How To Start Freelancing For Beginners

Freelancing is a fast-growing market that offers unlimited opportunities to those willing to take the plunge. There are many factors that can make freelancing a great experience, including:

- Personal fulfilment

- Excellent work-life balance

- Maintaining your health and physical well-being

- Ability to manage your own working hours

- Sharing your expertise with your community and making an impact

There are countless ways to earn money from home. However, there are also many complications that can arise. It is very easy to fall into a trap where you feel pressured to start a business from home in order to "make a quick buck" before your finances go to pot.

Here are a few tips to help you start out freelancing, without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Start with a hobby

Those who are new to freelancing and "fall into the trap" might want to start out on a personal project. For example, you could volunteer with your local museum or charity, as a volunteer coordinator, or plan some local events as a volunteer, before finding paid work in the community that aligns with your goals.

2. Build your portfolio

As a freelancer, you have the unique opportunity to build a portfolio from home and online. Take the time to write up articles, publish blog posts, or create an e-course on subjects you are passionate about, and publish your projects on your website. You can also include a variety of sources on your portfolio, so that potential clients can quickly contact you with more information. As you build out your website, add video clips, images, illustrations, and even music.

3. Build your LinkedIn profile

Begin your freelance journey by building a LinkedIn profile that showcases your expertise and has you featured prominently on the website. You can also include a photo on your profile and build your profile around what you do. For example, you might highlight your past projects and how you worked with the team to achieve the goals of the project. This will establish a solid foundation for other people to contact you when they are interested in working with you.

4. Use online advertising to build a client base

If you are new to freelancing, or you have an existing client base, consider using social media to target those who are interested in what you do. You can reach out directly to those people and engage with them directly. While it may seem overwhelming, people are quick to find their way to those who can provide them with the type of work that they want. You may also consider doing occasional paid advertising on Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

5. Write down your skills

Write down everything that you do well. There's no reason not to list off all of your talents. You may even want to write down things that others don't know about you yet. Get creative here; just make sure what you list is something that other people would actually pay for.

6. Use AdWords

AdWords is Google's program where advertisers pay per click (PPC). This means that when someone searches for a keyword, they may see a text ad appear at the top or side-bar results of their search query. If your target audience is searching for "freelance services," then this can be an ideal way to market yourself. You could use keywords like "best freelance sites," "free websites to freelance," etc., but make sure to avoid using too many broad terms.

7. Start Blogging

Blogging can be a great way to build traffic to your site, while also building a personal brand. When you first begin blogging, focus on writing about topics you are passionate about. Once you gain a following, you can branch out into other subjects. There are plenty of resources online to help you get started with blogging, including WordPress.com and Wix.com - two popular platforms that allow you to build web pages at no cost.

8. Plan for long-term growth

Freelancing is a great way to get your foot in the door and start earning money from home. Start slowly, and don't lose sight of the big picture. In fact, don't worry about being "fully independent" yet. Instead, set yourself realistic goals. Once you find that you're "doing well" and on a good path, you can focus on earning more money as a freelancer.

Copyright ©2022 by L. Lewis