Is there a Freelancer in You

To begin on the freelancing career first specify what you are good at. Are you an expert at something a product expert or a service expert or with proficient knowledge at least? Try to get in the customers shoes to answer this question: Why should I hire this person?
If you can give a few solid reasons why the person on the other side should hire you, then go ahead and market yourself. Freelancing could be for you.
However not only doing what you are good at makes a good freelancer, you have to be equally good at managing your time and working on your own.

An advantage for a freelancer during the tough recession times is a somewhat cash-flow security even if you are in a layoff from a full-time job. And also even if you are working part-time on your present job you can still find time to some freelance work (to make that extra dough for the rainy days). That also makes the framework of starting your own business somewhere down the road.

The Writer Freelancer

A large chunk of the freelancing work offered and searched for is on writing projects. One of the good internet resources around if you are looking for a freelancing job is at WRITERS MARKET (writersmarket.com). This website offers you ‘instant access to the most comprehensive database of verified writing-market listings — anywhere’.

Another good resource is Mediabistro (http://www.mediabistro.com/) it offers good advice and guidance to break into web journalism, list of all relevant professional resources and has an impressive resource of talented writers on it’s ‘marketplace’. However this website does not offer free articles and you have to pay for membership and access to other resources they offer; but the jobs listed are free for browsing. Even though some websites have an upfront membership fees, but if they are worth it and you are serious in getting into this business, then some good advice would go a long way.

Tips and Advice before you begin Freelancing

• If you are a new contributor, make sure that you offer something unique and have a portfolio that stands out. There is a tough competition in many freelancing projects.
• Know your limits and do not over commit on a project or several of them. The internet can be nasty at getting back at you, it is very easy for clients to post negative statements about you and that hurts the reputation and hinders the possibility of landing more projects.
• Some good tips on how not to make some mistakes on freelancing are on the FreelanceSwitch website at 10 Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make, and How to Avoid Them.

Freelancer’s Resources

All ready to begin freelancing? You can access some freelance jobs online through these various freelance specific job boards:

• Freelance Switch
• iFreelance
• GoFreelance

And here are some books that advice you well on the road to freelancing, it is always a good idea to read from the experts before venturing out on unknown grounds. Test yourself well before committing and that eliminates disappointment and under performance.

• Six-Figure Freelancing by Kelly James-Enger
• Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments by Jenna Glatzer
• The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels by Samuel G. Freedman