Are you a working parent (or stay at home parent) who is interested in starting your own side gig that could become a full-time business? Then don’t wait any longer and take the first steps towards financial freedom by becoming a freelancer!
In this blog post, I’ll teach you how to be a freelancer – including the first couple of steps and what you need to have. We’ll discuss what it takes to become one, how much money can be made and some other things that are important for success. Let’s get started!
What is a Freelancer?
A freelancer is someone who works for themselves, a person that can take on any job they want. A freelance worker does not have one employer and instead has many different employers throughout their career.
This means they can choose their own hours and projects to complete in different fields which may include web design or writing.
Freelance workers often enjoy the freedom that comes with working independently but there is also a downside like not having benefits such as healthcare coverage or paid time off that come from being employed by someone else.
A freelancer is an independent contractor with no fixed employment contract or remuneration schedule; the work doesn’t run out when you finish projects or clients either because there are always more jobs and more clients that need to be done!
How to be a Freelancer : Choose your skillset/specialty
Freelancing is a booming industry, largely because of the skillsets freelancers can have.
The first step before you go freelance is choosing your desired skill set – this will determine what type of work you’ll be doing for companies that need talent in those specific fields.
Here are some examples of specialties/skillsets that freelancers can tap into:
- Virtual assisting
- Social Media Management
- Graphic Design
- Copywriting
- Outbound Engagement
We also put together 67 amazing job titles in total that you can do from home as a Freelancer and/or parent:
Decide what services you’re going to offer
The best way to stand out in the crowd is by being clear on what you offer. One of the most important things a company can do before hiring new employees or signing an agreement with another business, is to take some time and get really familiar with all that they have going for them from their service offerings down below. It’s worth taking this step because when people are deciding where to spend their money, it will be much easier for your customers if they know exactly who you are and why you’re there!
We put together a free pricing guide to help you with your pricing as a social media manager, you can grab it now:
Get clear on who your ideal client is
Who is your ideal client? This question gets at the heart of what you want to do with your business. If you are a funnel builder, for example, then this answer will be different than if you were a graphic designer or social media manager.
I like to get clear on the type/size of businesses I want to serve. I also know that I like to work with people who care more about their mission than making money.
Figure out what’s most important to you as you pick what kind of clients you want to work with.
Feel free to start freelancing as a side gig before you go full time
Many people believe that you should start freelancing only after quitting your day job. You could be creating a false sense of security by waiting until the last moment to take on any risks, or there may not be time at all for managing two careers simultaneously. Don’t let this advice stop you from taking control and figuring out how well freelance work would suit your lifestyle before it’s too late!
Determine your pricing
A freelancing career often starts with pricing your work. What are you worth as a professional?
To figure this out, consider the following:
1) How much time will it take to complete the project;
2) Your level of expertise and experience in that field; or 3) The complexity of what is being requested for completion. For example, if someone wants you to create 200 flyers within 2 days then they may not be willing to offer more than $50 per flyer because their expectations exceed anything else possible under those circumstances in such short notice–unless there’s some other factor (such as personal connection).
I do not recommend pricing yourself hourly. I recommend checking out our free pricing guide for social media managers to get an idea of where to start.
Start prospecting for clients
Prospecting means to search for – or look intensely for. Prospecting for clients means that you’re searching with intensity and intention to find clients you can work with.
If you’re in business, this is a must-have skill. It can be difficult to find enough clients for your company if all of the work isn’t coming from referrals or word of mouth status updates on Facebook and Twitter. Start with social media events like happy hours, networking meetups, trade shows related to your industry’s niche (if applicable). Don’t forget about LinkedIn – it has tons of people looking for companies exactly like yours!
We teach a free challenge on prospecting called 10 Days to $1k. It’s available for free inside of Social Media United :
To grow as a freelancer, you need to continually uplevel your skillset
You can make money freelancing, but it takes more than a little know-how to go from ordinary success stories to the top of your profession.
Freelancers are in charge of their own destiny and reap all rewards if they do well enough for themselves. If you’re looking for some new tips on how find work or hone skills so that you have an edge over other competitors out there, this article is going explore both beginner’s advice as well as more advanced ways to uplevel yourself:
- Find a mentor that you trust (I personally hire mentors when they have a track record of success)
- Invest time and/or money into trainings (both free and paid)
- Try new things with clients to test and learn in a hands on manner.
- Surround yourself with other successful freelancers who are looking to grow!
I hope you found this blog post helpful and that it inspires you to take the first steps towards becoming a freelancer. If so, join our free program Social Media United where we’ll teach you how to be successful in your freelancing journey! We want all of us at SMU to succeed together 🙂