7 Amazing Freelance Tips for Beginners
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Starting out as a freelancer can be pretty overwhelming. I remember being both excited and scared when I quit the comfort of my 9-5 job in 2017.
While most will agree that freelancing is not one way or the highway, there are some freelance tips and tricks that can be helpful at the beginning of your journey.
Get ready to take some notes because, in this blog post, I share 7 freelance tips for beginners.
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
The Most Important Freelance Tips for Beginners
You're about to discover my useful list of tips; before we dive in, there are some things I want to talk about. These could be considered tips or even deal-breakers in the world of freelancing.
First, you should know that there will be challenges; some of your ideas may not work out, you may get overwhelmed, and you will probably be told at one point or another that what you are doing is too risky.
All of this is a part of the process, experiencing difficult times will allow you to build resiliency and grow, when things don't workout you will learn and it's okay if people tell you what you're doing is too risky, because guess what? You're the one doing it, not them.
Many times in my journey as a freelancer, I have doubted myself or felt the doubt of others, but I am beyond grateful that I stuck around, kept learning, and did the work. This journey looks different for so many.
Some people may choose to work full-time or part-time while they build their freelance business, and that's great. Others may have the resources and support to dive into this full-time. No two people have the same journey, so don't worry if your journey looks different, that's normal.
1. Finding Your Niche
Don't get me wrong, finding a niche is important, but some people overcomplicate this so much. Your niche should combine what you are passionate about with your expertise and something you see yourself doing long-term.
Here are three questions you can answer to help you find a niche.
What is a skill that I have a lot of experience in or a skill that I am willing to invest time in learning?
What am I passionate about?
What is a freelance career that I see myself doing on a long-term basis?
Having a niche will help you refine your messaging in your marketing, it helps you stand out and it helps you be hyper-focussed when you are working on building your skills and it make things easier in terms of continuing education.
Having a niche doesn't mean you can't be multi-passionate. The term "niching down" really does look different for everyone.
2. Use Freelancer Marketplaces
Next on our list of amazing freelance tips for beginners, we have marketplaces. Freelancer marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, and Contra are great places to start. You can easily build a portfolio, and you are automatically going where potential clients are searching for talent. In other words, they have the intent to purchase a service.
I know freelance marketplaces get much pushback, but hear me out. In most cases, you have the upper hand when it comes to pricing and budgets. On UpWork, you can actually filter searches by budgets, whether they are hourly or fixed-price.
On Fiverr, if you receive an inquiry and they are quoting you way lower than your rate, you don't have to accept the project. And with Contra, they curate amazing opportunities and also have opportunities posted directly on their platforms and you can see the budget.
These marketplaces are great for getting started and getting some experience and testimonials. You can even find long-term clients on marketplaces, as has been the case for me.
Today, freelance marketplaces are not where I get most of my clients, but I have profiles set up and know I can use them when needed.
3. Do A Lot Of Research
Do as much free research as possible. When you are just getting started, if you are not clear on the services you want to offer, or let's say you know what you want to offer but don't know how to package things, YouTube will be your best friend.
Platforms like YouTube and even TikTok offer countless tutorials and advice on the various aspects of freelancing. Learn about pricing, finding clients, client management, and any specific skills related to your niche. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better prepared you'll be.
What's also great about this is that doing research may inspire you to find a niche or offer a service that you weren't previously thinking about.
4. Network Online
Facebook groups have been amazing for networking for a long time. I used Facebook groups when I first started freelancing in 2017, and I am still active in various Facebook groups.
The key to networking in Facebook groups is doing so effectively. I dedicate a specific day each week where I will spend fifteen to thirty minutes browsing various groups and searching the groups for questions that are related to my industry.
Once I identify questions asked by various group members, I will provide a useful answer. I do this with no expectations other than being helpful and building on visibility. This results in regular inbound leads. While answering a specific question someone asks, you never know who's watching.
Spend time searching groups on Facebook related to your niche and you should be able to find relevant freelance groups. You can also find general freelance groups.
If you don't want to network in Facebook groups, you can network on social media and on so many other platforms. You have options!
5. Create a Routine
When you are going from working for someone else to working for yourself, things are going to change. Create a routine that you'll keep yourself accountable to.
Trust me, the freedom of owning your schedule is exciting, but if you don't create a routine for yourself, you could potentially easily get distracted. The last thing we want as freelancers is to quit our nine-to-five to start working long hours with an inconsistent schedule.
I won't lie to you and say I've never done it; it was definitely a balancing act at the beginning, but setting a routine really helped me work better hours and increase my productivity.
Here's a glimpse of what my day looks like:
Morning walk or workout, shower, and get ready for the day.
Answer emails and check on client accounts.
Work on client content for social media & Pinterest
My own sales activities
Lunch
Work on client blogs
1:1 Content mentorship calls
Work on reporting
The time is flexible and will depend on how many meetings I may have on any given day. I'll set that list up in Notion and assign whatever time is needed and check things off as they are done.
While your new normal includes a lot of flexibility, it can be so easy to get distracted. It may sound odd, but the more structure you create for yourself and the better you get at managing your own time, the more free time you will actually have.
6. Don't Forget to Market Yourself
Marketing yourself as a freelancer is going to look different depending on the type of services you are providing. I am an introvert at heart, so creating evergreen content in the form of blogs and YouTube videos has always been really helpful for me.
I share them on Pinterest and generate steady email list growth and traffic to my various offers. If you are an extrovert, you may enjoy going live on social media on a regular basis.
The beauty of freelancing these days is that we have so many tools available to us, and so many options to market our products and services. Do research, find what works for you and pivot as needed.
7. Freelance Career Ideas For Beginners
Aside from freelancer tips and tricks, I wanted to make sure that you walk away with some freelance career ideas that you can pursue either part-time or full-time.
These freelance jobs or career ideas are always in demand, and you may just find what you're looking for.
Social Media or Content Management (This keeps me busy)
Virtual Assistant
Customer Success Managers
Email Marketing Manager
Blog Writing (I know this first hand as it's a service that keeps me fully booked.)
Pinterest Strategy & Management (Another service that keeps me booked.)
Short-Term Rental Suppor Representative
Creating & Monetizing a YouTube channel or podcast.
Creating and selling digital products.
UGC Creator (User-generated content)
Podcast & YouTube editing or channel management
AI Assistant or testing
Dog walking or Dog sitting
There are so many options available; it's about finding what aligns with you, your goals, the lifestyle you want, etc.
Looking to get more freelance clients as a Content or Pinterest Manager? Watch this video!
Starting a freelance career can be overwhelming, but with these freelance tips for beginners, you can set yourself up for success. Remember to find your niche, use freelancer marketplaces, do research, network, and set proper expectations.
Stay organized, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the journey.
Thanks for reading, and see you next time!