Freelancing offers flexibility, but the constant hunt for jobs and competition on rates can be overwhelming. The solution? Transitioning from freelancing to building your own business through a website. Here’s why and how to make the switch:
Why Create a Website Instead of Freelancing?
Its time to stop looking for freelance work and let the work come to you. The way you do this is with a website. A website provides a way for clients and customers to find you rather than the other way around.
The time it takes to land a job is endless work in itself, only your not getting paid for it. That is why it is important to start a website for yourself. You might already be asking me… Jonathan, whats the difference between creating a website to capture new leads and a business? Absolutely nothing!
You are already providing or looking to provide work for yourself so why would you not just create a website and call it a business?
Starting a website eliminates the need to search for work opportunities and provides you a lead magnet to where the work comes to you. With a website, you can showcase your work to people who are looking for what you have to offer.
In summary:
- A website attracts clients to you rather than requiring constant outreach.
- It serves as a lead magnet, showcasing your work and allowing potential clients to find you easily.
- Turning your freelance work into a business simplifies earning, provides stability, and removes the endless job search.
What To Expect In this post:
Steps to Transition from Freelancing to a Business
A lot of people think starting a business is hard and Im not saying its not. But, theres a difference between something being hard and something you have to work hard for. Starting a business takes a lot of hard work and dedication but its not as difficult as you think it would be.
Putting it into perspective, You are already an expert in your field if you are looking for and finding jobs. Searching for freelancing work proves that you are capable of doing the work your looking for and that you know how to do it. Now, all you have to do is demonstrate that knowledge on your website.
From here, you want to think about the steps you are going to take to launch your website.
1. brand your business
The first step in creating a website for your business is finding a way to distinguish yourself from the competition in a unique way. Branding is all about capturing your audiences attention and how you want your business to look and feel to others.
The best way to begin is by asking yourself what you would look for in a business based in your niche. If your business were graphic design, what kind of designs would you like to create? Would you design content for websites, social media, packaging labels? Would you have a specific theme like women's vitamins, beverage labels, or stickers?
When you begin branding, these are questions you need to ask yourself before coming up with the right strategy to take. From here you can find your niche, audience, and create a brand name for yourself and your business.
2. Plan How to Attract Website Traffic
You might be wondering why you should determine how your going to drive traffic to your website before creating it. The answer is simple. You want to optimize your website based on your target audience and where you will find your audience.
If your business is service based, you want to create a website that resonates well within your niche by using images of your work, the areas you serve, and why they should use you. On the other hand, if you are creating a website based on online work like graphics or content creation, you should focus on visual appeal and a website that would be easy to promote with social media.
Understanding where you will place your website and who you will show it to, makes the process of creating it a so much easier!
3. Build Your Website
To start a website, you’ll need a platform that suits your needs. WordPress is my favorite choice because of how diverse and fast it is. it’s also what I use for my blog.
WordPress is where you create and manage all your content. You can log in, write new posts, add pictures or links, and publish them for your audience. I
t’s a simple tool that makes running a business easy as possible. Plus, one of the best things about WordPress is that you don’t need to know how to code. It’s user-friendly and has lots of ways to customize your site.
The transition from freelancing to starting a business and a website has never been as easy as it is today.
Here are the steps to start a self-hosted WordPress website and create your business:
- Get a web hosting service. A popular choice for newcomers looking to start a website or blog is Bluehost (you can start your own website for $1.99 per month when you use this link).
- Install WordPress. Most web hosts have a one-click installation to make it as painless as possible.
- After signing up on Bluehost, you will be provided walk through tutorials on how to get started in creating your website to capture leads for your business.
In summary of building your website:
- Get web hosting through a service like Bluehost (affordable and beginner-friendly).
- Install WordPress using Bluehost’s one-click installation process.
- Customize your site to showcase your services and capture leads.
say goodbye to freelance work and hello to your business
Now that your website is created or is at least in the process of being created, its time to start earning. By now you have everything you need to grow and start a business:
- An easier way to earn than searching for freelance work
- A business strategy
- Your Bluehost website
- A business that you can now grow and scale
What Comes Next?
With your website live, focus on promoting it. Use social media, list your business on directories like Google Business and Yelp, and expand your visibility through various platforms. Owning a business gives you control over your future and the freedom to scale at your own pace. Say goodbye to freelancing struggles and hello to a streamlined way of earning through your own website!
Do you want to start a business?
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