Freelancer skills: Which ones are essential and how to put them to use

As a freelancer, your work responsibilities extend beyond your expertise in your field. You also need to carry out various tasks that arise from being self-employed, such as accounting and marketing duties. Taking on this range of responsibilities requires many different skills.

This article explains which hard and soft skills you need as a freelancer and how you can convince potential clients to work with you.

How to succeed as a freelancer: The most important hard and soft skills

Hard skills are measurable skills that you have gained through education, training and practical experience. Hard skills are usually easy to define, quantify and demonstrate.

When it comes to soft skills though, it’s not as easy. These skills are important if you want to be successful as a freelancer. Soft skills refer to your personality, social skills, behaviour and emotional intelligence. Soft skills are essential when working with clients. Here is an overview of the different hard and soft skills you need as a freelancer.

Hard Skills	Soft Skills
Professional knowledge	Self-discipline
Technical skills	Communication skills
Industry-specific knowledge	Networking
	Financial management
	Marketing and self-promotion
	Flexibility and adaptability
	Willingness to learn
	Reliability
	Teamwork skills

Professional Knowledge

As a freelancer, it is important that you possess solid expertise in your field. You should continuously educate yourself in order to stay up to date and competitive in the market. 

Keeping yourself informed about new developments, trends, and best practices allows you to offer increased value to your clients. You can gain additional experience and knowledge in your field through trainings, workshops and conferences..

Self-discipline & Organisation

As a freelancer, you are your own boss, so the ability to organise and structure your work is extremely important. You need to be able to plan your time effectively, set priorities and complete projects on time.

If you are working as a freelancer, good time management and the ability to motivate yourself and stay focused are of great importance. It requires self-discipline to work in a punctual manner, meet deadlines and work continuously on projects.

Communication & Networking Skills

Building and maintaining client relationships is crucial to your success as a freelancer. You should be able to respond to your clients’ needs, ask questions to clarify requirements and accept feedback constructively. 

A professional and positive attitude when dealing with clients is essential for building long-term relationships and gaining referrals.

Accounting & Financial Management

As a freelancer, you are responsible for your own income, which is both a curse and a blessing. You have the potential to earn a good income, but at the same time you need to be able to manage your finances, calculate quotes, create invoices, and keep track of your expenses. 

A basic knowledge of accounting and financial planning will help you keep track of your income and expenses and plan your finances for the long term.

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Marketing

Being able to promote yourself as a freelancer is a skill you should acquire. Marketing yourself is about presenting yourself and your services in the best way possible.

Creating a professional website or portfolio, using social media platforms and networking can help you increase your visibility and reach potential clients.

Flexibility & Adaptability

As a freelancer, you will deal with different projects, clients and working environments. You need to be able to adapt quickly to new requirements and respond flexibly to changes. You also need to be willing to learn new topics and skills to meet the needs of your clients. 

The willingness to continuously learn and acquire new skills is very important for freelancers. After all, the world of work and the demands of clients are constantly changing. The desire to continuously evolve and adapt to new trends should be part of your personality.

Teamwork Skills

Although as a freelancer you often work alone, on some projects you collaborate with other professionals. The ability to work effectively in a team, to communicate in a clear and friendly manner and to adapt to different working styles is very helpful in such situations.

If you have these skills, you are well equipped to work as a freelancer. But don’t worry: You don’t have to be perfect at everything. You will get better at many things over time. The important thing is that you are motivated to learn and develop yourself.

How to communicate your skills as a freelancer

Having skills is one thing but being able to communicate them to your clients is another. You are also responsible for client acquisition. As a freelancer, openly sharing your skills and using them for client acquisition offers you various advantages:

• Clarity and trust: By openly communicating your skills and expertise as a freelancer, you create clarity about what you can offer. Potential clients will know exactly what skills you have and what services you offer. This creates trust and increases the likelihood that clients will choose you.
• Customised approach: By communicating your skills, you can target potential clients who are looking for freelancers with those skills. You can tailor your message and marketing materials to their specific needs and requirements, which increases the chances of successful client acquisition.
• Differentiation from the competition: By highlighting your unique skills and expertise, you can set yourself apart from other freelancers. You show potential clients why you are the best choice for their project and how you can add value. This can help you stand out in a competitive market.

Communicating your skills as a freelancer often comes with challenges. You may become too focused on certain skills. In that case, you may miss out on potential business opportunities.

It is also easy to overemphasise your skills, which can lead to clients reducing you to those skills and overlooking other aspects of your work or personality. Create a balanced picture of yourself as a freelancer to ensure that potential clients can fully grasp your range of achievements.

The demands of the markets are constantly changing, and certain skills may become less relevant over time. It is important to continuously develop and learn new skills to meet the changing needs of clients.

Effectively and successfully communicating your skills is a balancing act. It is good to know your target audience: What problems can you solve for them with the services you offer? What exactly are your potential customers looking for? With this knowledge, it will be easier for you to engage your clients, persuade them and build trust with them.

How to showcase your skills as a freelancer to attract clients

You can use your skills in different ways to convince potential clients to work with you.

• Create a meaningful portfolio: Present your previous work, projects and experience in a professional portfolio. Show examples of your best work to demonstrate to potential clients what you can do and what results they can expect.
• Create a compelling website: Create an attractive and user-friendly website to highlight your skills, experience and services. Use clear descriptions of your skills to explain what you offer and the value you add to your clients.
• Customer references and testimonials: Collect feedback and recommendations from satisfied customers and integrate them into your marketing materials. Positive testimonials can enhance your professional credibility and convince potential clients to work with you..
• Show relevant case studies: If possible, present case studies or success stories where you have achieved outstanding results for your clients. Describe the challenges you overcame, demonstrate the tangible results, and describe the skills you used to achieve them. This gives potential clients an insight into your way of working and your ability to solve problems.
• Personalised communication: When approaching potential clients, whether by email, phone or in person, tailor your communication to their individual needs and challenges. Show your understanding of their industry and its specific requirements. Demonstrate how you can help them achieve their goals and highlight your relevant skills and experience.
• Personal branding: Invest time in building your personal brand image. Define your unique selling points and show your personality and passion for your work. The better you position yourself as a freelancer, the better you can market your skills and services.

As a freelancer, it’s important to combine these different strategies so you can communicate your skills in the best possible way and persuade clients.

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