How To Make Money From Freelancing: A Beginner’s Guide

Many people choose freelancing because it gives them the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere. Freelancers don’t have to follow a fixed schedule or report to a boss. However, being a successful freelancer requires hard work, discipline, and good business skills.

There are different ways to make money from freelancing. You can offer services like writing, designing, programming, or doing virtual assistant tasks.

This guide will teach you about freelancing. It will give you useful tips and ideas to help you earn more money from freelancing while still having a good work-life balance.

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing means working for yourself instead of having a regular job. As a freelancer, you can choose when and where you want to work. You also decide how much money you want to make.

Instead of working for one employer, freelancers offer their skills and services to multiple clients. This could be writing, coding, accounting, journalism, programming, or any other type of work that clients need.

In freelancing, you offer your skills to different clients while being your own boss. You have the freedom to manage your workload and run your business as you like.

Freelancing can be a good way to earn money, but it also has challenges. You have to find your own clients and manage your own time and money. It takes hard work and discipline.

After the pandemic, more and more people are shifting to freelancing from a regular job. Currently, there are more than 1 billion freelancers all over the world.

Platforms Where You Can Find Freelance Jobs

• Upwork: A site with all kinds of freelance jobs.
• Fiverr: Another good site for any type of freelance work.
• Authentic Jobs: Good for web and software development jobs.
• TaskRabbit: For local odd jobs like assembling furniture or yard work.
• Flexjobs: Has flexible, remote jobs in different fields.
• SolidGigs: You pay a fee, and they send you curated freelance job listings.
• Toptal: They carefully screen to find the top 3% of freelance talent.
• Flowremote.io: For Webflow experts to find Webflow jobs.
• Gun.io: Apply to be a contractor and get work assignments.
• Rails Devs: Developers create profiles for businesses to contact them.
• Dribbble: Designers showcase their work to find clients.
• LinkedIn: Set your profile to “open to work” to get noticed.
• Otta: Suggests jobs, mostly in Europe.

Read Also – Earn From Anywhere: The Ultimate Guide to Making Money as a Virtual Assistant

How to Make Money From Freelancing? 5 Steps

Making money as a freelancer can be a good way to earn income while having flexibility and control over your work. To succeed as a freelancer, there are several important steps you can take:

Step 1 – Choose Your Specialty

Identify an area of work that you are skilled at and passionate about. This could be something like graphic design, writing, programming, marketing, or any other professional service.

Having a clearly defined specialty will help you stand out and position yourself as an expert.

Take some time to evaluate your strengths, experience, and interests to determine the right focus for your freelance business.

Step 2 – Offer In-Demand Services

Research the types of services that are highly sought after by potential clients in your specialty area.

Look at job boards, freelance websites, and other freelancers to understand what services are popular and in demand.

Make a list of the specific services you can provide that solve common problems or fulfill frequent needs for your target clients.

Step 3 – Build an Online Presence

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is essential for attracting clients as a freelancer.

At a minimum, you should create a professional website that showcases your skills, experience, and portfolio of past work. You can also join popular freelance job platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer to connect with clients looking to hire for freelance gigs.

Additionally, utilize social media channels like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to promote your services and engage with your target audience.

Step 4 – Market Your Services

Simply having an online presence is not enough. You need to actively market your freelance services to potential clients.

Bid on relevant projects on freelance websites, and reach out directly to companies that may need your services.

Attend events (online or in-person) in your industry, ask past clients for referrals, share your expertise through a blog or podcast, and leverage social media to increase your visibility.

Step 5 – Deliver Excellent Work

Once you land clients, it’s crucial to provide outstanding service and high-quality deliverables.

Set clear expectations upfront, maintain open communication throughout projects, meet deadlines consistently, and ensure your clients are completely satisfied with your work.

Going above and beyond to exceed expectations will help you earn positive reviews, testimonials, and repeat business from clients, which is essential for growing a successful freelance career.

Most Profitable Freelance Jobs

• Public Relations Manager
• Business Consultant
• Data Scientist
• Marketing Manager
• Mobile Developer
• Technical Writer
• Accountant
• Copywriter
• Editor
• Graphic Designer
• Medical Writing
• Legal Services
• Software Development
• Web Design and Development
• Digital Marketing
• Online Tutoring
• Brand Management and Promotion

How To Create a Strong Profile on Freelance Job Sites?

Write an Informative Headline

Create a clear and descriptive headline that summarizes your areas of expertise or unique value proposition.

Consider including keywords related to your industry or target audience to improve visibility in search results. For example, “Expert WordPress Developer Specializing in E-commerce Websites” or “Versatile Graphic Designer with Expertise in Branding and Marketing.”

Use a Professional Photo

Select a well-lit, sharp, and professionally taken photograph of yourself to use as your profile picture.

Dress appropriately for your industry and avoid distracting elements like busy patterns or bright colors. If possible, hire a professional photographer to capture a flattering portrait that conveys confidence and competence.

Display Your Portfolio

Build a comprehensive portfolio that features examples of your best work, along with descriptions of each project and client feedback.

Include different types of projects to demonstrate your versatility and range. Also, consider adding multimedia elements such as videos, audio clips, or infographics to enhance engagement and visual appeal.

Emphasize Relevant Experience

Highlight your most relevant experience and skills at the top of your profile, using bullet points or short paragraphs.

Focus on quantifiable achievements, awards, or accolades that demonstrate your proficiency in your chosen field. Avoid listing irrelevant or generic experiences, as they may dilute your message and confuse potential clients.

Keep Your Profile Up-to-Date

Regularly update your profile to include recent projects, training programs, or milestones that reinforce your credibility and expertise.

Adding new content also signals to search engines that your profile is active and valuable, which can boost your ranking in search results.

Additionally, updating your profile keeps it fresh and engaging, increasing the likelihood that visitors will spend time exploring your page.

Proofread Carefully

Thoroughly review your profile for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors before publishing it.

Mistakes can give the impression of carelessness or lack of attention to detail, potentially damaging your reputation and credibility.

To catch errors easily, read your text aloud slowly or ask a friend or colleague to proofread it for you. You might even consider hiring a professional editor or copywriter to polish your language and style.

When You Should Leave Your Job and Start Freelancing?

I think it’s smart to start freelancing while you still have a regular job. Building a freelance business takes time. You need to make a website, get your name out there, and grow your portfolio of completed work.

You should try to earn half to three-quarters of your current salary through freelancing before you leave your full-time job. This depends on how much financial risk you are willing to take.

Freelancing means managing your own schedule, dealing with lots of work, and making sure you meet deadlines with limited time. Doing all these things will help prepare you for running your own business.

Another advantage of finding freelance clients while you still have a full-time job is that you can choose which jobs to accept. Since you don’t really need the extra money, you can say no to low paying jobs or ones that don’t interest you.

Can You Really Make Money Freelancing?

Freelancing can prove quite profitable, offering greater autonomy and flexibility compared to traditional jobs. A survey from talent.com found that freelancers made an average of $48,899 in 2023. This is much more than the U.S.’s median salary.

Your income depends on expertise, experience, and chosen field. Yet, entry-level freelancers still have chances of earning decently through smart strategies. Focusing on developing specialized skills and fostering enduring client relationships can lead to consistent work and solid references.

What Should Be the Hourly Rate on Freelancer for Beginners?

The worldwide average hourly rate charged by freelancers is $20-$30.

For beginners specifically, the hourly rate can vary depending on various factors such as location, field, experience level, and skillset.

How To Find Freelance Work Online?

1. Contact people you know from work, friends, or family who may have freelance job openings.
2. Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter can help you get noticed by many recruiters looking for skilled professionals. Make sure you present yourself professionally online.
3. Check websites such as FlexJobs that specialize in listing freelance positions safely.
4. Send custom emails introducing yourself and your services to possible clients.
5. Build a professional-looking website displaying your abilities and previous works. This will make it easier for others to see how talented you are.

Pros and Cons of Freelancing

Pros	Cons
Independence and flexibility in choosing projects and clients	Inconsistent income and potential difficulty finding work
Ability to work from home or wherever is most comfortable	Lack of benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans
Opportunities to gain diverse experiences and build a wide range of skills	Need to manage administrative tasks (e.g., invoicing, taxes) independently
Potential for higher earning potential compared to traditional employment	Isolation and lack of social interaction compared to working in an office environment
Freedom to set your schedule and prioritize personal obligations	Responsibility for acquiring new clients and marketing services
No commute or travel required to get to work	Difficulty enforcing boundaries between work and personal life
Ability to focus on areas of interest and passion	Potential for burnout without proper self-care and time management practices