How To Start Freelancing

I remember when I first decided to ditch the 9-to-5 grind and dive into the freelance world. Man, was I clueless! I thought I’d be rolling in dough and sipping margaritas on the beach within a month. Spoiler alert: that didn’t happen.

My first attempt at freelancing was a total disaster. I didn’t have a clue about where to find clients, how to price my services, or even what services I should offer. I spent weeks polishing my portfolio (which, looking back, was pretty cringe-worthy) and then… crickets. No one was knocking down my virtual door.

But here’s the thing – failure is the best teacher. After licking my wounds, I decided to get serious about this freelancing gig.

First things first, I had to figure out what I was good at. Like, really good at. Not just “oh, I can do this” good, but “I’m gonna slay this” good. For me, it was content writing. Maybe for you it’s graphic design, web development, or heck, even pet psychic readings (hey, no judgment here).

Once I nailed down my niche, I started looking for freelance platforms. Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com – I tried ’em all. Word to the wise: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Some platforms work better for certain niches than others.

Now, here’s where I made another rookie mistake. I started bidding on every job I saw, even ones I wasn’t qualified for. Talk about a waste of time! Lesson learned: be selective. Quality over quantity, folks.

Pricing was another headache. I started too low, thinking I’d get more clients. Instead, I just got overworked and underpaid. Don’t sell yourself short! Research industry rates and don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth.

One thing that really helped me was creating a killer portfolio. And I don’t mean just slapping together some samples. I’m talking about showcasing your best work, tailoring it to your target clients, and making it easy to navigate. Trust me, a good portfolio is worth its weight in gold.

Oh, and networking? Yeah, I used to think that was just for suits in boardrooms. Boy, was I wrong. Joining online communities, attending virtual events, and even reaching out to other freelancers in my niche opened up a whole new world of opportunities.

Now, let’s talk about the not-so-fun stuff: taxes and contracts. Ugh, I know. But ignore these at your peril. I learned the hard way that keeping track of income and expenses is crucial. And contracts? They’re not just fancy paperwork. They protect you and your clients. Get comfortable with them. Tmetric or Clockify are great free apps to use.

One last piece of advice: don’t expect overnight success. Building a freelance career takes time, patience, and a whole lot of perseverance. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel and go back to my soul-crushing office job. But I stuck with it, and now? I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Starting your freelance journey can be scary, exciting, and overwhelming all at once. But with the right mindset, skills, and a bit of hustle, you can make it work. Just remember, every successful freelancer started exactly where you are now. So take that first step, learn from your mistakes, and keep pushing forward. You’ve got this!