Learn the Difference between Freelancing and Entrepreneurship

Seth Godin has definitely effectively spelled the difference between a freelancer and an online entrepreneur. If you’re the former, you earn because you work. On the other hand, you are called an entrepreneur if money comes in even when you’re sleeping. Of course, between the two, you surely want to be an entrepreneur. But that doesn’t happen immediately. There’s no magic formula to it. There are even times when you have to go through being a freelancer for a while before you become an entrepreneur.

What you’ll learn in this article is how to ease the transition from being a freelancer to an entrepreneur:

1. Look for online jobs. Don’t completely ignore the different online jobs. They can help enhance your skills, your readiness to get into the Internet business, and even provide you the capital you need to start off. Most of all, these jobs can help you come in contact with clients, whom down the road can be your first customers when you start your own business.

2. Set up working hours. It doesn’t matter if your new business is a just a part-time endeavour. If you want to get things done, then you should schedule a good time to do your daily tasks. This can be helpful too, since an online business will demand time from you—in fact, more of it—and you cannot afford to just attend to it whenever you want to. Furthermore, if you’re planning to merely carry your clients over to your new business, then there will be no need for an adjustment period or beating the time zone differences.

3. Build-up your portfolio. One of the best ways to attract new customers to your business is to prove that you are capable of managing it, and that you definitely know your niche. Your freelancing job can help you in this area, since you can use your training to build and improve your portfolio. You can also obtain great references as well if you need to establish better credibility in the market.

4. Start forming a team. An online business is definitely way bigger than freelancing, and there are so many aspects to running one that you simply just won’t have time to do all them as efficiently. It is necessary for you to get some help and start looking for people who can be part of your team. Especially, when you feel that you’re ready to expand and make your online business a full-time commitment.

5. Inform your clients. Not all clients will appreciate your online business. Some may not be comfortable with the idea of having another business or a new perceived competitor work on their projects or take care of their needs. That’s why you have to inform them of your decision, so you’ll know who will be willing to do business you and who will be planning to leave.