Want to become a freelancer within a week? Have time but don’t know what to do to start enjoying the life of a freelancer?
I am giving you things you can do today to get started as a freelancer. That’s a guarantee if you really do what I say and do it well.
The joy of doing what you love and getting paid is second to none. Really? Freelancers represent about 35% of the global workforce.
Think about it. Do you love to write about productivity?
Have you been following a club from an early age and want to express your opinion? Love designing? Are you skilled in marketing and advertising?
The best thing is that you can do these and get paid for it. That is the job of a freelancer. You get paid to do what you love.
Okay. You have decided to become a freelancer. So, the next question that pops into our mind is: How do you get clients?
Things You Can Do Today To Get Started As A Freelancer:
Starting a freelancing career can be an exciting and rewarding journey.
Here are some practical steps you can take today to get started as a freelancer:
1. Identify Your Skills and Services
Determine what services you can offer based on your skills and expertise.
Common freelance services include writing, graphic design, web development, social media management, and virtual assistance.
2. Build a Portfolio
Create a portfolio showcasing your best work.
If you don’t have any previous work to show, consider doing some projects for free or creating sample work that highlights your skills.
3. Set Up Your Online Presence
- Website: Build a simple website that includes your portfolio, a bio, and contact information.
- Social Media: Create professional profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other relevant platforms to network and showcase your work.
- Freelance Platforms: Sign up on freelancing websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to find potential clients.
4. Define Your Rates
Research industry standards for your services and set competitive yet fair rates.
Consider your experience, the complexity of the work, and the value you provide to clients.
5. Create a Business Plan
Outline your freelancing goals, target market, and strategies for finding clients.
A simple business plan can guide your efforts and keep you focused.
6. Network and Reach Out
Join online communities, attend industry events, and connect with potential clients and other freelancers.
Networking can lead to referrals and job opportunities.
7. Develop a Pitch
Craft a compelling pitch that you can use when reaching out to potential clients. Highlight your skills, experience, and how you can solve their problems or add value to their business.
8. Stay Organized
Set up a system to keep track of your projects, deadlines, invoices, and expenses. Tools like Trello, Asana, or even simple spreadsheets can help you stay organized.
9. Learn and Improve
Continuously invest in learning and improving your skills. Take online courses, read industry blogs, and stay updated with the latest trends in your field.
10. Start Applying for Jobs
Begin applying for freelance gigs on job boards, freelance platforms, and through your network.
Tailor each application to the specific job and client to increase your chances of success.
What You Can Do as A Freelancer?
1. Guest Post
This is an old-school method, but it is the best one to begin with. I don’t understand why people don’t rate guest blogging.
It should be at the top of their list if they need to get clients.
Of course, there are other uses for guest blogging.
How do you get clients by guest blogging?
Find a blog in your niche. When I say your niche, I mean the one that will suit you the best.
Are you a copywriter? You can write a guest post at Copyblogger and other such sites.
At the end of the post, in the author byline, promote your service.
XYZ is a freelance writer and blogger at ABC.com. You can see his sample works here.
If you are hiring him, say 123 blogs referred you to get 20% off.
Replace XYZ with your name, ABC.Com with your blog URL and 123 blogs with the blog where you are guest posting.
By the way, this is how I got started.
2. Forums
Most people don’t visit forums when they need to find a job. There are quite a few job openings advertised in forums, but very few takers.
Go to Warrior Forum, and you will see thousands of marketers who need a writer or designer.
In Warrior Forum, you pay $20 to post about your service. But trust me, if you promote your service properly, you will get a lot of work—a lot more than you can handle.
The pay for your work might be less, but for starters, it is a great place.
Why not charge a couple of dollars when you are starting instead of doing work for free to get testimonials?
If you are short of money, then you should read this lengthy post that I wrote about getting freelance work using forums at Freelance Folder. You can read it here.
3. Video Marketing
Video marketing is the next big thing. Or it already is. You have inspiration in the form of Gary Vaynerchuk for video marketing.
When a person can build a huge business using video marketing, of course, after a lot of hard work, you should be able to get a job using video marketing.
Although I haven’t tried this, I know people who have done it successfully. I might give it a try in future.
Create a video explaining yourself and your service and post it on every video site.
The only negative aspect of this method is that you might get a lot of negative comments. If you don’t mind that (just like me), surely this method is for you.
Tip: Try to add humour. This video might help you with that. (:P)
Quick Links:
Conclusion: Things to Get Started as a Freelancer in 2024
Freelancers are the new entrepreneurs. They take their passion and turn it into a career that pays them well for what they love to do.
Freelancing is a great way to work for yourself.
I’ve been freelancing on and off since college, but it wasn’t until recently that the freelance economy has grown so rapidly with the advent of online platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
There are many benefits to being your boss, such as not having someone else dictate what you should be doing or how much you get paid; however, there can also be drawbacks if you don’t plan or find clients who understand this type of lifestyle.
If any of these sound familiar, then we’re here for you.
