How To Become A Freelancer In 3 Steps

There has never been a better time to make money as a freelancer. No matter what your area of expertise, you can find some work online as a freelancer. Whether you plan to do this for extra money as a college student while you track UCAS or plan to do this full time, there is a lot of opportunity.
 
Some people get into freelancing because they hate their desk job and want more freedom. Others are out of work and their prospects don’t look good. Whatever the reason for starting, when it is done right, freelancing can be very rewarding.
 
In this article, I will go over several ways to make sure that you end up successful as a freelancer.
 
1 - Pick a job
 
When most people think of freelancers, they think of writers. Since the internet is website based, there is more of a need for people to fill those sites with content. This may be the most obvious way to break out of your 9 to 5 and start freelancing.
 
You don’t have to have a degree in journalism to be a freelance copywriter, but you do have to understand some of the basics of it. It’s easy to make lots of mistakes as a copywriter, but with time you can end up being a pro at it.
 
There are many other ways to make money as a freelancer. Video editing is becoming an important skill as more businesses and individuals are turning to Youtube and Tik Tok as a branding tool.
 
Then there is graphic design, web development and programming. The possibilities are truly endless.
 
2 - Find your niche
 
Once you have your job figured out, you need to concentrate your focus even further. If you are a copywriter, then dedicate yourself to a particular type. For example, if you have a background in finance, then be the best finance copywriter you can be.
 
If you are a programmer then narrow down your scope and find a niche to dominate. For example, if you love video games, then focus on being a programmer who works in that area.
 
Don’t be too narrow in your focus though or there may not be enough demand.
 
3 - Find clients
 
This is going to be the hardest part of your journey as a freelancer. You’ll have to scour jobs boards and sites like Upwork where you’re likely to be severely underpaid while you make a name for yourself.
 
Cast a wide net and let everybody you know that you are freelancing and to spread the word. You won’t get many clients this way at first, but eventually word of mouth can help.
 
If you have a budget, you can also use Google Adwords and Facebook Ads to find people looking for freelancers in your field. If you don’t have the money to burn on that then join as many groups and forums in your area of expertise as possible and be very active.