Being able to work from anywhere in the world is one of the great advantages of working as a freelancer. For many people, this ideal career choice gives freedom to choose hours and places of work without uniforms or wasted time in traffic, and the possibility of doing what you love! Today, you can hire a digital marketing agency to create and market an online business for you. That business can help you earn from anywhere you want.

If you are one of these people and you are thinking about how to give a new direction to your professional career, or you simply want to have extra income without committing to a permanent job, becoming a freelancer is a great idea.

Keep reading this post because we are going to tell you everything you want to know about the freelancer work model, what are its advantages and some tips for you to take your first steps.

What is a freelancer?

Freelancer is someone who works independently offering their services to companies or other people, and who manages their time and the way they work independently.

Anyone who has skills, talents or knowledge in an area that allows it, can work as a freelancer.

For example, it is very common to see freelancers performing in areas such as education, programming, design, translation, art, sales, and many more.

Many times, it is not necessary to have a higher education to be successful, but it does take a lot of dedication and commitment to work to achieve good results.

Advantages and disadvantages of being a freelancer

The first thing you can do before turning your life around is to evaluate the pros and cons of being a freelancer. Thus, it will be easier to decide if it is what you want for yourself and how to prepare to start your day.

Advantages of being a freelancer: 

You have control

Freelancers have the freedom to control the time load of their work and also choose the projects they want to carry out and how to do it.

But remember that being in control will also require greater responsibility to run your business successfully.

There is no profit limit

One of the biggest advantages of being a freelancer is that the value you will earn for your work is not totally predetermined.

That means that a person can earn much more money being a freelancer than working with a fixed salary.

Of course, everything will depend on the quality of your work and the ability you have to find clients to achieve real financial independence.

Disadvantages of being a freelancer

You only earn when you work

Those who work as a freelancer can go on vacation whenever they want or take a few days to resolve personal issues, as long as they know how to organize their schedule.

But beware! In most cases, during these periods no income is generated, as well as in case of illness or accident. And, without a doubt, this is a fundamental point that you should consider in your financial planning.

On the other hand, there are those who have businesses that allow them to continue to have a rein, even while they are not working.

This is the case of digital producers and affiliates who sell their products on platforms, through social networks or sales pages in which most of the processes are automated.

It’s an excellent job option, don’t you think? Here you can read more about this opportunity.

You may spend a lot of time alone

If you don’t live with other people, one of the disadvantages of being a freelancer is having little social contact, especially if you are someone who enjoys dating.

By spending most of the time at home working, interaction with other people is more limited. Therefore, it is normal for many people to start feeling lonely after a while.

You have fewer guarantees

As we have said, to working as a freelancer and have your venture things are in your hands. Therefore, it is inevitable to take some risks.

Nothing guarantees that you will find the job you want, or that you will earn enough money for all your expenses. You also don’t know if you are going to be successful or not, and you may have to try some alternatives until you find the best option.

What do you need to be a freelancer?

If you have come this far, it is because you are really interested in taking that big step in your work life. Next, we explain what you need to do it.

Have determination

The first thing you need to become a freelancer is to make the decision to do it. You may have to choose to leave the security of a fixed-salary job or work hard to start and build your own business.

Working on some limiting beliefs that prevent you from getting out of place and taking the first steps can take weeks, months, or a couple of hours!

Like any major choice and change, you may run into difficulties as well as great rewards and benefits. The only way to know is to do it.

Build an attractive portfolio

Having a complete and well-presented portfolio is very helpful when it comes to finding a freelance job. Therefore, it is best that before starting to send proposals you prepare it very well.

In it, you must put your personal data, a summary of your experience in the area and, of course, a sample of your work.

The main objective is to transmit confidence and security to your potential clients.

Choose just one area of performance

It is important that you select a specific activity to work as a freelancer and that you do not want to occupy yourself with several different things at the same time. Thus, you dedicate your energy and your day to obtain better results.

To select your job niche, think a little about your skills, your academic preparation and, above all, what you enjoy doing.

Equip yourself

Make sure you have all the equipment available and in good condition to carry out your work.

At the beginning, you may have less money to invest, but over time you will be able to improve the quality of your work tools, which will make you grow professionally and deliver better results.

Sign up for freelance platforms

There are many platforms on the Internet where companies or individuals post advertisements or proposals for freelance jobs. This is a good way to start offering your services and making your work known.

Don’t worry, we’ll talk about them later!

Put a fair price on your work

One of the most common mistakes professionals make when they start working as freelancers is putting a very low price on their work.

We know that the pressure of not receiving a fixed money every month can be overwhelming and that there are expenses to cover.

But, determining a price that is below the market value will not only devalue you, but also the rest of the professionals who work independently.

If in doubt, think and set a value that is fair to both you and your client.

Establish a work schedule

Among the advantages of being a freelancer, we have mentioned “not having to meet a work schedule”, do you remember? This is true, but it is also true that if you want to work like this in the long term, you must set a schedule to work.

See what time of the day you produce best and establish a schedule in which you can dedicate yourself completely to developing the work and serving your customers.

Of course, that schedule can be modified and adjusted on the fly.

Prepare a suitable workspace

Also, we have said that you can work anywhere in the world you want, as long as you have a job that you can do using the Internet, remotely.

However, just as having some pre-established schedules will help you organize and produce, it is important that you find good places that allow you to perform comfortably and without major interruptions.

An environment without much noise, a table and chair that allow you to spend several hours in comfort, lighting according to your needs and other details, are essential for the quality of your work.

How to get a job as a freelancer

There are many platforms where you can offer your services and apply to work on specific projects, and those who are looking for professional freelancers can find them there as well.

We have listed some sites that can help you get your first jobs.

You should know that there are no limits to looking for opportunities on the Internet. You can also send proposals directly to companies or promote your services on social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or the ones you use the most.

Tips to be a good freelancer

We cannot finish this post without first giving you some tips so that you can start on the right foot and have a successful journey as a professional freelancer.

Get organized

Clutter is a freelancer’s worst enemy, so if you really want to be successful working this way, you must learn to organize yourself very well.

Get used to scheduling your projects, plan your day-to-day work, set short-term goals and never accept more work than you can do without losing quality.

Be transparent with your clients

Sincerity is one of the pillars of a good working relationship between professional and client. When necessary, don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know how to do something or that you can’t meet the deadline they propose.

With good communication, it will be possible to make an agreement that is good and fair for both parties.

Send attractive proposals

While it is true that freelancers are increasingly sought after, we also know that it is very important that you prepare attractive proposals that stand out from the rest and help you get the job.

Find your niche and specialize

It is not the same to work with “writing articles” as dedicating yourself to “writing articles specialized in nutrition topics”.

Finding your niche and specializing will help you find better clients and opportunities. Think about the work areas or categories in which you have a better performance and, above all, that you are most passionate about.

Freelancing can be a great way to earn money and dedicate yourself to what you love.