Freelance can be an awesome way to make a living if it is right for you. There are benefits and drawbacks to working in this way, but most often, those people that are drawn to freelance are the kinds of people that should be doing it. So if you are interested in starting a freelance career and you know what that entails, then this guide aims to help you get started.
Settling on a Career
The first thing you are going to have to do is to settle on a career that you are interested in getting into. More often than not, if you are looking to get started with freelance, you know what you want to be doing. However, if you don’t, then here are some suggestions.
Courier and Delivery. Freelance shipping work with companies like Shiply can be a great way to travel while you are working. Working as a delivery driver can be incredibly time-intensive, but if you are interested in the career and you like to be on the road, then you are sure to have a great time.
Creative Careers. If you are naturally a very creative person, then engaging with freelance can be a great way to allow you to make money off of your creative urges. Whether you use a company like Patreon to set up a direct subscription from your fans, or you open yourself up to direct commissions, there are no shortage of ways for someone with enough passionate drive to make money creatively.
There are obviously many more careers available to freelancers. So if you’re still not sure what you want to do, have a look around online, do some research, and you will find what you want in time.
Finding Communities Online
Speaking of looking around online, one of the most important resources and tools available to new freelance is looking to start their career freelance communities online. This is a great way to meet other freelancers in your field and also to even sometimes find work.
Freelancers Look After Each Other. One of the best things about the freelance communities online is that freelancers tend to look after each other. Seasoned professional freelancers often spend some time helping those new to the profession to figure out exactly what they’re doing and how to do it right. Every freelancer that does well is a benefit to the community and another individual who has taken their own future into their hands, and that is something that freelancers are very passionate about.
Pushing for Work
Finally, one of the most important things that you are going to have to do as a freelancer is learning how to push for work. Landing clients is paramount to your success as a freelancer. In fact, there is nothing more important.
Getting Good Clients. That being said, it is very, very important that you make sure that you are working with the right kind of client. There are plenty of people that see freelances as a resource to be manipulated and exploited in order to make a healthy profit. The best way to fight against that is to ensure that freelancers know their worth and are working with good clients and filtering out the bad.
Building Your Portfolio. Once you’ve been working for a while, be sure to fill up a portfolio with examples of your work so that it is easier to land more work in the future. Your portfolio is an important tool to utilize as a freelancer.
