Working from the comfort of your home, setting your own work hours, beating the rat race, and simply earning without ever having to worry about commuting and the requirements of day jobs, are now possible all because of the availability of remote jobs. Today, anyone with only an internet connection and the right skills can benefit from the freedom that a freelancer has. You can do that too if you really want to. Yes! You can be a freelancer even without any experience and work anywhere.
Start Your Freelancing Career
Anyone can work from anywhere now that businesses and clients are just an IP address away. Actually, even if you are still doing any of the jobs available, you can always start working as a freelancer. Once you have established your portfolio, you can stop working for others and start marketing for your own. It will be easier to establish a name and attach a price tag for the services that you can offer while working for yourself but not as an employee of another company.
You need to remember, however, that it won’t be a walk in the park. You will need to do it right the first time. It will definitely take some time, and you will have to accept that need to make a drastic change in your lifestyle. It won’t be easy, but once you have established your credibility as a freelancer, it will be easier to find a new gig, even get hired for that dream job.
Build your portfolio today
It is important to note that money will not come overnight if you are just starting out as a freelancer. You need to do some work before you can start seeing money coming in. The most difficult part is changing your mindset after conceiving your plan of starting a freelance business. But once the benefits of working remotely sink in, and your body has been well-adjusted to the requirements of this work condition, it will be easier to establish a grateful attitude so that you can define the best approach to living a life of a freelancer.
So, how do you start as a freelancer?
It’s day 1 of your life as a freelancer. Where do you begin when you do not know where to begin with? You do not have any work experience yet, and it will take some time before you can find a company or a client to work with. And without a compelling resume, how can you attract a prospective client? Well, yeah, you don’t even know what those clients are looking for, nor how much you should charge. I know it can really be frustrating at the start, but you just have to start with something.
Build your portfolio from day one.
There are many platforms online where you can start building your portfolio. Describe what you’re good at or are already working at your regular job.
If you have a knack for words, you should publish your content from day one. Start with a blog. WordPress, Blogger, Wix, Weebly, and a few other online platforms offer a way to have your very own virtual space without ever having to pay for it. Most of these platforms have drag and drop features that make it quite easy to set up a blog.
If you know anyone from your network who has a blog, you may also ask if you can be a guest contributor there. You can then add links that leads to your blog on your portfolio. Don’t forget to provide any potential client with a link to your blog as well.
For a simple guide on how to set up a blog, you might want to visit this link.
If you would like to venture into designing, you can start by creating a professional-looking website. Make sure to make your website look professional. Let your friends or anyone in your contact list know about the services that you offer. It will be easier to establish your credential if you can include a few testimonials from your friends on your website, so don’t forget to ask them for their feedback if ever their request for your service.
Start offering your services.
Promoting your services can easily be done via online marketplaces, such as Fiverr, Peopleperhour, Upwork, FlexJobs, AppJobs. You can also check out this link for the Best Job Sites for Writers.
All you need to do is create a profile in one or more of these websites, then check out the available jobs related to the services that you offer that are posted on these sites. Send applications to those that seem like a good fit for you.
Create a great profile.
Before your profile can actually start attracting clients, you need to make sure that you have an interesting profile on each platform that you signed up with. First impression always matters, specially on virtual work spaces. Make your profile stand out. That also includes having a resume suitable for the freelance jobs that you will be applying for.
If you are not sure how you should present your resume, or would just like to have it updated, you may want to check this post for downloadable resume templates that you can use.
You will need an impressive resume that can get past resume robots. These are Applicant Tracking Systems that huge companies use to analyze resumes and CVs to allow candidates that best match the position to surface. In the process, qualified applicants slip through the cracks, however.
Upload a high-quality profile photo and include an enticing description about what you do. Write to be heard by prospective clients. You will also need to provide other information, such as your date of birth, employment history, skills, payment details, rate, services that you offer, and so on.
Then, fill all other information needed, such as your payment details, hourly rate, exact services that you’re offering, employment history, language skill level, etc. Include all the details that any prospective client might be looking for.
Make Sure Clients Find You Online
Setting up a profile in every job or freelancer site, does not guarantee that you’ll get to work for a client right away. You need to make sure that your prospective clients can easily find you. Once you find your first client, it will be easier to find (or to be found) by another client soon after.
Every detail of the service that will provide to your clients should be defined clearly. All expectations should be set out clearly, including settlement of the service fee (or salary), and every other detail related to the project or job.
Once you have established your credibility, you can start building your brand. You’ll be learning more about your trade as you land more jobs or get more clients. Sooner or later, you’ll become an expert on your chosen niche
But you should not stop building your presence in every platform possible. The more places your profile gets to be seen, the greater the chance that you can be found by potential clients.
Publish more content on your blog, create and share information on every platform that you have created a profile on. And don’t forget to include a link to your blog or portfolio every time.
Your next client may come just about anywhere, so you need to make your online presence be felt. Connect with the rest of the world through social media. Let your friends and colleagues know about your project or business, as this can be the easiest promotional strategy that you can use to market your services. Last but not least, start networking. Your next client can come from anywhere, so make sure to find ways to grow your network.
If you keep in touch with old colleagues and let them know about your new business project, they can refer other people to you who may need the services that you’re offering.
You can easily connect with influencers on social media, so it is best that to be active on these channels as well.
Share your and others’ content on your chosen social media. Be sure to respond to comments whenever the post or comment is related to your niche or the services that you provide. Whenever it is possible to start a discussion.
Ready to start your freelancing career?
You should be ready to start your freelancing career. Start building your portfolio. Find work from home jobs available on various freelancer websites. Learn more about your chosen niche and connect with people on social media. All these are vital building blocks to a growing freelancing career for you.
