FREELANCERS UNION BLOG

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5 Ways to Show Your Business Some TLC

If you look past its commercial ickiness, Valentine’s Day is just a nice reminder to devote some extra time to what you love.

Since you’re no longer a child, there’s no need to spread the love equally and handwrite a card to every kid in class. You get to choose what’s important to you, whether that’s your significant other, your family, yourself, or (wait for it)...your business!

Here are a few ways you can show your freelance biz a little tender loving care this Valentine’s Day.

Fix up, look sharp. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. If you have a brick-and-mortar shop, an online store, or a portfolio, look at your business with a fresh set of eyes. Is anything out of date or unappealing? At first glance, are you able to immediately grasp what your business’s focus is? Use this time to spruce up your space and make potential clients feel more welcome.

**Refine your pickup lines. **With the amount of competition out there, it’s important to make sure your brand can cut through all the noise. Start with the ‘About’ section of your website. Is everything still accurate? Have you developed more skills or worked with any big name clients that might boost your appeal? Try this lesson on how to get better at explaining who you are and why you rock at what you do.

**Always use protection. **This is perhaps the most valuable business (and Valentine’s Day) advice I can offer. Luckily, this is an area where a Freelancers Union membership really comes in handy. Need a contract? You should get on the same page as your client before you start working. Our Contract Creator makes it easy to design a custom contract for every gig.

Let’s talk about liability insurance. Not only is it becoming a must-have before clients will hire you, it’s also just a good thing to have in place when you’ve built your own business. FU partnered with Hiscox USA to offer professional liability coverage that’s tailored to freelancers.

Practice the lost art of letter writing. These days, my mail consists of bills, credit card offers, and unwanted takeout menus. When I get a letter from an actual human being, I get more excited than I’d like to admit. Sending a sweet note to an old client can serve as both a nice gesture and a friendly reminder of your freelance skills.

Share the love. It’s nice to be nice. Give your business good karma by promoting up-and-comers on your blog and social media accounts. If your store is booming or you have more work than you can handle, be a peach and refer askers to a qualified newbie. And remember: we were all young once. This year, make it a goal to take a budding entrepreneur under your seasoned, smart wing.

Hey, freelancers! What other ways can you give your career TLC?