Laura is back with a solo podcast to discuss the benefits of taking on freelance projects that are outside your comfort zone. Although her core business is SEO blog writing supplemented by a handful of project management and coaching jobs, Laura recently had the opportunity to assist a client in the development of an advertising budget. Inspired by this experience in print and digital marketing, she outlines the beauty of accepting opportunities that are not on-brand, the advantages of developing new skills and the ways freelancers can leverage newly discovered abilities to expand and transform their businesses.
Although you might hesitate to accept a project that seems unglamorous or outside your niche, listen and learn how to change your mindset, expand your skill set and uncover your hidden talents!
Key Takeaways
Every project you take on as a freelancer will not be on-brand
- This is especially true for beginners who may not know what they’re good at
- Rather than feeling ‘meh’ about a project that is not ideal, see it as an opportunity
Reasons a freelancer might take on projects outside their comfort zone
- Financial considerations
- Change of pace
- They have the bandwidth and interest
Laura’s guidance about focusing on a niche
- You should concentrate your freelance business on a handful of select offerings
- But don’t close yourself off to other opportunities that come along
The benefits of taking on (and even pitching) opportunities that aren’t a perfect fit
- Develop new skills
- Incorporate new services into your business
- Realize increased marketability
Laura’s advice about choosing projects that aren’t spot on
- Don’t accept a project just because you need the money
- Do assess each opportunity to see if it might be a good fit for your skill set
Complementary offerings allow you to pitch additional services to existing clients
- Developing an expertise in press release composition allows Laura to offer an additional service to clients she already has a relationship with as an SEO blog writer
Resources
Connect with Laura Pennington
