There are many types of people who become freelance Web designers. But there are certain personality traits that help make the job easier. If you have all these traits, you might make a great freelancer. But even if you don't, you can learn some of them or figure out ways to deal with them.
Freelancers Are Often Introverts
When I say introvert, I don't mean the stereotypical introvert who's afraid of other people. Freelancers are often people who enjoy being by themselves. They do their best work alone or in a small group. This is important because the life of a freelancer, especially at first, is often very lonely. Unless you are lucky enough to have a partner, chances are you'll spend a lot of time alone at your computer. If you would rather be chatting with your friends over the water cooler, you might not like to be a freelancer.
Freelancers Must Have Good Communication Skills
While you might prefer to work alone as an introvert, to be a good freelancer you must be able to communicate well with other people. The best freelancers will have both strong written and verbal skills.
Freelancers Are Ambitious
It doesn't make sense to become a freelancer if your plan is to be mediocre, and you'll have a hard time finding clients as well. Most freelancers think big and set goals to achieve what they envision.
Freelancers Must Be Self-Motivated with a Strong Work Ethic
When you set off on your own, you won't have a boss sitting over your shoulder telling you "get to work." But the best freelancers don't need that because they say that to themselves. In fact, many of the freelancers I know tend to find it more difficult to switch out of work mode than their corporate counterparts.
Freelancers Are Courageous and Self-Confident
In order to become a freelancer, you will inevitably meet naysayers. There will be people who assume that since you work from home you aren't actually working. Others will ask you "but what do you do for money?" or make other disparaging remarks about your ability to make a career of your freelancing. So in order to do it, you need to have enough courage and faith in yourself to believe you can do it.
Freelancers Are Multi-Taskers
You have to be focused on the details and make sure that all the details are correct to be a good freelancer. There isn't an accounting department, a marketing department, and a sales department to handle those aspects of your business. You need to do them or hire them out and make sure they get done well.
Freelancers Must Be Well Organized
I don't care what system you use, whether it's notches on the desk or a full-blown task management system, the best freelancers have a system that makes sure they get done what they need to get done and when.
Freelancers Aren't Afraid to Plan
Planning your business as well as the sites you build as a freelancer will make you a better freelancer. Good freelancers plan for the future with an emergency fund and they plan the sites they build with design briefs.
Freelancers are Professional
As a freelancer, you are the only representative of your company. Being a professional and acting professional gets you more clients and more business.
Freelancers Have Support Networks
The best freelancers have support networks of friends and family. You need people you can talk to when times are going well and when they are rough.
