Freelancing as a career – A beginner’s guide that reveals the basics of freelancing and what it takes to become one! Freelancing can be daunting at first, but if you’re prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary, you will be well on your way to making money through freelance work. This guide provides all of the information that you need in order to know whether or not you have what it takes to be successful as a freelancer.
What Is Freelancing
Freelancing can be really fun and rewarding, but it’s not always easy. To get started, you need a client or customer base as well as a space where you can work comfortably. Many freelancers start out working from home. If you’re wondering how to freelance, make sure you have these two important things in place before putting yourself out there. Also consider what your day-to-day life will look like; for example, if your job requires sitting at a desk for long periods of time, then commuting into an office every day might not be worth it for you. To learn more about how to start a freelance career read our full guide on becoming a freelancer here.
The Best Time to Start Freelancing
When people hear that you’re considering becoming a freelancer, they’ll often ask you one of two questions: Why do you want to be freelance? Or when are you going to quit your job and start working for yourself full-time? There are good reasons for these inquiries. Working as an independent contractor isn’t right for everyone and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Before pursuing it as your career, here are some things you should know about freelancing, what it means to be a freelancer and how can it benefit from your life. So before taking any final decisions, let’s learn some important tips on how freelance works.
What Do You Need To Start Freelancing
Freelancing as a career can help you find meaningful and fulfilling employment if you’re willing to put in the effort. There are hundreds of online resources on becoming freelance, along with thousands of books that are dedicated solely to success. Freelance writers can work from home or even while traveling; many do both as they build their clientele. Freelancers also have flexibility when it comes to their schedule. They decide how much time they want to spend working each day and can be selective about which projects they take on. In short, no two days will be alike for a freelancer. That being said, there are some common steps involved in starting your own freelance business. Let’s take a look at them now.
Market Research & Networking
To succeed as a freelancer, you’ll want to be sure that there’s actually a demand for your services. You should know who your potential clients are and what they need help with. For example, if you plan on writing for magazines about cars, contact editors and ask them what their ideal freelance contributor would write about. The best way to do that is via networking—go out there and get some face time with people in your field (even if it means taking part-time jobs) and learn from them. Don’t forget: Write down everyone’s contact information! You never know when you’ll need it. Also, remember that not all of these contacts will turn into actual paying gigs; some of them might refer you to others or even find new opportunities for you. Networking takes time and patience but is worth it in the long run. Just don’t let yourself get burned out trying to find new clients or risk becoming an introvert like I did (and continue to struggle with).
Finding Clients
Finding clients for your freelance business requires research, networking and creativity. Follow these simple steps: Find Prospective Clients on LinkedIn – A great place to start your search for new clients! LinkedIn is an easy way to see what types of businesses are in your area, as well as who’s inside those businesses. Use Google Alerts – This tool allows you to track specific keywords related to your industry or niche. It can help you stay up-to-date with current trends and news stories that might impact your business. Use Twitter Search – Just like Google Alerts, Twitter Search will help you stay up-to-date with trending topics in your industry or niche. You can also use it to find people tweeting about their problems or questions related to your services. Reach out directly via Twitter DM or email when appropriate. Connect with Influencers in Your Industry – Most likely, there are influencers in your industry who have large followings. These people can be a huge asset to your marketing efforts because they have access to thousands (or even millions) of potential customers. Connecting with them through social media and email could lead to some very valuable partnerships down the road. Attend Networking Events – If you don’t already belong to any professional organizations or groups, now is a good time to look into joining one. In addition to providing educational resources and group discounts, many professional organizations host regular networking events where members meet one another over drinks or dinner at local restaurants.
There are also many other third-party freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, etc where you can find millions of clients who are waiting to get there work done by professional freelancers
Pricing Yourself As A Freelancer
If you’re starting as a freelancer, pricing yourself as such can be tough. Figuring out how much to charge for your skills and services is one of your biggest challenges. There are generally two ways that people price themselves: use an hourly rate or use a fixed fee for their work. If you decide to go with an hourly rate, then you can use your past experience, research industry averages and recommendations from other designers or people in similar positions. For example, if you’ve worked at a firm for $30/hour and have been freelancing on and off for $20/hour, consider charging $25-$30/hour to start. If you choose to set a fixed fee instead of an hourly rate, then make sure that it’s based on market value. For example, if it takes 3 hours to complete something worth $500 when working at a firm but only 2 hours when working freelance, charge $750-$800 per project instead of $500. Once again though—be sure to do your research before choosing either method!
Freelance Rates Worldwide And Where To Get Them
With all the talk of how employees and employers are becoming partners and family, sometimes it can be easy to forget that working for yourself means you need to make money. So how much do you charge clients? To figure out what you should be charging as a freelance writer, consider: 1) your living expenses, 2) whether or not your salary will increase after you become full-time at a company and 3) if freelance writing makes sense in your area. In most industries, rates start at $50 per hour, with experts charging anywhere from $75-$150 per hour. If you’re just starting out, aim low until you build up a client base. If you’re hoping to write full-time one day, try to keep your income above $30K so that you don’t have to worry about taxes. And remember: no matter how low your rate may seem, there are people who would gladly pay more than they should because they want someone like them on their team.
The Pros & Cons of Freelancing
Freelancing has given rise to numerous opportunities for people who have acquired skills, knowledge, and expertise in certain fields. Freelancers can use their skills on various websites that offer freelance jobs on an ongoing basis. Many of these jobs are lucrative and go beyond being just a source of additional income; some even offer full-time positions. Freelance websites also make it easy for people who are looking for jobs as they will be able to find thousands of listings from all over the world. However, like most things in life, freelance jobs also have their fair share of pros and cons, which should be taken into consideration before deciding whether or not you should try your hand at them. This way, you’ll know what to expect when venturing into freelance work.
Advantages
- Here are some of the advantages of freelance jobs:
- You get to choose your own schedule.
Working as a freelancer means having control over how much time you spend working each day. This flexibility allows you to set up your own schedule based on what works best for you.
You’re also free to decide when and where you want to do your job since many companies allow freelancers complete freedom with regard to where they do their work. This is especially helpful if there are other obligations such as schoolwork or family commitments that need attention outside of regular business hours.
Freelance websites provide access to thousands of potential clients: If you have a specific skill, expertise, or talent, freelance websites will make it easy for you to find people who can benefit from it. There are hundreds of freelance websites available today, which makes it possible for freelancers to find enough work without having to go through all of them individually. Freelance websites can be accessed from anywhere in the world; all you need is an internet connection and your computer or mobile device.
Cons
- Freelance jobs may not always pay as well as full-time positions.
- You need an internet connection every time in order to complete your work.
- You may find some difficult clients who couldn’t give you proper/right information which may affect the end results.
- No paid holidays or sick leaves
Conclusion
It’s difficult to find people who enjoy working for someone else, since most people are seeking freedom. However, finding a way out of an office job or from any other job doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you start your own business or join other entrepreneurs as a freelancer, there are plenty of ways you can reach your goals! One thing that many successful entrepreneurs will tell you is that it took them several tries before they were able to find their current success. Don’t worry if you don’t succeed right away – keep learning and trying new things until you land on something that works for you!