Meaning of Freelancing

Freelancing typically refers to content writers, designers, programmers, website developers, illustrators, translator who offer their services to individuals or employers or companies  without a long term commitment.  They often charge by the hour per day or per project.

Freelancing your skills is a quick way to work from home and to be independent without needing to start an actual business and without becoming an employee.

The key to getting started as a freelancer is to have work/job. ▸But where do you find your first jobs? ▸And what do you need to put in your portfolio to attract companies?

Steps to Become a Freelancer

The freelance market is growing day by day, and if you want to be competitive, you have to prepare accordingly. You can follow these 7 steps to get started.

• Step 1: Identify Your Skills
• Step 2: Narrow Your Focus
• Step 3: Gather in-depth Knowledge on Focused Area
• Step 4: Create an Online Portfolio
• Step 5: Find Platform(s) to Work and Upload Your Portfolio
• Step 6: Start Working on the Projects and Earn
• Step 7: Improve Your Skills

Benefits of Freelancing

You may have a little ideas about benefits of freelancing. Following are some of major benefits:

Benefit 1: You Can Have Any Kind Office

You can decide what type of office you want that fits into your life. It is not necessary to have all office furniture and equipments.

Benefit 2: You Can Set Up Your Office Anywhere

Your office can be anywhere even in your drawing room. ▸You can take care of your jobs while traveling, enjoying the great outdoors. ▸If you are in a coffee shop or enjoying a live concert just carry the laptop or smartphone and do your jobs.

Benefit 3: You Can Save Money

As you are not traveling to your office everyday like a normal job, you do not have to bear lots of expenses. You do not have to wear a suit, polished shoes anymore. You can save the cost of the conveyance, Tiffin, etc

Benefit 4: You Can Have Your Own Schedule

You can do your job in the comfort of your own time. If you are writing content for a blog or designing a website, you can set your time whenever it suits you, it can be early morning, late night, whenever you feel to work. ▸You can take breaks in between if you feel tired and come back to work. The more time you will give the more jobs you will be doing.

Benefit 5: You Will Get the Freedom to Learn More and Become More Independent

You will get more time and scope to develop your skills and become more proactive to find what you need for your personal growth.

Benefit 6: You Will Actually Have Enjoyable and Effective Meetings

As the meetings or discussion will be based on your subject, so you will enjoy meetings. It will be completely participatory. With just a few clicks, you can have more than 100 people on a video conference and organize the meeting.

Benefit 7: You Can Stay More Focused

You will be able to avoid being distracted by the disturbing elements. You will find yourself getting more focused on your objectives. You do not have to worry about co-workers with unnecessary chats.

Top Freelancing Sites

• UpWork
• Freelancer
• ShutterStock
• iStock
• Fiverr
• 99designs
• Toptal ▸
• Guru
• DesignHill
• Elance
• EvantoStudio