The Ultimate Guide to Freelancing : In today’s world, there is a lot of competition going on in every field, where you will have less chance of getting job if you are weak in academics and in skills. Freelancing, it is only the job which you can do it on your own comfort zone by staying home and no pressure from anyone. If you have any skills like 3D animation, coding, etc .,than you can go for freelancing and earn from home. Freelancing is the best opportunity in today’s digital world for every humans.
In this blog, you will explore practical freelancing tips and also you will know about the inspiring stories of top freelancers which will guide you on your journey.
Getting Started with Guide to Freelancing
Starting as a freelancer will feel overwhelming at first but when you break the process and make it into manageable steps than you will feel it easy and you can simply start your journey.
- Identify Your Skills
i. Think about your strengths and interest. Think about the things which you are capable of doing it.
ii. There are some easy freelance fields which you can choose – writing stories, graphic design, translation etc,.
- Choose a Niche
i. You should choose only one skill and stick up into that and specialize on that field , specialization helps you to stand out in a crowded market and your demand will be on high level.
ii. For example, there are many people who use Wix, WordPress, Blogger (drag and drop) for websites and blog makings but you should go for full stack development and stick up into it to create more beautiful and interactive websites for your clients.
- Build a Portfolio
i. You should create a professional portfolio to showcase your work.
ii. You can also include a mix of some personal projects and your client works with permissions.
- Join Freelance Platforms
i. There are many popular platforms where you can go for freelancing like –
Upwork – https://www.upwork.com/
Fiverr – https://www.fiverr.com/
Freelancer – https://www.freelancer.com/
here, you can connect with clients worldwide.
ii. You must optimize your profile with powerful description and relevant keywords. You should keep your profile look professional.
- Set Competitive Rates
i. Go and research the industry standards and you should also calculate your hourly rate based on experience, desired income and expenses to work on the particular project.
ii. You should always be prepared to negotiate with your clients.
Tips for Freelancing Success
- Communicate Effectively
You should always communicate clearly with your clients and build trust . Keep informing about the project updates and deliveries. Communication is a key for trust. You should talk politely and clearly.
- Time Management should be prioritize
Time management is the most important thing you should do at first. Create a schedule to balance your multiple projects and avoid burnouts. You can use tools like – Trello, Notion, Asana etc,. which will help you in your time management.
- Market Yourself
Use the most efficient social medias like linkedIn etc., to showcase your expertise. You can show your skills, your education, projects etc., here in linkedIn. Also you can also blog about your experiences to attract potential clients and work with them.
- Deliver Quality Work
You should always deliver consistent and high quality works in freelancing and I will guide you for it. It will help to repeat clients and you will get more positive reviews. Take your time and don’t panic, have faith on yourself and trust your capability.
- Keep Learning
You should always stay updated with trends and invest your money and time on skill development. There are platforms where they offer courses tailored for freelancers. Here are some platforms –
Udemy – https://www.udemy.com/
Coursera – https://www.coursera.org/
Skillshare – https://www.skillshare.com/en/
Overcoming Challenges in Freelancing
- Inconsistence Income
Here is the solution = You can build a financial buffer for lean months, you should always diversify your client base. Establishing recurring contracts with clients can help you.
- Finding Clients Here is the solution = Try to build a strong online portfolio, and leverage platforms like freelancing platforms. You should provide excellent service in order to secure referrals.
- Dealing with Difficult Clients Here is the solution = You should communicate clearly and politely to the clients who are difficult to handle. Expectations in contracts should be set and also you should maintain professionalism. If you don’t want to handle difficult clients than you can simply say no to these kinds of clients.
Some Inspiring Success Stories of Freelancers
Gina Horkey
Gina Horkey was a 30-year-old woman in 2014 when she was a mother of two children. Though she had a full-time working stable job, she wanted more freedom and flexibility and also financial independence. She explored online work without any prior experience in freelancing. Gina started her freelancing journey with writing when she had spare time. She used to offer her services as a freelance writer. Initially, she earned some amounts and she then began to be more committed on her work and gave quality work and never exceeded deadlines which helped her to get more positive reviews and better paying clients.
Gina kept learning and focused on more skills like email marketing, virtual assistants, and social media management. She then diversified her offerings and increased her earning potential. No less than seven months, Gina earned enough money from freelancing .She also guide others in freelancing career. She also quit her full-time job and got into her online business. Gina also gave benefits to other people from her experience. She launched a platform named Horkey Handbook which helped other freelancers aspire and grow their business. She also guided thousands of people towards freelancing success. In present time, Gina is a successful entrepreneur and earning six-figure income while enjoying the flexibility and spend the time with her family. This story of Gina Horkey proves that small steps can lead to a big success.
Danny Margulies
Danny Margulies was originally a copywriter. He struggled to find any fulfilling work in traditional settings. He was tired from his 9-to-5 work and decided to work on Upwork, a platform which he knew little about it. At first, he had no clients and reputation on the platform. He then leveraged his expertise in copywriting and focused on high-quality proposals.
He was then mastered in the art of creating proposals. Once he got a project that paid $15,000 for writing sales copy, he then worked hard and then focused on his business. Danny also founded Freelance2Win. It is a platform where he teaches freelancers how to succeed on Upwork by using proven strategies. Danny’s story proves that anyone can start freelancing, but you have to be consistent and never take your step back if you feel low.
Marina De Giovanni
Marina was a corporate sector employee and hated her job which was from 9 to 5 and one day she leave her job and pursue her passion. She ventured into the world of fashion blogging. Marina doesn’t have had any prior experience but she had strong determination to succeed. She started her blog Not A Model in 2013. She focused on her work. Her efforts and hard work led to the success step. Marina learned blogging, social media, marketing, and all other things from scratch because she didn’t have any prior experience. She also faced financial crisis and had self-doubt but she didn’t gave up and stayed committed to her work.
After her years of hard work, Marina’s blog grew rapidly and she became go-to source for fashion inspiration. She also launched her online courses and e-books. She taught others how to build and monetize blog. In today’s date, Marina D Giovanni is a successful entrepreneur, blogger, and mentor. She did hard work, believed on herself, and remained patient over years and now she is living in her dreams.
Paul Jarvis
Paul was a web designer and was working with high-profile clients like Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz, and Warner Music. He was already a successful man but despite of being happy to his endless growth, he chose to downsize his work and focus on being a company of one. Paul embraced simplicity and self-reliance. He followed his dream and became a successful author, entrepreneur, and teacher. He have best-selling book, Company of One : Why staying small is the next big thing for business. Paul loved to be independent and prioritize his financial independence.
Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper was born in Jamaica and raised in Maryland. She came from a well-renowned family. Sarah initially pursued a traditional career in tech and she was working for companies like Google. Her passion was comedy and writing. She was not that happy from her tech achievements. Her 2016 satirical book , 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings gained attention but her breakthrough came in 2020 with viral TikTok viewers’ lip-syncing to Donald Trump’s speeches. She became famous in no time. Sarah’s story showcases that the power of creativity, resilience, and taking risks to pursue your dream will get you to success.
These are the few success stories of freelancers who succeeded in their life and also guide other people in freelancing.
“Working hard and dedication to your dream leads to the path of success.” -Curious Gazette