It’s no joke, securing projects in the freelance marketplace is a job in itself. You must be prepared to work as hard at finding contract work as you would at completing the work when assigned. And working hard not only means drumming away and mechanically sending out proposal after proposal with little thought given to the rhyme or reason. Securing a job, freelance marketplace or otherwise, requires a system. You must develop a process for identifying your desires and talents, as well as implement a plan to secure the work.

Regardless of your freelance background, you must be willing to add the roles of businessperson, marketing guru, salesperson, and financial whiz to your list of skills if you want to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, the majority of freelancers do not see themselves as businesspeople but rather as web designers, writers, or programmers. They hit a brick wall when trying to secure projects because they have no plan for securing work other than applying. They struggle with the need to sell themselves and develop a plan of attack that will make the best use of their non-freelancing time.

As a professional in the freelance marketplace, you have to arm yourself with the information and tools needed to achieve success. By approaching job searching in the same way you would approach a hunt, with hunger and a cache of tools to achieve the end goal, your success is guaranteed.

| Author: Krasen Tyutyunev