If you’re interested in starting freelancing without any experience, then you are in the right place. It can be very tempting to live the freelance life, where you have the freedom to work from any location, be your own boss, set your own hourly rate, and select the individuals you prefer to collaborate with.
I began freelancing roughly two years ago, despite my limited prior experience. Every freelancer has to start somewhere, and I now have a considerable number of clients. Rest assured, you are not alone, and getting started in freelancing as a beginner is entirely feasible!
What’s a freelancer?
A freelancer is someone who sells services instead of having a regular employer and can charge fees based on projects, monthly, daily, or hourly.
By utilizing this system, he is able to cater to multiple clients and also broaden his sources of income and work opportunities.
What are the main differences between remote work and freelancing?
Both remote work and freelancing can be conducted at a distance.
When you have a remote position, it generally means that you will be working for a single employer and have a specific set of tasks or hours to complete. Consequently, you will receive a consistent salary, alleviating the need for excessive concerns.
Freelancers have the freedom to work for multiple clients and can choose their own hours and workload according to their needs. They can work as much as they want or need, depending on the situation.
In addition, they are responsible for acquiring their own clientele to sell their services, resulting in an unpredictable income that resembles a rollercoaster ride.
Where to find freelance jobs online?
There are several methods available for finding freelancing gigs. You have the option to browse websites that provide listings of freelance jobs, participate in Facebook groups, or establish a reliable network of individuals who have confidence in your services.
Your previous clients have the potential to spread the word about your services to their acquaintances, and you can even provide a motivation for them to refer others.
Freelancing Tips
Start a Website
One of the simplest ways to begin freelancing without any experience is by developing a website for your offered services.
Even if you don’t have experience as a web designer, you can easily locate templates compatible with any web platform. All you need to do is adjust the colors to align with your branding.
I recommend Wix and Elementor as website platforms for beginners. Elementor is the more budget-friendly option. If you prefer more flexibility, exploring WordPress is worth considering.
When creating a website, it is important to ensure that you buy your own domain name, such as www.yourwebsite.com.
In terms of first impressions with clients, this appears more professional and additionally enables you to obtain a complimentary email address associated with your domain. Consequently, there will be no need to resort to services such as Gmail.
When developing your website, avoid including excessive information that may bore your clients. Instead, center your copywriting on your client, the offered services, and the assistance you can provide. Ensure the inclusion of essential pages such as the home, about, contact, and services page.
Look on Freelancing Websites
There are numerous freelancing websites available that are filled with potential clients seeking individuals to complete one-time (and sometimes continuous) projects for them. These projects can vary from proofreading and editing tasks to graphic design projects or writing blog articles for various websites.
Regardless of whether you possess prior experience or not, it is advisable to invest in yourself by undertaking relevant courses or certifications that will enhance your chances of employment. If your intention is to teach English, it is recommended to enroll in a TEFL program. Similarly, if your aim is to become a proofreader, opt for a course that provides extensive support and a guaranteed opportunity for work upon completion.
Some of the top freelancing websites suitable for beginners are FlexJobs, Upwork, and Fiverr, among several others. Personally, Upwork is my go-to platform, particularly when I am seeking new clients.
If you have the ability and the hustle, there is money to be made as a freelancer on Upwork. I have made more than $10,000 on the platform since I joined.
It is important to remember not to concentrate all your efforts exclusively on freelancing websites since these platforms deduct a percentage of your earnings, resulting in slightly lower income. Additionally, there might be a higher probability of encountering clients of lower quality on these sites.
Using these platforms, freelancing can be easily done by beginners, and I relied on them during the initial few months of my freelancing career.
Showcase Your Work
Showcasing your work is another effective way to inform others about what you do, ultimately helping you secure regular clients.
If you are interested in providing graphic design services, you can exhibit your work by utilizing designs that you have created during your college years or while working in your marketing role.
Although it is ideal to have your work on your own website, it is not necessary to have one in order to create a portfolio.
One possible rephrasing could be: It is possible to create a presentation using platforms like Canva to demonstrate your projects and their results. Afterwards, you can convert it into a PDF format and distribute it among those who are interested.
If you are a beginner, it is possible that you may not have anything to showcase at this point.
It is important to consider selecting projects for your portfolio that you genuinely desire to undertake when presenting your work.
If you had previously developed an app for a school project, it may not be suitable to include it in your portfolio when you aim to emphasize your freelance writing abilities. Otherwise, it might give the impression that you are also available for app design projects.
Offer Free Services
I am against performing free services when you are more established and it is crucial to recognize your value. However, there is nothing wrong with offering your services for free to certain individuals when you are just beginning.
Make sure to limit the number of individuals you will provide this service to, and ensure that you still establish a contract.
In conclusion, your client’s testimonial, which can be displayed on your website, should serve as the ultimate payment. Additionally, you should have the right to include the completed work in your portfolio, allowing visitors to your site to witness your capabilities.
It is crucial to emphasize that even for free services, having a contract in place is still advisable. This is highly significant as it provides protection for both parties involved in case the client exceeds the scope of the original offer.
It is important to be aware of scope creep and to ensure that you are not being exploited.
Even when offering free services, you might want to consider reducing the size of your packages in order to obtain valuable samples for your portfolio.
Network Within Your Circle
To begin freelancing with no experience, it is crucial to network effectively. One of the top tips for beginners in freelancing is to spread the word about your services in every possible way.
Utilize LinkedIn as a platform to connect with previous employers and colleagues. Notify them of your updated services and pricing, while also exploring the possibility of receiving referrals from their connections who may express interest.
Make sure to share on your personal Facebook page and inform your friends and family about the new services you are offering. Some family friends who were in need of graphic design services helped me gain a few of my initial clients through this method.
Utilize Social Media
If you are unsure about how to begin freelancing without any experience, consider using social media platforms as a powerful tool to showcase your services. It would be beneficial to contemplate who your target audience is and identify the platforms they are likely to be on, such as Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
If you are unsure of the places where your new business name would be present, you can utilize your most frequently used social media platforms and create accounts with your new business name associated with them.
When using Instagram, it is advisable to utilize Reels, create Guides, maintain a consistent posting schedule, and make sure to appear on Stories. The reasoning behind this is that you never know which individuals may stumble upon your account.
If you search in the right places, you will find that Facebook also has numerous potential clients. Ensure that you join Facebook groups that consist of the specific individuals you wish to collaborate with. For example, if your intention is to collaborate with travel bloggers, then it is advisable to join as many travel blogger groups on Facebook as possible.
After gaining acceptance into the groups, refrain from engaging in any form of self-promotion.
Instead, whenever someone asks a question in one of these groups that is related to your services, patiently wait for the opportunity to answer. I have obtained numerous clients using this method, which effectively highlights your knowledge, even in the absence of prior experience.
Leave a Reply