How to Start Freelancing in 2023 (Step-by-Step Guide)

“Freelancing is like an ocean, if you go deep, you will find hundreds and thousands of opportunities to make your life better and comfortable”

Freelancing is like self-employment. You work independently and sell your services to other businesses.

Freelancers set their working hours themselves. According to a survey in 2020, the average earning of freelancers is $20 per hour.

The first step is usually the hardest as you’re not sure which skill is right for you.

If you are confused and don’t know where to start, don’t worry!

This article is all about how to take the first step and stand out in this competitive freelance world.

I’ll also talk about:

• Different freelance platforms you can join right now
• How to be a successful freelancer in 30 days
• Tips for getting your first client as a completely new freelancer
• And more!

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

How to Start Freelancing in 2023 (The Right Way)

Picking Your Freelancing Niche

Selecting a freelancing niche might just be the hardest part of starting your freelance career. You want to pick something that you’re passionate about but also has high demand in the market.

Not to mention, it should be something you’re good at, right? It’s like choosing your life partner! And everyone knows that takes a lot of trial and error before you find ‘the one’.

While some people take years to figure this out, others might stumble upon it by accident. But don’t worry if you haven’t found your ‘niche’ yet- we’ll cover everything from babies’ first steps to retirement homes.

Here’s how you do it.

Firstly, start by asking yourself what skills you possess that are in demand.

• Is there something you’re particularly good at?
• Something that people always ask you to do?
• Something you absolutely love doing?

These questions will help narrow down your options and give you a more focused direction.

Secondly, consider the market demand for your selected niche. Is it in high demand? Does it pay well? Is it something that will sustain your income in the long run?

Finally, just take the leap. Don’t get into “If’s and but’s”. They’ll only keep you from taking action. You can always pivot later; just start learning the freelancing skills you think you can be successful at.

Top Freelancing websites

There’s no shortage of freelancing websites in the market right now. Here are the top three I think you should consider joining.

Upwork: With an extensive pool of clients looking for freelancers across various niches, Upwork is hands down one of the best platforms for newbies. In fact, most users make their first dollar within days of joining.

Fiverr: As its name suggests, Fiverr caters to both low-cost and high-budget gigs alike. It’s an excellent platform for beginners who are especially strong in creative fields like graphic design or copywriting.

Legiit: It may not be as mainstream as Fiverr or Upwork just yet, but Legiit has quickly gained traction among businesses worldwide due to its focus on providing quality work from highly skilled freelancers at affordable rates.

In the next few sections, I’ll tell you how you can start offering your freelance services on each of these marketplaces.

How to Freelance on Fiverr?

How to Create a Fiverr Profile

Start by going to the official website and signing up for a free Fiverr account.

First things first; choose a profile picture that is both professional and gives insights into your personality. But please, no creepy mugshots or pictures with exes – this is not the time for awkwardness.

Secondly, you must create a standout headline that highlights your expertise and what services you offer. Your headline should have an appealing message so that potential clients can’t help but click on it.

Next up, create a bio that showcases who you are, and why you are passionate about freelancing. Going beyond the cliché statements about being dedicated and hardworking, be creative and show what makes you unique! Did you spend years learning a craft? Have experience working for a specific industry? Show off those skills!

The next step is to showcase your portfolio. A great portfolio could distinguish you from other freelancers even before sending them proposals.

To ensure that your Fiverr profile shows up in relevant client searches include a keyword-rich (but not excessive) description about the type of services you offer.

Remember, having a strong Fiverr profile will give potential clients confidence in hiring you as their freelance worker.

How to Create a Gig on Fiverr

As soon as you’ve created a Fiverr account, you’ll be prompted to create your first gig.

Depending on the service you’ve chosen to offer, Fiverr may ask you to complete a short quiz.

This helps the platform qualify you as a credible freelancer. Don’t worry. The tests are mostly straightforward and easy.

Next up, create your first gig.

1. Gig title: This is the headline for your gig and it should be clear, concise, and attention-grabbing.
2. Gig Description: Use this section to provide more context about what you’re offering in your gig. Describe what problem you’re solving for potential clients, and why they should choose you over other freelancers.
3. Pricing: Determine how much you’ll charge for your services and set up one or more pricing packages that make sense for both you and potential clients.
4. Tags: Choose descriptive tags that will help potential clients find your gig while browsing Fiverr’s marketplace.
5. Gallery: Upload images or videos that showcase previous work samples or examples of what clients can expect if they hire you.

Once you’ve got these parts settled, it’s time to start crafting your actual gig! Here’s how to get started:

1. Research your competitors: Take some time to research others offering similar services on Fiverr (or elsewhere). Identify their strengths/weaknesses and look for opportunities where you can differentiate yourself from them.
2. Write an attention-grabbing title: As mentioned earlier, your title should accurately represent the service you’re providing while also grabbing readers’ attention with some creative language.
3. Write an engaging description: Your description should paint a picture of who would benefit from hiring you (If applicable), and describe exactly what kind of work clients can expect (technical writing services or quality copy editing for instance). Use bullet points if appropriate to break up the text and make it easier to read.
4. Set up customized pricing packages: Determine what services you would like to offer within each package, and decide how much you will charge for your services.
5. Choose relevant tags: Look at other gigs similar to yours that are performing well, take their tag suggestions, and tailor them to your specific gig.
6. Upload visually appealing samples: Show off some of your best work! Clients want to see examples of what they could receive by hiring you

How to Freelance on Upwork?

First things first, let’s talk about your profile picture. You want to choose a photo that is professional and shows your face in a positive light. No blurry, pixelated selfies, please! A high-quality headshot should do the trick.

Now, onto the meat and potatoes of your profile: the description. This is where you want to really sell yourself and your skills. Be concise but informative, and don’t be afraid to inject a little humor or personality. After all, clients want to work with people they like and can relate to.

Highlight your relevant experience and skills, and be specific about what you can offer clients. Are you a social media whiz? A coding genius? A graphic design guru? Whatever your niche, make sure to showcase your expertise and provide examples of your work.

Lastly, don’t forget to include your rate and availability. Be realistic about your pricing, but don’t sell yourself short. And be transparent about your availability – clients appreciate honesty and reliability.

Writing an Upwork Bid

Here’s how to write an Upwork bid.

Use a conversational tone: Upwork clients are often looking for freelancers who are not only skilled in their area of expertise but are also easy to communicate with. Writing your cover letter in a conversational tone can help you showcase your personality and help clients get a sense of who you are as a person.

Start with a hook: Make sure to grab the client’s attention right from the start. One way to do this is by starting with a hook, which could be a story or a statistic related to the project you’re applying for. This will make your cover letter stand out and show that you’ve done your research.

Address the client’s needs: Show the client that you’ve taken the time to understand their needs and requirements for the project. This could include referencing specific details from their job posting or website. By addressing the client’s needs, you’ll demonstrate that you’re the right fit for the job.

Highlight your experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and skills in your cover letter. This will help the client see that you have the necessary expertise to complete the project successfully.

Show your enthusiasm: Finally, show your enthusiasm for the project and your desire to work with the client. This will help you stand out from other freelancers who may not be as passionate about the project.

How to be a Successful Freelancer on Legiit

To become a successful freelancer on Legiit requires having excellent skills in your field and providing top-notch service delivery.

You also need to create an attractive profile that showcases your expertise and experience while also being clear about what services you offer.

A strong portfolio of past projects will help potential clients see what you are capable of delivering while good communication skills will ensure smooth collaboration between you and your client.

By building a reputation as a reliable professional who delivers quality work consistently, you can establish yourself as one of the best freelancers on Legiit and earn higher rates for your services over time.

Step 1: Create an Account

Once you decide to start freelancing on Legiit, the first step is to create an account. This process is simple and straightforward and can be completed in a few minutes. All you need to do is visit the Legiit website and click on the “Join” button located at the top of the page.

Once you click on this button, you will be redirected to a registration page where you will need to fill in your personal information such as your name, email address, username, and password. Make sure that you choose a unique username that represents your brand or business identity.

After filling in all the required fields, read through the terms of service and privacy policy before clicking on “Create Account.” Congratulations! You now have a Legiit account that enables you to sell your services online. The next step is setting up your profile which we’ll discuss further later on.

Step 2: Build Your Profile

To become a successful freelancer on Legiit, building your profile is essential. The first thing you should do is to fill out all the information that will be displayed on your profile. This includes your name, profile picture, and bio. Your bio should be concise but informative, highlighting your skills and experience.

Next, upload a portfolio of your past work to showcase what you can offer potential clients. Make sure that the samples are relevant to the services you offer on Legiit. If possible, include testimonials from previous clients as this will help build trust with future customers.

Lastly, ensure that you have set competitive prices for your services. Consider researching what other freelancers in your niche charge for similar services and adjust accordingly. Keep in mind that setting too low or too high prices can affect how clients perceive the quality of your work.

By following these steps and continually updating and improving your profile over time, you’ll increase the likelihood of attracting new clients and building long-term relationships with them.

Step 3: Identify Your Services & Pricing

Once you have identified your niche and target audience, it’s time to determine the services you will offer as a freelancer on Legiit. Start by brainstorming the skills that you excel at and enjoy doing. This could include writing, graphic design, social media management, or virtual assistance.

Next, research what types of services are in high demand within your chosen niche. Look at what other freelancers are offering and identify any gaps in the market that you could fill with your own unique skills.

After identifying your services, it’s important to set pricing that is both competitive and reflective of your experience level. Consider starting with lower prices until you build up a strong portfolio and reputation on Legiit.

By identifying your services and pricing upfront, you can create a clear and compelling profile for potential clients to view. This will increase the likelihood of attracting new business as a successful Legiit freelancer.

Step 4: Promote Your Services

One of the most crucial steps to becoming a successful freelancer on Legiit is promoting your services. You could have the best skills and experience in your niche, but without proper promotion, potential clients may never know about you. The first step in promoting your services is to optimize your Legiit profile by clearly stating what you offer, highlighting your skills and experience, and including samples of previous work.

Another effective way to promote your freelancing services on Legiit is through social media platforms. Set up profiles on relevant platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook where potential clients are most likely to be active. Share valuable content related to your niche regularly with links back to your Legiit profile.

You can also consider guest blogging or writing articles for other websites related to freelancing or your specific niche; this will help establish you as an authority in the field while giving exposure to yourself and increasing traffic back to our Legiit account. Lastly, networking with other freelancers and business owners can lead to collaborations and referrals that can help grow your client base over time.

Step 5: Be Professional & Responsive

Being professional and responsive is critical to becoming a successful freelancer. As a freelancer, it is essential to maintain professionalism in communication with clients. Responding promptly to client inquiries and requests showcases your reliability and commitment towards the project. It is crucial to establish clear communication channels that allow for timely responses.

Additionally, being professional in your work ensures that clients will trust you with their projects. Delivering quality work on time and adhering to project requirements shows that you are invested in the success of the project. Being proactive about keeping clients updated on progress or issues that may arise demonstrates accountability.

How to Start Freelance Writing?

What is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is a career choice that allows individuals to work independently, choosing their own projects and clients. It involves writing articles, blog posts, social media content, eBooks and other types of content for various businesses or publications. Freelance writers are usually self-employed and work from home or any location that suits them.

Starting a freelance writing career requires some essential steps. Firstly, it’s important to determine your niche and what type of writing you want to focus on such as technical content or creative essay writing. You can then create a portfolio showcasing your previous work or start by offering free samples to potential clients. Building relationships with editors and publishers can also be beneficial in landing your first few gigs.

Once you have established yourself as a freelance writer, it’s vital to stay organized by developing systems for invoicing clients, keeping track of deadlines and managing finances effectively. Networking with fellow freelancers can also provide valuable insights into the industry and opportunities for collaboration. With hard work and dedication, anyone can successfully start a career in freelance writing.

Define Goals and Objectives

Defining goals and objectives is a crucial step in starting your freelance writing career. Goals are broad statements that describe what you want to accomplish, while objectives are specific and measurable steps that will help you achieve your goals. To define your goals, start by asking yourself what you want to achieve as a freelance writer. Maybe you want to earn a certain amount of money per month or develop a portfolio of published work.

Once you have defined your goals, it’s time to set specific objectives that will help you reach them. For example, if your goal is to earn $5,000 per month as a freelance writer, an objective could be to land three new clients within the next 30 days. Objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

By defining clear goals and objectives for your freelance writing career early on, you can stay focused and motivated as you work towards building the successful writing business of your dreams. Remember that these goals and objectives may change over time as you gain more experience and learn more about what works best for your unique situation.

Research Niche Opportunities

One of the most important steps in starting a freelance writing career is identifying your niche. You need to have a clear understanding of your strengths, interests, and experience to find the right niche opportunities. To do this, you will need to conduct extensive research on various niches that align with your skills and interests.

One way to start researching niche opportunities is by analyzing the current market trends. Look for industries that are growing rapidly or experiencing significant changes in their dynamics. This can help you identify potential clients who may require content related to these changes or growth areas.

Another way is by analyzing competitors’ strategies and finding gaps that you can fill. Study what kind of content they produce and where they focus their efforts. Identify topics they haven’t covered yet or areas where you think you can provide more value than them.

Overall, conducting thorough research into niche opportunities will enable you to narrow down your focus while also providing valuable insights into potential clients’ needs and preferences. It’s an essential step towards building a successful freelance writing career.

Develop a Professional Portfolio

To start freelance writing, one of the essential things you need to have is a professional portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your work samples that showcase your writing skills and expertise. It helps potential clients or employers see what kind of content you can produce and whether it meets their requirements.

To develop a professional portfolio, start by selecting your best pieces of work from previous projects or personal blogs. Make sure they highlight different genres and topics to demonstrate versatility. Next, organize them in a visually appealing manner using an online platform like Contently or WordPress. Include brief descriptions for each piece explaining why you chose it and how it showcases your skills.

Additionally, continue to add new pieces as you complete projects or write new articles to keep your portfolio up-to-date. This shows that you are consistently producing high-quality work while keeping up with industry trends. Lastly, make sure to share your portfolio on social media platforms and include the link in job applications to increase visibility and attract potential clients or employers.

Network with Others in the Field

One of the best ways to get started in freelance writing is to network with others in the field. This can be done by attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and reaching out to other writers online. Not only will this help you build relationships with other professionals in the field, but it can also lead to potential job opportunities.

Attending industry events such as conferences or meetups allows you to connect face-to-face with other freelance writers and industry experts. You can gain valuable insights into the latest trends, techniques, and best practices for freelance writing. Additionally, you may be able to pitch your services directly to potential clients at these events.

Joining professional organizations for writers can also be beneficial for networking purposes. These groups often offer resources such as job boards and forums where members can connect with one another. By participating in these communities and building relationships with other members, you increase your chances of receiving referrals or finding work opportunities that are a good fit for your skills and interests. Overall, networking is a critical component of starting a successful career as a freelance writer.

Establish a Working Schedule

To start freelance writing successfully, you need to establish a working schedule that works for both your clients and yourself. This means that you should have a clear idea of the times when you are most productive and the hours when your clients are likely to be available for communication. Once you have a clear understanding of these factors, set up a schedule that allows you to work efficiently and communicate with your clients in real-time.

Another important factor to consider when setting up your working schedule as a freelance writer is creating boundaries between work time and personal time. While it can be tempting to work 24/7, it’s important to carve out time for rest, relaxation, and self-care. You may also want to set specific days off or reduce your workload during certain periods if needed.

Lastly, remember that flexibility is key when establishing a working schedule as a freelancer. Be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed based on client demands or unexpected life events while still maintaining an overall structure that works best for you. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to establish an effective working schedule as a freelance writer that sets you up for success in the long run.

Market Yourself as a Writer

One of the key things to consider when starting to freelance write is how you will market yourself as a writer. This includes creating a strong online presence, branding yourself, and networking with potential clients. One way to establish your online presence is by creating a personal website or blog where you can showcase your writing skills and previous work experience. This is also an opportunity for you to create a unique brand that will make you stand out in the crowded freelance writing space.

Another important aspect of marketing yourself as a writer is networking with potential clients. Attend industry events and conferences, join professional organizations, and connect with other writers on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Doing so will not only help you build relationships within the industry but also give you access to job opportunities that may not be publicly advertised.

Finally, it’s essential to have an impressive portfolio that showcases your skills as a writer. Include samples of your best work in different niches or industries so that prospective clients can see what they can expect from working with you. Remember that establishing yourself as an excellent freelance writer takes time and effort; however, if done correctly, it can lead to long-term success in this field.

How to Become a Successful Freelancer in 30 Days?

As a freelance writer, I can completely understand the desire to become successful in your chosen field. After all, freelancing is not just about being your own boss and working on your own time – it’s also an opportunity to earn more money while doing what you love. But how do you achieve success as a freelancer in just 30 days? Here are some tips that can help:

1. Define Your Goals and Objectives

The first step towards becoming a successful freelancer is defining what success means to you. You should set goals for what you want to achieve and identify specific objectives that will help you reach those goals. Do you want to increase your earnings by a certain amount? Do you want to work with prestigious clients? Whatever it is, make sure it’s clear and defined.

2. Narrow Down Your Niche

Freelancing platforms are full of writers, designers, developers, marketers, etc., so it’s important that you narrow down your niche and stand out from the crowd. Pick an area where you excel or have plenty of experience so that you can provide the highest quality work and specialize in one particular type of clientele.

3. Build Your Brand Image

As a freelancer, developing your brand image could be one of the most essential steps to gain success within 30 days since good branding makes people remember your name along with standing among various competitors.
Building a professional website or social media profile adds significance towards showcasing work portfolios and testimonials while portraying efficient communication skills.

4. Network with Potential Clients

Networking is key when looking for freelancing jobs within social media as these platforms aid considerably before understanding customers’ actual expectations and before coming up with the personalized pitch that fitted their preference making them consider seriously hiring freelancers for projects.

5. Keep Improving

The critical aspect here is improving oneself from previous experiences and repeatedly perfecting skills such as increasing writing speed but maintaining article accuracy (for instance). Freelancers need to understand every project varies which further implies, one must have an open mind to learn what suits the requirement.

6. Promote Yourself

Undoubtedly, promoting oneself is crucial in today’s market where competition is very tight. To engage higher clientele in just 30 days, attracting current and potential customers via engaging them with a concise newsletter helps gain exposure thus increasing a sense of reliability and trustworthiness by showcasing testimonials and providing insightful tips relevant to the niche.

Tips to Get Your First Client as a Brand New Freelancer

As a brand new freelancer, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face is getting your first client. But fear not, because with a little creativity and some hustle, you can land that first gig in no time. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Leverage your personal and professional network: Reach out to friends, family, former colleagues, and classmates to let them know you’re available for freelance work. You never know who might need your services or who might refer you to someone who does.

Offer your services for free or at a discounted rate: While it may seem counterintuitive, offering your services for free or at a discounted rate can help you build your portfolio and establish credibility. Plus, happy clients are more likely to refer you to others and leave positive reviews.

Utilize social media: Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to showcase your skills and promote your services. Join relevant groups and engage with potential clients by offering helpful advice and insights.

Create a killer portfolio: A well-curated portfolio showcasing your best work is essential for attracting clients. Be sure to include a variety of projects that demonstrate your skills and expertise.

Cold pitch potential clients: Research companies or individuals who could benefit from your services and reach out to them with a personalized pitch. Highlight how your skills can help solve their problems and make their lives easier.