Cultivate a Freelance Skill

January 25, 2008

There’s an old saying that goes, “he who pays gets to call the shots.”

Granted, that’s true. But, the person getting paid can decide how much to charge if what he does is…

1. in high demand

2. is a skill that’s hard to find

3. is a skill that’s difficult to replicate

So, how do you become “that guy”?

Get yourself decent training (can be self taught), put together a decent skill set, and develop a quirky or unusual marketing approach.

If you go out of your way to be different, and develop a skill that can’t be easily replaced or found, you won’t have to market for long. People will beat your door down and pay you nicely for it.

When you can perform a service that very few people can do—or do well—you can pretty much set any price you want.

So, think about what you have to offer. What are your unique skills, talents, and strengths that can be further developed into a viable business? Who would need those skills? It’s great to have unique skills but they won’t make you money if there’s no demand. What need is out there waiting to be met by a skill you can master?

We all have something inside of us (a skill) that can make us a fortune—or at least a freelance life—if would take the time to develop it and find the market that needs it.

Tags: starting a business, finding a business, getting started in a business, freelancing