Today, the freelancer movement is booming with more and more people finding work online. No matter where we live, we can reach out to more people and have access to more work. We have the whole world at our fingertips.

Working online is especially adapted to the creative industries and this article explores how artists can make the most of remote working.

This is a joint article by Lilla Rogers, successful artist, founder of internationally renowned art agency Lilla Rogers Studio and founder of Make Art That Sells , and Do What You Love, award winning online courses that help people find personal and financial freedom and producer of the Make Art That Sells e-courses.

Why online freelance work makes sense today

(an introduction by Do What You Love)

Although freelancing and remote working aren’t new concepts at all (believe it or not, freelancing dates back to the 1800s!), the number of people who have taken up this way of working has exploded in the past few years.

With everyone connected, communication has never been easier, whether you are in the same room or the other side of the world.

The fact that more and more companies are embracing the concept and realize that it has many advantages for them too makes this way of working a very real option for the first time. Lots of companies are now proud to state on their websites that they are a “remote team”.

“Never before has freelancing been so easy.
It’s the democratization of work and access as creatives
are now able to connect with their niche audiences worldwide.”
—Lilla Rogers

Many online freelancers work in the creative industry. They are designers, web developers, video editors, copywriters, translators; the freelance lifestyle adapts well to their kind of work and if you’re a creative person trying to set up a business today, the possibilities are endless. There are so many opportunities open to you: you can easily showcase your work on platforms visited daily by thousands of people worldwide; close knit creative communities are thriving and becoming more and more influential; and your pool of clients is not geographically restricted.

Much more than a way of working, online freelancing and remote working is a lifestyle choice. Whatever the reasons for which you want to start freelancing, it will have a great impact on your whole life. As always, it’s good to start a new venture with some preparation, and there are countless resources out there to help get you set up for a freelance life. Whether your dream is to travel the world while running your business or simply have more flexibility in your life, now is the time!

“I love to be able to follow my passions and monetize them.
I’ve made my living as a successful creative
entrepreneur for 35 years by pursuing
my interests and aiming for excellence.”
—Lilla Rogers

In an economy where permanent work is loosing its meaning and security, freelancing is a sensible choice and one that can be extremely fulfilling, lucrative and – maybe most importantly – based on your own terms.

Read on for practical tips about succeeding as an online creative freelancer.

How to make the most out of your creative career online

1. Creating your online presence

So you are ready to get “out there” and start or strengthen your creative business? Great! The first thing to do is to have a strong online presence:

1. Create your website and online portfolio. Whether you are using a portfolio site or have your own website, you need to showcase your work online
2. Set up social media accounts for your business (ideally these should be different from your personal ones) on the main social media platforms
3. Start following and interacting with your creative friends, contacts, clients, creative communities, magazines, art galleries
4. It is important to keep your online presence up to date, so don’t create more accounts than you can realistically manage and don’t be afraid to “test and ditch” if you see something doesn’t work for you or your clients
5. Remember that potential clients look at your online presence, so be sensible in what you publish, especially on social media

Lilla’s advice:

• Show the work you want to get. Like attracts like.
• What do you have to offer that’s unique?
• What can you share that helps or inspires others?
• All the promotion in the world won’t help if you don’t have something of excellence to offer. Get REALLY good at something so you have something of value to share.

2. Meeting your online “tribe”

Whether your business is online or offline, you will still have to network. The good news is there are a lot of helpful and friendly online communities out there that are waiting to welcome you.

We can’t stress the importance of networking enough, as it will be tremendously useful in all aspects of your career.

Finding your tribe will bring you:

1. An identity: there’s nothing like hanging out with like-minded people and feeling you are part of something bigger than yourself to boost your confidence and motivation
2. Support: communities are very supportive of their members, sharing useful tips, advice, resources generously
3. Inspiration: participating in conversations, seeing other people’s work or finding out about industry news will give you new ideas and inspire you to create great art
4. Feedback: when you’ve been working on a piece, it might be difficult to have enough distance to be an objective critic to your own work. Communities can also help by giving honest feedback of your work
5. Visibility: you have to get out there to be seen! Industry experts also follow the main creative communities to see who’s out there
6. Work: people tend to recommend people they know, referrals and recommendations are one of the strongest marketing techniques
7. Joy: hanging out with a like-minded creative crowd, what’s not to like!

Here are some of the main social networking websites for creative people:

www.behance.net
pinterest.com
dribbble.com
www.illustrationmundo.com

3. Finding work online

As mentioned in the previous point, having – and nurturing – a strong creative network will open up a lot of possibilities, including ones for work or collaborations. Referrals are still the best way to get interesting and serious work. You will also find many websites out there that will help you find freelance work. A lot of these websites also offer resources and advice about working remotely as a freelancer. Here are a few of the best ones out there:

www.upwork.com / www.upwork.com/hiring/
www.freelancer.co.uk / www.freelancer.com
www.elance.com
www.ifreelance.com
www.guru.com
www.krop.com

4. Working with clients remotely

Congratulations, you’ve got that gig! Managing client relationships can sometimes be tricky and can be even more so if you work remotely. Your main concern will probably be about your contract and understanding what the job is about. Your client’s main concern will be knowing that you are to be trusted to do a good job even when they can’t always keep an eye on you.

Follow our tips below to avoid any strain in your client relationships.

1. Lilla’s advice.
   Ask yourself, “Is this job a good fit?”
2. Make sure you have a contract before you start any work.
   This is always important, but even more so if you are working for someone remotely. Also make sure they are a reputable company before doing any work with them.
3. Ask for a written brief.
   You might not be able to go back and forwards with them to ask any questions or have the opportunity to sit down with them to go through it in detail, so you will need to have a clear written brief before you start. If they don’t provide you with a brief, write one yourself and get it signed off before you start.
4. Organise a kick off meeting before each major project.
   With tools like Skype and Google hangouts, it’s very easy to organize meetings even if you are located in different countries or on different continents. A kick off meeting before each major project will give you the opportunity to establish a trusting relationship with your client as well as clarify any questions you have about the brief. It will make you look professional too. Always come prepared: read the brief before if you can, know the company, make a list of questions you need to ask.
5. Be structured in your communications.
   While the project is under way, unless a question is blocking you in your work, try to list them and go back to your client once you have a few to ask instead of emailing them every day. This will optimize everyone’s time and it is important to show them that you can work independently.
6. Don’t be afraid to clarify.
   If you have any doubts, don’t assume anything, just ask. It’s best to ask a question rather than spend precious time (yours and your client’s) on false assumptions.
7. Give regular updates.
   Don’t write every day to say what you have done, but regular check-ins to give them the status of the project goes a long way toward proving that you are trustworthy and a good worker. Clients like to have the peace of mind your work is moving forward without having to chase you all the time.
8. Organise calls for feedback.
   This will allow you to ask questions as they give feedback and avoid too many emails to clarify what can sometimes be explained in a few words.
9. Be friendly and enjoy the fact you can work from wherever you want and nail it!

Lilla sums it up:

“You must clearly know why you’re doing this.

Do you want to be a creative entrepreneur? Why? It needs to be for reasons greater than you just don’t want to live on a cube farm. What about the life you want to live? What about the work you’re willing to do?

For me, I rule my own life. I can strive for my own brand of excellence that fully reflects my being. (As I write this, I’m sitting outside with iced coffee and listening to birds.)”

—Lilla Rogers