One of the biggest mistakes most freelancers make is to overfocus on their technical skills and overlook everything else.

Now, I get it – you may believe the best freelancers in the game are those who are the best in their craft.

But unfortunately, you’ve been taught wrong… 👀

Throughout this time, you’ve been taught to think more like a freelancer and less like a business person

And because of that, you’ve struggled with stagnant growth, unsatisfied clients, and a plateau in your freelance career!

…Which is why I’ll help you understand the key traits you need to adopt to differentiate yourself from an average freelancer!

We’re going to walk you through:

• How To Communicate Like a Pro

• Proactive Problem-Solving

• Creating Systems & Processes

• Skill Stacking

Mastering these traits will not only set you apart from the competition but also ensure: 

✅ Smoother projects
✅ Happier clients
✅ Sustainable business growth

Let's dive into the first essential trait. 🚀

How To Communicate Like a Pro

No client ever complained about ‘over-communication.’ It’s the backbone of successful freelancing!

Clear and concise communication is the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that is full of misunderstandings and revisions. 

Ensuring you are on the same page as your client from the outset, you minimize the risk of misunderstandings, save time on needless revisions, and enhance client satisfaction. 

That said, some common mistakes you can make are: 

1. Assuming that details are understood without explicit confirmation.

2. Not updating your client about the progress because the project isn’t completed.

3. Not communicating that a task may take extra time (because you’re afraid of conflict).

To tackle those, here’s my advice:

1. Asking for confirmation works in your favour! It reaffirms your client that you’re on the same page (and saves you from potential future hiccups) 

2. Completion of a project is only a piece of the jigsaw. Keep your client up to date with what you’re doing instead of leaving them in the dark with uncertainty. They won’t feel the need to follow up if you’re keeping them updated.

3. Time delays happen every time - so instead of leaving the client to guess what time they’ll receive get an update, be transparent drop them a small note that the task may take longer due to an [x] issue. In most cases, they understand!

And yes, always summarize key points at the end of meetings and confirm via email to ensure nothing is lost in translation. 

It’s often the best communicator who gets hired, not the best practitioner. 😉

Proactive Problem-Solving

To be a great problem solver, you need to be 2 steps ahead!

This is a skill that may take time to build, but try to anticipate potential problems beforehand and create a plan to avoid them. 

Trust me, clients LOVE problem-solvers! It’s the best way to build long-lasting trust.

Waiting for problems to escalate before addressing them is a pitfall many fall into, which damages your reputation! 

So to become proactive, ask yourself these questions.

1. Can there be a timeline issue here?

2. Is there any confusion in tasks here?

3. If [x] happens, how would I be able to solve it?

4. What additional problems would be created if I solve [x]?

You’ll find out there are no ends to problems.

Whenever you fix 1 thing, you’ll find 5 successive problems created because of it. 

And that’s a good thing!

The more problems you solve, the more valuable you become to your client. Make this your motto. 🙌

Creating Systems and Processes

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about managing time in my ~7 years of experience, it’s that it’s less about managing ‘time’ and more about managing ‘yourself’.

All the best time management books you read will give you the same responses, but all of them may not apply to you.

That’s why we create ‘systems’. ⚙️

The best part about systems is that they’re efficient and heavily versatile! 

You can create systems for creating content.
You can create systems for upskilling yourself.
You can create systems for completing projects.

The possibilities are endless per se!

For example: one system I use for content creation is through a ‘batch creation’ method.

Every month or so, I dump all the ideas I have for my newsletter into Notion. Then, our team dissects that content into bite-sized posts for Instagram and LinkedIn, and every Saturday, my team and I work on the approvals together.

In terms of hours, this would take roughly ~6 hours per week per team member. 

THAT is what systems do! They save time and get the work done super sharp. 💪

So if you’re looking to build yourself up as a freelancer, I want you to think about creating systems.

For that, ask yourself this:

What strategies do I use (for myself or my clients) that generate results?

You can easily reverse-engineer your strategy, build a name for it (i.e. the Brand-Winning Formula, The 6-figure Ads Mastermind, etc.), and voila! You have a system you can use.

As for the organization part, a practical approach would be to involve using a digital calendar to block out focused work hours, include buffer time for unforeseen tasks, and schedule breaks to recharge.

Getting more done in less time is the purpose of great systems. 🚀

Skill-Stacking

Yes yes, I know I talked about ‘overfocus on technical skills’ at the start of this newsletter…

But the key term was ‘overfocus.’

With the rise of AI and massive layoffs continuing, the only way to differentiate yourself is to stack yourself with a block of skills to solve multiple problems at once!

If you do Facebook and Google Ads, don’t stop there – try going for copywriting, website design/development, or Email Marketing!

In this case, being a proactive problem solver helps a lot!

If you’re confused about where to start with this, first equip yourself with 1 core skill. (Let’s say it’s copywriting for now)

Then, answer these questions:

1. What potential problems does my client face (or may face) in their business outside of copywriting?

2. How can I elevate my clients’ results other than copywriting?

3. What are areas that take a lot of my client’s time? Can I take that deliverable under me? 

Becoming complacent with your current skill set can quickly lead to stagnance. So through these questions, you’ll be able to set a clear goal on WHAT skills you need to work on.

Then, try setting aside time each week to develop these skills, whether through online courses or industry webinars!

Stay ahead of all trends and you’ll stay ahead of the competition too. 🤝

TLDR:

• Most freelancers mistakenly prioritize only their craft, neglecting soft skills and business acumen necessary for growth.

• Communicate Like a Pro:

  • Clear, concise communication is crucial.

  • Avoid misunderstandings by confirming details and keeping clients updated.

  • Transparency about delays improves client relationships.

• Proactive Problem-Solving:

  • Anticipate and plan for potential problems.

  • Being two steps ahead builds trust and showcases your value.

• Creating Systems & Processes:

  • Efficiency comes from managing oneself, not just time.

  • Systems for content creation, upskilling, and project completion save time and increase productivity.

• Skill Stacking:

  • Diversify skills beyond your core offering to stand out and solve more client problems.

  • Continuous learning and adaptability are key to staying competitive.

Stay tuned for next week’s content!

 📆 How I can help

That’s all for today!

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

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