How To Start As A Freelancer: 6 Steps To Getting Started

Starting your own freelancing business can seem daunting, but it’s not as hard as it looks! In fact, there are so many ways to get started that it can be hard to know where to start in the first place. In this guide, you’ll learn how to start as a freelancer by creating 6 steps that will help you identify your target market, choose the right services or products to provide, and get your first customers.

Step 1) Figure Out What You Want

Whether you want to make a living as a freelancer or just add it on top of your job, it’s important to figure out whether you’re in it for passion or money. There are many things that drive people towards freelance work that have nothing to do with making money. Passion projects, self-discovery, learning, and travel are all valid reasons for becoming a freelancer. Unfortunately, most of these motivations don’t pay off. Instead, look at what drives your desire to become a freelancer and use that motivation instead. 

Are you in it for love? That’s fine! But be realistic about how much love you can actually get paid for. Are you in it because you need a break from your current job? That’s also fine, but realize that working full-time as a freelancer is likely going to be more stressful than working full-time at an office job. The more realistic you are about why you’re becoming a freelancer, the better prepared you’ll be when things inevitably go wrong.

Step 2) Set Reasonable Goals

The biggest mistake you can make as a freelance worker is setting unrealistic expectations for yourself. For example, if you’re new to freelancing but have previous experience in another field, it might be a good idea to start by applying for one-off projects related to your experience. 

Once that becomes easier and requires less energy or time on your part, move onto applying for more challenging or competitive projects related to what you enjoy doing most. Regardless of how ambitious your long-term goals are, start with baby steps so that success feels inevitable and easy to attain. You don’t want to burn out before you even get started.

Step 3) Choose Your Niche

With so many different types of freelance work out there, it’s important to figure out what type of work you want to focus on. Some fields are more specific (search engine optimization, 3D modeling) while others require you to be well-versed in multiple areas (web development, graphic design). It doesn’t really matter what you choose as long as you stick with it and get really good at it. The more skilled your niche is, the easier it will be for you to attract clients later on in your career. 

Now that you have a general idea of what you want to do, it’s time to find some clients. There are tons of great ways to find them but here are a few ideas: They’re All Great Ways Of Finding Clients. But Which One Should You Use? I would recommend using all five but only after trying each one individually and seeing which one works best for you. However, I would recommend starting with either freelancer directories or job boards because they’re quick, easy, and painless ways to get started. 

Step 4) Build a Portfolio Site

If you want to get start as a freelancer, then it’s important that potential clients know what you can do for them and how much you charge for your work. A portfolio site is an essential tool to showcase your skills and get people looking at your work before they decide whether or not to hire you. You may be able to rely on word of mouth and referrals from previous clients, but many potential clients will turn first to Google when searching for candidates. 

It’s crucial that your site is easy to find on Google and ranks highly among competitors. There are several great platforms which can help build a strong portfolio website quickly; among our favorites are Squarespace and Weebly. Once you have a solid portfolio site, make sure to include contact information so that interested parties can reach out to you directly.

Step 5) Get Some Clients

Even if you have been in business for years and know everything there is to know about your clients, it’s still a good idea to reach out directly. You never know where or when you will find potential new clients or what kind of project they might have for you. You might get some work through colleagues, but it’s important to make sure everyone knows you are available and looking for projects. If that means cold-calling prospects or reaching out through LinkedIn, then so be it. 

Make yourself as easy to connect with as possible so you don’t miss opportunities. For example, put your information on business cards and include a link on your website that allows users to quickly contact you. In addition, set up a profile on at least one freelancing site like Upwork. It may take time before you start as a freelancer getting requests from these sites, but once you do, it’ll be easier to manage them all in one place.

Step 6) Learn From Mistakes

The absolute worst way to learn how to become a freelancer is by making rookie mistakes. The easiest way to prevent that? Read and research as much as you can about running your own freelance business. There are so many online resources for new freelancers to take advantage of them! Websites like Problogger, Copyblogger, and Smashing Magazine offer comprehensive guides on everything from writing content to designing tips and tricks. 

These websites also have forums where you can ask questions and get advice from other freelance writers. You should also join a community like LinkedIn or Reddit where people in similar fields discuss issues they face in their jobs every day. And don’t forget to attend events hosted by local organizations; they’re great opportunities to network with other professionals in your field (and hopefully make some friends who could become clients).