Back around this time last year, I was just starting to take freelance projects on. I have to say, I was just getting my head wrapped around the idea of how the whole freelancing thing worked.

In the whole, like month or two I think I got like 4 clients and made some decent money. But I had to stop because my stupid computer died, and it wouldn’t be possible for me to actually do any of my work on a computer with a destroyed battery.

I’m no expert when it comes to freelancing because I have only taken on a small handful of projects. Some of them, I have been more dedicated to and others not so much. I learned lessons in business and marketing from doing freelancing for a short period of time, and I feel like I can learn so much more if I started it up again. But this time, I am smarter with doing business with people, and my skills in all fields I specialize in have gotten much better.

My one problem with freelancing before (besides my computer issues) was that I was not that motivated on some projects. Out of the 4 clients, I only took 2 very seriously. I put a lot of work into those two (my first two) because I was designing a website for clients in a niche I am familiar with. The other two, I was not so familiar with it and I feel like I didn’t do my best.

Things have changed. After almost a year of quitting freelancing, I have decided I want to get back into it a little. With new knowledge in mind, however, I feel like I will become a lot better.

The time I have not been freelancing, I have picked up on some things:

• You have to get out there
  You can’t just start a website and expect to get clients. You have to really get your name out there and make people want to choose you to work on their project over someone else. You can’t be shy, you have to assert yourself. Something I have learned from blogging.
• You don’t have to take on every project

  For the best of those 2 clients I didn’t really relate to, I probably should have turned them down instead of going through. I had absolutely no idea about the niche, and even doing research on it didn’t help.

  I didn’t decline the project, I tried it, but didn’t do my best. Probably should have declined it for the best interest of the client. At my age, where I don’t need money to live, I probably should have done seen that. But I know better now.

• Do your best always. YOU’RE GETTING PAID. WITH REAL MONEY! (hopefully)
  You can’t half-ass anything when it comes to being a freelancer. You are being paid to do something, you have to give it your fullest. Besides, if you do an amazing job then the chances are you have just created a recurring client who will come back to you with more money.
• Always look to improve yourself
  You can always be better at what you do. Always look to improve yourself, because if you can find a new way to do something that is not only more efficient, but is above industry standard — then, going back to the above point, you can create recurring clients.
• Don’t ever deliver until you get paid

  No matter how much you can trust a person (take it from me), never ever deliver your content until you are paid every last cent. That means you have to do all of the work on your server, out of reach from your clients without them getting into the files, or whatever it is you’re freelancing.

  This has happened to me. I had a client, finished his project in July 2009 and didn’t see the last 50% of the money until September 2008. He was my friend, so I figured I could trust him and give him the stuff, then let him pay his last deposit. Hell no, never again!

The site where I will be freelancing at — Kolakube.com

I have owned this domain for a long time now, This was where I did my freelancing at before. This is where I will be doing it again. Same logo, same colors, better quality of service.

Right now, I just threw together a little splash page on it. I am going to be developing a full blown website for it when I clear up my schedule a little. Now, I’m talking sometime in the summer!

As I have mentioned on the website, if you wish to work with me on a project then just go to my Contact page and fill out the order form. I may or may not accept due to my busy schedule both on and offline, but I will try my hardest!

Thanks for reading guys, I hope I didn’t bore you!