Are you a newbie to freelancing? Have no idea how to start or what to do? You’re not alone. This is true for many people starting out. When I started my freelance career, there weren’t many people who would help me out since they are all too busy with their own work. As a result, I had to figure things out by myself and that’s when I realized how hard it is to get started as a freelancer.
Here are some tips from experienced freelancers on how to get your own freelance business off the ground.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Tailor your freelance job search to your skills and interests. |
| 2. Create a standout freelance portfolio that showcases your best work. |
| 3. Network and build connections within your industry for potential opportunities. |
| 4. Set clear and realistic goals to keep yourself motivated and on track. |
| 5. Embrace continuous learning and upskilling to stay relevant in the freelance market. |
| 6. Develop strong communication skills to effectively interact with clients. |
| 7. Research and understand market rates to set competitive pricing for your services. |
| 8. Be proactive in seeking feedback and improving your craft as a freelancer. |
| 9. Manage your time efficiently and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines. |
| 10. Practice professionalism and reliability in all your freelance engagements. |
1. Build Your Portfolio
If you just started freelancing, you’ve probably noticed that it’s really hard to get a gig without a portfolio. Even if your skills are world-class, clients are looking for evidence of your achievements.
One way to start building your portfolio is to trade work with other freelancers. Offer to do their work in exchange for them doing yours. This way, both of you can use the work in your portfolios and build up a solid foundation.
Once you’ve built up a little bit of history, make sure it’s available online so that clients can review it before working with you. For example, if you’re applying for content writing jobs, have some of your best samples on your website as part of an online portfolio.
Finally, consider starting with smaller projects that require less time and effort but can still be used in your portfolio. These will allow you to build up a body of work quickly and easily, which will position you well for future jobs.
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2. Set Up A Workspace That’s Just Yours
One of the challenges of working from home is that you tend to feel like you’re always at work. So when you get done with your day, it can be hard to switch gears and do something for yourself, like go for a run or read a book.
The solution? Set up a workspace that’s just yours. It doesn’t even have to be in a separate room! Just find a space that you can claim as your own, separate from the rest of your house. If you have other people in your home all day, this can help you feel more productive and focused—and it will give you an opportunity to really shut off at the end of the day.
3. Get The Right Equipment
As a freelancer, you’re responsible for your own success—which means making sure that you have the equipment you need to do your job.
What does that mean? It depends on the kind of work you’re doing. If you are a freelance writer, for example, all you really need is a laptop and an internet connection. But if you are a graphic designer, or an illustrator, or a web developer, you may need specialized tools like Photoshop or After Effects.
It’s important to make sure that the tools you use are the highest quality they can reasonably be. Quality matters—if your computer keeps crashing while you’re working, if your printer prints out blurry documents, if your software glitches and makes it impossible to save work—it won’t just slow down your process; it will also reflect poorly on the quality of work that you produce for clients.
So make sure that when it comes to hardware and software, what you use is reliable.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Say No
When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to get nervous about finding good work. A lot of times, that leads new freelancers to say “yes” to projects that they really don’t want to do.
To avoid this, set a few ground rules for yourself right from the beginning. Know what you’re willing and unwilling to do—and stick to it. Decide whether or not you’d be comfortable working in certain types of industries or with certain types of people. If there are skills you’d rather not use or topics you’d rather not write about, make a list and keep it handy so that you can reference it whenever you’re unsure about a project.
You’ll find more work that makes you happy and gives you the experience and exposure you need if you’re picky about what kinds of clients and projects you take on!
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5. Make Sure You Have Backup Income
Some of the best advice we can give to new freelancers is to make sure you have backup income if necessary.
When you start freelancing, it can take some time to get established and figure out what works for you. So don’t quit your day job just yet!
A good approach is to start out with a few clients and as you gain more experience, transition into freelancing full-time. And if you do decide to go full-time right away, make sure you have plenty of cash saved up so that you don’t feel like you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck while you’re getting yourself established in the freelance world.
6. Set Boundaries
When you’re new to freelancing, it can be hard to set boundaries with your clients. You don’t get clear guidelines from an HR department about when you should be working and when you should not be working, so it’s up to you to figure it out for yourself.
It’s tempting, especially when you’re just starting out and trying to build a stable client base, to just accept whatever conditions a client offers. But remember: you have the right to set your own boundaries.
Make sure that every client understands that they are hiring you as a freelancer and not an employee—this means they will have less control over your time and labor than they would over an employee’s time or labor. This is important because some clients might assume that you will make their business your first priority and will be available at any time of day or night. If that’s not something you are able or willing to do, then assert those limits upfront.
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7. Get Organized
As a freelancer, you’ll need to manage your schedule and keep track of multiple clients at once. This can be a bit daunting if you’re not used to it, but there are many apps and software programs that can help you stay on top of things. It’s also important to keep tabs on which projects you’re working on and when they’re due.
Here are some tips on how to get organized;
- Time Management Is Key: Freelancers don’t get paid sick days or vacation time, so managing your time is crucial. If you plan ahead and set realistic expectations for yourself, things will go much smoother.
- Don’t Accept Every Project: In the early stages of freelancing, it can be tempting to take any job that comes along—even if it doesn’t really fit within your skill set or desired career path. But in the long run, this isn’t sustainable. Start by taking only what interests you most and build up from there as your reputation grows.
8. Ask Questions
Asking questions isn’t just for kids, it’s an important part of making sure you do a fantastic job as a freelancer. If your client gives you information that doesn’t make sense or is incomplete, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. If your client asks you to do something that seems beyond the scope of your agreement, ask them about it before moving forward.
But even if things are going smoothly and you’re meeting all deadlines and expectations, it doesn’t hurt to ask for more work! Good clients usually have more work than they can handle, so asking for extra assignments is always helpful.
9. Don’t Neglect Family And Friends
Freelancing is awesome. There are plenty of perks: you set your own hours, you get to make your own schedule, and you have the flexibility to take on whatever projects you want. It’s great!
But it’s tricky too. One of the things that makes freelancing so difficult at times is that it can be hard to keep your work life and home life separate. When you don’t have a clear line dividing when you’re “on the clock” and when you’re “off duty,” it can be easy to skip social plans to work more, or feel guilty about taking time off when you know there are projects waiting in your inbox.
And that feeling only gets worse when the holiday season rolls around because suddenly everything is all hustle-bustle and stress all the time.
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10. Always Deliver On Time
Always deliver on time. Your reputation will be everything when it comes to freelancing, so if you promise a client you’ll finish a project by Friday at 5 pm, then make sure it’s done by Friday at 5 pm. Give yourself plenty of time to get the work done, and if you think there’s any chance it won’t be done on time, tell your client in advance. They’ll appreciate the heads-up!
Here are some tips for delivering on time:
- Use strong project management tools, like Trello or Asana. They will help you keep track of what needs to be done, what’s already been completed, and when it’s all due.
- Get as much information upfront as possible so that you won’t run into any last-minute surprises (like having to research a topic before being able to write about it).
11. Do Your Research
Write down what you need in a client/job/contract and make sure you’re only accepting jobs that meet those criteria. Learn about all of the different platforms where you can find freelance gigs and what each one offers (and doesn’t offer). See if any of the places where you find jobs have forums for freelancers—it’s a great way to meet other folks who are going through the same thing as you and learn from each other.
12. Don’t Get Frustrated When Clients Ask For Revisions
Freelancing is a rollercoaster of emotions. You’ll feel the excitement at landing the gig, elation when you finish your work, and fear when the client comes back with revisions. You might even be tempted to give up on freelancing altogether.
But take heart, friend! Freelancing is a skill that improves with practice, just like anything else. It gets easier to anticipate what a client will want and how you can deliver it in the first draft without having to go through revisions.
In the meantime, though, don’t let revisions deter you from becoming a great freelancer. In fact, use them as an opportunity to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses as a writer—and build on those strengths so that you can keep getting better!
13. Always Be Learning
Freelancing isn’t just about doing work for others. It’s also about being a professional and raising the bar for yourself—always looking for ways to improve your skills, get more efficient, manage your time better, and become even more awesome at whatever it is that you do.
If you think about it like that, it becomes less scary—you’re not just doing freelance work, you’re building a career, and that career is in your hands.
So take that responsibility seriously. Make sure you put aside time every day to read or watch something that will help improve your skills or make you a better version of yourself. Invest money in classes and workshops. Go to networking events and find people who inspire you by what they do—and then ask them how they got there
14. You’re Only Human—Take Breaks!
As a new freelancer, you’re probably eager to get things up and running! You want to show your clients you’re serious, so you take on more projects than you can handle, it’s only natural. But one thing we’d like to remind you of is that you are only human.
One of the most important things you can do as a freelancer is given yourself permission to take breaks. They help you stay healthy and sane—and that’s good for everyone!
So please remember: whenever you’re working, make sure to schedule breaks every hour or two where you can step away from your work and just… breathe. It’ll keep your work quality high and your stress level low, which means people will come back for more!
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15. Price Yourself Appropriately And Tell That To Your Client
Let’s start with figuring out what you’re worth as a freelancer. This is an important step because if you don’t know your own worth, you can’t expect clients to understand it either.
We recommend you begin by looking up the rates for other freelancers in your area that have similar experience and skill levels as yourself. Keep in mind that prices may vary across industries, so make sure you’re looking at the right pricing for your type of work. Soon enough, you’ll be able to get a sense of what your hourly rate should be as a freelancer in your area.
Now that you’ve established what you’re worth in the world of freelancing, let’s talk about how to tell clients about it. If possible, give them a price range for various types of projects, or even different packages depending on the needs of their project. It’s also important to be able to explain why your pricing is where it is: maybe you have more experience than other freelancers they’ve hired before.
16. Have Good Communication With Your Client
The key to a good relationship with your client is communication. You don’t have to be best friends, but you do have to make sure you’re on the same page at all times. It’s important that you understand what your client needs, and it’s just as important that your client understands what you’re delivering. If either of these things isn’t clear, there will be a misunderstanding and then—guess what!—you’ll probably get fired or get a bad review. So it’s definitely in both of your interests to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Here are some tips for communicating effectively:
- Make sure you read your client’s request carefully before submitting a proposal or bidding on their job post. If they say they need something specific, like an infographic with 8 different elements, don’t submit an infographic with only 5 elements and expect them to be okay with it. That’s not going to work, so don’t even try it!
- Send drafts and updates as often as possible while working on
17. Take Care Of The Small Things Like Punctuation And Grammar In Your Proposal, Bio Or Portfolio
One of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for success is to take care of the little details. When you’re writing up your proposal, bio, or portfolio, don’t forget to double-check your spelling and grammar. Misspellings and grammar mistakes can make potential clients hesitant to hire you, because they might think they’ll be getting sloppy work as a result. But when you’re careful with those little things, it shows that you pay attention to detail, and that’s a major plus in the eyes of your future clients!
18. Always Deliver More Than What Was Expected
If you’re a new freelancer, you might be wondering, “But how am I going to stand out among all the other freelancers?” The answer? A little thing we like to call “overshoot.”
Overshoot is all about delivering more than your client expects. It’s about adding those extra sprinkles on top of the sundae that makes it go from “great” to “WOW.”
It’s easy to do, too. Just look at what your client is asking for, and ask yourself: “How could I make this just a little bit better?” If you get an assignment to write a 500-word blog post? Make it 550. If your client wants a light edit of their website copy? Offer them a development edit instead. And if they’re looking for ten illustrations? Offer them eleven.
You’ll stand out by showing your clients that you aren’t just in the business of meeting expectations—you’re in the business of delighting them and making them feel like they just got something extra special. Of course you want to keep your promises and always follow through with what you tell your clients you can do.
19. Freelancing Isn’t Easy. It Takes Hard Work, Dedication, And Dedication To Be Successful
There’s no doubt about it: freelancing is hard work. You have to wear many hats (HR, accounting, marketing, sales…), and there’s always something that needs to be done. It can be overwhelming, but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier!
- Manage Your Time Wisely: There are only 24 hours in a day. Whether you’re working at home or in an office, it’s important that you manage your time wisely. Create a schedule for yourself and stick with it! This will help keep you on track when distractions pop up throughout the day.
- Start with a Plan: Starting out as a freelancer is tough, especially if you don’t know what you want to do yet! Take some time to think about what skills you have and what kind of work interests you most – this will help identify potential clients or projects that might be a good fit for your abilities. You can also ask friends or family members if they know anyone who could use your services; sometimes word-of-mouth referrals can lead
20. Set Goals
If you want to succeed as a freelancer, your first step is to set goals. How much do you want to earn in the next six months? What projects would you like to take on? What skills do you need to develop? Setting goals helps you stay focused and motivated.
21. Know Your Strengths
Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to start building your portfolio. Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses and figure out what kind of projects are likely to be most lucrative for you. If you have design skills, set up a website or social media accounts so potential clients can see examples of your work. If you’re good at writing press releases or blog posts, write samples that show off your expertise.
22. Start Small
For most people, the best way to start freelancing is with a single small project.
You can use this project to build up your portfolio and get some experience under your belt.
Even though this project may not be for a big client or pay much, it will allow you to try out many of the skills that you need as a freelancer, such as finding and contacting clients, doing work on time, and communicating effectively.
If the project turns out well, then you can ask your client to leave a review on your profile and provide a reference if they are ever asked.
Takeaway
If this guide has taught you a few new tips, we’re not surprised. We’re confident that it contains plenty that even seasoned freelancers will find useful. After all, running a successful freelance career isn’t something you learn overnight. It takes time, effort, and plenty of trial and error. And from our experience, what actually works for one freelancer may not work for everyone. So if these tips helped you find success in your freelance career, remember to think about what works for you in the long run and tweak your strategy as needed.
Further Reading
Tips to Find Your First Freelance Gig: Learn valuable insights and practical tips on finding your first freelance gig in this comprehensive guide.
Landing Your First Client as a Freelancer with No Experience: Discover effective strategies to land your first client as a freelancer, even without prior experience in the industry.
How to Start Freelancing with No Experience: Get started on your freelancing journey without any prior experience with the help of this informative article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to start freelancing?
The best way to start freelancing is by looking for your first client. You may know a friend or acquaintance who needs some help with a project, or you can look for freelance jobs on sites such as Upwork and Freelancer. If you’re not sure what skills you have to offer yet, work on building up your portfolio by creating some small projects.
How do I find clients?
Network! Network! Network! Attend seminars and meetups, build your presence on social media and in professional groups online, write blog posts or create videos about topics related to your profession and share them online, and volunteer to speak at events or conferences.
Where do I get my first job as a freelancer?
Your first freelance job could be for a friend or acquaintance who needs help with a project, or it could be from applying for posted jobs on sites like Upwork and Freelancer. It can also be from networking! If you attend networking events regularly, tell people you meet that you’re looking for work and they might refer someone they know who needs help with a project.
How much should I charge?
This depends on many factors, such as the skill set required for the job, location, and the complexity of the project. You generally start with a lower rate and gradually increase it when you gain more experience or skills.
What are the best freelance websites?
You can start freelancing on Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal, etc. For example you can learn photo editing on Sofeh Sunrise® then start selling your photo editing service on Fiverr or other freelance marketplaces.
Which is the best language for freelancing?
The best languages for web development are HTML5, CSS3, PHP and JavaScript/jQuery for front-end development and Python or Ruby for backend development.
How do I start freelancing with no experience?
Put up a profile on Fiverr or Upwork to get started in freelancing without any experience. Writing articles is a good starting point as you don’t need any previous experience of writing articles to write content for clients on Fiverr or Upwork.
I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!