Most people who don’t have a 9-5 job often consider freelancing as a viable means of income; the interesting part is that even those with a 9-5 job still want to opt into freelancing to increase their revenue stream.
Freelancing is also a popular idea amongst students who wish to earn extra cash aside from the allowances they get from home.
However, the question is, ‘how do you get into freelancing?’ you have to understand the basics, the to-dos, and not before you can get into any business to succeed.
In the subsequent paragraphs, we’ll share some interesting tips on how to get into freelancing.
Have a set plan
If you are serious about freelancing, you must set a goal. First, you know the reason why you’re starting this journey, and then have a goal you’ll love to come to fruition. Your motivation and goal will push you to work harder.
What are your reasons for wanting to venture into freelancing?
- Is it to have an extra source of income?
- To become self-employed?
- To work at your leisure?
- To get a replacement for your 9-5 job?
Then, you move next to what you want to achieve- your goals. If the goal is to be a top-rated freelancer, you’ll be more determined to make this dream/goal a reality.
You might also have an income goal you’re trying to achieve. You should, however, note that things don’t always go as planned. Regardless, being consistent will help in the long run.
Having a set plan will help you in your freelancing journey.
Select a niche
To start freelancing, you have to offer a service at what you are good at.
If you aren’t particularly expert in any skill, you can always learn.
Take your time to learn a skill and master it. You don’t have to be perfect. You’ll get better at it with time.
Don’t limit yourself to skills within your field of work or previous work experiences. You can learn a skill that’s proven to yield a high income.
Once you’ve mastered a skill, you can go broad at first; then, with time, you can narrow down your niche.
For instance, if you were a content writer (that’s broad), you could switch to being an automobile content writer.
Identify your target audience
One of the benefits of narrowing down your niche is that you’ll get to identify your ideal target audience.
You can list prospects, primarily small business owners since they’re easier to reach. Then, identify a problem they might face and proffer a solution. Then pitch to them how working with you would make them more money, how working with you will improve their brands, and any other reasonable thing you think will resonate with the company.
Although, it’s not always an easy feat to land a client at a go.
But of course, while many people couldn’t land a gig until after several attempts, some exceptions landed their gig at the first attempt. Would you instead give up?
Know the right prices to charge your clients
Knowing the right prices to charge your clients is also very important. Demanding an exorbitant fee will chase clients away, and you can not charge below standards.
So, how do you charge your clients? Some pricing strategies for your freelance business are listed below.
Fixed project cost: A fixed project fee is a one-time cost based on the project’s services and the specified scope of work. Short-term projects typically employ fixed project payments.
Hourly fee: Hourly rates are applied to both continuing and one-time tasks, and the freelancer must keep account of their working hours.
Retainer: Typically, this is based on an hourly wage and an estimated number of hours done each month. Ongoing projects mainly use retainers.
Value-based pricing cost: This pricing is comparable to a fixed project price but based on the job’s worth to the client rather than the volume of work completed by the service provider. Although it offers the most potential reward, selling this to the client is the most difficult.
To better understand how to charge your clients, you can compare your pricing with other freelancers in your niche. This will give you an insight into what to charge your clients.
Get on freelancing sites
If the idea of reaching out to small business owners scares you as a beginner, you can always opt to showcase your skills on freelancing sites.
There are many proven success stories from these sites. Many have made millions through them.
When you begin freelancing, obtaining new clients is made quite simple by freelance job websites. They are designed to match as many freelancers with projects as possible quickly.
But first, you have to understand their algorithm to be successful.
Some popular freelancing sites where you can get work are Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and so on.
Start your freelance career by applying a variety of tactics
Usually, using a single tactic to succeed in freelancing doesn’t work for most people. Instead, you can be proactive by being open to all approaches and creating time for them.
You can simultaneously discover clients on your own, have contacts with other agencies and freelancers, build profiles on websites with open positions, and apply for those positions.
Ultimately, you’ll find a strategy that works best for you and stick to it.
Create a portfolio
Most clients are interested in what you have done. And for the most part, you won’t be hired if they don’t trust you.
When you are new to freelancing, the greatest method to gain a client’s trust is to present samples of previous work comparable to the type of work they are contemplating hiring you for.
Always have a work sample available to show new clients immediately so they will feel confident hiring you.
Final thoughts
Freelancing, like other works, has its learning process. Simple truth- stick to and follow some proven strategies to speed up your success in the field. We hope you find this article helpful.