Beginners Guide to Freelancing

A freelancer can be described as someone who works for himself rather than a company or an organization. Contrary to the long term employment and jobs, a freelancer works on his terms and conditions. This aspect of this job makes it extremely lucrative. There has been an exponential rise in the number of freelancers over time which has resulted in increased competition as well. You might have heard in the movies “I make my own rules”. This quote is highly relatable to the job of a freelancer.

Although freelancers do embark upon contract work for companies/organizations, ultimately their title is best described as “self-employed”.

Professions where freelancing is dominant include music, programming, graphic designing, web designing, logo designing, web development, content writing, photo/video editing, etc. to name a few.

Freelancing is currently experiencing a boom. In India, its projected growth is 20$-30$ billion in the next five to seven years whereas in the United States they will account for 40% of the workforce in the same time frame.

Benefits of Freelancing:

The potential benefits of freelancing are endless. Here we list a few to captivate you towards it:

1. Client Freedom — As a freelancer, you have complete freedom to choose your clients. You can either choose to entertain many clients at a time or a selected few. This type of flexibility is never guaranteed in any other job. You always can deny work to insolent clients.
2. Controlled Workflow — You have full control over the amount of workflow. Depending upon resources such as your available time, you can select as much or as little work as you want. You can spend your thought and time to select meaningful projects that you love without any external distractions such as meeting, office politics, etc.
3. Flexibility — A non-rigid work routine is what most people dream of. A monotonous routine is often despised. Freelancing provides you with unprecedented flexibility. You decide to either work throughout the year, part-time in the evening or even only in summers.
4. Tailored Work Environment — Freelance jobs offer the most precious thing you could ask for i.e. independence. You are not bound in the shackles of a small cubicle from 9 AM to 5 PM surrounded by distractions and non-conducive environment. You can make your environment to suit you. The client is oblivious of how you do your work as long as you deliver it on time and meet his requirements. This even means you can work from the comfort of your warm bed or a quiet library. The possibilities are endless.
5. Opening up horizons — Many jobs limit the ability of a person to grow. Freelancing allows you the ability to work on any project or any topic. Working for one company may not be able to provide you with the exposure in other industries and career areas.
6. Ease of Finding Work — Freelancing allows you to easily find work. The major reason is the fact that when companies hire a freelancer, they are not making as much of a commitment as they would for a regular employee. So you might have the chance to break in even if your resume is not that impressive. This might allow you to get in at first but you surely will need to prove your metal by your impeccable work delivery and professionalism if you strive for more.

Downsides to Freelancing:

Although the above-mentioned points give a very favorable point in favor of opting to be a freelancer, however like everything in this world, freelancing also comes with its downsides. These points should not deter you from opting out of freelancing but it is always good to know both sides of the coin when you decide to take freelancing as a full-time profession:

1. Taxes — Depending upon the local rules and regulations of your country, you might have to pay taxes on your freelance earning. In many countries, freelancers have to pay taxes even other citizens do not have to pay. This can often be a downside so you must negotiate your rates by taking taxation into account.
2. No benefits — Full-time employees are eligible for benefits and allowances offered by their company. Since freelancers are not fully associated with any company, they are responsible for getting insurance and other matters.
3. Sporadic Nature of Work — Finding steady work is not always possible as a freelancer. You might occasionally find yourself in a situation where you finish a project but are unable to find more work. Clients may even end a contract early.
4. Full Responsibility — As a freelancer, you are running your own business. You are in charge of business development, getting clients, paying taxes, deciding the mode of payment transfers, managing the flow of work. Just like any other business, you have to put your heart and soul into it if you have a spark to succeed. Not everyone is ready for such a heavy responsibility on their shoulders however you polish your skills over time and succeed. Instigate the revolutionary inside of you and overcome challenges with perseverance.
5. Fraudulent Clients — Like every other business, black sheep are always there to ruin the reputation of a profession. Sometimes people are faced with clients who do not pay up or delay payments unnecessarily. There is a feedback feature where you can report such clients.
6. Isolation — This is both a pro and a con. It is all about perspective. For some, it is a blessing in disguise. Introverts enjoy this and consider it a divinely ordained blessing. Extroverts, on the other hand, might feel the need to find emotional support. This is the price you pay for having the ability to work on your flexibility and non-rigid job.

Since now the pros and cons of freelancing are out of the way, let us delve deeper into how to start freelancing from the absolute basics.

Common Freelancing Platforms:

First of all, you need a place to showcase your skills and offer your services. There are many freelancing websites out there that allow with the ability to get you, clients. In return for this the platform which is the website, in this case, charges a percentage of the earning from you. This is the basic principle upon which all freelancing websites work upon. This business model has proven to be very beneficial for these service providing sites. Let us have a look at the most popular options:

1. Fiverr — Freelancers show their skills and finished products to the public on Fiverr. The service a person provides is known as a Gig. Potential clients can view the published/finished work products and see whether they are interested or not. It removes the need to contact workers one by one. Fiverr also offers courses to polish skills.
2. Upwork — Upwork provides you with collaborative space, a built-in invoice maker, and a transparent recruitment process. Many tech giants are also present on UpWork. If you are looking for flexibility then this is the place for you.
3. Toptal — Toptal is another platform that promises the best of the best for companies. It boasts the fact that only 3% of the top global freelancers can make it through their selection process. If you have what it takes you can surely be one of them.
4. Simply Hired — Simply hired allows you to look for freelance jobs in your nearby vicinity, It also has a cool fee estimation tool. This gives you a rough idea if you whether to go for the job or not.
5. PeoplePerHour — This is a very popular freelance website with over 1.5 million users. The main promotion for each worker is a rating for everyone. The competition can be daunting and you have to keep up with the pace.
6. Aquent — Winner of many awards a freelancing firm, the freelance website is well established and provides only the best workers for creative, digital, and marketing purposes. Generally, people with 2+ years of experience are preferred.
7. Crowded — This website has an AI-powered recruitment process that ranks freelancers per price, experience, and skill required. Workers also do not have to apply for each job. The algorithm does it all.
8. The Creative Group — This website makes it easy for freelancers to job hunt. You can simply upload a resume from LinkedIn and start the search for jobs. If any job sparks your interest, apply for it.
9. 99 Designs — This website is focused on designers. Book covers, logos, brand designs, etc. It also allows clients to start contests that everyone can participate in. Simply showcase your portfolio and improve your design skill and design sense.
10. Nexxt — This website categorizes jobs according to 4 criteria; career focus, local focus, diversity focus, and global focus. With these categories, you can find a job that aligns the most with your career and job.

The list is not limited to these websites. There are many more out there with various criteria. You can always look for a platform that suits the method you prefer. After all, it is playing with your own rules. Is not it?

Where to start?

The process might be looking daunting but it is not as difficult as it seems. Let us take you through all the steps for getting started:

1. Specify a Niche — Generally, at the start, you will be willing to take any work that comes your way. This is the right way to go initially. However, as you get experienced with good customer reviews and a portfolio to showcase your skill, you should narrow your spectrum to a specific niche. Doing work in many paradigms at the start also helps you identify your area of interest. Over time you can gain more and more experience and can specialize in a field. Once you become a specialist you can charge more for your services. If you put yourself in the shoes of the client would you rather choose a veteran to do your work or a jack of all trades?
2. Specify Your Offerings — At the very beginning of your journey, specify your dos and don ts. This specificity not only helps in better branding yourself but also allows controls clients regarding the work they give you building your portfolio in a direction you want it to grow in. Sometimes doing work you do not specialize in might be tempting and necessary sometimes but you should try to avoid it as much as possible.
3. Gather your Portfolio at One Place — As a freelancer, your portfolio is the most prized possession you have. It not only enhances your confidence but also makes you proud of the fact that you have achieved so much. It makes you remember all the hard work you put into building things from scratch. Make sure to gather your portfolio at one place. If you want to take things up a notch, you need to build a website for it. Additionally, if you are a graphic designer or an artist, you can create a Facebook page or an Instagram account to start with and gradually scale up. The main purpose of your portfolio is to educate and convince clients to offer you the job you are seeking. A stellar portfolio can help you out if you do not have a lot of job experience.
4. Do not Quit Your Job Right Away — Do not go immediately for self-employment before having a backup as the risk is very high. Start freelancing while you are already employed. Building a stellar portfolio and branding your content takes time and patience. Plus you also make mistakes at the start. Learning the process takes time and you should only quit your job if your side income reaches 50 -75% of your total income as risk tolerance measure.
5. Grow Your Skills — We are fortunate to be living in an era where skills are paid for more than degrees. You can only justify higher rates if you have better skills than others. With many online learning platforms, the possibilities are endless. Learn a new skill and build your portfolio.
6. Maintain Professionalism — Professionalism is highly valued in the world today. In addition to providing high-quality content, you should have the nerve the listen to your client’s arguments without breaking. You should always satisfy your client and do your level best to cater to their requirements. This helps build credibility over time.
7. Pricing — Your pricing plays a key role in determining your direction of freelancing and perceived value. You need to make sure that you charge enough to earn a comfortable living. Clients won’t hesitate to pay higher for a freelancer who gives an incredible first impression and delivers high-quality results. Initially, you might have to charge less to enthrall more clients but after steady growth, you should set the bare minimum to at least meet your financial needs with an increase in price over time according to your skillset.
8. Do not Underestimate Your Sales Pitch — It is all about making an impact and not letting the client move away from your profile once he is in your territory. Your sales pitch plays a key role in this. Perfect your proposals. Make a template that is respectful and shows how you fit the desired job rather than beating about the bush.
9. Use Existing Networks for Growth — Leverage your existing networks. Pitch to your friends, co-workers, etc. Make connections on professional platforms such as LinkedIn.

Conclusion:

Starting a career as a freelancer is just like starting your own business. We have presented to you all the details, pros, and cons of freelancing. It is all about temperament. If your current job suits you, there is no need to force yourself to go for freelancing. However if flexibility and full control are what you strive for, then freelancing is your go-to career.