5 Hats That Every Freelancer Must Wear
If you are going to make it in the solopreneur world, you need to wear the right hats — and wear them well.
I remember when I first started as a freelance writer, I saw the same advice time and again:
“If you want to be a successful freelance writer, learn to write — and well.”
In the early days, that’s all I focused on. I read books on writing and took courses on editing. And you know what? It all helped. My writing — and my confidence — improved by leaps and bounds.
But as I started taking on more clients and complex projects, I realized that there was more to being a successful freelance writer than just being able to write well.
As projects began to pile up, I suddenly found myself wearing a lot of different hats — and not just the figurative kind. The sooner you can learn to wear all of these hats, the sooner you’ll find yourself on the path to success.
So, what are the hats that every freelance writer must learn to wear? Let’s hit the hat rack.
🎩 The Writer’s Hat:
This one is a no-brainer. A freelance writer must, first and foremost, be able to write well.
But being a good writer isn’t just about stringing together a few sentences. It’s also essential to capture your client’s voice, understand their needs, and produce content that engages and converts.
If you aren’t focusing on becoming a better writer, you will have a hard time finding — and keeping — clients. The rest of the hats in your closet won’t matter if you can’t wear this one with confidence.
🎩 The Business Owner’s Hat:
As a freelance writer, you are also a business owner. That means that you need to wear the hat of a salesperson, accountant, and project manager — all rolled into one.
You need to be able to sell your services and land clients. Once you have clients, you need to be able to manage your time and budget accordingly. And if you want to scale your business, you’ll need to learn how to delegate and manage a team.
Being a business owner can be a lot of work, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Nothing tastes sweeter than telling someone that you’re your own boss.
🎩 The Financial Advisor’s Hat:
In addition to being a business owner, you also need to be your financial advisor. That means learning how to budget, save, and invest your money.
It also means understanding your taxes and knowing which deductions you can take advantage of. The more you can learn about personal finance, the better off you — and your business — will be.
Plus, if you are full-time freelancing, you don’t get to enjoy the benefits of automatic retirement savings or employer-sponsored health insurance. So, it’s vital to be proactive about saving for the future and getting your own health insurance policy.
🎩 The Project Manager’s Hat:
As a freelance writer, you’ll also need to wear the hat of a project manager. That means being able to handle multiple deadlines, juggle different clients, and keep track of all your commitments.
You’ll need to learn how to use project management tools — like Monday.com, Asana, or trusty ol’ Excel — and develop systems that work for you. Otherwise, you’ll quickly find yourself buried under a never-ending to-do list.
This one is my Achilles heel. I’ve definitely dropped the ball on projects because I failed to keep track of deadlines or lost important files. But I’m getting better at it — and so can you.
🎩 The Marketing Expert’s Hat:
Last but not least, you need to wear a marketer's hat. That means understanding your target audience and knowing how to reach them.
It also means staying up-to-date on the latest trends in your industry and using social media to promote your business. Having the skills to market your services is essential if you want to find — and keep — clients.
From posting on social media to networking at events, there are a lot of different marketing hats to choose from.
But the most important thing is to start somewhere. Follow others in your industry, read marketing books, and experiment until you find what works for you.
Don’t Forget The Most Important Hat ⛑
Knowing how to wear all of these hats is essential to your success as a freelancer.
But that doesn’t mean you have to wear them all simultaneously. In fact, it’s often best to focus on one hat at a time.
And most of all, don’t forget the hat you originally wore — the hat you were born with.
(A silly idea, but you get the point!)
Taking time to focus on your own personal wellness and professional development is essential to keeping your business and sanity afloat. Self-care in the world of freelancing is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.
So there you have it — the five hats that every freelance writer must wear. Any you’d add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
And, as always, may your coffee be strong and your deadlines be few.
