This is Day 1 of 31 Days to Start a Freelancing Business (Or Make Yours A Better One). Every day, we will focus on a specific task you should carry out in order to start a profitable freelancing business. Even though this series lasts 31 days, feel free to go at your own pace. And if you’re already freelancing, it still helps to go through these tasks again. You’ll find ways to improve and make your existing freelancing business even more profitable and more enjoyable than it is. I’ll be doing it with you!
So you’ve decided to start freelancing. Congratulations! It’s a leap of faith, whether you were thrust into it by a lay-off, or it’s a dream you’ve had for years.
Either way, it pays to start right. And let’s begin with YOU.
What Can You Do, Exactly?
Begin by making a list of all your skills. Grab a big, blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil and just list down each and every thing you can do.
Don’t think about this too much. This is similar to a brainstorming exercise where you don’t edit, evaluate or judge any of your ideas yet. The only criterion is that everything you write should be something you can do – a skill you already have in your field. So please don’t include your hobbies here, unless you want to freelance in that area!
Don’t think about whether you’re good at it, enjoy doing it, or think there’s a demand for it.
Think of skills you picked up while you were employed. Things you have formally studied or trained for. And don’t forget skills in your field that you learned on your own.
Write until you can’t think of anything more. And then ask your friends and family what they think you can do (again, not what you’re good at but what you can already do). Stop only when you’re sure you’ve exhausted all the possibilities.
Should you write on paper or the computer? Use what works for you best. Personally, I brainstorm much more effectively with paper and pen, preferably a very large and very blank sheet of paper. Otherwise, it feels like the lines on the paper constrain my thoughts.
But that might not be the case for you. Maybe your brain gets cranked up when you’re in front of your computer screen. If that’s the case, then type your list onto your computer.
Now We Analyze
After completing your list, you may want to take a break before moving into the next part of today’s task: analyzing your skills.
Now is the time to look at your skills and decide:
- which skills are you really good at?
- which skills do you enjoy doing most?
- which skills are in high demand?
Ideally, you’ll identify a few skills that fit all three descriptions, as represented by the middle portion of the graphic below, where all three circles overlap.
Don’t worry too much about the third item yet (demand). You’ll be going back to that on a later date, when you find out what your target clients want.
I suggest you transfer your list of skills into a matrix like this:
Again, don’t over-think this exercise. The important thing is to be both thorough and honest.
Today’s exercise will be one of your bases for putting together your service packages. But don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ll be taking things one step at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Relax and enjoy the exercises. Because if you’re not having fun, then what’s freelancing for?
PS: If you have any questions, please post them in the comments below.
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Lexi,
What a great idea – helping those that are thinking about starting or improving their freelance business! Sometimes, the hardest part of getting started is identifying what marketable talents you have. This article addressed that in such an easy-to-understand way!
I am at the “need to improve” my freelance business stage so I will definitely be coming back to learn more.
Best Regards,
Tess
Taylor Resources Writing LLC.
Great idea! I actually just started doing this on my own so I can clearly define how I want my business to develop. I look forward to seeing how this progresses. I expect it will be very helpful.
RT @lexirodrigo Day 1 of your profitable #freelancing career starts today => http://bit.ly/1DObd
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Day 1 of your profitable #freelancing career starts today => http://bit.ly/1DObd
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Great place to start – with an inventory. But the best advice is the column where you ask people to check what they do well and what they enjoy doing. No matter how good you are at something you don’t enjoy doing, it can make you procrastinate and really kill your time!!
I’m looking forward to this 31 day challenge! Good idea!
RT @lexirodrigo Day 1: Make An Inventory of Your Freelancing Skills | The Savvy Freelancer http://bit.ly/OGA1T
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Day 1: Make An Inventory of Your Freelancing Skills | The Savvy … http://bit.ly/Y8ASb Please RT
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I kind of did something similar to this when I set up my portfolio site. Although I didn’t write it down. I think I’m going to. Great start Lexi
Chris Anderson´s last blog ..Efficiency and Time — Ordering Chinese
Thanks for the comments, everybody! If you’re following along, please share what insights you get from the exercises. You never know who might benefit from your wisdom.
And do send me your suggestions if you have any.
See you again soon!
@cblaser This might help: 31 Days to Start Your Freelancing Business http://bit.ly/1DObd
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Wow what a great idea… i’ve got lots of reading to do considering I am starting at day 1… but having been a freelancer for some time now it will add as a great refresher and guide to if I did things the right way!
Thanks lexi for a great resource… looking forward to the rest of the days
Welcome to the Savvy Freelancer, Richelle! I do hope you find some useful stuff in this series of blog posts. Please chime in with your own wisdom as you see fit. It looks like you’ve been freelancing longer than I have and we can all learn from each other.
Lexi
WOW!! It’s one thing to have an idea it’s another thing to write it down. Sometimes your brain is on over load and you simply cannot focus. This has put everything in step by step order which is how I learn best. Now I have clear concise stesp to begin freelancing. Nice start for me Alexis, much appreciation.
Tracey,
As I mentioned to you on Twitter, you’re one of the inspirations for me when I decided to write this series of posts. It’s the step by step guide to start freelancing that I wish I had when I was starting out. I hope you find it useful.
Lexi
wow!!!! gr88 work ……I was just looking for s’thing like this to kick start what i was planning for sometime now. I guess now i will be able to excute my ideas into relaity…..
Thank you so much….. i really mean it
Thank you for the feedbank, Priyanka! I hope you find the series really useful.
How do I add my avatar to my replies?
Hmm, I’m not sure, LOL! I think you create a free account in http://en.gravatar.com/
Thank you Lexi! Now the world can see me! LOL!
Yes, it’s nice to see you, Elvis!
I’m late to the party, but I am starting from Day 1. Thank you so much for this. I’ve started my list and oh, goodness, it is so hard to come up with more than the basics. I guess I just don’t pay attention to what all I do, or don’t think of something as a skill. We are our own worst critics, right?
Hi Melinda! You’re not late at all. The important thing is to get started. You’re right about being your own worst critic – watch out and get out of your own way!
Thanks for posting this Alexis. I started my company over a year ago. My only real client has been myself in promoting my music through my art. But I need to REALLY get things going.
I’ve made my lists of skills I’m good at and skills I enjoy. This may seem like an odd question, but how does one know what skills are not only in demand but HIGH demand?
Looking forward to the next email.
Hi Jerry, It’s a good idea to hang out where your Ideal Clients are and get to know what services they look for. Online, you can do this by joining groups, lists and forums, or even by simply monitoring certain keywords on Twitter.
Offline, you could attend conferences, trade shows and other opportunities to meet with your Ideal Clients face to face. Get to know them and you’ll have a feel for what services are in high demand.
Hope this helps!
Hi
Thanks a lot for this ! Next week I will have my first (paid) job as a freelance and I’m kind of nervous about this, because it forced me to focus on what I need to do to really start as a self-employed personn !
Your step by step schedule is a great relief, it helps me to look at what’s important and calm down ^^
Maybe I will find out that it is not so hard as I think it is…
Anyway, thanks for your blog, I’ve read it for a few weeks now and found good tips !
(and sorry for my english ^^)
Thank you for the feedback, Mylene. I’m so happy you’re finding the content of this blog useful. Good luck on your first freelance assignment. Just do your very best for your clients each and every time and you’ll be fine.