<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"In today\u2019s shaky economy, freelancing is on the rise. In the U.S. alone, one in three workers are now doing freelance work. That's 42 million Americans going without employer health insurance, 401(k) plans and flexible spending accounts.\nBut it\u2019s not all doom and gloom \u2014 freelancing is often fulfilling work. Plenty of people freelance by choice. Some do it to supplement their existing income, and others do it because full-time work is simply hard to find. Creative types often choose this professional option because freelancing offers flexibility and the opportunity to showcase work in a variety of arenas. Freelancers can be anyone \u2014 artists, writers, graphic designers, lawyers, financial consultants, accountants, journalists \u2014 you name it, someone's probably done it via freelance.\nIf you\u2019re looking to start a gig as a freelancer, follow these five tips to perfect the art.\n1. Market Yourself\nIt can be helpful to be a jack-of-all-trades in the freelance industry, but you may have an easier time marketing yourself if you choose a niche within your industry. Personal branding efforts are a must for anyone looking for freelance work. Show your worth: Start a personal website, ramp up your social media presence and start a blog to discuss pressing industry issues and offer new perspectives. \n2. Network\nSure, there are plenty of established freelancers who are approached regularly for work. But freelancing is also a business, and that means there may be times when the well runs dry. Constant networking is a must for freelancers who desire regular work. Make networking a regular task \u2014 use the Web, attend industry events, send out e-newsletters or make cold calls to get new clients.\n3. Secure A Contract\nThis may be the number one rule of successful freelancing: Always write and sign a contract with your clients before completing any work. Check your state laws to determine the appropriate contracts you\u2019ll need to write, and spell out pricing and timelines if necessary. Too often, freelancers get taken advantage of and end up working for free. A contract ensures your client is legally bound to pay you, so don't skip this step!\n4. Stay Organized\nFreelancers often juggle multiple projects at once. Determine how long a project will take to complete, to properly block out your time, or set up appointments with clients in your home office or even a local caf\u00E9. Use spreadsheets to track your progress and keep tabs on payments. Freelancers work without the oversight of a boss to keep them on schedule \u2014 that means it's up to you to ensure you're staying on track.\n5. Be Flexible\nBeing a freelancer means you may not have creative control of your projects. You're working at the mercy of clients \u2014 you know, the people who are paying you \u2014 and you have to be flexible to clients' needs if you want to succeed. Many freelancers struggle to give up creative control of a project; they often feel they know their market or niche well, but hit a brick wall when clients ask for changes. Freelancers need to refine the art of flexibility, offering their expertise and guidance to clients while also taking into account client needs.\nFreelancing can be a great way to supplement your existing income or create a new career. Use the skills you already have, and you'll l be well on your way to creating a thriving personal business.\nMashable Job Board Listings\nThe Mashable Job Board connects job seekers across the U.S. with unique career opportunities in the digital space. While we publish a wide range of job listings, we have selected a few job opportunities from the past two weeks to help get you started. Happy hunting!\n\nLead Social Content Curator / Channel Manager at M80 in New York, NY\nSocial Media Marketing Manager at Fandango in Los Angeles, Calif.\nDirector of Marketing at Contently in New York, NY\n\n\n\nImage via iStockphoto, megamix."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/05/04/freelancing-tips/>