Freelancing is gradually turning into a trend for those individuals who want to call the shots in their careers. It gives you the ability to work from home and if you want to freelance full-time or part-time, it is up to you. But, taking a first step towards the freelancing world may appear daunting if one is not informed.
In this comprehensive guide, I will show you the basic steps you must follow to start freelancing, gain clients, and succeed in this highly competitive environment.
1. Self-assessing your skills and services
The first secret to freelancing is to know your worth. What is your worth? What can you offer to the table that people are willing to invest their money in? There are many types of freelancers who provide different kinds of work such as writing, graphic designing, programming, marketing and consulting, etc.
Begin by making a list of what you can do, what you learned, where you studied and what experiences you have. Consider activities you used to perform at work, in school, or even personal interests. For example:
If you are good at writing then you can specialize in content writing or copywriting.
Graphic designing may be for you if you’re proficient in design applications such as Adobe Illustrator or Canva.
Select the service that you have passion for and that you are capable of offering. Focusing on a particular area may also make it easier to grab clients’ attention and gain new customers quickly, too.
2. Take advantage of this freelancing portfolio.
A quality portfolio is your key to getting clients. It’s the evidence that demonstrates you are capable of achieving the desired quality of work. One thing that may be absent if you are just starting up is prior client projects to display, but do not fret because you can create a sample project from the ground up.
Develop some sample projects that you will be able to post on the site. For instance:
- Writers may write blog posts, articles, or sample ad copy.
- Logos, social media posts, or website mockups are some things that graphic designers can make.
- Web developers can design a basic website or a landing page.
- Furthermore, websites like Behance, Dribble, or Medium help you share your work for free of charge. It is not necessary to have a big portfolio at the beginning – it is more important to show the variety of your abilities and the quality of your work.
3. Select the Proper Sites for Independent Contractors
It is relatively easy to get in touch with potential clients through freelance platforms. If you’re a beginner, start with popular platforms like:
- Upwork – perfect for newcomers and experienced workers providing various services.
- Fiverr – Best platform to make gigs related to specific work.
- Freelancer.com – Provides fair freelance jobs.
- Toptal is the best platform for experienced professionals who pay more for their work.
Create a profile, add your details, and stress your speciality, skills, services, and your photo. Ensure that everyone who reads your bio is impressed and that he or she understands how you solve your clients’ problems. It’s also important to remember that clients are searching for freelancers with good communication skills and attention to detail.
4. Set realistic rates for their services.
Many new freelancers consider the problem of setting the appropriate price for their services as one of the most difficult. First of all, find out the prevailing rates of your services in the market. Consider what your competitors who are within your specialization level and geographical location are offering for their services.
When setting rates, consider factors like:
- Your degree of specialization and training
- Amount of time and effort required on each of the projects
- The value that is being provided to the client
But as a fresher, it is quite acceptable to set slightly lower rates in order to secure customers and establish oneself. But do not undervalue—this is very dangerous and has a devaluing influence on work. When you gain experience and get more testimonials, you can then raise your rates.
5. Learn how to pitch effectively
Freelancing is a competitive business and as such a good pitch is very important when it comes to landing freelance gigs. Instead of sending a generalized proposal, it is recommended to personalize each of them to the client. First, state the need of the client and then demonstrate how you can meet that need.
Here’s a simple formula for writing a winning pitch:
- Introduce oneself and show appreciation for the client’s project.
- There is a demonstration of how your skills fit in with the needs of the client.
- Present samples or work experience that has an element related to the position.
- A call to action is important; it can be a meeting or a trial at the end of the letter.
For example:
“Hi [Client Name],
You require a blog writer for your website, which I observed. I have 3 years of experience in writing SEO-friendly content and hence can help in generating traffic to your site. Here’s a sample of my work: [Link]. Are you interested in further discussion of this?”
Personalized pitches demonstrate to the client that you are a professional and care about his/her project.
Conclusion
Freelancing might sound daunting when you are starting, but it is easy when you know how to go about it, as seen above. They should concentrate on establishing what skills they possess, and how they can create a portfolio with such work and ensure they produce quality work.
It is important to understand that freelancing is a process, and your successful result will be achieved through consistent practice and through learning while working with clients.
Freelancing is one of the most effective ways to kick-start a career and get fully rewarded for the work done. Start today and embark on the journey to freedom of working for you alone!
