Successful freelancers tend to be experts in a narrow niche. In fact, being an expert in a particular niche is what separates the amateurs from the professionals. If you’re looking to become one of these successful freelancers, listen up: know your market and focus on your strengths. You’ll be quickly recognized as a leader and make more money than you ever dreamed of by choosing just one or two skills.

A freelancer named Heather Armstrong once wrote:
“There are people whose entire careers are built upon being the ‘go to’ person. This doesn’t require a ton of technical skills, it requires drive and the ability to learn and adapt. You need to learn enough about your topic that you can ask a question and not sound stupid, but then again, you don’t have to know everything.”

You should constantly be learning new things in order to stay ahead of your competition. Make learning a habit – it’ll give you an edge over everyone else in your niche. Take advantage of all the opportunities available online and blast away at webinars, conferences and seminars focused on your specific niche. Use the internet as a library, and you’ll never have to worry about running out of new things to learn.

“There are no stupid questions” is a phrase that has been drilled into us from an early age. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have nothing left to learn or that you’re not smart enough for whatever it is you’re learning about. You’ve probably faced plenty of situations where you felt incompetent, but it’s all in your head. Once you overcome this fear, you’ll discover that asking questions is one of the best ways to learn.

What’s the harm in asking a lot of questions?
The best freelancers are always open to learning new things. They never stop their education and view every question as an opportunity for knowledge. There’s no better time than now to pick up a book or do some research online. The information available online today is so vast that you can almost always find an answer to any question if you just know where to look for it.
Asking questions also shows that you’re humble and willing to learn from others (which is a trait that clients will love). By constantly learning new things, you’ll keep your resume fresh and exciting. What good is it to have ten years of experience in software if you don’t know the basics of HTML5? Think of your resume as an investment, and always keep it updated.

Know thyself – Involve others in your life
Successful freelancers know their strengths and weaknesses. They don’t keep a secret stash of money they earned elsewhere in order to make it look like they’re doing well. They don’t lie about the number of clients they serve or the amount of work they’ve completed. There is no room for fabricating here – it’s all about being honest and true to yourself.

The best freelancers are self-motivated, but they know when to ask for help. They don’t rely on others to hold their hand during these times of transition. This is an excellent way to keep the kind of relationship you’re looking for, but it’s also a recipe for disaster if your relationship with your client is on the rocks. Most clients would rather have a working relationship than not, so be sure you know how to handle this situation without getting hurt on the way down. Don’t paint yourself into a corner. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for help when it will benefit both parties interested in doing business together.