Intro:
Landing higher-paying assignments is one reason why individuals become freelancers. Once you establish your salary or hourly wage as an employee, it takes a lot of effort to significantly bump it up.
It’s not that different for freelancers – it just takes a different approach and some assertiveness.
Landing lucrative gigs occur when you prove that you’ll bring something to the table. Your work should help clients see a bump in their revenue, positive exposure, or organic traffic. Thus, they see a return on their investment in you.
Sometimes the return isn’t measured in dollars. Instead, it’s measured in personal gain. For example, mobile hair stylists will make their clients’ hair look gorgeous for special events. Interior decorators will make their clients’ homes feel even cozier and something that they can show off to friends.
Let’s look at how to land higher-paying assignments for freelancers.
Acquire Credible Experience
Since payments to you are an investment from clients, acquire credible experience. Sometimes you do need to fake it to make it. However, lucrative gigs can easily go sideways for new independent contractors or those who don’t have the skillset for the task.
Moreover, clients might not hire you if they don’t believe that you can deliver.
Paying your dues is one way to gain credible experience. Completing a simple, low-paying gig builds your resume. Once you test the waters and prove that you’re responsible, use it as momentum.
In addition, understand the requirements of lucrative contracts. Keeping your eye on the prize will focus your efforts so you’ll gain the right experience.
Build a Portfolio
Every job that you complete is a new entry in your portfolio; it’s also a great way to show that you have gained credible experience.
Some things do not translate through language. Instead, they translate through visual and sound elements. Therefore, build a portfolio that helps you stand out from others hoping to land the same lucrative contracts.
Add visual and sound elements when possible.
Protect Your Business
Companies that pay freelancers higher fees run a series of background checks on them. They must ensure that they’re working with legitimate independent contractors.
In addition, more money creates more opportunities for monetary fallout if something goes wrong. Therefore, protect your business with policies such as self-employed insurance.
Insurance acts as a safety net in case things out of your control occur such as business interruption or a lawsuit.
Join Online Marketplace Platforms
Freelancers benefit from networking with their peers and other professionals. Another way to find lucrative contracts is to join online marketplace platforms for freelancers.
The bulk of freelance jobs have online components. Plus, the events of 2020 proved that the technological infrastructure to support remote working does exist.
Online marketplace platforms help independent contractors find gigs. Once you build your profile, clients will find you through the magic of search engine optimization.
Research the Market
Self-employed professionals must find opportunities. In some cases, they must create them. Researching the market makes the process easier.
Sometimes your skills will meet market demand. Other times you’ll need to make adjustments. If you understand the market, you’ll see the direction of the blowing wind more easily.
Therefore, you’ll have the agility to find opportunities first or create them.
Keep Up with the Trends
Researching the market will help you keep up with the trends more easily. In some cases, arriving first does matter. If you arrive first and can deliver, you’ll land an attractive payday and an important entry for your portfolio.
The last 20 years have seen rapid changes. Thus, you want to avoid having skills that have become obsolete. Instead, update them so that you remain relevant.
Take Chances
One thing that most entrepreneurs have in common is that they took chances. The public doesn’t know that they need a product until an entrepreneur puts it in their hands.
Although Apple is discontinuing its iPod line, the device had a good run. Steve Jobs’ presentation of the first iPod Nano in 2005 wowed the crowd and public. He and Apple took a chance on a new version of the device.
If you take a risk, go beyond faking it to make it. Ensure that you can deliver so that your client will hire you again.
Conclusion
An estimated 20% of freelancers earn more than $100,000 annually. When you have your eye on higher paying assignments, ensure that you can meet your client’s expectations. Then, deliver a little extra by keeping up with the trends, protecting your business, and taking calculated chances.
