In recent years, the way we work has changed. More and more people are embracing the freedom of freelance work. If you’re looking for a new way of life, you might want to consider freelancing online.
You might wonder how to get started as a freelancer. Where do you find clients? How do you charge your clients? What are the most popular industries for freelancing?
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about becoming a freelancer. Specifically, we’ll cover the following topics.
The Different Kinds Of Freelancing
There are many different kinds of freelance work. Not all of them are created equal, and it’s important to understand the differences before you start charging your clients. Here are some of the most popular freelance jobs.
Writing
If you’re a writer, you might consider freelance writing. You’ll mostly be writing for businesses, but you could also do some freelance writing for fun. Businesses need content for various purposes, so there’s plenty of demand for freelance writers. Some of the most commonly used freelancing platforms are
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- Media.net
- Amazon Mechanical Turk
- Clickworker
- Futurism
Along with writing, you could consider doing some editing, proofreading, or creating graphics for a business. Most of these jobs can be done remotely, so you might be able to get started easily if you have a laptop.
Translation
If you’re fluent in a foreign language, you might consider doing some translation for foreign clients. There’s usually not a lot of demand for translation, so you’ll need to be careful about how you approach this type of freelancing. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the more traditional office job, you might consider doing some translation for a living. You’ll need to have a good ear and be able to keep up with speed.
Graphics / Design
If you’re skilled in graphics or design, you might consider doing some freelance work in that area. You’ll need to be careful about how much you charge for your work, as most businesses will want to work with a local company. If you want to get started quickly, you might consider doing some graphic design or web design for fun. It’s a great way to learn new things and get some experience without having to ask for permission.
Customer Service / Call Center Agent
If you’re an agent or a live representative for a company, you might consider doing some customer service or call center work. You’ll need to have a good phone voice, be able to listen well and engage with customers, and be able to handle situations calmly. While this can be a enjoyable way to make a living, it can also be stressful, so you might want to consider using a freelancing platform to find work that suits your personality.
Virtual Assistant
If you’re capable of showing initiative and can handle tasks independently, you might consider doing some virtual assistant work. You’ll be helping businesses with admin tasks, such as ordering supplies, paying bills, and creating spreadsheets. Some people consider this to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. If you want to get started quickly, you might want to consider looking for work on freelancing platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr (which is much more focused on virtual assistants).
The Different Ways To Find Clients
Once you’ve decided that you want to become a freelancer, the next step is to find clients. There are numerous ways to do this, so you’ll need to decide what works best for you. If you want to get started quickly, you might want to look for work on freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with potential clients and send them samples of your work.
The Different Types Of Contracts
Once you’ve found a client, you’ll need to decide what type of contract you want to agree to. Is it a one-off piece of work or will you be working on a long-term basis? The type of contract you choose will depend on your client and what you’re able to provide. For example, if you’re translating a 500-page book, you might want to consider offering a discounted rate for a one-off piece of work.
How Do You Charge Your Clients?
The last thing you want to do is surprise your client when you send them an invoice. Before you start charging your clients, it’s important to decide how you want to charge them. Do you want to use an established tariff? How about a discounted rate for a repeat client? What about per-word rates or per-hour rates?
The way you choose to bill your clients will depend on your personal preferences and what works best for you as a freelancer. However, as a general rule, you’ll want to choose something that is easy to digest for the customer. The more complex your billing procedure, the more chance you have of getting ripped off. So, choose something simple. Upwork and Fiverr are very popular places to find clients and get started, so let’s look at how you can make money on these platforms.