Perhaps, you are among the thousands considering freelancing as a career. There are tons of information from self-acclaimed gurus of freelancing. They will come in all colors, and the sad reality is that many are wolfs in sheepskin. They will sell you courses on how you can make thousands within a week or month.
I am not nullifying that making huge amounts of money in the first weeks of your freelancing work is possible. However, be careful about the type of information you receive about succeeding as a freelancer.
Many people who have succeeded in freelancing will tell you that it takes time to have a consistent workflow guaranteeing thousands of dollars each week. So, be careful before you purchase any freelancing course that promises you more than is common among many freelancers.
In this article, I would like to share my own experience. I have worked as a freelancer for more than 7 years now. What I share is what I have found to be the real game changers in anyone’s freelance career.
You can succeed in the long run if you follow these basic tenets. You need to remain consistent and always be open to learning.
Can I Make A Living From Freelancing?
The simple answer is yes. Thousands, if not millions, of people across the world have made thousands of dollars from freelancing. You just need to focus on mastering your skills, searching for clients, get gigs at the right compensation, and deliver quality work.
The more you get your clients satisfied, the more you will gain work and clients. When clients trust you on delivering quality, they will always be thinking about you whenever they need a similar service. So, focus on creating a positive reputation by delivering quality work, charging reasonable rates, and communicating respectfully and professionally.
Making money online does not require any magic, and trust me, you do not need to purchase a course. These guidelines will make you stand out and continue to progress well. You just have to have three things: skills, resilience in searching gigs and clients, and deliver quality.
The rest will fall into place if these things are aligned.
Freelancing offers thousands, if not millions, of opportunities daily. As I have told you earlier, I have done it for seven years at the time of writing this article, and I am still doing it.
Seven years. No day job. Just moving ahead, gig after gig.
So, it is possible to make a living from freelancing. Let no one lie to you, it’s not an easy-money, get-rich-quick venture.
It requires hard work, consistency, and unceasing learning. You need to always improve and master your skills. Exhibit yourself as a professional in the niche you are focusing on.
Master your craft and deliver quality. There is no middle ground. Deliver work that aligns with the guarantees you give to your client. Always be on top of your game and meet every expectation. With dedication, you can make a living and earn thousands of dollars each day.
Here are sure-fire strategies to help you make money as a freelancer:
Choose a Niche
Specializing in a specific area and putting more effort into branding yourself as an expert will pay off in the long term. Always focus on an area that aligns with your skills. When you focus on a niche, you will always stand out and gain more reputation from clients who want services in the specific niche. Avoid generalization when choosing a niche to work on.
Be Clear on Service Offerings
Decide early on in your freelancing career about the services you want to offer.
For example, there are many types of writing that companies want. You can become a newsletter writer, press release writer, blog article writer, and landing page expert.
If you are a graphic designer, you can focus on logo designing, book covers, pamphlets, and brochures, among others. Whatever your skills are, be specific on the type of service you want to offer. This will make it easier to master the skill. You will always stand out from the crowd.
With a focused service offering, you will build a professional portfolio that will allow you to advance in the future. It will help you brand yourself and control how prospective clients perceive you.
Define Your Clients
This is very important when you are starting. Do not accept gigs from all clients who reach out to you. Do not pitch for anything and everything.
By identifying your ideal freelance clients, you can advance your career on your chosen niche and target. For example, you can target small businesses, start-ups, technology firms, or copywrite for small brands.
If you are a graphic designer, you can offer your services to small businesses and start-ups. This will always give you an upper hand whenever a start-up is looking for a graphic designer because you can easily know their expectations.
Have a Portfolio Site
Many freelancers ignore this, but it is very important. Have a website outlining your skills, experience, previous work, and objectives. You will advance faster with clearly stated goals for your career.
Always update your website and showcase your previous work. You can also update about your work with articles on platforms like HubPages.
Start Freelancing Before Quitting Your 8-5 Job
Throughout my years, I have received questions from many people who want to quit and start freelancing.
My usual and consistent answer is don’t quit before starting.
When I was starting, it took me about a year before I started to get consistent and predictable income. You start freelancing long before you decide to quit your job. Sacrifice an hour or two each day to look for clients and work on projects you get. Over time, you will decide whether this is something you can do. By the time you quit, ensure that you have a good pool of clients to guarantee consistent income.
Above all else, freelancing is good. It gives you the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. I can travel for holidays and still find time to respond to my clients. I can visit the countryside and still get time to complete gigs if internet connection is available. So, it’s a viable career choice that can earn you better wages than a normal job.