Planning to start a freelance career? Want to know what tools you need to arm yourself before going off to the trenches? Here are a number of ways web conferencing can help you build a successful career as a freelancer:

All-Time Connectivity

According to Inc., one video conferencing perk for businesses is that it helps maintain employee connections. That applies to contract workers too. The most basic benefit that a web conferencing service brings you is connectivity.

With a web conferencing tool, you’ll find it easy to connect to your clients or fellow freelancers, anytime, from anywhere. As a freelancer, connection has to be high on your list of priorities. Being available to clients when they need you helps you build a solid client base that much faster. For freelancers who are just starting out in the industry, a growing client base can often spell the difference between making ends meet and subsisting on a ramen diet for a couple of weeks.

Also, the more clients you work with, the more you increase your chances of finding the ones you really want to work with and the ones you’ll learn to steer clear of. As a freelancer, your time is a precious commodity. So if something isn’t worth your while, better move on to the next client.

Better Client Meetings

B2B Marketing talks about reduced travel costs as one of the primary benefits of video conferencing. That applies to you too. With video conferencing, you won’t have to go to the trouble and stress of traveling to and from a set meeting place when you can go to your client meetings in just a proper shirt and your bottom pajamas. For a truly wonderful experience Blue jeans is a handy choice for interactive web conferencing. Whichever web conferencing system you pick, just make sure it’s got plenty of collaboration-ready features. Does it allow you and your client to send and receive files? Also, look for one that packs along recording capabilities so you can record your meetings. So instead of having to take notes during your meeting, you could focus your undivided attention on what your client is saying and just play back the recording to get whatever notes you need later on.

The recording is also handy since it gives you a chance to examine the whole exchange and look for tells or signs that your client is going to drop the ball on you. That’s important, especially if you get the sense that you’re dealing with an iffy, unreliable character. Don’t ignore that sinking feeling in your gut. It might spare you the hassle of having to deal with unscrupulous clients. This way, you won’t have to waste time doing the work for clients who disappear when the invoice comes in.

More Engagement

Face to face interactions make a stronger impression on your client than an email or chat message. That’s because they can see you. With video conferencing technologies, they can put a face to the email. That often makes a world of difference in how clients treat you. Because they talked to you, they know who you are, they’re more emotionally invested in the encounter than if they were simply reading your emails or chat messages. That helps put the relationship on a casual, even friendly, note. While you don’t have to be chummy with your clients, being friendly with them can be very beneficial to both of you. Being friendly with them makes it easy to get them to clarify instructions. That’s handy. You won’t have to waste time redoing the work because you misunderstood a detail or two in the guidelines.

Also, according to Chron, 65 to 75 percent of daily human communication is nonverbal. That means a lot of things could fall through the cracks when you use email to communicate with someone. With video, every wince and smile, every nod or raised eyebrow is seen. That gives you and your client more insight into what each other is feeling as the meeting goes on. That’s invaluable. When you lobby for a raise and the client shoots you an apprehensive glance, you know your approach has failed and you need to backtrack or do something else to put the relationship on a comfortable note again. With email, instant adjustments like that aren’t possible. You’ve got to depend on words and it’s often a bit difficult to get a gauge on what someone is feeling, especially if they tend to be short on the words. With video, the client won’t have to say anything. You could often tell, based on his/her expression, if the meeting is going well or not.

These are just 3 major perks that web conferencing technologies offer freelancers. Make sure to explore a lot of other tools out there to find out which solutions work best for you.