12 Essential Tips For New Freelancers

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We recently asked freelancers from the BuzzFeed Community for advice they would give to new freelancers. Here's what they said...

1. Separate your workspace from your "living space."

Hero Images / Getty Images, JuliaK / Getty Images

"Work in a separate room that has a door you can close or at least an area that you can designate 'for work,' and respect the distinction. Don’t work in the living room where you socialize. Don’t work in your bedroom. We all have work stress and life stress, and keeping those associated spaces separate makes all the difference!" —ericm37

2. Dress for the job you want!

NBC Universal

"Don’t hang out and work in your pajamas all day. When you wake up in the morning, change before you start working. Your change of clothes can’t be just as comfortable. This outfit swap will tell your mind that sleep time is over and productive time has begun." —sarahkarpw

3. Don't start working without a contract.

Disney

"No matter the job, big or small, make sure you get everything in writing and set clear terms. Projects tend to go out of scope quickly, and you need to be able to stand your ground. Don’t be afraid to say no to a client or charge for overages." —ryanv4a85d16a6

"Always have a written contract! From smaller to larger jobs — it's totally necessary!" —shelanised

4. "Backup plans are your best friend!"

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"Whether it’s saving money for a potential dry season of work or setting up another job before your current one is over, being one step ahead of the game, as well as a multitasking pro, will keep your pockets from drying up." —jadel44628e439

5. Adding a purposeful "mistake" can help you with picky clients.

FOX

"Whenever a nitpicky client has a request, I always add a very noticeable mistake somewhere in the piece (like a big red spot) but keep the quality intact everywhere else. That way, the client will feel accomplished when they point out the obvious error and won’t be as prone to nitpicking." —loism41e82419c

6. Promotion is everything!

FOX

"Never underestimate the power of simple marketing. I’ve had people call me because they found a pen with my info on it." —krysb2

7. Working with a tax accountant can help you in the long run.

Kate_sept2004 / Getty Images

"Even if you don’t have a lot of money, invest in a consultation with a tax accountant — they can help you structure your income/expenses so you’re able to maximize how much you keep. They can also advise you on whether or not quarterly tax payments are more beneficial to you than paying a lump sum based on how much you’re bringing in as a freelancer." —GrayNet

8. "Don't sell yourself short."

NBC Universal

"At first you may think offering your services at a discount price will help you pick up more work, but it can be hard to get out of that price if most of your business is word of mouth. If you take the time to explain your price and why you're the right person for the job, they will more often than not choose you instead of doing more work to find someone else." —larko

9. Set up a private "work number" that's separate from your personal phone number.

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"I signed up for an online phone number. It's totally free. You can set up a call-forwarding number so that you aren't giving difficult clients your private number. You can set up 'Do Not Disturb Hours,' which I've set up to essentially be my office hours. The other great perk too is that when the call is forwarded to your phone, it pops up as the call-forwarding number so that you know it's a client and can use a professional hello." —elliekayba

10. Make sure to set hard deadlines with your clients.

FOX

"Beware of open deadlines ('Mid-August,' 'When it's ready,' etc.) as this can derail you." —Vanessa García Polanco, Facebook

11. It's more important than ever to connect with your network.

CBC

"Know anyone that works in an agency that also provides what you're offering? Talk to them about sending business your way if they were too expensive for the client. It's a great starting point, and a lot of the time clients don't realize how expensive going through an agency is." —Smorvis

12. A good attitude can be the one thing to set you apart from the rest.

Hero Images / Getty Images

"There are hundreds of people out there who can do the same job as you (hard to hear but true). So being the person people enjoy spending time with is priceless. If you go in with a good attitude and are ready to solve people’s problems, then they will always bring you back for more work in the future because they like you." —rachelb467b9dec4

Note: Submissions have been edited for length, grammar, and/or clarity.

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