How to Become a Freelancer and Work From Home

Are you tired of going into a physical office to work long shifts? Are you looking for the freedom to do what you love from wherever you want? If all of that sounds ideal, you might want to consider becoming a freelancer.

Freelance careers provide workers with flexibility, freedom, and other benefits that traditional jobs don’t. This makes them an appealing option for many and the primary reason that more Americans than ever are working for themselves.

However, many people don’t understand how to become a freelancer. They might think that they’re unqualified or that they don’t have what it takes to make it work.

In this guide, we’re going to take a deep dive into freelance jobs and ultimately help you decide if the freelance life is right for you.

So what do you need to know?

Keep reading to learn all about how to make money from home as a freelancer.

Understand the Pros

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably familiar with some of the top benefits of freelance jobs.

One of the best benefits is flexibility. In a traditional full-time job, you go to an office and work on a set schedule, often from 9-5. As a freelancer, you can work whenever you want, wherever you want.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and can’t work much one week, nobody will breathe down your neck and pressure you into doing your job. Likewise, there’s also nothing stopping you from working out of a hostel in Bali.

Aside from being liberating, this freedom means that you can earn a lot more as well. You have the flexibility to work as little, as often, and as hard as you want.

Don’t Forget About the Cons

While we think that the benefits of freelancing definitely outweigh the cons, you’ll still want to take some factors into consideration.

If you’re someone who struggles with motivation, freelancing might not be for you. As a freelancer, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. The levels of flexibility can be a double-edged sword for many.

As the United States doesn’t have universal healthcare, working as a freelancer also means that you probably won’t be on a healthcare plan. You can pay for one, but these can be expensive, ineffective, or both.

You’ll also have to remember to pay taxes. If you forget about that or don’t set money aside as you earn it, you might be in for a big shock when tax season rolls around.

Choose a Niche

If you’re someone who has many interests and skills, trying to do it all might seem tempting. However, in the world of freelancing, it’s almost always more lucrative to focus on a specific niche.

If a potential customer is looking at your website to decide whether or not they want to work with you, they’re not going to want to see that you have experience in five different topics.

They’re going to want to see that you specialize in a certain field and that more than that, you excel at it.

Having a particular niche that you operate in also makes it easier to advertise your business across different platforms. You won’t have to struggle to find a title for yourself—you can simply advertise the area of expertise in which you operate.

Luckily, there are many different niches that you can choose to work in. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones.

Copywriter

If you’re a skilled writer, you might want to look into becoming a freelance copywriter. These specialists work with companies and individuals across the world.

Working as a copywriter can have you writing everything from blog posts to the actual content of a website. You might also write things like newsletters and advertisements.

Besides writing skills, copywriters also need to have good editing skills. Once you hone your skill set, you’ll be able to write and proofread anywhere in the world.

Social Media Specialist

Do you have a knack for writing catchy social media blurbs? Do you have a lot of experience generating interest for things you post on social media accounts like Twitter and Instagram?

If so, a freelancing career as a social media specialist might be for you.

These professionals work to expand and improve the social media presence of different businesses. You’ll post content, analyze trends, and work with customers to ensure that they’re happy and receptive to the content you put out.

Computer Programer

Tech gurus should look into becoming a computer programmer. This will have you designing websites and building the infrastructure that different companies use.

It goes without saying that computer programmers need to know programming languages. Spend some time learning a few of them before you start marketing yourself to ensure that you always have clients to work with.

Graphic Designer

If you have a lot of experience working with digital art, a career as a freelance graphic designer could be perfect for you. If you’re good at what you do, it’s easy to make a lot of money.

Designers work to relay a company’s message or themes through its digital content. You’ll design everything from logos to images used in ads, ensuring that they showcase everything the business represents in the process.

Have a Target Client

No matter what sort of service you decide to offer, you always want to have a target customer in mind. This will make it easier to attract new clients, as you’ll know how to go about appealing to them.

If you’re thinking about becoming a digital content creator, what sort of business do you plan on working with? Small businesses trying to first get off the ground or larger enterprises that operate in the tech sphere?

Consider the demographics of the people you want to work with. Once you decide on that, you can get to work making your website and services relatable to them.

Create a Portfolio

One problem that many freelancers run into is that they don’t know how to showcase their skills. You can reach out to people in your contact list, but eventually, you run out of people.

The easiest way to show off your skills and experience is by creating a portfolio. Many sites let you do this for free, providing you with an easy and effective way to show off your work.

After a certain point, making an entire website for yourself might be a good idea. This will show how skilled you really are.

Don’t Quit Your Day Job Too Early On

It’s tempting to quit your full-time job the moment that you start flirting with the idea of becoming a freelance worker. Try your best to avoid doing that.

Building up a portfolio or website takes quite a bit of time. In most cases, you won’t be able to make the money that you make at a full-time job until much further down the road.

Try and wait until you’re making around half or more (depending on how you feel about risk) of your full-time salary. At that point, you can consider shifting your focus away from your career and into your freelance jobs.

Never Stop Improving Your Skills

Remember that as a freelancer, you should always be looking for more ways to become a better worker. You don’t have a boss to hold you accountable, so you need to do that to yourself.

If you’re a writer, create content on the side to become a stronger writer and give you experience with other topics. If you’re a programmer, consider adding another language into your skillset.

As you hone your skills more and more, you’ll find yourself become a more in-demand worker. This will allow you to charge higher rates, increase your circle of professional connections, and make the most of the freelance lifestyle.

Understand How to Become a Freelancer

If you’re tired of working for someone else, it might be time to look into becoming a freelancer. Although there are some drawbacks to self-employment, becoming your own boss provides people with many benefits.

Use this guide as a retarget to help you better understand how to become a freelancer. With motivation, hard work, and a bit of luck, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish and earn!

Are you interested in learning more about the different ways to work from home? If so, don’t forget to check out some of the other great content on our site!