Best Freelancing Tips For Beginners

Best Freelancing Tips For Beginners

You are not late nor alone for desiring to become a freelancer in 2024. Most companies are regularly searching for remote workers as the world adapts to remote culture. The number of freelancers has grown because of this. However, many freelancers give up in a few months. This is to say what they expect is not what they saw. Probably, they entered into the freelancing world without knowledge. In this guide, we’ll explain the best freelancing tips for success. 

 A happy freelancer, passionately looking and smiling at his laptop like one who knows the trick to win gigs

 

1. Know and Define Your Skills and Services 

First of all, every freelancing beginner must know their skills and what they want to sell. You must know this before sending proposals or your potential clients. Hence, you will avoid applying on every gig you see. So, conduct a personal assessment to know your area of skills, strength, and expertise. Next, consider your education, training, and professional background. This will help you narrow down to a specific niche. After this, define the services you want to offer such as content writing, virtual assistance, web development, etc. When you have done this, it will help you solve the problems of your prospect with ease. 

2. Keep Practicing 

In the second, continue practicing your skill and learn more even when you’ve no current gig. This act will help you stay competitive in your niche. During this period, you will identify the major skills you need to excel effortlessly in your chosen niche. Thus, invest time learning and mastering the skills. In addition to this, find what makes you unique and blend it with your services. For instance, it could be your fast delivery and completing the project before the deadline. 

3. Regularly Update your Skills 

This is one of the freelancing tips and tricks most freelancers avoid. On a daily basis, the freelancing industry keeps evolving. As a result, there are new trends and technologies. If you must succeed as a freelancer, you must modify your offering. First, you need to follow relevant newsletters, blogs, and freelancers in your niche. Next, be actively involved in networking events, freelancing conferences and webinars. This will keep you updated with what clients are looking for. For instance, most writing clients want to have their website content on google and other search engines. So, if you are a content writer, add to your skills SEO (Search Engine Optimization) writing. On the other hand, add design template strategy if you are into designing. Keep learning, evolving, and upselling. 

4. Build Strong Portfolio 

It is easy to say you are good in your skills and services but clients want to see the evidence. The only way to do that is to have a convincing portfolio. Your portfolio does not only show your skills, but working experience with your previous clients. As a beginner, learn how to build your portfolio. Therefore, quickly create an appealing portfolio profile or website. You can use your LinkedIn profile or leverage certain portfolio websites to create a portfolio page. 

5. Find Clients Online 

It is easy to look for jobs and connect with clients on freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. However, the competition is currently high and most successful freelancers on such platforms have been there for years. Beginners like you have little to no chance there. While you still sign up on freelancing platforms, also quickly create accounts on social networking sites like X, Instagram and LinkedIn. Freelancing clients are now hunting for skilled freelancers on these social networking platforms. So, customize your profile by using a professional photo, bio that defines what you do, and proof of your skills on your timeline or tweets. Share valuable content and updates of what you do, and engage with your audience to create an impression on them. Afterward, search for projects based on your skills and interest. Don’t be shy to submit your proposal to the clients or companies through emails or cold DMs. 

6. Request Referral from Clients 

Satisfied clients might have friends and business associates who need your services. So, don’t end the working relationship after completing the project. Request from your clients both referrals and testimonials. Positive testimonials from our clients easily build trust and proof of your skills and services. Also, It makes attracting new clients easier. So, politely ask your clients for referrals and testimonials after showing appreciation for working with them. Add these testimonials on your portfolio to show your record of success. 

7. Set price and Negotiate right 

Right pricing and negotiation is another important freelancing tip for beginners. You don’t want to work and feel bad for not receiving the right payment based on your skill level. On the other hand, you don’t want to chase a client away with your price, especially as a beginner. As a beginner, you might need to charge less to get the opportunity of working with clients. As you work with them, show expertise and value so when you increase your rate, your clients will know you deserve it. Negotiate a fair rate based on your skills, time duration of the project, and budget of the client. However, learn to say no if the price is far below your skill level and time. In addition to this, make sure the contract has been approved before starting the job as most beginners are exploited. During the project, regularly communicate with your client. 

8. Meet the Deadline and Manage Expectations 

While most people are into freelancing because they want to work on their time and schedules. Unfortunately, some fail to manage the expectation and meet the deadline of their clients. If you must accept a job offer, make sure you can deliver it before the deadline. On the other hand, if you can, politely say no to it. This will help you satisfy and retain the client and as well protect your mental health. 

Final Words 

Don’t be discouraged with what you hear or read about difficulties freelancing beginners face. Freelancing has been paying and still paying. All you have to do is to arm yourself with these freelancing tips. When you do, success is guaranteed.