What, you ask? Like clients who want a long-term writer than can tweak their WordPress content. Someone that needs a coder with photo editing or enough Adobe skills to place JPEG images properly. If you enjoy transcription work and have a solid reputation, you can advance into the big leagues of law or medicine without spending $$ on advanced training.
So this is to say that preparation not only saves time but can put you ahead of the competition. It can also make you available for other types of jobs that may be a consideration when the burnout happens. Until you've been there, never say that it won't happen to you because it does sneak up on a person. The most common instance is after a freelancer's been back-to-back with clients over a period of time.
Things are calm, you have a few dollars in your pocket and nothing to do. This is the perfect time to do one or more of the following:
- Take more headshots. More companies and clients are getting picky about having a face to match the incredible profile you've been showing off. Although a selfie makes sense, it doesn't always serve the purpose. Hiring parties want to see full-frontal pics with eyes visible and no diagonal shots that look like they were taken on a whim. In case you can't hire a professional, a desktop tripod that holds a point-and-shoot camera or smartphone should do the trick. Make sure the background is clear and there are no distracting elements that will show up on the photo. Taking recent pictures is also a good idea if you've had a drastic physical change (give yourself a high-five for getting rid of that holiday pooch).
- Create motion images for your brand. Window's Movie Creator (formerly Movie Maker) is easy to use and the final product can be uploaded to your YouTube account or sold as a marketing tool. If you have something short, Adobe Spark is a free program that can be edited on YouTube or another streaming video service. Add still or moving images, presentations, or audio from your past work or create something that can be used for branding purposes. Newbies or those who have a less-than-vibrant social media presence should note that visuals tend to connect audiences through emotional appeal.