What I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Freelancing

And how freelancers actually build real businesses....

If you’re starting out as a freelancer in any field, your first job is not to scale.
Your first job is to lay the groundwork properly.

Most people rush into freelancing thinking about income, visibility, or freedom. But strong freelance businesses don’t start with hacks. They start with basics done well.

I did this too. 1.5 years in, I realize I need my groundwork to be deeper and stronger and better so it continues to reap benefits for longer.

Start With the Groundwork

In the early stage, your focus should be simple and practical.

Build a portfolio, even if it’s small. Reach out consistently to people who might need your service. Improve your core skill every single week. Collect testimonials as soon as you deliver value.

Most importantly, do something that makes you stand out.

Standing out doesn’t mean being loud. It means being clear. Why should someone choose you over the next freelancer?

At this stage, execution matters more than personal branding. You’re building proof. You’re building confidence. You’re learning how work actually happens.

Then Move to Personal Brand Growth

Once your foundation is stable, that’s when personal branding starts to matter.

A personal brand is not about aesthetics. It’s about trust at scale.

You build trust by creating content that shows how you think, not just what you sell.

Start creating content regularly. Write articles on platforms like Substack or Medium. Pitch to journals, publications, or industry blogs. Write for friends, family, or small businesses if that’s what you have access to.

If you don’t have contacts, create your own entry point.

Start an audio podcast.
Or a simple video series.
Talk about your niche consistently.

Talk About the Industry, Not Just Your Skill

This is where most freelancers get it wrong.

They talk endlessly about their skill.
But clients don’t hire skills.
They hire people who understand their industry problems.

If you’re a virtual assistant working with health coaches, don’t just talk about admin tasks. Talk about the challenges health coaches face. Talk about burnout, client management, scheduling chaos, and why support systems matter.

If you’re a personal brand strategist for founders, don’t just talk about content. Talk about why VCs notice strong personal brands. Talk about how hiring decisions change when founders are visible. Talk about credibility.

When you speak the language of the industry, clients feel understood.
And when clients feel understood, they trust faster.

Content Is the Gateway to a Strong Business

Content is not optional if you want a long-term freelance business.

Content builds authority before you ever pitch.
It pre-sells your thinking.
It attracts better clients over time.

You don’t need to be everywhere.

Pick one audio or video-based platform and one text-based platform.
That’s enough. If you genuinely have constraints around being on camera, choose audio. But don’t avoid visibility because you’re shy.

People trust people.

Ask yourself this:
Would you trust a fund manager who never showed their face and only sent messages asking you to invest?

Probably not.

The same applies to freelancing. Visibility builds trust.

Align Everything

Your skills, your content, and your positioning should point in the same direction.

Don’t create random content.
Don’t chase trends that don’t serve your audience.
Align what you learn, what you talk about, and who you want to help.

Freelancing becomes easier when your work, content, and audience are connected. Build the foundation first. Then build trust at scale. That’s how freelancers grow into real businesses.

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