How to start a freelance business in 8 steps
If you’re ready to begin your freelance career, start strong by following these eight steps:
Define your area of expertise
It’s time to pick an idea. Ask yourself: What product or service do I want to offer? This might mean picking up new skills or completing formal training before you’re ready to meet your clients’ needs
Determine what you want from your business
Consider your values and what you hope to gain from your freelance business. You might want a part-time hustle that supplements your current job, or maybe you’d love to start a six-figure design agency after gaining some experience. Freelancers can also sign full-time contracts with larger organizations that offer stability but tie them down to strict working schedules. If you want more flexibility, you might prioritize being paid hourly and taking on multiple, smaller-scale contracts.
Define your target audience
You can learn more about what clients want and what you have to offer by filling out portfolios on freelance finder websites like EasyPro, Upwork and Fiverr. You don’t have to take any work from the sites, but looking at wanted ads and creating profiles helps you understand what potential clients need.
Set realistic and measurable goals
Don’t expect to get rich overnight — from upskilling to marketing, becoming a successful freelancer takes a lot of work. Make the workload manageable by creating SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. You’ll break down larger tasks like “market my business” into more digestible items like “create an Instagram account” or “draft a week’s worth of Facebook posts” so the entire process feels less overwhelming.
Determine your prices
The marketplace for freelancers constantly fluctuates, and freelancer rates vary depending on their experience and the quality of work. While setting your own wages can be daunting, you can use online tools or research other freelancers in your area with the same offering to help determine your prices.
Build a fantastic web portfolio
A great way to show off your skills is with a portfolio website that you link to on social platforms and share with potential clients through email or ad marketing campaigns. This landing page is a hub showcasing your talent so visitors understand what you do and why you’re great at it.
Market your services
Once your portfolio website is live and you’ve set up your social profiles, it’s time to market your services. Network with your personal and professional community to spread the word about your offering, and regularly add content to your blog and social accounts to build brand awareness and increase visibility.
Strategically choose your first client
To build your skills and portfolio, consider working on simulated projects (build a website for a pretend beauty brand, for example) or providing your services to friends and family for free. This way, you can get your bearings and gain experience before working for clients like large organizations with complicated projects.
Comments