The struggle in freelancing is quite far from the competition of regular businesses. The word “freelancer” was first used to describe a “medieval mercenary warrior” to point out that that lancer does not work under any lord. An out-worker has to experience as much contenders as there are drops in the sea.

In order to leave a mark in freelancing, one has to fight with a countless amount of people from different regions and work cultures. In this situation, a freelancer does not even know about how he can get over his opponent. To spot the imprint of a lancer’s matchlessness, one has to keep mounting his spirit high and has to set his own distinguish rules of work because only he is the boss of himself. There are plenty of ways showed by the rulers of this industry, on the basis of which I gathered points which in my opinion are necessary to identify and market the uniqueness of one’s freelance business.

1. Determine Your Strength





Every person has some skills which help them throughout their professional life. In order to be successful in this field you have to know where your mind is set. If you enjoy your work the outcome will always be better as opposed to working just for a paycheck. By realizing your strengths and doing what you really want, you can get the best results in terms of productivity. The question that naturally arises is “how do I identify my strength?” You can discover your strengths through:

Impulsive reactions of brain to find out the area where it can process efficiently.
Desired field in which you found yourself excited and craving for more.
Stimulation of mind for learning
Work that leaves you feeling energized

2. Cope Up With Your Weakness

To become successful in your line of freelance business you cannot neglect or ignore your weaknesses. Nobody can improve in any career without accepting, and knowing, their flaws. Pretending that you are free of blunders is the worst thing and will potentially ruin your career. Hiding your flaws is not a solution; you cannot get away from them. Identifying your weakness and acknowledging it is the ultimate solution. To cope with your weaknesses you should not forget:

To look at your work with a critical eye
To recognize, admit and fight with your gaffes
To stay attentive and avoid repeating past mistakes

3. Boost Self-Confidence

Confidence is a key strength everyone must have to achieve success. Confidence enables a person to conquer anything in this world. Self assessment is necessary to know what the individual has done and what he is required to do. This will give a person a focused view of his/her career and motivate him to move one step up in his freelance work since there is no one else to evaluate him. There is no particular way to boost self-confidence; this is only motivation and determination which will help freelancers in moving forward and enhancing confidence. So self-possession can be increased by:

Daily self assessment.
Challenging yourself step by step.
Getting out of your comfort zone.

4. Identify Client’s Demands

For freelancers, it is very important to be up to date with their customers demands. This can be done by knowing their target market and what they like and don’t like. Knowledge about red-hot topics of the relevant field plays a vital role in dealing with clients’ demands. This is because people want fresh ideas and love ground-breaking work. If you want to be unique and yearn to reach a milestone, then you have to keep following your customer’s demand without sacrificing work quality. Do:

Know what they want by feedback.
Provide what they need.

if it is clear that what they need is risky, or goes against the whole world, tell your client. This might save them too.

5. Keep Track Of Appreciations





A word of appreciation is like gas to a car in this business. Since freelancers don’t have anyone who analyzes and evaluates their performance, this positive reception can be obtained through client feedback. In this business, always try to get as much feedback as you can. Always remember that feedback is just an approval of work, never get overwhelmed with joy from it otherwise you will fall off of your path. This appreciation will also assist you in finding your “right track”. Tracking of appreciation will enable you to find out the right position in freelance business.

6. Give Positive Response To Criticism





Criticism is another form of feedback which lets you know whether the work has been accepted or not. Never take criticism negatively because this will lead to great frustration and stress. Criticisms will help you analyze the likes and dislikes of your clients. Apart from your knowledge of your weak points, criticism from your clients gives you a broader view of your work. Responding positively to criticism is like overcoming your weakness which will help you stand out amongst your competitors. This is the strongest way to stand out in the field of freelancing.

7. Keep Learning From Mistakes

Mistakes is the point where everyone loses confidence and might lose spirit also. There is no one on Earth who is perfect, even machines err. But coping smartly with mistakes will make you stronger. Mistakes should be treated as guide stones, telling you which way to go next time. The only thing which is necessary is to be vigilant. Mistakes are not a problem unless they are repeated. If you want to get noticed in freelancing, try and:

Prepare for the worst but do your best.
Not lose strength from blunders and keep the spirit high.
Learn from mistakes and do not repeat.
Go back to point 2 and know your weakness.

8. Be Aware Of New Trends

Trends change in a blink of an eye. To stay in the race, you have to set your eyes on the trends so that you are up to date. You can’t possibly beat several hundred competitors without knowing what’s happening in the world. This is unlike a full-time job where an employee does not need to know the trends; most office employees just do what the boss says. In freelancing, being up to date keeps you alive in the market.

9. Say “Yes” To Challenges

If you want to score a top position in the competition then embrace challenges with a happy face. This is because every time you want to provide the best for your client, you will come to realize that you are facing new challenges. Triumph can only be achieved by proving yourself in something that has not been attained by someone else before, or something you haven’t dared tried yet. You might get a good position in the market by constantly giving your best work, but this is not enough to achieve a remarkable feat. To stand out amongst your competitors, you have to come forward from the regular competition and do something different.

10. Never Forget Your Competitors

This is the most important point of all for a winning toss. Always keep your eyes open and stay informed about your competitors because they are also in the same race. In order to beat the others, you have to know their potency and limitations. Without knowing the traits of your opponent you cannot overcome their position. This will also help you learn. It is the trait of real conquerors that they capture knowledge regardless of the source as if it belongs to them.

Freelancing is now becoming popular as a source of income for many people. There are a lot of reasons why many are attracted to this kind of work. One reason that I find very attractive is I can work anywhere I want! The way you work affects the quality of  your output, and your workplace affects how you work. Therefore, you should choose a good place to work from. You need to find a place that will give you comfort while working and where you won’t easily get distracted. In this article, I will be giving you  a list of places where you can work comfortably. Have fun reading!

Rent an Office
A great place where you can focus solely on your work is at an office. The ambiance makes you want to work, and you can really focus on completing tasks. Renting an office may be an option for freelancers who have a steady source of income. Since you need to pay the rent, the electric and internet bills, you may ask your friends who also work as freelancers to share the space and cost with you. Having someone around when you’re working also gives you a chance to socialize.

Advantages:

Office is a great place where your focus will only be on your work.
There are fewer distractions and more productive hours for you.
Working in an office teaches you to be disciplined to get up early, stay on schedule and go at work.

Disadvantages:

You are required to pay the bills like the rent and utilities.
You need to buy things for your office set-up such as cabinets, tables and chairs.
You need to travel from your home to the office.

Image by: Geneva Sound

At Home
Many freelancers work at home. One thing I like about working at home is that I feel at home. There are a lot of locations in a house where you can do your work.

Bedroom
I work in my bedroom. What I like about working in my room is that I can do everything I want without disturbing my family and I can lock myself in the room so I won’t get disturbed. Any time that I need time to think for a certain task, I can just walk around my room while thinking.

Advantages:

You can focus yourself on what you do. In my case, I lock the door so I’m not disturbed.
You feel free to work since you are in your own comfort zone.
Every tool you need such as your printer, storage devices, notebooks and pens, etc. are handy.
There’s no need for you to travel.
When you want to eat, you can just go to your kitchen. Unlike in an office, where you may be inclined to eat out more frequently instead of packing a lunch.

Disadvantages:

Sometimes, seeing a bed makes you want to lie down and just ‘catch a quick nap.’
If there’s a TV in your room, it can be a major distraction as you may be tempted to watch your favorite TV show.

Image by: Rebekah Pavlovic

Living Room
When I feel that my room feels stale or stuffy and I need a bit more space, I work in our living room. So, what are the advantages and downsides of working in a living room?

Advantages:

When you get bored, your family members can help you feel energized.
When you see your family, you’ll be inspired and motivated to work hard.
Sitting on a couch with your laptop is actually pretty comfortable.

Disadvantages:

Your family may be a big distraction. They may feel like chatting with you or asking for your help around the house
TV and other entertainment can be a distraction.

Image by: Neil Goodman

Dining Room
Do you eat while working? You may just want to work in your dining room then. When I feel my body craves for food, I just use a laptop and place it on our dining table.

Advantages:

It’s easy for you to set up your workspace there.
Eating while working is good, but do not eat too much.
Family members usually only stay at the table long enough for a quick bite to eat.

Disadvantages:

If you tend to be careless, you can spill your food or drink all over your computer.
When you are in a dining room, you tend to eat a lot. When your body feels heavy, you will also feel sleepy.
There can be distractions such as smells from the kitchen or other external factors.

Image by: Bookishly Fab

Library
When we were in college, we used to stay in our school’s library. The ambiance is good and most importantly, it’s very quiet.

Advantages:

The surrounding is peaceful and silent. You can work on your tasks properly.
If you cannot find a reference on the web, there are a lot of books that you can use there.
You do not need to pay to get inside and use their facilities.

Disadvantages:

If you yell at your monitor when upset, you risk getting kicked out.
Most libraries forbid people from bringing food inside to maintain the cleanliness of the place.
Sometimes you feel bored because of the silence that fills the place.

Image by: Paul Burdick

In many places, public libraries have wi-fi. So, all you need to bring is your laptop and other personal belongings. Also, do not forget to bring an ID. Most libraries require people to surrender their IDs for identification purposes.

Coffee Shops
I remember from another freelancing job, my friends and I used to work at least twice a month in a coffee shop. This gives us different ambiance and since we love frappes and lattes, we enjoy working there.

Advantages:

I enjoy working in a coffee shop, because of the energizing ambiance it brings.
You can socialize with other people and you might meet other freelancers.
The different people, and the art that most coffee shops display can be inspiring.

Disadvantages:

You need to spend money, coffee shops won’t let you sit in their coffee shop all day with the same cup of coffee.
There are times that their wi-fi connection is down.
It can get noisy and distracting during different periods of the day. You may need to bring headphones to help block out the noises.

Image by: Iris

Factors To Consider When Choosing a Workplace
In choosing a place to work, you should consider the following factors:

Setup

The setup of your workplace should give you the motivation to work and be productive each day.
Make sure that your choice of workplace has all the tools you need to work, especially the internet connection.
Cleanliness. Be sure to work in a place that’s clean.If you’re working at home, clean up before starting work.
You should feel relaxed and comfortable where you at. If you’re comfortable, you’re likely to not get distracted as easily.

Distractions
Say no to distractions. A distraction can be the weather, a noise, a person or an emotion. There are many suggested ways to avoid distractions, but for me there are only two things necessary to avoid distractions: focus and discipline.

Think of your goals each day and focus on them.
Think of your inspiration and be motivated by it.
Aim to be better today than yesterday.

Expenses
Expenses should also be considered. Working in a coffee shop or in a restaurant everyday is too expensive. Be practical. If you are earning good money, you can just rent an office and share it with other freelancers. If you think you can just work at home, do that. There’s no better place to stay than at your own home. Before I end this article, I have collected pictures of the workplaces of some of the people behind 1stwebdesigner. Take a look below.

My workplace:
This is my workplace which is located inside my room. I have my PC, my notebook and my planner, a glass of water and a juice drink. I did the setup on where I find myself comfortable moving and working.

Rean’s workplace:
This is Rean’s workplace, he is a writer and editor at 1stwebdesigner. You will see his moleskine, his favorite pen, his laptop, a coffee and the BunnyPeople of Intel atop his books. Very clean and everything that he needs is readily on his table. (Rean’s note: pink walls help me concentrate, swear!)

Saad’s workplace:
This is Saad’s workplace, he is our main editor. In his workplace, you will see two monitors, a book, and a router behind the monitor. It’s very clean! One thing you need to make sure is your workplace is clean. Whenever I find my workplace messy, I ended up cleaning it and the rest of my room instead of working. So before doing your tasks, make sure your surroundings are clean and organized. This applies mostly to freelancers who work at home.

Dainis’ workplace:
This is the office of our CEO. You will find here a Mac book, computers, a calendar, moleskine and other things he and his co-workers need. Your workplace must have a good lighting like this, it gives a comfortable working atmosphere. This kind of office setup where people are near each other is also good. This way, they can communicate well with each other.

How about you? Where do you work most of the time? What made you decide to work there? Share your insights! You can also show us a picture of your workplace