Looking to start freelancing, but not sure how to get started? Freelancing can be a great way to make money online – and be your boss. But with so many websites offering freelancing opportunities, it can seem like an overwhelming task to know where to begin your freelancing journey, what you need to do, and how to start making money online today. That’s why I’ve taken the time to create this guide on why you should start your freelancing today (and how to get your first client).
What is Freelancing?
Freelancing is the perfect way to start working for yourself – you can be your own , set your own s, and work from anywhere around the world. And, post-pandemic, there’s even a greater rise in freelancing opportunities. These days, it’s easier than ever to find clients that are looking for creative talent on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
To start with most people opt to become freelancers to set their own working hours and enjoy the freedom of traveling around the world. You avoid the habit of having to stick with your boring 9-to-5 routine. Starting a freelancing business helps you to become more self-disciplined as an individual.
1. Learn from the Best
The best way to learn how to do freelancing is by actually doing it! But that can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. The good news is, that there’re plenty of resources out there to help you get started and find your first client.
For this, I would recommend Learn from Fiverr, which is a new affordable, and curated online course platform designed successfully to help freelancers and professionals uplevel their skills and grow their businesses.
If you want to delve into social media marketing and become a top-of-the-line expert, you wouldn’t want to miss out on certified courses for freelancers on Fiverr.
Lately, Instagram marketing, Facebook advertisements, and campaigns have been the source of most business growth and business owners are even willing to pay more to achieve better goals.
This is not just an opportunity to master a skill but to monetize it over time.
You can check out my previously written article here – Learn from Fiverr Review: Certified Courses for Freelancers
2. Define what kind of work you want to undertake as a Freelancer
Do you have a specific skill set that you’re looking to offer your clients? Are you a whiz with social media, or great at writing compelling copies (copywriting skills)? When you’re first starting out can be helpful to focus on one particular area that you know you can do well. This will make it easier to market yourself and find the right clients who’re looking for someone with your particular skill set.
3. Build your Freelance Portfolio by getting experience
You don’t need years of experience to start freelancing. In fact, many clients are more interested in seeing your enthusiasm and creativity than in your past work. The best way to get started is by building your portfolio.
Offer your services for free or at a discounted rate to friends, family, and local businesses. Once you have some work to show potential clients, you can start pitching them with confidence.
4. Creating a Solid Proposal is Key
When you’re ready to start freelancing, the first step is creating a strong proposal. In your proposal, you’ll need to showcase your skills and experience, as well as provide potential clients with a taste of your work. Creating a strong proposal is key to landing your first client. Here’s how you can create a professional-looking proposal in just five minutes:
- Create a Cover Page: Begin by creating an attractive cover page that has both your name and contact information on it. Include what you do at the top in bold letters, such as Website Design or Content Writing. Make sure to include some brief details about your service so that it’s clear what kind of help they can expect from you.
- Write some Body Text: Below the title, write some body text that describes what services you offer, such as social media management or blogging support. Be as specific as possible so that potential clients know exactly what they will be getting when they hire you as a freelancer. It’s important to include your expertise and skill level because this lets people know if you are a good fit for their needs.
- include Social Media Info: If you have an online presence, make sure to list all your social media account at the bottom of the page. Potential clients may want to see where else they can find you online before making a decision about hiring you for their project.
- Add Links to Work Samples: Finally, add links below the other content where people can find examples of your work if they want more evidence of why working with them would be beneficial for their business.
5. Pitch Projects via Social Media
One of the best ways to get started as a freelancer is by pitching projects via social media. By utilizing platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, you can reach out to potential clients and let them know what services you offer.
Not only is this a great way to find new clients, but it’s also a great way to build up your portfolio and get your name out there.
SlideShare is an excellent resource for freelancers to showcase their work, as well as gain new clients. Here’re a few sample how-to articles I recommend for building a freelance portfolio.
- How to build your brand identity
- How to become a successful Instagram Influencer
- How to write great content
- How to make your YouTube videos go viral
- How to rank your website high on Google using SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- How to increase your email conversions
- How to make great doodly videos
- How to create an amazing eBook
- How to start a successful eCommerce Shopify store
- How to promote your business through podcasts
7. Keep your Profile Realistic
If you are using social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, then I advise you to keep your profile 100% personal in the description section. It’s always a good idea, to be honest about your skillset and experience, but also include who you are as a person. Most importantly, Humanize Yourself!
People are more likely to want to connect with someone they feel comfortable around, not just someone who offers the best service. In addition, be sure to take a professional headshot of yourself and include them everywhere in your list of credentials.
- Use word-of-mouth connections when contacting potential clients. If someone you know works at a company that is hiring freelancers, offer your services proactively!
- Ask for referrals from friends or co-workers. Connecting with people face-to-face is so much better than relying solely on social media or reaching out cold. Networking events and local meetups are great places to start.
- Go with a business card that includes your full name, contact information, website URL, and what you specialize in.
- Always be open to meeting new people, even if it doesn’t seem like anything will come of it right away. And don’t forget the basics: always respond quickly and professionally to emails or messages no matter how busy you are; keep an updated portfolio site showcasing your work; search for freelancing jobs on job boards regularly; make sure to get enough sleep and exercise; put time into researching companies before sending off applications/proposals; always dress professionally for your client interviews; have an organized system for handling your finances so everything stays on track.
Wrapping Up…
Freelancing is all about exploring and challenging yourself in new ways. Whether you’re looking for more flexibility, whether you’re a creative soul looking for something new, or you want to start your own business, freelancing is the way to go!
But it’s not always easy starting out – if this is your first time freelancing, then you need to be proactive and take control of finding clients on sites such as Upwork and Fiverr.
Take charge of the search by implementing the above-mentioned strategies which I have laid down in this post so that it doesn’t feel like they’re just finding you. And when your potential clients reach out to you, always be flexible with your timeslots!
I hope you enjoyed reading my blog post.
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My name is Sujoy Mukherji. I am an Internet Marketer, Entrepreneur & Professional Blogger. Founder of the Affiliate Hub Blog.