If you’ve always aspired to be a freelancer but don’t know the first steps to make this a reality, then you don’t need to go anywhere; this article will show you everything you need to do to make it a reality. Stick around and read until the end.
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Firstly, What Is A Freelancer?
A freelancer is a professional who typically provides services to more than one client or company. They work under contract, which isn’t like a full-time position or a part-time position. They work until a project is finished or in a set period. That’s why being a freelancer gives you more flexibility in your career life.
Freelancing has become extremely popular over the years, and with the help and existence of the internet, it’s here to stay. So, you have two things to keep in mind.
A freelancer for a company is not an employee of the company. The freelancer might be hired multiple times by the same company, but they are still technically an outsider.
Companies and clients outsource for freelancers. Sometimes this benefits them because a job might not need a full-time employee to be hired, and it saves them costs.
Start By Knowing What Your Business Is
Ask yourself, “What exactly am I offering?” This will establish your ground in the market and narrow your focus on what you can do, what you’re willing to do, and so on. When starting, consider these elements:
- Establish your business and playing field.
- Establish what you want to create/offer.
- Find out how much you’re selling your services for. (Look at the industry-standard pricings to have an idea)
- Find out your accepted payment methods.
Gathering information for these elements will make you less confused and more prepared for starting your freelance career. We do think all these steps are vital and shouldn’t be skipped.
Market Research
When you conduct market research, you’ll be able to find out if there’s an actual demand for your services. If you don’t know if there’s a demand or not, you’ll waste your time. Research if you need a business license for freelance work as well because different regions might have different requirements.
Market research will help with many things when starting your freelance career, so don’t naively enter the playing field without doing some adequate research.
Use LinkedIn; It’s a Powerful Platform
There are many job portals and websites dedicated to freelancers out there, but many of them might ask you to refer to a LinkedIn profile when you’re applying for positions. This is because LinkedIn has a huge user base and is used all over the globe for all types of professionals and all types of job posts.
The First Steps Are The Most Difficult
You should be aware that you won’t be making money overnight when you’ve only started your freelance career. Many professionals might give up because they do not see results instantly, but they’ve already gotten a huge point wrong: a successful freelance career needs to be built first.
You’ll need to have the capital or a main source of income, to support yourself while you create your dream freelance career. Don’t quit your main job before you’re sure you’ll be making money with your freelance gig. If you live with your parents or rely on your spouse, this won’t be too much of a problem, but if you’re alone, you will still need to maintain your primary source of income.
Interpersonal Skills Are A Plus
Freelancers need to do a lot of communicating and networking, so to do this efficiently; they’ll need to hone their interpersonal skills. By doing so, you’ll know how to persuade people, understand their motives, and you’ll learn how to keep clients and so on.
You need to know what your clients want, and you need to know what they need. This can only be done by clear communication.
Common And In-Demand Freelance Jobs
While freelancers can be found across a variety of industries, here are some popular ones:
- Writer
- Graphic Designer
- Software Developer
- Web Developer/ Mobile
- Digital Marketer
Seek Your Target Audience
When you’ve decided on what field you want to work in as a freelancer, you’ll need to find your target audience for your career to be successful. What type of clients would ideally fit the services you provide? To find potential clients, you’ll need to market and advertise yourself.
Create A Portfolio
You’ll need to show your portfolio to your clients, so you’ll need to make one if you don’t have one already. A portfolio showcases your work, so take your time with this one.
Make A Website
To look your most professional, a website is a must to have for any freelancer. It’s a great way to showcase your portfolio and show who you are as a professional. Websites are great to have.
Building A Client Base
Of course, you’ll need a good client base to profit and make money as a freelancer. You can do this by looking for gigs, doing a good job, and providing your services again to the same clients. They’ll need to like you if they want to consider rehiring you.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article will help you jumpstart your freelance career. We know how tempting and ideal it is to be a freelancer, and we don’t want you to wait too long. Be sure to apply what you’ve learned from us. Most importantly, be patient and consistent and believe in your efforts. If you’ve done everything there is to do, you should see results.