Let’s start by clarifying that being a freelancer takes work. It is not easy to see it, but the truth is that you are an entrepreneur who is developing your company (personal brand) and who has to take charge of everything in it, such as marketing, billing, accounting, etc. All the areas that the freelancer must do.
Undoubtedly, freelancing offers a world of possibilities! You can set your prices, craft your schedules, choose your workspace, and work on projects that ignite your passion. This freedom, however, comes with a significant dose of responsibility. If you’re intrigued by the idea, read on to discover everything you need to break free from a job that may not fully appreciate you and step into the role of your boss. This new path could offer you a better work-life balance, where you have the flexibility to work when and where you want.
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What is a Freelancer?
A freelancer is a self-employed professional who provides services to individuals or companies without any exclusive agreement between them. This means that the person works on their account, and their fees are arranged according to the market in which they operate, the quality of their services, or what they feel they deserve to receive.
Freelancers existed before since they are comparable to an accountant hired only to make the annual declaration, a contractor who only has to put on the laundry room roof, or a company that only takes toxic waste from one company every 15 days.
The difference is that, with the Internet worldwide, the word freelancer was born to usually refer to jobs done from the computer, such as graphic designers, editors, web developers, programmers, etc.
Most common freelance jobs
Many freelancers are currently employed in the strangest jobs, such as hand models or voice actors, but the plan is only to tell you the most common ones and the ones that are most in demand.
- Design is the branch of freelancers with the most professionals worldwide since its scope and specializations are vast: interior design, graphics, illustrators, clothing, videos, web, retouching, and more.
- Programmers: This branch has become highly demanded and well-paid since it is necessary for the security of web pages and the creation of apps, web pages, or programs that run in the cloud and are as diverse as company processes.
- Photography: Do not think that it is a simple profession; although “everyone” knows how to take photos, not everyone has the eye and vision for these photos to be truly successful; you have to look at Instagram, Pinterest, and some blogs to Realize that beautiful product or stock images are really in demand and make a big difference in the success of your online business.
- Editorial: Nowadays, more than half of the content you can find on the Internet is written, and despite the rise of audiovisual content, it will always be faster and more understandable to read the information. There is a large market that ranges from writing articles (as I have hired myself) to people who need to write an ebook, a book, a course, a sales letter (copywriting), a series of emails, and even some school projects, such as a thesis. And essays.
- Coaching: If you are an expert in a topic, you can give advice and help people achieve a goal, such as feeling good about their body, dressing well, doing crafts, learning mathematics, creating a company that makes money, or opening a business. The blog you can also live from it, as I teach in this article.
4 Steps to be a successful freelancer
I was already a freelancer as an editor, and it is an excellent way to earn money from home, although it is not easy and quick to get clients. In the end, I left it because it was more profitable to write for my blogs than for others. Now, I hire freelancers from time to time, and I know what companies are looking for, so here are my tips from both sides:
1. Create a professional freelancer profile.
Your profile on social networks and freelance platforms is not just a work resume; it’s a powerful tool. It reflects what potential clients will receive from you, and it can give them a great idea of who you are. If they visit your Facebook page and see a professional image and good reviews, they will trust you. They will trust you if they find your LinkedIn profile well filled out. The same goes for freelance platforms, which we’ll discuss later. Your online presence is your first impression, so make it count.
Many people make the mistake of relying on chance and luck when pursuing a job or project. They have a “let’s see if it works” attitude or think having a successful friend guarantees their success. However, they need to realize that putting effort into how they present themselves to clients is crucial for success. Without this effort, relying solely on luck is not a reliable strategy.
On the other hand, you have to have a place from the start so that your clients can leave their opinions as soon as possible and you can start to have recommendations.
2. Use the platforms to your advantage.
The platform that worked best for me to get clients was Facebook groups. There are groups on Facebook for everything, from groups of newbie writers where the fight is the price to groups of entrepreneurs who already value the quality of the writing and are willing to pay a little more and writers who have written for the best platforms in the world.
The best thing you can do is start advertising in these Facebook groups and show your talent and professionalism. The confidence that a freelancer will deliver to you on time, respond quickly, and do an excellent job beats someone who does exceptional work but fails with delivery dates or does not respond quickly, or, since the person who hires you does not have time to do the job, that is why he hires you.
Start by trying to help people with their problems, explaining how you solved them and how you can help them if they don’t want to/can’t. Also, brag a little about your achievements. We are always curious about someone who has already achieved what we want to achieve.
Now, for greater confidence for the client, I recommend entering a profile on the best platforms for freelancers:
- Freelancer: is the best platform, but it is also difficult to differentiate yourself since every time someone publishes a job, they receive many evil applications—a few professional but automated. Generate a professional and personalized response explaining the benefits of hiring you, and you will surely stand out, although you will have to invest time before getting a good offer.
- Upwork: is an excellent platform for finding freelance work and connecting with clients. It offers many job opportunities and a user-friendly interface for freelancers and clients. Overall, it’s a highly recommended platform for working remotely.
- Fiverr: The pioneering platform for freelancers but, as it is the most famous, you can find freelancers from all over the world (like Venezuela and India) who work for very little money, very professional, and even in all languages, since they use the translator of Google. Of course, the quality could be better, but it should be all right for them.
In conclusion, it will take much work to get your first job with so much competition (as on all platforms), but eventually, your reputation there will speak for you. Of course, it is okay to create an account for freelancers on each platform; the ones that work best for you are enough.
Create your profile appropriately with accurate data and points of importance for clients who may be interested, such as the languages you speak, experience in the area in which you are offering your services, and academic degrees, among others.
3. Gain contacts and experience.
Don’t look for clients; look for friends. This advice comes from my experience as a freelancer. Your first clients will recommend you to other interested parties or give you good evaluations, which is essential to stand out.
Once your contacts generate clients by recommendation and they can cover the expenses you need to work from home as a freelancer, you can consider quitting your job or dedicating yourself to it fully. Of course, for this, you must consider how much money you need to be able to stop since when we have a job outside the home, we have expenses that we would not have if we worked from home, such as transportation, work clothes, makeup, meals out, etc. Be very clear about how much money you need!
4. Analyze and reinvent yourself
If you want to live as a freelancer, remember that you are your boss. Therefore, you must consider yourself and your services as a personal brand.
First, the Pareto principle and analysis: what services give me the most money? 20% of your services provide 80% of your income; focus on them! By analyzing this and concentrating on it, I managed to multiply my income by 3. This advice is gold!
Second, ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I offer?
- What sets me apart from other online services?
- What can I offer for higher quality?
- What course can I take to become better? What are the new trends in my niche?
- What other services can I offer to charge more for and complement what I already provide? For example, editors already offer SEO services, which significantly improve the quality of the article for clients. Be bold and try new services; only then will you see what works and what doesn’t, and you will only stick with the best.
- What niches are thriving in my field of work? Some writers specialize in topics such as real estate or copywriting, which increases their costs.
freelancing can be challenging, but don’t worry! If you take some reasonable steps when starting, I’m sure you’ll do great.
