With more organizations realizing the importance of having an active web presence, the demand for freelance programming professionals should see a drastic increase in 2014. If you have knowledge of PHP, C#, CSS, Javascript, JQuery, just a few of those or all of the above, apply the following tips to your career ambitions and boost your 2014 freelance programming career so that you can finally realize your financial goals.
Keep Records of Everything
Get your 2014 freelance programming career off to a great start by keeping a spreadsheet or other organizational file system to track clients, marketing, advertising, cash flow, invoicing, insurance and all other aspects that comprise your freelance programming job.
If you are just starting out, you will have an easier time setting up your organization system. If you have been in operation for some time and you would like to ramp up your current business success, take the time to organize all of your current information as best you can. The system you choose should allow for instant recall of important numbers and facts. This type of organization is crucial for all freelancers, not just freelance programming professionals.
Reusable Code
While you are recording client names, invoices and email blasts, you might want to keep a separate spreadsheet where you keep tabs on bits of code that you can reuse at a later date. Your 2014 freelance programming career will certainly get a boost when you can instantly produce functions, classes and other pieces of code with a simple search, cut and paste.
Get Freelance Programming Scripts
The next time you are required to write a script to solve a problem, find out if that problem is common. It usually is and most script problems have been solved and explained on one or more websites. These scripts are offered free of charge in most cases and copying them, saving them and then pasting them when needed can give your 2014 freelance programming career a massive boost indeed.
Just a word of warning. Watch out for freelance programming scripts that are badly or incorrectly written. In other words, don’t just snag the first free scripts you come across. Properly vet them, check any associated comments left by other programmers and tweak them if possible to make them usable and ripe for reuse in the future.
Advertising Your Services
If you want more from your 2014 freelance programming career, you must let hiring managers know that your skills are viable and very much hirable. Believe it or not, many freelancers are still using Craigslist to find paying clients; but ODesk, ELance and other freelance job boards are also excellent avenues for finding paid work. Make a profile on every platform that you come across – as long as the freelance programming site is popular and being used by potential clients searching for freelance professionals – and really proselytize about your skills and abilities. You are going to be up against a ton of competition at every turn, no matter which platforms you choose to advertise on, so you had better stand out if you want to boost your 2014 freelance programming career.
Bidding for Projects
If you really want to excel this year, you need to let the modest side of you fall by the wayside. This is a time to think big, to go after the really big jobs and to bid without fear or remorse. If you don’t believe in yourself and your freelance programming abilities, potential clients will have even less of an opinion of you. Make all potential clients see that you are the must-have freelance programmer of your class and that they had better strike quickly and hire you before you are snatched up and hired by someone else. It may take time to get to that level, but with constant attention anything is possible.
Let’s recap. To boost your 2014 freelance programming career, come up with a system that allows you to organize everything. That way client communications, marketing your services, tax time and completing various projects will become infinitely easier. Keep your reusable code, always be on the lookout for freelance programming scripts and bid as if you have been in business for years and will only accept top dollar for your coveted programming skills. This year is your time to shine. Take these tips and transform your freelance business into one that earns record numbers and operates like a finely tuned machine. With all the competition you are likely to face, you can’t afford to operate any other way.
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