Actionable Guide: How To Start Online Freelancing as a Beginner

If you are thinking to start online freelancing as a beginner, then this article is for you, and seriously, you should see this to the end. 

No doubt, today, many people are trying to find that perfect work-life balance. If you reside in a very busy environment, you’ll agree that one soon gets tired of the daily routine of heading out. 

Unfortunately, this can be hard to find with so many jobs requiring you to be on call from anywhere from 8 to 12 hours a day. Freelance work is one way to maintain a work-life balance while still getting paid well. 

If you are searching for a way to earn money from the comfort of your own home, taking on freelance work is probably one of the options that have come to mind. 

In this article, we will be looking at how to make your first freelancing online successful and profitable, so you can start building up skills in this field. 

Analytic Breakdown

The freelance economy is estimated to grow to $2.7 trillion by 2025. And it’s no wonder why — freelancing offers the opportunity to be your own boss, set your own rates, and work from anywhere in the world. But with great opportunity comes great responsibility. 

If you want to be a successful freelancer, there are a few things you need to know first. In this blog, we show you everything we believe is necessary for you to start your journey into online freelancing.

What is Freelancing?

There are a lot of ways to get started with freelancing online. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but don't worry! We're here to help you get started on the right foot.

One of the best ways to get started is by finding a job board or marketplace that suits your skills and interests. Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr are all great places to start. Once you've found a few projects that you're interested in, it's time to start applying!

When applying for freelance work, be sure to put your best foot forward. Take the time to write a tailored cover letter for each job, and be sure to showcase your relevant skills and experience. If you land an interview, be prepared to sell yourself and why you're the best person for the job.

Once you've landed a few clients and projects, it's important to deliver quality work that meets or exceeds their expectations. This will help you build a strong reputation as a freelancer, and will make it easier to find more work in the future.

Who is a Freelancer?

A freelancer is someone who has the freedom to choose the best jobs for themselves, and the freedom to take on any kind of work they want. Whether you're looking to earn your first paycheck or just want to build up your freelance portfolio or start a career path, there are plenty of reasons why you might consider becoming a freelancer.

Freelancers have more flexibility than employees. They can work whenever they want, as long as they have access to technology, and have more control over their day-to-day lives.

Freelancers get paid per project, not per hour. This means that you only get paid for the amount of time it takes you to complete a specific task – no matter how long it takes! 

If you're working on an hourly basis and get stuck without enough work, then you could end up losing money if you don't find other clients soon enough.

The ability to choose from multiple clients at once is another great advantage of being a freelancer. You can negotiate rates with each one individually, which means that you can actually make a little bit more money than if you were just working for one company full-time.

Read These: How to Turn your Fiverr Business into a Profitable Empire

How to start online freelancing as a Beginner?

“A lot of people think it's a complicated process,” says Ashley, who works as a freelance writer for several companies. “But it's really not that hard.”

You see, as a beginner, it may seem like quite a lot, but that ends in the fact that it is simply new to you a beginner. 

Let’s start with the most straightforward part, here you go…

Step 1: Start with finding a market

As a beginner, you want to find a market that you're interested in and learn about it. 

For example, if you're interested in web design or web development, spend time learning about frameworks like Laravel or WordPress and how they work. 

Learn as much as you can, but also ask questions from other freelance developers, such that could help you understand the industry better.

Step 2. Look for opportunities to practice what you've learned

The next is another simple part, but very importantly, it is tempting if you don’t pay close attention. 

There are so many online courses or workshops where you can learn about your newfound interest.

Companies need great developers, so if your niche isn't being filled, look around at other companies who are hiring and see if they need help filling their position by researching the application process and asking questions on forums or Slack channels.

One strategy that may work you through in learning about your newfound market is starting your freelancing journey through an internship program.

Step 3: Choose a perfect niche or sub-niche and start researching.

Once you've decided on your skill set and what you want to write about, it's time to find clients. 

The best way to do this is by finding niches on sites like Upwork and Fiverr, where freelancers can offer their services to businesses looking for writers or editors. These sites are full of job ads that are specific to your area of expertise. 

For example, if you're interested in writing about travel, look up “travel content” on Upwork or Fiverr and see what jobs come up. You'll probably find plenty of opportunities right away!

There are also other websites where you can post your own work (like LinkedIn), but make sure you have an email address attached to your profile so potential employers can contact you directly if they're interested in hiring you. 

Also, consider posting links to articles on your blog or website in case someone wants to check out your writing before hiring.

Step 4: Get a portfolio and start freelancing

If you're looking for more opportunities in the freelance world, having an online portfolio will help identify what type of services you offer and attract potential clients who may have a need for those types of services or products 

The first step you want to take to becoming a freelancer is to build your portfolio of projects or a collection of completed assignments that you can show potential clients. 

This is the best way to show that you have skills and experience in what it takes to complete a specific project from start to finish.

You can create a simple website for yourself where you can post your projects, or you can use an existing website as well. 

Your portfolio should be made up of sample work samples that showcase your skills and abilities in terms of writing, design, and so on. In most cases, people will be looking at the content itself rather than how it was created so don’t worry too much about how they were created.

The Pros and Cons of Freelancing

There are a lot of things to consider before taking the plunge into freelancing. The Bitter Truth is that…It's not for everyone, and there are pros and cons to weigh before making the decision.

But to influence your decision, you must know a few things before you start.

The Pros

1. The ability to set your own hours, be your own boss and work from anywhere in the world.

2. You are in control of your own schedule. You work when you want, for as long or as little as you want

3. You can work from anywhere in the world, in your pyjamas. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection. This makes it possible to travel and work at the same time or to live in a less expensive area and work remotely.

4. There's also the potential to earn more money as a freelancer than you would in a traditional job.

The Cons

1. You are responsible for finding your own client and projects.

This can be tough if you don't have an existing client in your field. You may also find that clients are not always prompt in paying invoices, which can disrupt your cash flow.

2. Freelancing can be quite precarious, with little security or stability.

3. You might not have regular work coming in, and when work is available it might not be at the rate or for the duration that you want.

4. There's also the issue of loneliness and isolation that can come from working from home by yourself all day.

So those are some of the things to think about before taking the plunge into freelancing. It's not for everyone, but it can be a great way to work if it suits your lifestyle and you're prepared for the ups and downs.

6 Major Characteristics of a successful freelancer

Every freelancer is unique. A freelance developer may however hold a different success level but it doesn't mean that a virtual assistant isn't as successful. Most of the time, it does not necessarily depend on the number of clients, even though with multiple clients, you can actually be more successful.

There are other factors aside from growing a lot of clients for your freelance business.

However, becoming successful is not automatic, especially as a beginner. It requires a lot of work, but I have streamlined them into 5 major characteristics.

Ability to work Independently

Although I have seen a freelance programmer, freelance developer and a few other technical freelancers depending on the support of other platforms to get projects completed.

However, the ability to work independently is one of the most important skills a freelancer can be proud of. It's a skill that is required in all areas of freelancing, not just in marketing.

As a freelancer, you'll have to be able to work independently and on your own time. You may be asked to complete projects in a short period of time, which means that you'll need to be able to manage your own time effectively.

To succeed as a freelancer, you need patience and perseverance. These are two things that you'll need if you want to succeed as a freelance marketer.

They are Self-motivated to Work Hard & Smart!

To run a successful freelance business, you need to be self-motivated to work hard and smart.

The freelancer is motivated to do quality work and make sure they meet deadlines while being paid fairly for their efforts.

In other words, they are not lazy or unproductive. They are going for it and doing the best they can. They don't need a lot of money to get started, so they don't have to wait around for someone to give them an opportunity.

They are also not afraid of failure because it helps them learn and grow. The successful ones know that failure is part of the process and that you only fail if you don't try at all!

Great Attitude about working with Clients

A great attitude is a key to success and happiness. I have never seen a potential client manage the bad attitudes of an engaged freelancer, regardless of his expertise.

In life, we all have bad days and good days. But when you have a great attitude, you build a new client at every given opportunity.

It is a great feeling when you are in a good mood and working hard to achieve your goals. You will feel proud of yourself and your work.

What's the point of having this kind of attitude then? The answer is simple: it makes you happy!

If you want to be successful at what you do and make more money than others then you need to have an optimistic view of life and your career path.

Communication is a BIG plus!

Communication is one of the characteristics of a successful business or freelancer. Being able to communicate with people is a key to success.

It is not enough to have a good product, but also to have good communication with your clients and customers.

It is important to communicate with your team, with your clients or customers, and also with the software you are using.

You must be able to get your point across clearly and quickly so that it doesn't take longer than necessary to complete your task.

They are Creative and Innovative

Creativity is one of the most important aspects of any business or freelancer's success. It can be found in every aspect of a project, from the initial idea to the final delivery.

Creativity is not just about coming up with new ideas, but also about seeing them through from start to finish and making sure that your ideas meet your client's needs and expectations.

When you have a creative mindset, you are constantly on the lookout for new ways to solve problems and make things better. This mindset is often misunderstood by others because it means that you are willing to take risks in order to achieve your goals.

They are Flexible with Schedules

The majority of online entrepreneurs are the ones who are flexible with their schedules and can take on more projects at once.

They are able to manage their time, which is vital for any freelance project, and more importantly, they know when to further outsource the given project to other professionals within their network.

That's another level of being flexible with their skills

They also understand that there is a difference between being busy and having too much work. They don't let the two get mixed up in their heads and end up burning out from doing too much.

Freelancers who are not good at managing their time are at risk of working themselves into an early grave.

However, if they have a good system in place, they can still find time to do personal things like exercise, travel and spend time with family.

Common Ways to Find Clients Online

As a freelancer, one of the most important things you can do is build up a strong online presence. Not only will this help you attract potential clients, but it will also give you a platform to showcase your work and build up your reputation.

There are a number of ways you can find clients online, and the best approach will vary depending on your industry and niche. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Social media

Creating profiles on social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook can help you connect with potential clients and promote your services. Make sure to regularly post interesting content and engage with others in your field.

2. Blogging

Setting up a blog is a great way to show off your expertise and attract attention from potential clients. Write helpful articles related to your niche and make sure to include links back to your website or portfolio.

3. Freelance job boards

Signing up for job boards like Upwork, Freelancer, Guru or Fiverr can help you find new projects and clients. Be sure to create a strong profile that showcases your skills and experience.

4. Networking

Attend industry events or join relevant online communities to meet potential clients and make

Strategies for Every Step of the Job Search Process

As a freelancer, your job search process will be a little different than someone who is looking for a traditional, full-time job. However, there are still some tried-and-true strategies that can help you find the right gig for your skills and experience. 

Here are a few tips to get you started on your freelance career search:

1. Use online job boards

Many online job boards cater specifically to freelancers. Sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr list hundreds of new job postings every day. Be sure to create an account and complete your profile so that potential clients can learn more about your skills and experience.

2. Search social media

Social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter can also be great resources for finding jobs. Use keywords like “freelance writer” or “freelance graphic designer” to search for relevant job postings. You can also follow companies that you’re interested in working with and keep an eye on their job postings.

3. Check out job listing websites

Sites like Indeed and Monster list both traditional and freelance jobs. You can use the filters on these sites to narrow down your

Types of Freelance Work Online

1. Writing Jobs – Web content, blog post writing, ebook publishing, ghostwriting etc

2. Editing work – Proofreading, copywriting, copy editing, Transcription, Blogging

3. Technical Work – Developing, designing and coding websites and applications.

4. Online Marketing – SEO, email marketing, social media

5. Outsourcing Jobs – Transcription services, virtual assistants and photography gigs

6. Making Money in Fashion Business – Models, designers and copywriters

7. Audio Work – Voice-over artists and transcriptionists

8. Audio/Video

9. Creative Designs – Photography, Graphic Design, Digital art, Producing photo slideshow, etc

10. Web Design/Web Development

11. Online Research

12. Give a presentation

13. Teach music lessons

14. Online tutoring

Last Words!

So here is the deal, if you are looking for a new career or want to supplement your current income source, it’s time to get online and find something that will bring in some money.

Freelancing online is growing drastically and more individuals are jumping on this opportunity than before.

If you are looking at becoming a freelancer online, start now while you still have time to think about it. Don’t let yourself become afraid of all the things you may think you have to do when you start. Just get started and make some money!

So, over to you.

Which freelancing skill will you like to start if you must start today?