Building a Successful Freelancing Business Online

Julie Starr • September 3, 2020



While some people enjoy working in a 9-5 role, others crave the excitement and responsibility that comes with being your own boss. Freelancing gives you the opportunity to carve out your own niche and do something you love. What’s more – you can combine freelancing with your current role as an employee and boost your income, if you choose too.

Of course, building your own freelance business isn’t always straightforward. Creating any enterprise from scratch can be challenging, so it’s important to be prepared for what’s ahead. With these handy tips, you can begin planning for a successful career as a freelance business owner now…

Choose your business focus

Before you can begin working, you’ll need to decide exactly what it is you want to do. Perhaps you’ve always had a burning ambition to develop a product or maybe you’ve got a great idea for a service business ? Alternatively, you might decide to use your professional experience to your advantage and use it as the basis for your freelance career.

When you’re choosing what type of business you want to launch, take the time to really think about the type of role you want. If you’re eager to work from home, you won’t want a business that involves traveling to client sites on a regular basis, for example. Being a freelancer gives you the chance to create your ideal working environment, so make the most of the opportunity.

Research your market

Just because you think your business idea is fantastic, it doesn’t necessarily mean that other people will agree with you! Before you get too far into the planning stage, be sure to research your market and make sure there is a demand for your products or services.

Fortunately, the internet makes it easier than ever to carry out market research activities. Instead of hosting your own focus groups, you can access databases of willing participants within your target demographic. This means you can carry out your research quickly and cost-effectively while building your freelance business.

Locate potential clients

Acquiring new customers is arguably the biggest challenge for any business, so start to think about how you’ll attract clients or customers early on. When you’re running your business online, you can rely on the internet to connect you with your target audience, providing you know where to look.

There are many sites that are dedicated to matching clients with freelancers, for example. You’ll even find niche marketplace sites that post short-term audio visual jobs , copywriting projects or website development roles. Although you’ll typically need to pay a fee or commission to the site, this can be an easy way to pick up clients, particularly while you’re establishing your new business.

Formally set up your business

When you’re working as a freelancer , you have the option to register as self-employed. Many people enjoy the flexibility this offers but it does mean that your personal finances and assets are tied into your business.

If you want to create distance between your personal assets and your business, you might prefer to register as a limited company. Some people decide to form a company because they believe that it creates a better impression, but this depends on your industry and the type of clients you’re aiming to attract.

Whether you decide to operate on a self-employed basis, register a limited company or form a partnership, make sure you’ve completed the necessary paperwork, and submitted the appropriate documentation. This will give you peace of mind that your tax, legal and financial obligations have been met.

Learn about SEO

When you’re running a business online, search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for success. Even if your business will be trading offline as well, having online visibility helps to create brand awareness and increases your reach within your target demographic.

SEO is an entire industry in itself, so don’t expect to learn everything you need to know in an instant. In many cases, it can be more effective to outsource your SEO and online advertising to a third-party company or another freelancer who specializes in this area.

However, learning the basics and understanding why SEO is so important for your business will stand you in good stead for the future.

In order for your website to be effective, it needs to be designed well in order to attract and convert visitors into customers. If you’ve never built a site before, then it’s worth consulting Squarespace web designers to help you get up and running fast with your website.

Set up social media profiles

If you want to establish yourself as a successful freelancer, you’ll need to have an active presence on social media. Take a look at the platforms that are most popular with your target audience and set up profiles on each one.

When you post and share content on social media, you get the opportunity to showcase your talents, establish your specialties, and create awareness of your services. While self-promotion is expected, make sure your social media posts offer more than just that. Engaging with people on topical issues and sharing industry news is a great way to gain fans and followers on social media.

Build a professional network

Working as a freelancer can be somewhat lonely, particularly if it’s your full-time role. Connecting with other freelancers gives you the opportunity to build your network and learn from other people.

Furthermore, liaising with other freelancers may give you the chance to gain new clients or customers. Informal partnerships with subcontractors who offer similar but not competing services ensure you can recommend one another’s services. Personal endorsements carry a lot of weight, so this can be an excellent way to get free promotion and expand your customer base.

When to Launch a Freelance Business

Once you’ve decided what your business will entail, it’s tempting to jump ahead and start advertising your services straight away. However, you run the risk of trying to do too much at once if you throw yourself into the deep end too quickly.

Take the time to research your market, create a professional website, and establish your SEO and social media strategies before you even think about trading. Once you’ve got the essentials covered, you’ll be well-placed to launch your business and start your career as a fully-fledged freelancer.

Build Sustainability into your business 

As a reminder, every business can be a sustainable business.  The first step is to ensure that sustainability is at the core of your business and build from there.

With these tips, you’ll be able to launch your freelance business online in no time!

Why Telling Your Sustainability Story Matters — And How Taiga Company Can Help

By Julie Starr • December 17, 2024
In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. Consumers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding more transparency and accountability from brands. They don’t just want to know what you sell; they want to know who you are, what you stand for, and how your work contributes to a better world. That’s where your sustainability story comes in. Sharing your achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about building trust, fostering loyalty, and inspiring action. At Taiga Company, we specialize in helping organizations authentically communicate their sustainability achievements in ways that drive measurable impact and align with their goals. Why Sharing Your Sustainability Achievements Is Good for Business Build Trust with Stakeholders Sustainability storytelling builds credibility and trust. Whether you’re addressing investors, employees, or customers, sharing your sustainability milestones demonstrates your commitment to accountability and long-term value creation. For example: Highlight your efforts in achieving science-based targets, reducing carbon emissions, or adopting circular economy practices. These stories resonate with audiences looking for businesses that align with their values. Differentiate Your Brand In a competitive marketplace, sustainability can set you apart. Brands that communicate their achievements in regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, or biodiversity conservation position themselves as industry leaders and innovators. Think of it this way: A well-told sustainability story is not just a report—it’s a statement of leadership, authenticity, and purpose. Drive Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability stories invite dialogue. By showcasing meaningful milestones, like successful recycling initiatives or community reforestation projects, you foster stronger relationships with stakeholders who want to be part of your mission. Engagement isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about inspiring action. Whether through social media campaigns, press releases, or executive thought leadership, your achievements can encourage others to collaborate and support your goals. Attract Purpose-Driven Talent and Customers Today’s workforce and consumers seek brands with purpose. Communicating your impact helps attract talent and customers who align with your mission. A transparent, well-executed sustainability strategy speaks volumes about your leadership and values. At Taiga Company, we specialize in results-driven communications that empower purpose-led brands to share their sustainability achievements with confidence and clarity. Our services ensure your story resonates with the audiences that matter most. Your sustainability achievements deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, innovating in sustainable packaging, or leading water stewardship initiatives, telling your story is an opportunity to inspire trust, drive action, and shape a better future.

Why Going Green Is No Longer Optional for Industry Leaders

By Julie Starr • December 16, 2024
Alright, so here’s the deal, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Sure, at this most most industries, yes, even the most unsustainable industries have this general idea, right? Well, you’re always going to find some businesses in some niches (and yes, industries too) who think that it doesn’t apply to them. But no, it applies to all niches and all industries, and yes, it’s a business requirement. Now, across every industry, the companies that are embracing green practices are the ones that are thriving. Why? Well, because customers, investors, and employees are all paying attention. If a business isn’t making an effort to be sustainable, it’s not just falling behind, it’s losing out. Overall, sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about saving your business. Yes, this needs to be hammered in, so industry leaders, here’s why you’re just not excused. Green Practices Mean Growth Yep, it’s that plain and simple, So, sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s about doing the smart thing. Businesses that prioritize green practices are cutting costs, staying competitive, and building trust with their audiences. So, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy, and sourcing materials ethically aren’t just good for the planet, they’re great for the bottom line. Simple enough, right? Well, take packaging, for example. Cutting down on unnecessary plastics doesn’t just make customers happy; it slashes production and disposal costs. So, switching to energy-efficient operations isn’t just environmentally friendly, rather, it saves a fortune on utilities. There don’t need to be roadblocks seen, rather they should be opportunities! There’s Plenty to Gain Okay, so sustainability isn’t just for industries with obvious environmental impact, it’s critical in healthcare too. Again, no excuses here. Hospitals and clinics use massive amounts of energy, and the waste from single-use supplies piles up fast. The same can be said for labs, and pharmacies too. Actually, go ahead and take specialty drugs as an example. Now, most people know that these life-changing treatments are for serious conditions, but they often come with sky-high costs. But why? Well, the production and distribution processes can be incredibly resource-heavy. But even sustainable practices can help lower prices, such as energy-efficient manufacturing or even cutting down on excess packaging. It might be hard to see, but little changes can make massive impacts on costs (and what’s being spent on both ends). Tech Easily Shows How Sustainability Drives Innovation The tech industry has been leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, and the results speak for themselves. Actually, companies like Google and Apple are proving that being green isn’t just possible, but this can actually be pretty profitable! If tech companies can do this, then yeah, all industries are capable. So above, medicine was mentioned, but data centers are also a great example ( since they use a lot of energy). Well, nowadays, most companies are now powering these centers with renewable energy, cutting costs and emissions at the same time. No Industry Gets a Free Pass It doesn’t matter if it’s healthcare, tech, retail, or manufacturing, basically, every industry has something to gain by going green. There are small examples like retailers ditching plastic bags for reusable ones. Then there are bigger examples like factories rethinking supply chains to cut emissions and save costs. But the reality is that businesses sticking to wasteful, outdated practices are falling behind. Besides, governments are rolling out stricter regulations.
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