March 28, 2024

The Benefits of Working on Freelance Projects

I often read about designers who cannot stand freelancing yet continue to use this path for solid income. I suppose there is nothing wrong with hating your job, but some designers actually enjoy freelancing. It is not a career choice that many people would keep for decades. But it does offer a unique lifestyle of working on various projects and studying new trends.

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In this article I want to present a few ideas arguing the benefits of working on freelance projects. Both designers and developers creating websites have the opportunity to earn real livable money without answering to one specific bossman. Over time you will grow interested in your own projects or other companies and likely move away from the freelance work. But lessons learned throughout various projects will stick with you for a lifetime.

Unique Practice

Whatever field you are working will likely require going into areas you are not yet familiar with. Thus by just accepting new projects you are likely to force yourself into areas of new education. But I do not look at this as a bad thing and neither should anyone else. In fact, it can be very stimulating to increase your own knowledge on a specific subject.

Especially if that subject is directly related to the work you do. Such as building newer CSS3 properties, or learning the inner workings of WordPress PHP functions. Nobody is an expert in everything but start out in grey areas where you already know some stuff, but just need to fill in a couple blanks. You’ll boost confidence and within a couple months be holding a set of new interesting skills.

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It is worth passing over certain projects you think are just too much. And it is ultimately up to you whether or not taking on a new project is worth the stress. Learning about an entirely new CMS might be too much unless you have the time for study and research. It would depend if you have other work lined up, and how badly you need the money. As with most things in freelancing you have to learn balance from within yourself and not rely on the authority of others.

Time for Free-Thinking

When working as a freelancer your schedule is often up in the air. Unless you have a rigorous schedule, most work will be completed as-needed. You may find yourself swamped one month and dry on work the next. I feel that working freelance is the best time for a creative designer/developer to think introspectively on their own goals.

What would you ultimately like to do for money? Is it something related to the current skill you provide freelancing, or something else altogether? Would you want to be your own boss, or work with some other talented people? Very few people will sit down and ask themselves these tough questions before jumping into a career path. It is worth contemplation and freelancing is often the best time for it!

Expanding your Scope

When you become adjusted to working on the same ideas then it doesn’t provide much room for growth. By working as a freelancer you are opening yourself up to a large number of opportunities. And this does not just include learning new skills or ideas on projects.

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It also includes who you meet and work with over these individual projects. Meeting the right people in the right industry may get you a foot in the door. Plus as more people can recognize your talent it will build more credibility around what you do. It is so much easier gaining recommendation from past clients after they have seen what you can do and love your work.

The scope of what you need to accomplish should always be expanding until you are content with your works. This is the exact reason you should not be afraid to break outside the norm. You will feel more in control of what you do and the value that you can offer society. When first getting started it can be extremely stressful and it may bring you down at times. But after years of practice it definitely builds character and skills which you can be very proud of mastering.

Open Yourself to Experience

Most of the freelancers I have talked with or read about are working on projects to earn money while they work on their own side-project(s) in spare time. Generally this can be some new company or startup idea related to tech/Internet trends. But it could also be a new business idea entirely separate from the Internet! This modern age provides a brilliant resolution for creative spirits to work on their own creative endeavors while still paying the bills.

This is potentially the largest benefit you can gain out of working freelance. Insight towards what you want to build, or what you want to make or create for the world. You will definitely meet a wide variety of interesting people along the way. Take these lessons to heart and keep doing what is true to yourself.

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I also suggest getting in contact with people you find who are in a similar situation with similar ideas. The other interesting learning experience of working freelance is by working in a team of creative people. You’ll have the ability to ask questions and work directly with other like-minded individuals. Even building something together in your spare time is more than exciting enough for pushing beyond what you already know.

Conclusion

Performing any type of freelance service which includes writing or marketing will usually require a busy time schedule. When you are doing everything yourself it can be tough getting into “work mode” without going into an office space. And even in this instance you have to keep yourself motivated while pushing through the workday.

I hope these ideas strike a chord with some freelancers out there. I recognize it can be very difficult handling clients or companies who want to steamroll the creative process. But everything is a learning experience and you should not be afraid to push boundaries. Working in unknown areas is both stressful and rewarding as an educational tool. If you have additional questions or comments feel free to share with us in the post discussion area below.

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Jake is a creative writer and UI designer by trade. You can follow him on twitter @jakerocheleau or learn more at his personal website JakeRocheleau.com.

10 Comments

  1. Mark Danial Reply

    Thanks for the post! As someone who just made the leap into freelancing, I found this to be encouraging. Esp. the idea of being open to unique challenges, and new experiences. “Working in unknown areas is both stressful and rewarding as an educational tool.” That’s what got me into this in the first place. Good to reconnect with what it’s all about.

  2. Mary Grace Viado Reply

    This post just inspired me to start studying website design and development. I have HTML knowledge but I do not have a single Idea about CSS. Whenever I see striking websites, it get me into thinking that I can make one myself. I just need all the patience, perseverance, consistency and right materials in learning website design and development.

    If I may ask, do you have any suggestions where I can get materials for HTML5, CSS3 and Word Press? Thanks.

  3. Nick Williams Reply

    I really enjoyed this post. I agree with what you said and have found in my own experience that I have learned more by freelancing than I have any other way. So many times I have been asked if I can create or do something for someone that I didn’t originally know how. I researched and learned so many things by solving others problems. Freelancing forces you to adapt and learn new things which has led me into so many different areas than I ever thought I could know. Thanks again for the post.

  4. Brandon Halliburton Reply

    I think experience is a great teacher. There have been times where I was a little hesitate to take projects in areas that I had little to no experience in. By taking on some of those projects I was able to expand myself a little more. I think its all about knowing what you are capable of. If you consider yourself a fast learner, then I would say go for it. I think the best thing about freelancing is that you can pick and choose what you want to work on.

  5. Frédérique Izaute Reply

    I really like this post. I am an English-French translator, freelancer, and I’d like to translate this article and post it on my blog (www.lartdecrire.ca) with a mention about you and a link to your post of course. Would you agree to this idea?

  6. Yue Hu Reply

    Great post!So inspiring!I think the most difficult part of freelancing for a starter is to be very deciplined with time management.And it’s not easy to stick to this challenging career unless you really love it.

  7. Earl Varona Reply

    On point! This is exactly how I feel about freelancing. Like you said, this is not a career choice but I think it is really a way to open up new opportunities for a career path ‐ either that would be for a start-up, explore new ideas, business, etc. For me, it is an opportunity to learn new things and build references so I can be efficient enough to explore my start-up ideas. Freelancing gives you more control of your future and it makes Monday mornings so much more exciting and no longer dreadful. 🙂

  8. Vishnu Reply

    Freelancing is a good way to push beyond what you already know and upgrade your own skills. Gives you more experience in handling a project end to end.

  9. Paul Gilbery ( eighttwo.net) Reply

    I have recently left my job in removals to pursue my career in web design & development and am currently freelancing for small businesses in my local area but would love to either go back to college and study graphic design or go self employed as a full time freelancer but I worry that I might not be able to earn enough to pay the bills. What would be your advice?

  10. Jonathan Reply

    I’m a student studying computer science and I intern for a web design company where I mostly work on the front and back end development of the clients’ websites.

    I started freelancing on the side to make more money, and it’s truly a whole different world. I didn’t expect it to be so time-consuming because at my internship its always smooth-sailing.

    I realized the difference is that since I’m no longer working in a team when I freelance, — I have to do all the client correspondence, contracting, and all the other details that I kind of took for granted.

    It’s a lot harder than I thought, but it was definitely a great learning experience.

    –I’m currently on a freelancing hiatus 🙂

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