{"id":99328,"date":"2024-09-06T15:57:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T19:57:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/?p=99328"},"modified":"2025-04-02T19:49:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T23:49:53","slug":"how-to-become-a-freelancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/how-to-become-a-freelancer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become A Freelancer in 6 Easy Steps (While Keeping Your Job)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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If you’re looking to make more money on your own terms, now\u2019s the time. With hundreds of online businesses popping up daily, there\u2019s no shortage of people looking to pay for different skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

This guide will show you how to launch a successful freelance business, set your rates, and ultimately build a lifestyle that works for you. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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6 Steps to Start the Freelancing Journey<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Here are 6 simple steps you can take to start off as a freelancer:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. What do you want to offer?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The freelancing world is huge, and there\u2019s room for just about every skill\u2014from bookkeeping to crafting engaging content as a digital marketer or building apps as a developer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Some gigs will pay more than others, depending on the industry, location, and demand. But here\u2019s where you shine. Think about what you\u2019re truly passionate about and <\/span>how to turn that into a service<\/span><\/a> offering that feels 100% you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Tip:<\/b> High-demand fields like SEO, UX design, and app development often pay top rates, with some earning <\/span>$75 to $150 per hour<\/span><\/a>. If you have those skills, you\u2019re in a good spot!<\/span><\/p>

But here\u2019s the key: clients want solutions, not just someone to complete tasks. Look for the intersection between your skills and what problems your ideal clients have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Even better, make it your niche specialization! For example, if you work in marketing and have a knitting hobby, you might coach people with small knitting home businesses who would otherwise struggle to market themselves. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Build a portfolio<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you don’t have work to show, clients might be hesitant to hire you. You can do work for people you know to help you get a few testimonials and examples to share.<\/span><\/p>

But don\u2019t just list what you\u2019ve done\u2014focus on the impact of your work. Instead of saying, \u201cI wrote content for a tech company,\u201d use, \u201cI helped a SaaS company increase revenue by 50% with a targeted content strategy.\u201d That\u2019s the kind of result clients care about.<\/span><\/p>

Next, decide where you want to host your portfolio. You can set up a website, but it\u2019s much quicker to use existing platforms (especially if potential clients are already looking on those platforms).<\/span><\/p>

If you’re a designer, showcase your work on Behance or Dribbble. Developers can use GitHub to highlight coding projects. Writers can create a portfolio on Clippings.me or Medium, while marketers can use Clutch or The Manifest to show client reviews.<\/span><\/p>

Make sure to include links to actual work such as websites you’ve built, designs you’ve created, or writing samples. Your portfolio should feel like a snapshot of what it’s like to work with you.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. Define your pricing<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Figuring out how much to charge can feel tricky when you’re starting. At the very beginning, the important factor here isn\u2019t actually what you want to make, what others are charging or what clients are willing to pay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The amount you charge is the amount that you\u2019re \u201con the hook\u201d for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Overall, a good starting rate overall is $15-20\/hr if you have next to no experience. More, and you\u2019ll be expected to bring more to the table. Less, and you\u2019ll be undervalued. You can also consider doing free or low-priced work for testimonials and experience.<\/span><\/p>

If you do have prior experience but are new to freelancing, make sure to take that into account. In this case, your hourly rate from your working job is a good rule of thumb.<\/span><\/p>

I recommend hourly at first, then move onto project rates when you\u2019re more experienced and understand the value of what you can bring. Eventually, you can negotiate retainers to secure monthly rates. I have a video on more traditional salary negotiation (with word for word scripts) that will be helpful to reference:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. Land your first gig<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The simple principle to landing your first gig: find people or businesses who need what you\u2019re good at.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

LinkedIn is a great place to start\u2014you can connect with potential clients and personalize your outreach easily. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, Toptal, FlexJobs, PeoplePerHour, and Guru are great for landing your first gigs and building a portfolio, however they often have high competition and lower rates. You can build your rep there and work up to higher level gigs, but you can also use your experience as a stepping stone towards building your own online presence and client base.<\/span><\/p>

Your first project should closely match your work experience and capabilities, but here is what you need to remember when pitching your proposal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>