Changes in how we work are among the things we learn from the Covid-19 outbreak. Many people lost their jobs and had no choice but to seek new opportunities working remotely. All these resulted in what we have today as freelancing.
The number of freelancers has increased significantly in the last couple of years. And it is expected the trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
You may have heard or seen people making money online but don’t know how they do it. You see people doing well financially, but they don’t leave their homes or resume in any physical office. They might be into freelancing.
Freelancing provides a flexible and lucrative work style. It allows you to be your own boss. You determine and dictate the time and pace at which you work.
Now, let’s look at the different ways to earn money online as a freelancer and all you need to get started and succeed.
Who is a Freelancer?
A freelancer is a self-employed person who works for companies or individuals on a contract basis. (S)He is not a member of the staff of any company or organization. Instead, (s)he works independently and takes on projects with different companies or clients.
As a freelancer, you get to set your pay rates. Unlike traditional pay jobs, there’s no limit to how much money you can make monthly.
What Skills Do You Need To Start As a Freelancer?
Companies or clients look for individuals with various digital skills to hire as a freelancer. Some skills they seek include content writing (articles, blogs, product descriptions, etc.), graphic design, copywriting, web development, programming, software development, and so on. You can start freelancing if you’re good at any of these.
The best freelance job to take is the one you’re skilled at and enjoy doing. Don’t go for something you’re not good at because of the money. You may regret it in the long run. You should choose a niche that complements your skills.
How to Earn Money Online As a Freelancer
Freelancing is like running any other business. To succeed, you have to do it right. Many people are offering digital skills as freelancers. You can’t escape fierce competition regardless of the niche you choose.
You need to know how and where to find the right clients. Below is a guide on how to earn money online freelancing.
1. Choose the Right Niche
Due to the flexibility of freelancing, many freelancers think they can be the jack of all trades. This is the wrong approach to being a freelancer.
It would be best if you specialized in a niche that matches your skills. You can’t put your hand into many things at the same and expect to make good money.
You need to find a niche you are passionate about and perfect your skills. Focus on becoming an expert in that niche once you’ve mastered the niche and gotten enough experience. You won’t be the one running after clients. They’ll be running after you with their projects.
Don’t let money be the source of your motivation. It’ll come in abundance after you’ve mastered your skills. If you don’t have any digital skills at the moment, it’s never too late. You can learn a skill in any of your favorite niches.
2. Narrow down Your Niche
After you’ve identified your favorite niche, the next step is to narrow down the services you’ll offer. Make a list of all the services under your niche and select the one you’re comfortable offering. Ensure the service is in high demand and you can meet clients’ needs.
For example, if you’re a writer, you can provide services like copywriting, content writing (articles and blog content), product description, etc.
3. Define Your Customer Persona
A customer persona is simply a fictional representation of your target client. Before you start meeting clients and applying for jobs, you need to develop your customer persona. It’ll help you have a clear picture of your potential clients.
It involves knowing the demographic, location, interests, needs, profession, age, gender, etc. of your potential clients. All these will help you determine if you’d be able to take long-term contracts or otherwise.
Defining your customer persona helps you identify brands or clients whose values align with yours.
4. Create and Develop Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is one of the essential things you need before setting out as a freelancer. It’s the best way to showcase your skills to prospective clients. Your portfolio is like your front desk, it’s what people will see even before meeting you.
As you know in business, first impression matters. A portfolio makes things easy for you and gets clients to take you seriously. It helps you showcase your expertise, highlights relevant past experiences, and includes contact details for easy communication.
The best way to develop your portfolio is to have a website. But if you can’t afford it, you can make do with the profile section of your account on various freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, etc.
5. Pitch Client and Determine Your Pricing
If you want to stand out from the crowd and always get the job, you need to pitch your client. It gives prospects a good idea of your skillset and expertise. It enables you to tell your client what you can do for them. Ensure your pitch is concise, interesting, and straight to the point.
Also, it would be best if you determine the pricing for your services.
How much you charge determines your perceived value.
It should neither be too low nor too high. But something reasonable enough for a decent living.
Earning money online as a freelancer is not as difficult as most people think. With the right skills and experience, you can make money through different means.
Ensure always to meet up deadlines and deliver quality work to your clients. The quality of your work determines how far you go as a freelancer.
