Ed Note
“Don’t let yourself be intimidated by the learning curve, and try not to compare yourself to others. If you find something you’re passionate about, the journey truly is the reward.” — Marianne (Freelance PHP Developer).
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So Shall We?
First off, as someone who has spent years as a freelancer, here is one thing I think you should know — freelancing is not for the weak. It takes grit, perseverance, and discipline. Freelancing will test your patience, but if you can plan strategically and remain dedicated, it will eventually pay off.
One freelancing job can earn you the same, if not more, than someone’s monthly salary. However, it is not stable. The amount you make depends on you and how well you can put in the work of finding clients and delivering quality.
Here are a few secrets to freelancing that you should always keep at the back of your mind:
1. Communicate your skills clearly.
It does not matter how good you are; in the freelance market, you are competing with people who are just as skilled as you. Being good at what you do is not enough; you must learn how to package your skills and sell them in a unique way. Communicate clearly, manage your relationships with clients like a pro, so they can return or even recommend you to others. Also, try to always post your reviews so other potential clients can see them.
2. Be prepared to work with different kinds of clients.
Freelancing connects you with clients from all over the world, which means different time zones, currencies, and approaches to work.
If you live in Nigeria, be prepared for unstable electricity and internet. Make sure you always have a backup plan. You don’t want to do the hard work of securing a client only to lose them because of a poor power supply or weak connection.
Pay attention to time zones and be flexible. For example, 4 PM in Nigeria might be 9 AM for your client. That means you’ll need to adjust to their working hours, even if it means working late at night or very early in the morning.
Find reliable ways to receive money in popular currencies like dollars, euros, and pounds. Open accounts with both digital fintech platforms, such as Grey, Cleva, and Geegpay, as well as traditional commercial banks like Access Bank, UBA or GTBank. Learn how to receive and convert money, and do not hesitate to ask senior freelancers questions about payment systems. Also, it is very important to know how to generate invoices for your clients.
One reality of earning in foreign currency is dealing with exchange fluctuations. The $800 you converted last week might not give you the same amount this week. Be mentally prepared for exchange rate swings, international payment fees, and local banking stress.
3. Be very good at negotiation.
Freelancing comes with both good and bad days. Sometimes you’ll get offers that are far below your expectations, and other times, you’ll be surprised with offers higher than you imagined. In both cases, negotiate. Don’t let fear of losing a client or uncertainty about your next job push you into undervaluing yourself. Always negotiate for an amount that will reflect the value you bring.
4. Contracts are your best friend.
A verbal agreement is not a contract, and it can burn you. Always insist on a written contract that clearly states your scope of work and payment terms. This will protect you from ghosting clients and scope creep. Make sure both you and your client sign it; trust me, it can save you in the long run.
5. Manage your time and finances wisely.
There will be times when clients will be scarce, and you’ll need to rely on your savings. This is why you need to track your finances carefully and always save up for rainy days. Manage your time well so you can complete your work before deadlines and send the invoice on time.
Finally, always ask for feedback from your clients. It will help you understand how you are doing and the areas you need to improve on.
In addition to that, treat freelancing like a real business. This means you need to set boundaries, use automated invoices, create templates for proposals, and build repeatable workflows to save time and energy.
Always remember that freelancing can stretch you more than a 9 to 5 but it can also reward you in ways you can never imagine. Like I said earlier, this is a business, and with every business, there are both bad and good days, so make it worth your time.
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In case you missed it
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Flutterwave’s podcast returns with stories of Africa’s boldest tech leaders.
Why your password is about to become obsolete (and that’s the best news you’ll hear all year).
Nigeria to showcase 105 innovations in London to attract global investment.
What developers, startups, and users will gain with Base and Solana bridge.
Check out our latest article on the TSJ website as well.
Opportunities
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Remote Customer Service - Africa at ScaleSource.
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Hiring a Graphic Designer.
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Technical Writers with experience writing AI/ML content. Send your CV and article links to Jrecruitment422@gmail.com.
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