Freelancing has become popular in recent years, and after the pandemic, freelancing has become even more popular.
The reasons for this are that most people can't find a job, or they just don't want to go back to the "rat race" of working in a company.
Whatever your reason may be, many have chosen this way of life and it's great!
If you are interested in learning how to work as a freelancer, we have gathered some useful information for you so you can start your freelancing journey.
Who is a Freelancer anyway?
Freelancers are individuals who provide services to customers. They usually work from home, but some do work from an office or even from a co-working space.
But unlike employees, they don't have an employer and therefore also don't have the same benefits as employees do. They work on their own and get paid for the tasks they complete.
Pros and cons of Freelancing
There are both pros and cons to working as a freelancer. But you'll discover the benefits and drawbacks when you start working for yourself.
Pros
You can work when you want
Flexibility
You get to choose what you want to work on
You can also choose what projects you'd like to take
Depending on your experience, you can charge more for your services
Cons
No fixed income
No legal support (for taxes and other legalities)
Isolation
Can be hard to find clients (at least in the beginning)
How to start working as a Freelancer?
Well, if you are already working as a freelancer, then you can skip this part. But for those who don't know how to start, here's what you need to do:
1. Gather all the necessities
The first and foremost thing that you should do is to find the right equipment and resources. Without the proper hardware and software, it would be really difficult for you to start working from home.
Let's say you want to work as a graphics designer, you will need a PC, an internet connection, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
2. Work on your skill
You have to be really (really) good at what you want to do, if not the best. You can't just start as a graphic designer and charge $80 for your services. Clients will laugh at you and throw your bid straight to the bin. So make sure that you are truly skilled in what you are doing.
3. Create your portfolio
The most important thing for freelancers is having their portfolio. This will serve as proof of your skills to all the people who are looking to hire you. Make sure that your portfolio is an accurate representation of yourself and not some weird stuff that doesn't make sense.
4. Charge the right price
Before you can start working and making money, you have to determine what your market value is. This will help you when negotiating with clients and also prevent you from underselling yourself. Make sure not to charge too little or too much money, keep it in between.
5. Choose a freelancing platform
Now that you have the basics, you can now start your freelancing journey. You can use freelance sites like Upwork, Freelancer, Guru, or Fiverr. These are some of the best platforms where you can work as a freelancer, but there are also others. Just search for them online.
6. Build your reputation as a freelancer
You just can't rely on those platforms alone. They charge a big commission for your services. You want to build your reputation so you can have returning customers who will come back when they need something.
You can achieve that by working on projects that are in your field. You have to find ways to get direct clients so you can get paid for what you've worked on. You can build your website, put ads on social media, go to meetups and pitch yourself, etc.
How to work as a freelancer - Conclusion:
Becoming a freelancer requires a lot of commitment and dedication, but it can also be rewarding too. Just make sure to do your research and work on getting more skills so you can set yourself apart from others. Good luck!
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