How to become a freelancer
Do you want to get into freelancing but aren’t sure where to begin? This is the guide for you. This post offers a comprehensive tutorial for beginners on how to get started on freelancing.
Because freelancing covers a wide range of topics, this article will be exhaustive. Regardless of whether you wish to work as a writer, web designer, or developer, this article will walk you through the process in a few easy steps.
Who is a Freelancer and What is Freelancing?
Before we go any further, let me give us a brief overview of what freelancing entails, as well as clarify a few points.
You’ve probably heard the term “freelancer” a lot lately, but what exactly is a freelancer? Let’s take a moment to clarify the situation.
A freelancer is someone who works on a contractual basis instead of just being hired on a permanent basis.
Freelancing may be the best option for folks who wish to work with a variety of clients and have a better work-life balance.
Freelancing is a tad more challenging than it appears. Some individuals assume that everyone with a computer and access to the internet can make money online. However, this is not the case. You’re not far off the mark.
Furthermore, instead of continuing to work for a single employer, freelancers work by the project, hour, or day.
They can work for businesses or offer their services to individuals through internet platforms. Freelancers rarely have long-term commitments to any of their clients, irrespective of the nature of job they conduct.
A freelancer isn’t the same as an employee. Whenever they work for businesses, they are classified as contractors rather than employees.
Employees and freelancers have distinct obligations. They must work on projects, set work hours, charge clients, and pay self-employment taxes.
And while some of their clients may have a long-term working connection with them, freelancers rarely anticipate having regular clients.
You can work as a freelancer in a range of fields, including writing, graphic design, and marketing, as well as accounting, project management, and education.
Some freelancers specialize in a specific field, while others have a broader skillset in order to be more flexible with their employment.
Benefits: Why You Should Become a Freelancer Today
The following are some of the perks of the job as a freelancer:
- Easy to get started: If you do have the essential equipment and expertise for your chosen area, you can commence freelancing with very little investment. To just get launched, several folks even quit their full-time jobs to work on a contract basis for the same company.
- A more accommodating schedule: You have complete control over where and when you work on your tasks as a freelancer. You may have the option of working from home and setting your own hours. You can structure your calendar whatever you like as long as you meet your deadlines.
- A higher sense of independence: Compared to a full-time employee, freelancing generally allows you more autonomy over your tasks. You have complete control over which jobs you take, which clients you work with, and how much you are paid.
- Increased earnings potential: Because you can haggle your pay rate per contract, you can get a bigger income faster than you could if you were a full-time employee who could only get annual increases. It’s also possible to do freelance work while still working full-time to supplement your income.
Occupations for Freelancers That Are In Demand
Clients in practically every industry, career, and skill set are struggling to find the right freelancers to address their challenges.
A client is seeking a freelancer like you who wants to address their problem, irrespective of your profession. Some of the most popular freelancing gigs this year are listed below:
- Software developer
- Writer
- Digital marketer
- Developer (web/mobile)
- Graphic designer
In this blog post, we’ll go over the complete scope of a freelancer’s responsibilities, as well as the advantages and steps to becoming a successful one.
Keep on reading only if you’re ready to put in the effort necessary to attain your goal of being a freelancer and achieving financial independence.
Let’s get started.
How to Become a Freelancer
There are a few considerations to keep in mind in mind when you begin freelancing in Nigeria. It is not as simple as many people believe it to be to break into freelancing.
You must be diligent and persistent because of the many contests that exist. If you really want to generate revenue as a freelancer, you must do so.
If you wish to work as a freelancer in Nigeria, here are some of the things you should know. For your convenience, I’ve included a list of them on this page.
1. Define Your Goal and Services
First and foremost, you must define the “why” you began freelancing. To be a professional freelancer, you must first define your end aim.
Take a moment to consider why you want to work as a freelancer. Your “whyness,” regardless of whether it‘s to live a certain lifestyle or make additional money, is what will keep you going when things go tough.
Additionally, the initial approach in becoming a freelancer is to put your abilities into a service. To do so, you’ll need to know how your abilities might benefit a potential client.
Attempt to place yourself in your ideal client’s shoes. What issues do they have, and how may your abilities help them address them? Acknowledge that your customers are looking for a solution to a problem.
To be a successful freelancer, you must first understand your client’s circumstances and then tailor your service to meet their needs.
At this phase, you need not bother yourself about your pricing. If you want to start freelancing, you may be willing to accept any compensated task.
This might be on freelance platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork, that you can access. However, as your freelancing business progresses, you’ll need to become more deliberate about the forms of work you do and the clients you accept.
You may be wondering how being selective about the freelance work you perform might help you earn more money.
The point is that specializing in a skill set allows you to become an expert in that sector. Experts in a certain field can command a higher fee for their services.
When it comes to launching a freelancing job, the age-old issue as to whether you should be a specialist or a generalist isn’t really worth considering.
If you pick the proper topic, selecting to specialize and engaging in the work to establish yourself as an expert in that subject can yield off for years.
2. Make Proper Research
The world of freelancing is vast, and there are numerous abilities that can be used to earn money as a freelancer.
It’s a good idea to research the niches or skilled individuals clients are seeking before professing to be a freelancer. You may have previously used specialization to hone your talents.
Nonetheless, it is preferable if you conduct a study and understand more before embarking on that journey.
There are indeed a plethora of niches wherein your skills can be put to use, and you’ll find clients who will only hire you to do that task.
Several of the top abilities for making money as a freelancer in Nigeria are: Content writing, Facebook ad management, WordPress development, Photoshop, content marketing, SEO, graphic design, animation, and web design and development are just a few of the services available.
You’ll really have to obtain coaching from someone who has been in similar shoes and been in the Freelancing industry for a long time after completing an adequate study on the abilities you need to improve on as well as create relationships.
This is beneficial since a mentor understands how it all works, and with their knowledge and expertise, you will be capable of learning and executing more effectively.
3. Have the Appropriate Equipment
If you’re already frantic, you make horrible judgment calls. And that’s why I generally advise against starting freelancing to make quick money.
It is important to understand that freelancing is not a get-rich-quick scam. It necessitates a great deal of effort. In reality, as a freelancer, it takes a person almost four years to establish a consistent income.
However, you now have more options than I did back then. For additional information, please read my narrative.
Freelancers frequently inquire if there is any work that can be done solely using a smartphone. The short answer is that there aren’t any.
At the very least, not ones that are worthwhile.
The functionalities of smartphone apps are limited. To run programs, you’ll need a computer.
So, before you consider working online, go grab yourself a laptop or perhaps an old computer.
4. Locate a Freelancing Platform
This step is very important in determining how easy you’ll obtain tasks and the caliber of clients with whom you’ll be able to work.
Most new freelancers fall into the trap of looking for the most renowned freelance marketplace and joining to get started.
They usually go to sites like Fiverr, UpWork, or Freelancer.com to find work.
Countless freelancers from all over the world already use these platforms. They also engage in bid wars to gain jobs as a result of the competition.
In order to get the job, they will keep lowering their costs. And it won’t help you get anywhere.
So the ideal method, and the technique, is to join a very new marketplace.
Because there would be fewer freelancers, there will be less competition. It will also improve your chances of finding a job.
Without a question, the majority of freelancers use freelancing platforms to locate work.
Freelancing websites are popular, and recommendations and social media outlets like LinkedIn can also be good sources of gigs.
This could be because they make it simple to link with clients who are searching for freelancers. There are often open positions there.
Furthermore, the majority of these platforms have policies and provide protection. This protects both freelance employees and those who hire them.
So each project you embark on a freelance site is a mini contract, and both you and the customer must follow its conditions.
It’s critical to select a platform with a model that meets your needs and wage expectations if you want to be successful.
Numerous freelancing websites promote the so-called “race to the bottom,” in which freelancers give low-quality work in exchange for low pay.
In the end, no one benefits: customers can’t get decent quality work, and freelancers can’t make enough money.
5. Build Your Profile
You do not need to construct a traditional CV. The good news is that so many freelancing websites provide a template that you can fill out with your details.
You shouldn’t, however, regard your freelance profile as a checklist.
Spend time developing a comprehensive profile that informs potential clients about your education, talents, expertise, and experience.
Keep it short and sweet if you don’t want to create a novel. List your qualifications, accomplishments, and notable accomplishments, and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.
6. Create a Portfolio
Developing a strong portfolio is a crucial part of becoming a professional freelancer.
It’s critical to build a portfolio of previous work. Your portfolio demonstrates the quality of your work as a freelancer by exhibiting your accomplishments and previous assignments.
This is your chance to show, not really tell, clients what you’re capable of and how valuable your knowledge is.
Your portfolio should showcase your best work in the field of your service. Each component in your portfolio should clearly show what you contributed to the project and how it benefited the customer.
Case studies, testimonials, data-driven results, photos, charts, work samples, and mock-ups are some of the elements of a successful portfolio.
Before including project materials from previous clients in your portfolio, be sure you have their permission.
Although your profile may claim that you are an astronaut, potential clients are unlikely to trust you unless you share a selfie from the International Space Station.
As a result, while creating your profile, be sure to include a portfolio that showcases your talents and experience.
Take the time to build a portfolio of sample works if you’re a beginner in your chosen area. Accept a number of jobs at a reduced rate in lieu of the experience.
7. Set Your Price Right
It can be difficult to choose the correct pricing for your services. Because they will never think about hiring you if you ask for the wrong price.
The simplest technique to figure out the proper pricing, in the beginning, is to check at major freelance markets.
You can examine how much other freelancers in your niche or sector charge there.
Because you’re a newbie, charging the same rates as seasoned freelancers isn’t fair.
Rather than, you should aim to find a happy medium. That’s where you may give a lower price than those seasoned freelancers without coming across as cheap.
8. Find Your Target Audience
You’ll need to discover a target audience now that you have a freelance service to offer. Begin by determining the types of customers who will benefit from your offering.
Is there a common problem and personality trait across these clients? Do they work in a specific field?
You can examine how much other freelancers in your niche or sector charge there.
Because you’re a newbie, charging the same rates as seasoned freelancers isn’t fair.
Rather than, you should aim to find a happy medium. That’s where you may give a lower price than those seasoned freelancers without coming across as cheap.
Look for Work
After you’ve finished building up your profile, the subsequent step is to explore for work. And here are some pointers to assist you to discover projects and clients since you’re going to be looking.
To begin, simply apply for jobs that you are certain you can do. It’s pointless to apply for a project that you won’t be able to execute on time and with positive consequences.
As a freelancer, you’re starting from fresh with your reputation. It’s critical to have favorable feedback early on, especially in the beginning.
When applying for employment, make sure to include a suitable cover letter that shows why you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
Emphasize the qualifications and experience that are relevant to the job.
Top-rated freelancers are rewarded with badges, discounted fees, and accessibility to specifically customized job offers overtime by freelancing sites.
It is therefore in your best interests to keep your customers satisfied.
Some freelancers are wary of online markets because they are expensive.
In that situation, look for work through various Facebook and LinkedIn groups. However, keep in mind that these gigs are not for everyone.
There is no guarantee that someone will take your work and never pay for it because there is no contract in place.
9. Exceeding Clients’ Expectations
Once you’ve landed a task, the following step is to make sure you complete the project according to the client’s specifications.
Or, in this example, I want you to exceed the client’s expectations by overdelivering.
Let me give you an illustration. Take, for example, when you first started freelancing, you were given gigs writing blog entries.
These articles are limited to a certain number of words, such as 1000. Write the article about what you want it to be about. Like making it to be above that limit (something like 1100-1200).
You should as well add a header image to the article. Carry out all of these additions without charging a premium.
You’ll find that your clients are always pleased with your job. They may give you 5-star ratings in this instance.
So find a method to go above and beyond in your career. Also, figure out how to stand out from the crowd. That is the only way to establish a long-term independent career.
10. Client Relationships Should Be Prioritized
Working relationships are the most crucial aspect of freelancing. You’ll be so much more likely to obtain more steady business in the future if you keep a solid relationship with your current clients and provide great work.
Make sure you fulfill all deadlines, follow directions, make any necessary revisions, and connect with your clients effectively.
You should always be ready for your clients when they have any inquiries, requests, or concerns, even if you aren’t bound by any specific hours.
In order to attract potential clients, you’ll also want to expand your portfolio. As a freelancer, having a solid brand is essential.
You should make certain that you are doing your best work and receiving positive feedback.
Your services can be advertised on social media and on your website, which must be updated on a regular basis.
It’s crucial to have a strong online presence. That’s because before dealing with you, they want to know that they can trust you and your brand.
11. Promote Your Services And Brand
As more than just a freelancer, you must also advertise your brand. You should use social media networks to raise the visibility of your business and services in this case.
You can run sponsored ads on Facebook and Instagram while also improving your website’s SEO. This will increase your audience, and a larger audience means more clients.
You’ll receive more clients if you promote your brand and services. You will also be able to earn more money than previously.
If you take the right methods, promotion can be really effective, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised when it translates to your expectations.
12. Start Your Freelance Career
Are you prepared to start freelance work this year? It’s entirely up to you. You have autonomy as a freelancer, and you get to determine the policies that shape your business.
Clients are constantly pursuing fresh solutions to their challenges. As a result, your freelance services may be the answer.
By following the methods outlined in this article, you will be well on your way towards becoming a thriving freelancer in no time.
Don’t get bogged down in the planning stage. To turn your freelance dream into a reality, you must take immediate action.
Create a freelancer account on a platform like Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, or one of the many others. You will be able to acquire access to these sites if you create an account with them.
Pros and Cons: Should I Be a Freelancer?
Like with everything else in daily existence, there are advantages and disadvantages to freelancing. The benefits, in my opinion, outweigh the disadvantages.
Upsides of Being a Freelancer
Here are a few of the favorite aspects of working as a freelancer:
- You are in charge of your own routine — You have complete control over when, how, and how much you work. You don’t need to beg for vacation days. If your focus is sharpest late at night, you don’t have to get out of bed in the morning. Rather than being tethered to the office for particular hours, freelancing allows you to maximize your peak production.
- Work possibilities are always available — Hundreds of new job advertisements are published to freelance networks every hour. Yeah certainly, you won’t get hired for all of them, but there would be plenty of opportunities.
- You have a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience — You can work with a variety of customers on a variety of projects and gain skills that you couldn’t get in a regular office situation.
- You have a say in who you engage with — You could always just find a new client if things don’t work out with the current one. You don’t have to stay in a toxic workplace because you’re frightened of losing your job.
What Are the Drawbacks of Freelance Work?
Even while there are many benefits to working as a freelancer, there are also negatives, including:
- Getting your first job can take a long time — If you don’t get a freelancing job right away, don’t be disheartened. Building connections and accumulating a stable roster of clients might take anything from three months to a year. However, once you reach that position, your freelance career will take off.
- There will be periods when there is no job — There will be times when you are offered more assignments than you can accept, as well as times when no one appears to be hiring. To avoid this, make sure you have a steady stream of clients before quitting your day job.
- You may be required to work longer shifts on occasion — Having a constant flow of activities and revenue may require you to operate from outside your regular working hours — in fact, you might find yourself dealing greater hours than you did when you had a conventional full position.
- You’ll need to be disciplined and stick to a schedule — You must be self-motivated if you want to be a successful freelancer. There is no one looking over your shoulder to see what you’re up to. You’re the one in charge. You must maintain self-discipline.
How to Become a Freelancer: Frequently Asked Questions
These commonly posed questions regarding freelancing can help you have a better understanding of how the business operates.
How Do I Get Started As A Freelancer If I Have No Experience?
One of the best things about freelancing is that there are no requirements. To become a freelancer, you would not need a sophisticated college degree or years of industry experience.
Everything you need now is a competitive skill and the will to work harder and more efficiently than anyone else.
Is Freelancing Better Than Working For Someone Else?
Freelancing, just like every other day job, has advantages as well as disadvantages. When contrasted to a typical office job, it provides a lot of advantages.
Certainly, freelancing can be a safer investment than a traditional job. However, this will largely be determined by your personal characteristics.
Is Freelancing A Career?
Yeah! Freelancing can be viewed as a profession. However, it is dependent on the type of employment.
Working as a data entry clerk, for example, cannot be called a career. At the very least, it’s not a nice idea.
Nevertheless, if you pick copywriting as a career, you can work as a marketer and then even lead marketing firms at companies.
Which Freelancing Field Is the Best?
There are numerous areas of freelancing where you can earn greater rates and make beneficial revenues. However, there is no such thing as “the best” in any business or employment.
You should not pick a vocation just on the basis of its monetary value. Always choose the ones in which you excel.
Do Freelancers Get Paid for Their Work?
Yeah of course! Unless you’re a victim of a con artist. Freelancers are always compensated. It’s a common misconception that clients don’t pay on time or avoid paying at all.
However, this is not the case. You’ll often get paid on time if you understand how to locate good clients.
Where Do Freelancers Look for Work?
Freelancers might look for work in a variety of ways. You’ll be relieved to learn that you don’t have to rely on marketplaces like Upwork and Freelancer.com all of the time.
Otherwise, look for opportunities through job boards, networks, and even email marketing. In a previous chapter, I went through this issue in greater detail.
Wrap Up
Freelancers enjoy a great deal of flexibility in their work. Small and large businesses alike have dramatically boosted their usage of freelancers around the world.
The freelancing industry is expanding at a rapid pace, and if you want to stay competitive, you must plan ahead.
If you’ve opted to work as a freelancer, the figures indicate that you’ve made a wise decision.
You’ll really do have to equip yourself with understanding whether your objective is to make money or make freelancing a full-time profession.
Also required is a strong desire to learn and grow, as well as a great deal of patience.
Many potential freelancers may wonder, “How do I start freelancing?” or “How do you become a freelancer?” To begin your adventure, follow the instructions outlined above.
