How To Become A Freelancer In 2024: The Ultimate Guide

Learning how to become a freelancer is an increasingly popular way to earn money working remotely, whether you're after extra income or replacing a full-time job.

By designing up to a freelance jobs website and building a portfolio, you can reach out to potential clients and begin your freelancing career.

In this guide, we've broken down everything you need to know to start freelancing and become your own boss, from honing your skills to finding new clients.

What Is A freelancer?

The rise of remote working in recent years has paved the way for significant growth in the number of people working from home for a variety of clients.

Known as freelancers, these are people who work independently, offering services to clients based on rates determined by project, hour, or day.

Freelancers offer a broad range of services, covering everything from working as virtual assistants to software development and social media manager roles.

Most freelancers gain experience by doing work for free before picking up their first gig and developing ongoing relationships with clients.

Benefits of Being a Freelancer

Working as a freelancer is a highly attractive proposition for many people who want to work from home and take advantage of the freedoms other remote workers enjoy.

Here are some of the main benefits of being a freelancer to consider:

• More freedom with flexible hours. Perhaps the most obvious benefit for freelancers is the ability to choose their own hours around a flexible schedule. Clients are specific about the turnaround and deadlines expected, so freelancers can pick and choose work that fits their schedule.
• Working from any location. Just as freelancers enjoy flexible deadlines, they can also choose to perform the work from any location. Most remote work opportunities don't require on-site presence and can be fit around traveling and other activities. Provided you have a solid internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world.
• Financial independence. While salaried workers are often limited in terms of potential income, experienced freelancers can command impressive fees. It can take time to build the experience and reputation to achieve this, but as a freelancer, you won't be caught in conversations with employers to negotiate wage increases.
• Easy to break into. Breaking into the world of freelancing requires very little in terms of start-up costs, with freelance job websites also typically free to sign up to. This low-cost, low-risk foundation makes freelancing something that can be experimented with in your spare time without undermining financial security.
• Opportunity to develop new skills. Working with multiple clients across various projects exposes freelancers to a broad variety of industries and skills over time. As such, opportunities for professional growth are abundant, making it ideal for those who enjoy stepping out of their comfort zone and learning new things.

Most Popular Freelance Occupations

There are hundreds of different types of freelancers that cater to all manner of industries, and a simple Google search reveals the most popular choices.

Examples of the most popular freelance occupations include:

• Virtual Assistant. Requiring little experience and with plenty of roles available, virtual assistants perform data entry, organization, and scheduling for clients.
• Social Media Manager. Working for businesses to establish and expand their online presence, this role is another easy-to-learn and popular role for freelancers.
• Copywriter. With content marketing crucial for the success of most companies, articulate copywriters who understand grammar and punctuation are in high demand.
• Translator. If you're fluent in two or more languages, translation roles are common on most major freelance work platforms.
• Graphic Designer. Companies looking to develop their website or revamp their branding often look for freelancers with graphic design experience to work on projects.

Best Freelance Websites 2024

There are dozens of options available online where you can set up a profile, share your work, and find freelance jobs in your particular niche.

Here are some of the best freelance websites to find work where you can access thousands of potential clients offering freelance jobs:

• Upwork. One of the most popular freelancing websites online is Upwork, which hosts thousands of jobs across the full spectrum of industries.
• Fiverr. If you're looking for an impressive entry-level freelancing website where you can find your first client, Fiverr has many jobs listed that don't require extensive skills and experience.
• Indeed. With its easy-to-use interface and simple application process, Indeed has been the go-to resource for many freelancers of all levels of experience and interests.
• Behance. While some freelance job boards cover all types of work, Behance is dedicated to helping freelancers working in visual fields connect with businesses.
• People Per Hour. Featuring a comprehensive database of job listings catering to thousands of companies, People Per Hour is another excellent resource for generalist freelance business owners.

How To Become A Freelancer In 2024: Step-By-Step

While learning how to become a freelancer can vary depending on your services, there are several core rules that apply to all freelancing scenarios.

In this guide, we've outlined the key considerations to address when starting a freelancing business to help you pick up your first client in no time.

So, with that explanation covered, here's how to become a freelancer in 2024:

Step 1: Define Your Freelancing Niche

Before you start freelancing, you should be entirely clear on the specific industry and services you plan to offer clients.

Most freelance projects require specific skills, so determining your niche will help you choose the best freelance platforms for finding freelancing gigs.

Whether you're an expert in graphic design or seeking work as a virtual assistant, your niche will inform your profile and client base.

Over time, as you develop additional skills, you can expand your range of freelance opportunities and reach out to different clients for new projects.

Step 2: Outline Your Business Goals

Determining clear and concise business goals from the outset is crucial to maximizing your time and effort when finding clients.

Multiple studies have demonstrated the link between goals and success, and carefully considered goals should be a core element of your strategy.

These goals can be broken down into short- and long-term goals that can be entered into a schedule and ticked off once you've completed them.

At the same time, a degree of flexibility should be built into goals so you can switch things up to reflect your changing experiences and skills.

Step 3: Create A Business Website

Depending on the nature of your freelance business, you may need to set up a website to archive past projects to show potential clients.

This can be particularly effective if your services are visually based; for example, you work as a freelance graphic designer or photographer.

There are plenty of professional-looking website templates you can use to build a compelling website from the ground up, with no web designer experience necessary.

While it may require an investment on your part to cover web hosting and other costs, the benefits of attracting recurring clients make it well worth considering.

Step 4: Choose The Best Freelancing Websites

As we've touched on briefly already, there are many excellent freelance job websites to choose from, but some will be more appropriate for you than others.

For example, if you're looking into the best home-based business ideas for moms, some sites will offer more relevant work than others.

Each freelance website has its own set of rules and monthly expenses charged for freelancers, so make sure you check these out before signing up.

While there's no limit on how many freelance websites you use, limiting these to a select few is advisable to more effectively manage your time.

Step 5: Compile A List Of Potential Clients

Once you're clear on your business goals and have refined the freelancing websites that suit your interests, it's time to compile a list of potential clients.

These clients will be determined by your level of skill and experience, ranging from easy Fiverr jobs for beginners to dedicated clients requiring specialized skills.

You'll want to consider the rates of payment they offer for projects, as well as how tight any deadlines are, so you know you can deliver on time.

Once you've compiled your list of potential clients, you can start reaching out and offering your services at competitive rates to other freelancers.

Step 6: Set Your Freelancing Rates

Speaking of rates, the amount you expect for your work will significantly impact the types of clients you can approach on a freelance website.

Just as your prior experience and level of training and education will determine your potential clients, so too will it impact decisions around your freelancing rates.

If you're looking for side hustles to pay off debt faster, you'll find plenty of low-paying but easy jobs you can quickly apply for.

The more work you complete to the client's satisfaction, the higher you'll rank on the freelancing platform and be able to command higher rates.

Step 7: Build Your Online Portfolio

Once clients have been drawn to your services based on your profile, the next thing they will look into is your work history and portfolio.

As such, it's vital that you put together a strong portfolio that showcases your previous work from past clients and puts you in the best possible light.

When you begin freelancing, you may not have a strong body of work to draw on, and many remote workers set up their own blogs to fill in this gap.

If you don't already have a blog, you can easily put one together using a blog website builder that does all the hard coding work.

Step 8: Consider Working For Free To Build Your Reputation

When you first start freelancing, it can be an incredibly daunting process working towards picking up your first client, particularly when you lack experience.

One way to establish a reputation and gain clients' attention is to consider working for free, so you have content you can show them.

There are many ways you can do this depending on the nature of your freelance work, for example, helping out friends and family members with their small businesses.

If you're a budding freelance writer, consider blogging as a side hustle and writing guest posts for established websites for free.

Step 9: Use Your Social Media Channels

Social media channels are an ever-present aspect of most people's lives and should be integral to your freelance business.

The use of social media platforms has become increasingly important for helping freelancers find work and can be a great way to discover new clients.

One way to use these platforms to drum up freelance business is to engage with social media posts from companies you'd like to work for.

You can also use social media channels and Facebook groups to build up your network of contacts and stay informed about industry developments.

Step 10: Continually Hone Your Skills

You may have started freelancing with limited experience focusing on makeing money on Fivver without any skills, but eventually, the limitations will be apparent.

At some point, you'll need to consider improving your talent stack so you can move on to higher-paying clients that reflect your growing experience.

There are many well-paid freelance jobs that overlap with one another; for example, freelance writing shares similar attributes to proofreading and editing.

By building a solid skill stack, you can expand into various industries and find clients offering a broader selection of potential remote work.

Step 11: Improve Your Time Management

Many freelancers struggle to manage their time effectively, whether working in their free time or moving away from a day job.

While choosing your own hours can be liberating, it also takes more discipline to parse out time blocks for your freelance business around other commitments.

For example, if you're juggling freelance work with raising a family, consider putting together a stay-at-home mom schedule to separate your work and chores.

On the other hand, freelancers doing it full-time should establish clear work hours and work from a separate home office to establish boundaries.

Step 12: Keep Your Expenses Low

One clear advantage freelancers have over salaried workers is the chance to lower their expenses through tax rebates and other financial mechanisms.

This begins with calculating your regular expenses and ensuring they include everything from your hardware and software to internet connection and utilities.

You should also consider researching the best tax deductions for freelancers to claim and taking advantage of those relevant to your circumstances.

These services can help to reduce costs when you pay self-employment taxes in addition to savings from your regular operating expenses.

Step 13: Foster Relationships With Clients

As your freelance career develops over time, it will become easier to find work with your ideal client who wants exactly what your freelance business is offering.

With more experience, a successful freelancer will accumulate multiple clients who offer regular and reliable work with clear expectations you can fulfill.

You can further foster these client relationships by making yourself available at short notice and consistently delivering projects on time.

By building a reputation for high-quality work, your freelance services will be in high demand and lead to consistent freelancing jobs.

Step 14: Get A Mentor

One of the most effective ways to enhance the value you bring to the table for potential clients is to find a mentor who has more experience in your given field.

A great mentor will help you refine your portfolio, improve the quality of services you offer, and find the best clients for your particular niche.

If you're branching out into new domains, a mentor is crucial for learning about a new industry and helping you to find your feet in a competitive arena.

You can contact mentors with your business plan or seek potential mentors in your personal network of friends, co-workers, or teachers.

Make sure you perform the necessary research into their field of expertise before asking them to dedicate time to mentoring you further.

Step 15: Network Consistently

As with many other lines of work, becoming a successful freelancer means consistently networking with current and potential clients to increase your options.

This can be simply using the platform's existing communications system or learning how to get more connects on Upwork to expand your contact list.

We've touched on how you can use social media platforms for networking, and this advice can be extended to using business platforms such as LinkedIn.

Don't overlook real-world networking since in-person networking events in your local area can also be fruitful resources for building a healthy client base.

Summary

Learning how to become a freelancer is an ongoing process that evolves as you gain experience, complete more freelancing jobs, and establish client relationships.

Whether you're looking for a little extra income on the side or making freelancing your full-time job, this guide will help you start freelancing on the right foot.

Once you've become a freelancer, you can work closely with each new client and strengthen your reputation, then take your career in new directions.