There are a lot of freelancers out there that easily make more than low to mid six figures every single year – but a lot of them have to work themselves to the bone and burn out to pull it off.
There are only a handful of freelancers out there that know the secrets to making six figures (and more) with only a handful of clients. They are the ones that end up buying a beach house somewhere or traveling the world while living the real “four hour work week” lifestyle.
If you’d like a little peek into that kind of universe (as well as learn how they become so successful without having to crush themselves under a mountain of work in the process), keep reading.
Marketing and advertising might be the most important part of your freelance career
All successful freelancers (and even most of the unsuccessful ones) understand the importance of marketing and advertising for their business, at least on a surface level.
But few of them understand that it just might be the MOST important part of a freelancing career, even far more important than their technical skill, experience, or work product that they deliver.
You see, you cannot afford to blindly market or advertise your services to anyone and everyone – not if you hope to make a six-figure salary, and especially not if you want to make six figures while only working 15 to 20 hours a week from anywhere on the planet.
No, what you’re going to need to do is identify a very select niche of potential clients that have the commonalities, the personalities, and the bankroll behind them for you to lead this kind of lifestyle while they happily – almost excitedly – pay you whatever you ask for the results that you are able to produce.
The WHO in your marketing is a lot more important than the WHAT you’re trying to get across. Never forget that.
You have to work with people that you like, that you respect, and that you trust
Another component to making six figures with only a handful of clients is that you have to actually work with people that you like, that you respect, and that you trust.
Now, obviously, those criteria are ideal for any client that you decide to take – but I’m pretty sure all of us freelancers have worked with as close to the devil as it probably gets when we were running low on funds and were nervous about paying rent or eating.
You’ll never make any serious amount of money (and you’ll never have any fun or free time) if you continue to go down that road.
Really trying to figure out the type of client that you’d love to have – what they like, what they don’t like, what they do, what their personality is, etc. – and then go out hunting for “white whales”.
Yes, when you find them (and convince them that you’re bright for the job) you’re still going to want to have contracts of employment in place and a healthy dose of skepticism before you establish a relationship, but you’re also going to be much more at ease and happier because you’re working with people that you don’t despise.
These clients usually turn into lifelong business partners, trusted advisors, and friends, and even if they stop cutting you have the checks they’ll be able to recommend you to others with the full weight of a glowing endorsement – and you won’t have to worry about bending over backwards for pennies any longer!
