Freelancers are a dime a dozen these days. With the ever-growing popularity of online work and the gig economy, more and more people are venturing into freelancing to make some extra money on the side or even to build a full-time career.
But if you’re new to freelancing, it can be a bit overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you find clients? And what should you charge?
Don’t worry, we have you covered. In this complete freelancing tutorial for beginners, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started as a freelancer, from finding clients to getting paid.
What is freelancing?
First things first, let’s define what freelancing is. Freelancing is simply working for yourself instead of for an employer. That means you’re in charge of finding your own clients, setting your own rates, and managing your own time.
It’s a great way to get started in the working world if you don’t have much experience or if you’re looking for some flexibility in your career. And since more and more businesses are going online, there’s a growing demand for freelance workers who can do everything from write copy to design websites to manage social media accounts.
How to start freelancing: The basics
Now that we’ve answered the question “what is freelancing?”, let’s move on to how to start freelancing. Here are the basics that every beginner freelancer needs to know:
1. Find your niche: The first step in becoming a successful freelancer is finding your niche. That is, what area do you want to specialize in? It could be something as specific as WordPress development or as general as copywriting. Once you’ve chosen your niche, it’ll be easier to market yourself and find clients who are looking for someone with your skillset.
2. Set up a website or blog: Once you’ve decided what services you’re going to offer as a freelancer, it’s time to set up a website or blog where potential clients can learn more about you and your work. Your website doesn’t need to be fancy; just make sure it includes examples of your previous work, testimonials from happy clients, and information about your rates and services. If you don’t have any experience designing websites, there are plenty of easy-to-use website builders out there that can help get your site up and running in no time (we like WordPress). 3. Get active on social media: In today’s digital world, social media is crucial for marketing yourself as a freelancer. The best way to get started is by setting up profiles on the major platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), and then actively engaging with other users by sharing interesting content, commenting on other people’s posts, and connecting with potential clients. 4. Start bidding on projects: Once you’ve got your website and social media profiles set up, it’s time to start bidding on projects . There are dozens of sites out there (including this one) where businesses post job openings for freelance workers . All you need to do is create an account, browse the current job postings , and then submit a proposal outlining your experience and why you’re the best person for the job . 5
