The Best Tips and Advice for New Freelancers

Work from home trend is on the rise after the coronavirus pandemic halted the majority of businesses. It is not a new concept but recently people are looking for ways to earn money online.

You might also want to get started with freelancing or even to work independently. So, this article is to help you get on the right track.

Full disclaimer: You probably know this by now, but I’m not a freelancer myself, however, all the tips and advice on this article have been collected from people who are successful at freelancing.

This is the kind of article I want to read when I decide to start freelancing.

Focus on Your Skill Set

The first step towards becoming a freelancer is to list down all your skills and then only choose the ones that you’re most experienced in. Discovering your strengths will help you stand out from others.

Sometimes we’re able to do multiple tasks, which is completely normal. But, you don’t have to be a jack of all trades. It is way easier to beat your competitors if you only focus on a specific niche.

In the beginning, it is also very important to build your reputation as an expert in a particular field. This will help you get permanent clients because if they are looking for quality work then they will always prefer an expert instead of a general-purpose freelancer.

Later on, you may gradually expand your services in that skill to get more work.

Find Low Competition but Profitable Keywords

At this point, you’ve selected a skill to provide freelance services. Now, there could be many types of services that you can offer for each skill.

For example:-

But, the thing that matters the most is that if a client is searching for a freelancer and your profile or service is not showing in the search results then he will probably never finds you. Hence, you’ll not get any job.

So, the main idea is to rank your profile/service in search results. It’s very important to get continuous work because now the clients will find you organically.

To do so, we’ve to perform extensive keyword research. It is absolutely fine if you have to spend a few days on it. Having a basic understanding of SEO will help you at this stage. In case you’re not familiar with SEO concepts then I would recommend learning it.

As you’re just starting out so your main target is to find keywords for services that no one is working on or has a very low competition. It is because you can easily rank on low competition keywords as compared to high competition ones.

Also, remember to find keywords that are profitable. Meaning that people must be willing to spend money to buy your services. There’s no reason to waste time on services that no one is looking for.

Select 2 or 3 Freelance Marketplaces

Recently, I published an article about best freelancing websites on Live Code Stream. Try to have a look at it and select 2 or 3 platforms to get started.

The major benefit of a freelance marketplace is that they act as a broker, which highly reduces the chance of fraud as compared to dealing with clients directly.

It’s time to create engaging profiles on these platforms. Basically, you have to provide details about your services as well as display an attractive portfolio.

Some platforms don’t let you display the portfolio. So, in that case, simply show your previous work samples to clients when they contact you.

The reason behind only working on 2 or 3 websites is that you could easily manage workload. Later on, you may expand this list when you have a team. For now, it’s better to start small.

How Should I Set the Prices?

You’ve to keep an eye on your competitors. Find out what they are offering and at what price. It will help you determine what employers are usually willing to pay for your services.

At first, always set a low price than your competitors. Let the clients examine your work before you increase your rates.

Search Potential Clients on Social Media

As you’re just starting out, so it’s a bit difficult to get your first project organically. My recommendation is to find customers on social media networks and bring them to freelance marketplaces.

To do so, share your profile/service on social media platforms. For example, there are many groups on Facebook where people are looking for specific talent. Similarly, LinkedIn can also be a great opportunity to connect with potential customers.

Initially, you have to give your best and do a tremendous amount of hard work. But, it will quickly pay off once you start getting continuous work.

Always Provide High-Quality Results

The best thing about freelancing is that there is no limit on how much you can earn in a single day, month, or year. So, if you take it seriously as a business then it has a lot of opportunities for growth. The only requirement is to deliver the highest quality results to your customers.

I’ve even found that customer feedback/review/rating is the most important factor that helps us rank higher in search results of freelance marketplaces. So, if your clients are impressed with your work then they will definitely give you good ratings. In turn, it will increase your chances to get hired by more and more clients.

Sometimes you even have to convince the buyer to leave their review after the task is done. It can only be possible if they like your work.

Always remember that a good customer feedback/rating is the key to success in freelancing.

Manage Time Efficiently!

Freelancers quickly get overwhelmed when they start getting consistent work. At that crucial time, your time management skills come into play.

Unlike day jobs, freelancing is not something like a 9 to 5 job. But, you’re your own boss, so it is completely possible if you create a schedule and stick to it.

Conclusion

We just saw the vulnerabilities of a regular full-time job during this COVID-19 pandemic. It enlightens the usability of online freelancing work like never before.

I would say that you did the right thing by selecting freelancing as a career. It is capable to give you a way better income source then your current job. But, only if you follow the guidelines mentioned in this article.

Thanks for reading!

Juan Cruz Martinez

Juan has made it his mission to help aspiring developers unlock their full potential. With over two decades of hands-on programming experience, he understands the challenges and rewards of learning to code. By providing accessible and engaging educational content, Juan has cultivated a community of learners who share their passion for coding. Leveraging his expertise and empathetic teaching approach, Juan has successfully guided countless students on their journey to becoming skilled developers, transforming lives through the power of technology.