Many today know that there is really no such thing as job security anymore. Not only have large corporations laid off hundreds if not thousands, but some of the biggest banks in the country have been struggling and continue to struggle, so where does that leave you? A lot of very intelligent people like you have decided to join the world of freelancing. While freelancing is awesome, it’s not for everyone. You have to be extremely disciplined to make a success of working from home. You also don’t want to neglect your family or young ones, to solely focus on freelancing. I actually started freelancing when I was still working full-time and I recommend this for all who still have an additional source of income. Freelancing part-time, while working full-time or another part-time job, will prevent you from going into debt or looking for investors; you can fund your own venture and there’s a certain amount of pride and peace of mind that comes from that. Here are some additional tips to get you started:

1. Make sure you discuss this new business venture with your family and friends. This is actually one of the most important steps you can take. I’ve not seen anyone else advise potential freelancers to do this, but I think it’s one of the most important steps. Freelancing is just like starting your own business. It will change your life, hopefully for the better; but honestly, there will be some long nights, missed dinners and frustration. Once everyone is on-board or not, you can make a sound decision.
2. Make sure your home office is truly a home “OFFICE”. Don’t allow the family to store the video game console there, or the exercise equipment. If you have a home office, you might want to read my post: The Essentials of a Perfect Home Office. Even if you can only designate a space in your home to work, make sure it’s equipped with everything you’d have in a brick and mortar office. There’s nothing like getting your first client, only to find out you’ve run out of toner, and can’t print out a contract or other important documents to get the ball rolling.
3. Craft a great pitch! That means write up or memorize what you will say when you speak about your business or brand to potential clients. Some call this an elevator pitch. This is key to presenting your new business venture in a successful light during informal meetings and networking events. Practice your pitch regularly and tweak it so that it sounds convincing and not scripted. Be prepared to answer questions intelligently and be very positive about your new venture! If you’re not excited, the client won’t be either.

There’s a lot of tools that you should have on your computer to get started freelancing as well as additional steps you need to follow to be a success. Our eBook “Online Business in 5 Days!” Walks you through the step-by-step processes of getting up and running. I also offer a special discount on consultations to those who purchase our e-Book and will call you personally each day to make sure you get it right. That type of assistance is invaluable and I didn’t have that when I started. If you’re already freelancing and want to chime in to help others, leave your tips in the comments section below, I’ll answer all comments personally. So if freelancing is for you; don’t delay, start your freelancing career today!

This is Shilonda Downing, signing off for Virtual Work Team LLC!