8 Tips For Freelance Project Managers To Follow To Be Successful

Freelance project managers typically oversee all stages of a project from start to finish. They ensure each deliverable meets the client’s requirements by developing strategies, timelines, and tasks for completing quality assignments on time and within their budgets. Since you’re overseeing many projects at once for various clients, it’s important to create a clear and organized plan to ensure you remain productive while working in a remote location.

In this article, we share eight tips for a freelance project manager to follow, explain what these professionals do, and describe how to become one in four steps.

8 tips for a freelance project manager

Use these tips to perform effectively as a freelance project manager:

 

1. Establish your hours

Working from a home office might make it challenging to separate your personal and work life. An effective way to overcome this is by setting your work hours and following them closely. Here are a few tips to help you do so:

• Determine which hours you’re most productive and schedule the bulk of your time-consuming or complex tasks around that time.

• Finish your simpler tasks during your less productive hours.

• When the end of your workday arrives, turn off your computer and finish the rest of your tasks in the morning.

 

2. Build a schedule

Try to create a daily and weekly schedule to ensure you complete all your priority items within their deadlines. This also gives you a clear plan and routine to follow regularly to ensure you remain productive throughout the workday. Here are some tips to help you create a schedule:

• Use a calendar: You can use the calendar on your computer or purchase a planner to schedule all of your objectives, tasks and meetings in one place. If you choose an electronic calendar, you can also connect it to your email, making it easy to schedule events.

• Time your tasks: Timing your tasks can be a great way to understand how long they’re likely to take you in the future. You can then arrange a schedule in a way that provides enough time each day to complete your various goals.

• Expect the unexpected: Leave room in your schedule for any unexpected occurrences during the day that cause you to shift priorities accordingly.

 

3. Organize your tasks

As soon as your clients assign you projects, create a list of tasks that contribute to the overall project. Here are some tips:

• Create a to-do list of items by writing down each project and listing their tasks under each one.

• Provide yourself with deadlines and a clear timeline to ensure you submit all these items on time.

• Monitor your progress regularly to ensure you’re on track to submit these assignments on their respective due dates.

 

4. Use project management tools

There are many tools available that let you list your projects and track their completion progress. Some might also allow you to add your clients so that they can review your progress as well and better understand the task you’re working on and when you might deliver it. You can also find tools that share different reports and metrics on your projects, like the following:

• Dashboards

• Data-tracking

• Gantt charts

These tools also help you store any important files or resources needed to complete tasks.

 

5. Maintain constant communication with clients

Try to establish a strong relationship with clients by communicating with them regularly. Here are some tips to help you establish successful communication:

• Consider your communication methods: You can ask clients about their preferred communication method and use it to provide updates on your progress. You might use email, phone calls or a messaging platform.

• Consider scheduling weekly meetings to update clients on upcoming tasks you’re working on for the day and week.

• Provide quick responses to customer questions or requests to demonstrate your professionalism and establish trust.

Strong communication skills can lead to a long-term relationship and ongoing work from clients. They may also be more likely to recommend your services to their colleagues.

 

6. Distribute a scope of work

To ensure you remain transparent with the client and receive the necessary compensation for your work, draft a scope of work before you start on your assignments. This is a document that details the project and the work you plan to complete. Include the following elements:

• Project’s timeline

• Deliverables to submit

• Fee for the client

• Options for additions and related fees

A clear scope of work keeps all parties informed of the expectations for the project and its payment details.

 

7. Keep track of your time

Consider logging your time or using a time-tracking system to monitor how long you spend on certain tasks. This can be an effective method to follow if you’re paid by the hour, as you can easily send your logged time to the client for your expected compensation. Timing yourself can also offer insight into how long it typically takes you to complete certain tasks. You can use this information to build more accurate and productive schedules.

8. Enhance your skills and industry knowledge

Try to regularly improve your skills and knowledge by doing the following:

• Attending industry conferences

• Going to training sessions

• Learning new software systems

• Reading industry articles

Doing this can show clients you’re dedication to enhancing your skill set and abilities. It can also help you stay informed of new trends that you can apply to future projects. You can also demonstrate this newfound knowledge in hiring materials and interviewers to pose yourself as a great fit for potential clients and to stand out from other freelance project management candidates.

 

What does a freelance project manager do?

A freelance project manager is an independent contractor who organizes, plans and submits large sets of tasks to clients. Here are some specific duties you might perform as a freelance project manager:

• Connecting with new clients

• Creating project plans, including budgets and timelines

• Coordinating work from other contractors

• Communicating progress to the client

• Adapting project plans to accommodate new needs or requirements

• Using advanced organizational, task-management, and time-management abilities to sort and prioritize each project

Since they are contract workers, these employees typically complete their items from a remote location and may receive payment when they finish a project successfully. Many of these professionals might complete several projects for a wide variety of clients.

How to become a freelance project manager

Here are some steps you can follow to become a successful freelance project manager:

 

1. Pursue education

To become a freelance project manager, it may be helpful to earn a bachelor’s degree in project management, business or business administration. These credentials can help you market yourself to clients. You may also choose to complete an associate’s degree and pair it with certifications that make you a valuable choice for your clients. During your studies, you might learn about the following topics:

• Budgeting

• Communications

• Leadership

• Teamwork

• Contracts

• Technology

 

2. Make connections

As a freelancer, an extensive professional network can help you connect with new clients. You can make connections by:

• Reaching out to potential clients online via social networking websites

• Attending business conferences and distributing a business card

• Asking current clients or colleagues to promote your services

• Participating in a workshop

• Volunteering at events

After meeting someone new, you can follow up by phone or email to discuss your services further.

 

3. Improve your skills

Keeping your project manager skills up-to-date is important for freelancers, because you may not have a manager telling you what to improve. Instead, you can assess your own skills using client feedback and self-reflection. Next, consider enrolling in a class or reading further on topics about which you think you can learn. This can also be a great way to ensure you’re familiar with the latest project management tools and technologies, which constantly change and evolve.

 

4. Build your portfolio

Building a portfolio of past work is a great way to show your skills to new potential clients or partners. Consider creating an online portfolio or website that you can easily send to individuals who might be interested in your services. This can include the following information:

• A bio

• Examples of past work

• Education

• Positive reviews

• A contact form

I hope you find this article helpful.