How freelancers can take advantage of AI

Set your business up for success

The better your freelance business foundation, the better you can build up. Lay a solid groundwork with search and generative AI tools. Writing a business plan? No problem. Trying to figure out pricing structure? Let AI assist you. Try prompts like these for quick guidance on getting your freelance business up and running:

• I’m starting a freelance business in [location]. Make a table that lists starting costs, including permits and/or licenses I might need, and any local organizations that can help.
• Create a freelance business plan. Provide an overview of what a business plan should include. Then, please ask follow-up questions so you can write up a draft of the plan.
• I’m a freelancer, and I’m trying to figure out my pricing structure. Lead me through the considerations and math to determine how much I should charge and which specific services to offer.

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Make your presence known

As a freelancer, you’ll probably need to put yourself out there so clients can find you and you can offer them your excellent services. Whether you want to make your presence known with a website, social media, or posters around town, AI tools do a lot of the work for you. Generative AI tools write copy, design layouts, and create images for all these marketing materials, and they even outline go-to-market strategies. Try prompts like these to get your freelance offerings out there with AI:

• I need a website for my freelance web design business, and I’m not a strong writer. Please tell me about the copy I’ll need and draft it for me.
• Design a flyer about my freelance life coaching business. I want people to see it and sign up for my newsletter. Please use my website to learn about what I offer: [URL].
• I need a social media strategy to launch my freelance business. Ask me questions so you can tell me which social media platforms you recommend and how many posts to make at what frequency. Then, provide post suggestions for the first three months.

Connect with your people

While your web presence and marketing materials may help your potential clients learn about you, it’s equally and maybe even more important for you to know about and find them. Turn to search AI tools to research the ideal client personas, peruse networking opportunities, choose the most valuable job boards, and more. Try prompts like these to understand and connect with your client base and peers to grow your freelance business:

• I’m a photographer who just started out as a freelancer. How do I figure out client personas?
• Help me understand how networking can grow my freelance business and recommend five events near [location] that I might attend.
• What are the most useful job boards for freelance writers, and how can I stand out to clients on them?

Manage the business side

When you’re jugging clients, creating and collecting invoices, and prioritizing time to do the most important work, AI helps manage it all. The best AI tools for freelancers streamline project management, automate invoicing, create budgets, reply to customer questions, and much more. Generative AI is a go-to for input on simplifying systems and managing the business side. Try it yourself with prompts like these:

• I’m a freelancer, and I need help managing invoices, expenses, and saving for quarterly taxes. Where should I begin?
• Find an AI tool to assist with project management, budgeting, marketing, and automating customer emails and invoicing.
• How do I choose the best customer relationship management (CRM) tool for my freelance business?

This is just a sample of the hundreds of ways AI supports your freelance work. Learn more about how AI helps small businesses and other aspects of your life at our Everyday AI hub.