In July 2022, I took a big professional step and became a full-time freelance copywriter and historical researcher. Suffice it to say the last 12 months have been hard work, but also hugely rewarding. And I can say with confidence that freelancing is not all coffee shops and lie-ins as some may think! I have learnt plenty in my first year of doing this, so I thought I’d scribble some tips down and share them. If you are considering becoming a freelancer yourself or are just wondering how the process works, then this blog is for you.
Without further ado, here are seven things to consider if you are looking to become a full-time freelancer.
1 – The big decision
When it comes to moving from a full-time contract with a single company to being a freelancer and working with multiple organisations, you need to weigh up what you will miss out on against what you stand to gain.
Once you go freelance, there is no longer the security of a regular salaried income. You do not get sick pay or an allotted amount of holiday either.
But what freelancing does present is the chance to do more varied work, which if you are anything like me, you will find more rewarding. There’s also the chance to be your own boss, and to work in a flexible way that can open up ample opportunities.
Ultimately, this decision will vary from person to person and circumstances will dictate whether or not becoming a freelancer is feasible for you. Personally, I felt it was the ideal time to do something I had wanted to try for many years, so I went full steam ahead.
2 – Planning
My decision was made easier by the fact I had put sufficient time into planning my freelance venture and getting things into the right place to take the leap. By identifying opportunities within my existing professional network and sounding out potential clients, I felt confident I would be able to make freelancing work for me. I also reviewed things financially. I calculated what I would need to make in terms of revenue each month, and helped get things to a point where I felt the time was right.
Being diligent and prepared in the planning side of things is something I certainly feel helped make the transition from full-time work to freelancing far smoother.
3 – Spreading the word
Once I decided that I was going to go freelance, I put some time into thinking about branding and marketing. I took the decision to operate under the name Carduelis Content & Historical Research because the Goldfinch – Latin name Carduelis Carduelis – is something of a personal good luck charm. And I felt having luck on my side would be a good thing! I kindly asked a designer friend to sort me out with a logo and she did a sterling job if I do say so myself. From there, I set up social media accounts across Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, and the brand started coming together. It was then a case of posting about my freelancing services and engaging with people who may be interested in using them.
4 – Selling the offer
Networking has been a vital part of what I have been up to in this first year. I have looked to connect with as many people as possible, regardless of who they are and what they do. Ultimately, the goal is for people to know what services I offer so that whenever a potential content or research-related need appears to them, my name is hopefully front and centre in their minds. I have also had many interviews over the past year to try and secure work. Interviews can be nerve-wracking and intimidating, and one thing I have had to adapt to is the idea of ‘selling myself’ as an expert in what I do. Self-promotion is key to securing new work, but it is not easy.
With time and experience however – and getting the better of some pretty aggressive imposter syndrome – it is possible to promote yourself in such a way that you secure work more and more frequently.
5 – Organisation
Staying organised is a fundamental part of working for yourself, but is not something everybody finds easy to do. If you are the kind of person that starts feeling uneasy at the thought of a spreadsheet, then freelancing might not be for you…
I look to stay on top of every aspect of my work to the most minute detail in order to make things work. Having a main spreadsheet covering the many different aspects of the business is key, and updating this religiously is imperative. I will add that having never really used it prior to working as a freelancer, I have also become a massive advocate of Google Calendar. What a godsend!
6 – Money, money, money
Money is not something that people like to talk about when it comes to their work. Like it or not though, when freelancing, money is something that will play a part in everything you do. Staying on top of your finances is hugely important, as is invoicing correctly and chasing up any late payments.
Getting your head around taxation and how to do a tax return is also vital. Setting aside enough money from your revenue to pay your tax bill is a must, as the last thing you want is to be paying this out of your savings.
Having oversight of your expenses and outgoings is also very important. As a freelance copywriter and researcher, I am in a fortunate position where my outgoings are relatively minimal compared to other self-employed workers. But even so, that doesn’t mean I can be lax with my records, because these will be key when it comes to filing my tax return.
Another thing to consider is setting up a personal pension. If you are coming to freelancing from many years in full-time work like I did, your pension is probably something you haven’t thought an awful lot about to date. But getting your own pension set up and paying in a suitable amount each month can go a long way to looking after yourself in the future.
7 – Work hard but enjoy the perks
Becoming a freelancer can be a tough gig in many respects. There are risks with doing so, but by getting your head down, finding plenty of great clients and backing yourself to deliver, it is definitely possible to make a success of it.
Though it takes hard work and commitment, being able to dictate your own schedule is a real benefit. Also being able to give yourself a day off when you need one is a nice bonus. Meeting new people through work is also a pleasure, and having the chance to work with exceptional organisations, enhance my skillset and add to my portfolio has been really rewarding.
Here’s to the future!
I have loved working as a freelancer copywriter and historical researcher to date and I hope to continue the journey with Carduelis CHR for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of possibilities out there, so I hope the next 12 months will be as fruitful and rewarding as the first 12 have been.
If you are in need of freelance copywriting in Leicester or further afield, or are seeking a freelance historical researcher, then please do get in touch. I would be delighted to speak with you and see how we can work together.
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