Than You’re Worth
When it comes to money, never settle for less than you’re worth. We know it can be tempting to take any gig that comes your way, especially when you’re just starting, but resist the urge! Once you start working for pennies, raising your rates down the road becomes much more complicated. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should charge an outrageous amount (Although you should try and do this a few times); find a happy medium by researching what others in your field are charging and basing your rates on that.
Be Professional in Your Communication
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to be professional in all of your communication with potential clients—whether it’s over email, the phone, or even in person. This includes everything from using proper grammar and spelling (no texting abbreviations!”) to avoiding slang terms and cuss words. Just because you’re not meeting face-to-face doesn’t mean that first impressions don’t count!
Make Sure Your Online Presence is Up-to-Date.
Your online presence is more important now than ever before. In today’s digital world, potential clients will almost certainly Google you before deciding whether or not to hire you—so make sure that what they see reflects well on you and your business! At a bare minimum, your website should be up-to-date and free of any typos or errors. Ideally, it should also give visitors a good sense of who you are as a freelancer and a person. Take some time to spruce up your social media accounts; post interesting articles related to your industry, leave thoughtful comments on other people’s posts, and engage in relevant online discussions
You want people to associate you with someone who knows what they’re talking about.
🍩 Just the Sprinkles
Desperation is unattractive—in both freelancing and dating. If you want to succeed as a freelancer, you must always present yourself as confident, competent, and professional. Remember: there are always people who want to hire you! So never settle for less than you’re worth, be mindful of how you communicate both online and offline and ensure that your online presence reflects well on you and your business. Do all of this and we’re sure you’ll be successful in landing gigs—no matter what industry you’re in!
