Many of us dream of being able to work as remote freelancers and tailor our jobs to fit our lives. Freelance work, whether it’s translation, photography, or accounting, can provide this kind of lifestyle whilst also offering opportunities to make a substantial income. Finding a way to make a living through remote freelance work takes more time and more creativity than a traditional nine-to-five job, so we’ve come up with some tips to get you started.
Getting started as a remote freelancer
Getting started always takes some perseverance. Finding clients without any previous experience tends to mean offering a really competitive rate. Some of the apps below work on a points and recommendations basis, so feedback from previous clients is vital. You have to prove that you’re the best person for the job and can be relied upon to deliver what’s required within the deadlines set.
Starting off with a low rate to increase your chances of getting jobs is advisable; it allows you to build up a portfolio of previous work with positive feedback, which enables you to command more, as your work level and experience grow and speak for themselves. Then you will attract higher-paying clients. But be careful not to charge too little, as you risk not being seen as a professional. Research your industry to strike a realistic balance.
Submitting a proposal to a potential client
When you submit a bid to a potential client, you want to impress and stand out from the many other candidates bidding for the same job. A strong cover letter that you can adapt to each individual proposal is vital. Try to present yourself in a way that highlights your key attributes and stands out from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to emphasise your previous work experience and explain how your skills are transferable.
Know your worth
Research your competition and know the rates paid for the skills you are offering. Get yourself some strong remote freelancer role models. Follow people in your industry on social media to get inspired and gain helpful tips. These individuals and companies are sure to give you ideas and ways to improve your offer to your clients. Consider reaching out to someone you admire in your industry to see if they would mind if you picked their brain; you’d be surprised how many people are open to the idea of mentoring those just starting out.
The best platforms to use
The following platforms, websites, and apps can help you to get off to a great start in your new remote freelancer career. Most will take a percentage of your earnings as payment for using their platform. This is usually a valid expense as they connect you directly to a large selection of employers and clients covering all different sectors and will save you a lot of time and money in the start-up process. It’s a great starting point to get those all-important recommendations and build up a reputation by gaining some invaluable experience:
- Freelancer.com – offers a variety of work, based on a bidding process.
- Upwork – offers a variety of work, based on a bidding process.
- People per hour – originally UK based, now worldwide.
- Guru – offers a variety of work.
- Fiverr – work related to logo design, translation services, voice-overs, video animation, intros, and caricatures.
- Working nomads – work related to a large range of telecommuting roles.
- Babbletype.com – work related to transcription, proofreading, and translation.
- ratracerebellion.com – has a big listing of WFH jobs.
- ifreelance – lets you keep all your earnings, no commission.
- remoteok.io – works as a search engine for remote jobs.
Once you’ve scored that job
Now that you’ve bagged the job, go at it with all the passion you have. Be aware of the advantage of going the extra mile; putting in more than the client expects (within reason) will always impress, and winning points will keep you at the forefront for future work. This extra attention could be what secures an ongoing working relationship with the employer. Don’t forget to ask happy clients for testimonials you can use to secure further work.
Productivity and time management
Productivity and time management are two further factors that can be hard to master, but that will ensure you’re successful in your new freelancing career. Spend some time, before you get inundated with work, coming up with some sensible tools and strategies that work for you. There are a variety of apps out there that will help you with this, and look out for our future blogs to learn more about them.
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