10 steps on how to become a freelancer for beginners – Becoming a freelancer is a great way to make money on your own terms, but it’s not as easy as just deciding to go out and do it one day. Before diving right into self-employment, you need to be prepared and have the right mindset.
In this post, we’ll lay out everything you need to know if you want to become a freelancer for beginners (and beyond!).
10 steps on how to become a freelancer for beginners
Choose a skill to monetize.
Choosing the right skill to monetize is one of the most important parts of becoming a freelancer. It’s also one of the hardest things for beginners since there are so many different skills, and you don’t want to waste time learning something that won’t make money.
Here are some tips on how to choose a skill:
- Choose something that you’re good at. No one will hire you if you’re not good at what you do! So it’s best if you can identify with these two statements: “I’m really good at this!” and “People pay me for doing this!” This way, when people ask why they should hire you instead of someone else who has similar qualifications (i.e., experience), there will be an answer more convincing than just “because I’m better than them.”
- Think about what kinds of jobs need doing but aren’t being done by anyone else yet — or not as much as they could be if given a chance! Different industries have different needs depending on their stage in the life cycle; so sometimes it might make sense for someone with marketing skills but no formal education background like myself who didn’t finish college until later life after having children already established themselves outside industry before going back again…
Create an online portfolio.
The first step how to become a freelancer for beginners is to create an online portfolio. You should have one for every service you offer, but if you’re just starting out and need help with this, some basics apply:
- Your portfolio should be easy to navigate. People will want to browse through your work quickly to see what you can do before contacting you. Make sure it’s well-designed and looks professional—no one wants their first impression of your business to be cluttered or amateurish!
- Your work needs to be in the portfolio (work samples). Be sure that each sample represents a different skill set; this way, people know what types of projects they could hire you for. They also need proof that you completed these projects! Suppose someone is going off their gut instinct alone. In that case, they might end up picking someone who isn’t right for them in terms of skillset even though they may seem like a “good fit” on paper via social media information alone (because let me tell ya — connecting dots based solely upon numbers doesn’t always tell the whole story). And don’t forget about contact info such as phone number(s), email address(es) etc., so everyone knows how best how to reach out when ready – make sure whatever method works best for potential customers will still allow both parties involved access regardless of whether services needed/provided regularly or sporadically throughout the year-long period.”
Create a website or blog.
You should have a website or blog where you can list your services. This is how clients will find you, so it’s important to have one that looks professional and gives them confidence in your abilities.
You can use any number of different tools to set up your own website or blog:
- Blogger (free)
- Squarespace ($12-$18/month)
- WordPress (free with paid upgrades available)
The key thing to remember here is that it doesn’t matter which tool you choose—it is important that tools are available for everyone, no matter their skill level or budget!
Develop useful skills on the side.
- Develop useful skills on the side.
- If you’re working a full-time job, it can be hard to work on your freelancing skills on the side. But working at a 9-to-5 and building your business is critical for success in this field. If you have time to spare, develop some necessary skills to make you more valuable as a freelancer. These could include:
- Learning how to code so you can create websites or apps
- Learning how to drive traffic and run an email marketing campaign
- Taking courses related to writing and editing that will help in content creation
Start networking with other freelancers.
You should start networking with other freelancers. Networking is a great way to find work, especially if you’re just starting out.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be done in person, though that may be helpful for some people. You can also go online and join groups focused on your industry or interests related to freelancing. There are plenty of online forums where you can connect with other freelancers and ask questions about taxes and marketing yourself as a professional.
Understand the legal requirements of freelancing.
- Understand the legal requirements of freelancing.
- Register as a freelancer.
- Obtain a business license and tax ID number (if you are based in the US).
- Choose a business structure, such as a sole proprietorship or corporation (if you are based in the US).
Consider joining a freelance network.
A freelance network is an online platform where you can find work, get help with marketing and other business-related issues, and even connect with mentors.
- You can search for jobs on a freelancer network. These are usually paid jobs that require specific skills or knowledge in a certain industry. Some freelance networks charge a fee to post your profile and apply for job listings, but there are also some free ones out there as well. If you have trouble finding work on your own through the latter option, consider paying the small fee to join one of these sites so that you can have more options available to you—and be able to reach out directly to clients interested in your services (if applicable).
- Freelance networks also offer virtual mentorship programs for newbies like yourself who want advice from experienced professionals within their chosen fields of expertise. It’s not just about getting help; it’s also about networking with other freelancers who may become colleagues or friends in the future!
Take care of your financials from the start.
The first step how to become a freelancer for beginners is to take care of your financials. This is essential because it will allow you to track your income and expenses and create a strong foundation for your business. You need to ensure that you have an accounting system that enables you to manage your finances as a freelancer effectively.
It’s also important that this system allows for easy bookkeeping and keeps all information up-to-date so that it can be accessed anytime when needed. You should not ignore issues such as tax returns or retirement plans, as these are just some examples of the steps needed to set up a good accounting system.
Join a geniuses group or mastermind group for creative entrepreneurs.
A mastermind group is a group of like-minded individuals who meet virtually in person to discuss business challenges. They help each other grow their businesses, overcome obstacles and stay motivated.
There are many reasons why you should join a mastermind group, including:
- You can learn from others’ experiences.
- You will be exposed to new ideas and strategies that you would not have thought of on your own.
- You will get feedback on how well your business performs (and what needs improvement).
- A mastermind group provides accountability—no one wants to be the only person not showing up for meetings!
Manage your time wisely.
Managing your time wisely is one of the most important things to do when you become a freelancer to make more money. Working from home means that you have complete freedom over when and where you work, but this also means that it’s easy to get distracted or procrastinate if you don’t know exactly what needs to be done.
There are many ways that you can manage your time more effectively:
- Plan your day in advance by writing down a schedule with specific tasks or projects for each hour of the day. Each hour should be filled with something productive (such as answering emails) rather than non-productive (such as surfing Facebook).
- Set goals for yourself at least once per week, so there’s always something motivating and attainable ahead of time to focus on and work towards achieving. Having concrete goals will help keep you motivated throughout the week! Be sure not just say, “I want more money”, because then all those goals will just seem like empty words floating around in space…
If you want to become a freelancer, taking these steps seriously is important to save yourself any unnecessary headaches later down the road and be successful at whatever you do!
- Take time to research what your expertise is.
- Choose one specific field of expertise instead of trying to be an expert in everything.
- Start building your portfolio.
- Get some experience under your belt before starting out on your own as a freelancer.
There you have it: 10 steps on how to become a freelancer for beginners. We hope this helped you start your journey and wish you the best of luck!