Freelancing can be a great source of making money online but it can also be the most unstable of them all. Freelancing is one of the most easiest ways to make some extra cash which we all need. However, getting started with it is not easy.
Why is it difficult to get started with freelancing
There are actually quite a few reasons why freelancing can be difficult at the start. In most cases, the freelancers are not even sure what kind of work they want to do. So, the first step is to actually find the type of work that you want to do like content writing, web designing, software development, consultancy etc.
The second common cause is ‘where do I start’. I’ve been in the freelancing for almost two years now and I’ve made thousands of dollars online doing all types of gigs. After you have decided what kind of work you want to do as a freelancer, you need to find some gigs.
For that, you have to go through different job portals like freelancer.com, odesk, elance etc. There you can find all types of freelancing jobs that you can imagine.
How to get started with your first gig
When you’re at the beginning of your freelancing career, look for the easiest gig that you can find. Most probably, it will be a low paying gig, but you will gather confidence once you finish it. The complete opposite can happen when you go for a big gig at the first go. Most probably you will not get it, because of your lack of experience and even if you do, if you’re not able to finish it, then again it will shatter your confidence. So starting out with a small gig is always better.
When applying for a gig, keep in mind what the client is asking for and assess whether you are capable of doing that. In many cases, the client may ask you whether you have done some similar kind of work in the past. If you haven’t , but if you’re confident about it say YES.
It’s not possible to have experience on everything, but if you get a good opportunity say yes to it and learn to do it later. Freelancing has it’s own risks because the income is not always stable. So, you’re going to have to try out new things. You will get to learn so many new things as well which otherwise isn’t possible.
How to handle your clients
The most important tip is never let the client intimidate you. I have seen freelancers getting intimidated by clients especially in high paying gigs. Getting intimidated will result in errors in your work.
Make sure you report your progress to your clients. Freelancing gigs are mostly short term so, it’s a good practice to let your clients know where you are in your work.
If you know there’s going to be a delay in the project let your clients know beforehand. Don’t wait till the last minute. Also, make sure you let them know the problem that’s causing the delay. In most cases with freelancing, the clients are very impatient especially the high paying ones.
So make sure you keep these points in mind while starting your freelancing career.
