Hi, I’m Ariel, Michelle’s editor. Over the past few years you’ve seen me on Making Sense of Cents writing about real-life frugality, living in a small house, and editing and writing strategies. Last year I turned my freelance side business into my full-time job.
It’s been almost a year since I went full-time with my freelance editing and writing business (you can read more about that here). The learning curve has been steep—I often had (and sometimes still have) no clear idea how to run a business. I turned to Google for answers to questions like “how do I file estimated quarterly taxes?” or “how should I set freelance writing rates?”
There are best practices, but if there’s a definitive rulebook for freelancing, I haven’t found it.
Freelancers now make up a growing segment of the workforce—there are over 56 million freelancers in the U.S. That’s 56 million people running businesses, many without formal business training, figuring things out as they go and learning from others while trying to do right by their clients.
One of my best sources of learning has been working with amazing clients. From my vantage point—part insider, part outsider—I’ve watched clients grow companies much bigger than mine while starting from similar places. They’ve been candid about mistakes, about what they wish they knew earlier, and their experiences have helped me become a better business owner. I’m deeply grateful for what they’ve shared.
In that spirit, here are some of the most valuable lessons I learned in the past year working with successful bloggers and online business owners.
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Here are 10 freelancing lessons I’ve learned from my biggest clients:
1. Create a code of ethics for how you’ll run your business.
Whether you write it down or keep it in mind, a personal code of ethics guides how you accept clients, interact with them, and manage your business. You’ll face situations where having clear standards matters.
Examples of statements you might include:
- Prioritize the client’s or customer’s needs
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Protect intellectual property
- Know which clients aren’t a good fit for your values or services
- Work with clients regardless of gender, race, religion, etc.
- Deliver high-quality products and services
- Respond to questions and return work in a timely manner
- Be transparent about your ability to meet deadlines and expectations
Your code doesn’t need to be handed to clients; it’s a living framework to help you make consistent decisions. As you gain experience and your business evolves, your standards will too.
Related: So You Want To Be A Freelance Writer?
2. Learn to adapt.
To stay relevant you must adjust your services to match what the industry and your clients need. Which services are clients asking for? What topics do readers search for? Adapting keeps your business alive.
Roughly half the services I now offer came directly from client requests. Responding to demand helped me grow.
Related: Want To Make Money From Home? Here Are 17 Of The Best Online Jobs
3. When you need to work, say “yes” to as much as possible.
If you need income, you need to take work—even projects you don’t love. That doesn’t mean accepting every job; your code of ethics helps you draw lines (for example, I won’t work on content that promotes hate speech). But taking steady, even menial, jobs early on can sustain you until you can be more selective.
Related: The Truth About Making Money Online
4. Find a way to organize your workflow.
Workflow means the process you use to start and finish work, whether for a single project or your daily routine. Having structure helps you stay focused, be more productive, and protect your personal time.
Working from home brings distractions—laundry, errands, etc.—so scheduling and clear routines help you decide what can wait. I aim to keep weekends mostly free and organize weekday hours to handle 40+ hours of work between freelance clients and a part-time job.
If you want a tool to manage projects and tasks, Asana is a free option many people find useful.
5. Freelancers aren’t the “wild west” anymore.
I spoke with freelancers who worked decades ago and heard stories of a time when contractors were unapproachable and unreliable. Today’s freelancers, by contrast, communicate clearly, meet expectations, and are seen as valuable contributors to businesses. The reputation has shifted: freelancers now run respectable businesses and are welcomed partners.
Related: How To Become a Freelancer and Make a Full-Time Income
6. Fix small problems before they grow.
As your business grows, small issues will appear. Address them early—don’t assume they’ll resolve themselves. I learned this after ignoring small errors from someone I’d outsourced to; what started small cost me time and money. We talked, corrected the issues, and agreed on better communication going forward.
7. Learn SEO.
You don’t need to be an SEO expert to benefit from basic search engine optimization. Learn the fundamentals through articles, courses, and podcasts so you understand what readers search for and what clients need. SEO won’t instantly land you on page one of Google, but it helps you create content that attracts the right audience.
Tools and resources people often use include Stupid Simple SEO, Ahrefs (paid), and Yoast (WordPress plugin with free and paid options).
8. Know your audience and your client’s audience.
If you’re a blogger, audience interests guide your content. Freelancers should also learn their clients’ audiences—differences in tone, language, and preferences influence how you write or edit. Ask clients for demographics, read comments, follow their social media, and join their communities to better anticipate needs.
9. Outsource when it makes sense.
Outsourcing allows business owners to focus on higher-return tasks, and freelancers can do the same. I outsource some editing on pieces I write because it saves time and lets me concentrate on work that earns more. Be smart about whom you hire—see lesson #6 about addressing small problems early.
10. Network, even if it feels awkward.
Networking events can be uncomfortable, but they’re valuable. I learned a lot at a freelancer meetup despite the awkwardness. Meeting peers helps you find clients, discover new ways to work, and gain support from people who understand the challenges of self-employment. Online communities and Facebook groups are a good place to start.
In the end, everyone is just trying to run their business the best they can.
Working for yourself requires humility. You’ll face clients who aren’t satisfied, readers who correct you, and mistakes you’ll have to fix. Those experiences are frustrating, but each one teaches you something. Over time you learn, regain your footing, and move forward.
Are you interested in becoming a freelancer?