The world of freelancing is growing with every passing day. There are more job opportunities for people who have a passion for working independently and can use their skills, knowledge, or experience as independent operators. If you’re thinking about shifting from your regular day job to freelancing, here’s some good news for you – it’s not as difficult as you think. In fact, it’s much simpler than the giant leap you might be imagining in your head right now.
Building a successful freelance business isn’t rocket science either. You just need to know the tricks of the trade so that your business runs smoothly without any hiccups along the way.
What Jobs Can You Do Freelance?
Most of us have skills that can be used for freelance jobs. Usually, professionals from different industries and backgrounds can easily find work. Freelancers can work on online or offline projects for clients. They can write blogs, e-books, reports, articles, create content for websites, design logos, create artwork, and edit photos. They can record podcasts, shoot and edit videos, do SEO and social media, manage social media accounts, build WordPress websites, translate content, and more. The list goes on.
If you have a skill that can be used for a freelance job, there’s a massive opportunity waiting for you. You can make significant money by choosing the right niche and finding clients. You can start with the skills that you already have and then learn new skills as you go.
How To Get Your Freelancer Career Started
There are 3 main ways to find your first freelance job; networking, marketing, and referrals.
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Networking
There are many online and offline communities where you can meet fellow freelancers, mentors, and potential clients. You can also attend networking events in your city. You can also create a personalized website or online portfolio highlighting your skills and experience. It’s the first thing clients will see when looking for a freelancer.
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Marketing
You will need to do some marketing to find freelance jobs. You can create an online marketing campaign where you promote yourself as a freelance writer, graphic designer, or social media manager. Or you can create a website or blog and publish articles about your skills and how you can help clients. Use social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to market yourself as a freelancer.
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Referrals
You can start by asking your friends, family, and colleagues if they need any help. If they do, you can offer to help them for free and ask them to pay you a particular percentage. You can also approach companies you like and offer to help them with their digital marketing.
Surviving Life As A Freelancer
Freelancers usually work alone, so you won’t have a team to help you with projects. You have to manage your time, find new clients, complete tasks, and build your online presence all by yourself. It’s a challenge, but it can also be really rewarding. You get to choose the projects you want to work on, you can set your own hours, and you can work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. Make sure you look after yourself and your business too. Doing regular business maintenance keeps everything ticking by as it should.
How Do I Take My Freelance Business To The Next Level?
New freelancers often find it difficult to establish their business because of limited experience, no professional network, and no contacts. Hence, they struggle to find their first few clients. Unless you have prior experience in your freelance niche or a friend who will introduce you to potential clients, it’s challenging to switch to freelance work. But with the right approach and techniques, you can grow your business beyond just a side gig.
1. Build A Professional Network
Networking is crucial for freelancers. You can meet potential clients, get feedback, get advice, and learn new skills by building a professional network. It’s also a great way to find a mentor who can help you with your business. Make sure you attend events in your area where you can meet like-minded people. Start a group on Facebook or join an online forum where you can meet and discuss business-related topics with fellow freelancers.
You can also use social media to network with people in your industry. Follow influencers, publishers, and companies in your niche on social media. Use LinkedIn to create a profile and connect with professionals from your industry.
2. Write Guest Blogging Content
If your main niche doesn’t have enough work, you can try writing guest blog posts for websites in your niche. You can use tools like Long Tail Pro, SEMrush, or BuzzSumo to find websites in your niche that accept guest posts. Once you’ve written an article and published it on a website, you can send traffic from that website to your own website. You can also use guest blogging to build relationships with other website owners. Offer to write an article for them for free and ask them to give you a backlink to your website.
Taking on multiple forms of freelance work means keeping on top of paperwork like taxes and registrations. And if you start earning the big bucks, you might need to become a company. Company formation online from £12.99 is easy to find, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to set up.
3. Utilize Social Media To Find Clients
Creating a social media account is the first step toward growing your audience. You can create a LinkedIn profile, join Facebook groups, follow influencers and publishers on Instagram, follow thought leaders on Twitter and join groups on Reddit. You can also start a YouTube channel and upload videos related to your freelance niche. Using social media to find clients can be challenging, but you can also make substantial money if you offer the right services.
4. Use Video Marketing To Grow Your Audience And Brand
Videos are a great marketing tool for your freelance business. You can create videos about your industry, your services, and other topics related to your business. You can also do tutorials, product reviews, unboxings, and try out challenges. Upload these videos on your YouTube channel, and use them on your website or social media accounts. Create video ads and run video marketing campaigns to promote your services and website. Try partnering with other YouTubers and creating collaborative videos. Or create a video blog where you talk about topics related to your business.
5. Leverage PR To Grow Your Freelance Business
PR is a great way to get more exposure, links to your website, and get featured in top publications. You can reach out to journalists and offer to write an article related to your niche. Collaborate with other PR professionals to create an impact. Or find PR opportunities in your industry using a PR search engine like PressReleaseHub. You can also join PR groups on LinkedIn to network with other PR professionals.
© Copyright 2022 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
