Undoubtedly, working independently and, even more, being able to work from anywhere in the world, is the dream of many, but is that the reality of all self-employed workers? what is a freelancer? Why many people decided for this profession? We tell you everything in this post.
For many people, it is the ideal plan: freedom to choose working hours and places, without uniforms or losing time in traffic, and the best: with the possibility of doing what you love!
If you are one of these people and you are thinking about how to give your professional career a new direction, or you simply want to have extra income without committing to a permanent job, becoming a freelancer is a great idea.
Keep reading this post because we are going to tell you everything you want to know about the freelance work model, what its advantages are and some tips for you to take your first steps.
What is a freelancer?
Freelancer is someone who works independently offering their services to companies or other people, and who manages their time and their way of working autonomously.
Anyone who has skills, talents or knowledge in an area that allows it, can work as a freelancer.
For example, it is very common to see freelancers working in areas such as education, programming, design, translation, art, sales and many more.
Many times, it is not necessary to be successful, but it does take a lot of dedication and commitment to work to achieve good results.
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Advantages and disadvantages of being a freelancer
The first thing you can do before turning your life around is to evaluate the pros and cons of being a freelancer. Thus, it will be easier to decide if it is what you want for yourself and how to prepare to start your day.
1. Advantages of being a freelancer:
1.1. You don’t have to keep schedules
One of the biggest advantages that freelancers have is that they can manage their time with much more flexibility than if they had a job with fixed hours.
They can do their tasks at their own pace, as long as they meet the deadlines and requirements of their clients.
1.2. More freedom to see yourself as you want
In some jobs it is necessary to wear certain clothes or maintain a style, either for safety, comfort or for the image itself that must be reflected.
If you are a freelancer, you can choose to see yourself as makes you feel more comfortable in your day-to-day work.
1.3. It is possible to spend more time with family
Work as a freelancer, and above all it is a great advantage to spend more time with the people you love.
If you know how to organize you can be present at the most important moments for your family or friends, something that is not always possible in jobs with fixed hours.
1.4. you’re in control
Freelancers have the freedom to control their workload and also choose the projects they want to carry out and how to do it.
But remember that being in control will also require you to take on more responsibility in order to run your business successfully.
1.5. There is no earnings limit
One of the biggest advantages of being a freelancer is that the value you are going to earn for your work is not totally predetermined.
That means that a person can earn much more money being a freelancer than working with a fixed salary.
Of course, everything will depend on the quality of your work and the ability you have to find clients to reach a real .
2. Disadvantages of being a freelancer
2.1. You only earn when you work
Those who work as a freelancer can go on vacation whenever they want or take a few days to resolve personal issues, as long as they know how to organize their agenda.
But beware! In most cases, during those periods no income is generated, just as you do not do it in case of illness or accident. And, without a doubt, this is a fundamental point that you must consider in your .
On the other hand, there are those who have businesses that allow them to continue to have a rein, even while they are not working.
This is the case of digital producers and affiliates who sell their products on platforms, through social networks or sales pages in which most of the processes are automated.
It’s an excellent job option, don’t you think? You can read more about this opportunity.
2.2. You may spend a lot of time alone
If you don’t live with other people, one of the downsides of being a freelancer is having little social contact, especially if you’re someone who enjoys getting together.
By spending most of your time at home working, interaction with other people is more limited. Therefore, it is normal for many people to start feeling lonely after a while.
23. You have fewer guarantees
As we have already said, by working as a freelancer and having your things are in your hands. Therefore, it is inevitable to take some risks.
Nothing guarantees that , or that you earn enough money for all your expenses. You also do not know if you are going to be successful or not, and you may have to try some alternatives until you find the best option.
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What do you need to be a freelancer?
If you have come this far, it is because you are really interested in taking that big step in your working life. Next, we explain what you need to do it.
1. Have determination
The first thing you need to become a freelancer is to make the decision to do so. You may have to choose to leave the security of a steady salary job or work hard to start and build your own business.
work some that prevent you from getting out of place and taking the first steps can take weeks, months or even a couple of hours!
Like any major choice and change, you may encounter difficulties as well as great satisfaction and benefits. The only way to know is by doing it.
2. Put together an attractive portfolio
Having a complete and well-presented portfolio is very useful when it comes to getting freelance work. Therefore, it is best that before you start sending proposals you prepare it very well.
In it, you must put your personal information, a summary of your experience in the area and, of course, a sample of your work.
The main objective is to convey confidence and security to your potential customers.
3. Choose just one performance area
It is important that you select a specific activity to work as a freelancer and that you do not want to deal with several different things at the same time. Thus, you dedicate your energy and your day to obtain better results.
To select your job niche, think a little about your skills, your academic preparation and, above all, what you enjoy doing.
4. Equip yourself properly
Make sure you have all the equipment available and in good condition to carry out your work.
At first, you may have less money to invest, but over time you will be able to improve the quality of your work tools, which will make you grow professionally and deliver better results.
5. Sign up for freelance platforms
There are many platforms on the Internet where companies or individuals post ads or proposals for freelance jobs. This is a good way to start offering your services and publicize your work.
Don’t worry, we’ll talk about them later!
6. Put a fair price on your work
One of the most common mistakes professionals make when they start freelancing is to price their work too low.
We know that the pressure of not receiving a fixed amount of money every month can be overwhelming and that there are expenses to cover.
But, determining a price that is below the market value will not only devalue you, but also the rest of the professionals who work independently.
If in doubt, think and set a value that is fair to both you and your customer.
7. Set a work schedule
Among the advantages of being a freelancer we have mentioned “not having to keep a work schedule”, do you remember? This is true, but it’s also true that if you want to work like this for the long term, you need to set a schedule for yourself to work.
See what time of day you produce best and establish a schedule in which you can dedicate yourself completely to developing the work and serving your customers.
Of course, that schedule can be modified and adjusted on the fly.
8. Prepare a workspace
Also, we have said that you can work anywhere in the world you want, as long as you have a job that you can do using the Internet, remotely.
However, just as having some pre-established hours will help you organize and produce, it is important that you find good places that allow you to work comfortably and without major interruptions.
An environment without much noise, a table and chair that allow you to spend several hours comfortably, lighting according to your needs and other details, are essential for the quality of your work.
9. Be disciplined
One of the biggest problems that all of us have has to do with maintaining a good habit or wanting to change some not so good ones. In fact, discipline has a lot to do with habits and customs.
Since the discipline seeks constancy and mastery of the impulses that can take you away from the goals you have set for yourself, and this applies to everything: personal life, sentimental life, work or relationships with others.
Discipline is the result of having analyzed, understood and maintained actions that fundamentally give you satisfaction and help you meet your goals.
In addition to being essential to meeting your goals, being disciplined will also help you develop strong self-esteem and self-confidence.
How to get a job as a freelancer?
There are many platforms where you can offer your services and apply to work on specific projects, and those who are looking for professional freelancers can find them there too.
We have listed some sites that can help you land your first jobs. Some are only available in English (such as Guru, PeoplePerHour and UpWork) and while it is possible to work from anywhere in the world, you will need to be fluent in the language.
Beyond this list, you should know that there are no limits to searching for opportunities on the Internet. You can also send proposals directly to companies or promote your services on social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or the ones you use the most.
Tips to be a good freelancer
We cannot finish this post without first giving you some tips so that you start off on the right foot and have a successful day as a professional freelancer.
1. Get organized
Clutter is a freelancer’s worst enemy, so if you really want to be successful working this way, you need to learn how to organize yourself really well.
Get used to scheduling your projects, plan your work day by…
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