Freelancing and working remotely have become common post COVID however finding the right work can be challenging. In this blog, Techsol AI looks at the complete guide to freelancing and also at remote work opportunities
What is freelancing and working remotely?
Freelance jobs can be best described as part-time jobs that have flexible schedules. Freelancers aren’t hired by a company but are instead self-employed individuals that use their set of skills to complete a project. Graphic designers, social media managers, content writers, and SEO specialists are some of the popular freelancing jobs.
Remote jobs on the other hand are full-time jobs that are done from home. In fact, these are jobs that can be done from anywhere in the world. These jobs have a set time in which you are required to work, a time when employees from different parts of the world work together.
For either of these jobs, it doesn’t matter where you are located. As long as you have the skill set and enthusiasm, you can work remotely or as a freelancer.
How can you start freelancing?
Freelancing can be done even if you have a full-time job. Here are some tips on how you can start your freelancing job:
Define your goals
Are you pursuing freelancing as a side gig or do you plan to expand it to a full-time business? The goal you define will determine how you view your freelancing career. After this, you will have to look at the niche you want to specialize in and the amount of earnings you wish to earn.
Find the right niche
Before starting freelancing you first need to specialize in a particular area of work that you want to pursue further. For example, if you are a content writer, what kind of content do you specialize in? Is it blog writing or medical writing? Initially, you can write about various topics at once but it’s better to specialize in a niche.
Know your target audience
Knowing who to target for freelancing is equally important as you need to find the right people that match the skill set you are selling. Specifying the audience is always better rather than targeting as a whole.
Setting the freelancing rates
Another important factor to keep in mind is the rates you offer. Rates are best decided based on the number of experiences, education, number of projects completed, and ratings that clients leave.
Have your own website?
It’s always a good idea to have a website where you can showcase your portfolio. This not only makes you a credible source but is a good way of showing potential clients all the work you have done before.
How can you find your first client?
Finding a client isn’t easy and requires patience however there are some steps you can take that can help you in the process.
Join a community
The first thing you can do is join communities catering to the niche you are interested in. Present your opinions on relevant issues and questions and be a part of the discussions. If you see work related to your skill set don’t hesitate in answering questions.
Use Emails
Using emails to find work is a good way of reaching potential clients. Having said that it is important to email the right person and add a personalized touch. It’s always a good idea to add a thoughtful proposal after doing research on the company you are trying to reach. Using email to pitch to clients can be time-consuming and requires practice. Finding a first client is the most difficult part of freelancing but once you do it will pave the way towards making a name in the industry.
Freelancing Websites
There are so many freelancing websites that can help in finding work relevant to your skill set. Some of the popular ones are:
Networking
The first client you find will lead you to your second through the good worth of mouth or referral marketing. Therefore it’s a good idea to get a good review and thumbs up on the project. Other suggestions are to take part in events and remain active on LinkedIn, community groups, etc.
How to find remote work from home?
The best thing about remote work is that you can work from anywhere in the world. Working remotely means that you are open to vast opportunities. However, finding a remote job isn’t as easy as it sounds as you have to compete from a pool of the best talent and prove that you are the best remote applicant.
Discussed below are some of the platforms from where you can find remote work:
Linked In
Linked In is one of the most popular platforms when it comes to finding remote work. Through the filters, you will be able to find a job that best matches your skill set. By simply adding a post that you are in search of a job will you be able to get offers.
Remote Job Websites
There are so many websites that provide remote work opportunities. All you have to do is find the right companies to follow and then search for the job that best meets your need. Some of the remote job websites are up to work, we work remotely and remotely ok.
Facebook Groups
Facebook is a platform with 2.23 billion active users and is also one of the largest social networks. On Facebook, you can find many groups or communities offering remote jobs.
Referrals
It’s always a good idea to get in touch with old co-workers or friends when looking for a job. Good networking can quickly help find a job. All you need to do is keep your resume updated and share it when required.
How to stay motivated while doing a remote job?
Working remotely has its pros and cons and can become boring because of a lack of socialization. However with the following tips you will be able to keep yourself motivated while working remotely:
- Know your priorities
Decide why you want to work remotely and what can you do to keep yourself motivated. Do you prefer onsite instead of remote work? Set your goals and objectives and then choose the mode of working.
- Communication is key
It might seem difficult to communicate in a remote setting but it’s actually not very hard. With platforms like Slack, Zoom, Trello, and Skype communication is easier than ever. Besides a group can be made too in which day-to-day activities can be discussed.
- Set up a workstation
Having a proper environment in which you can work is always a good idea. It will not only motivate you but you will be more organized. Most people work from bed and this isn’t a good habit. A good comfortable and positive working environment should be created.
These are just some things you can consider for starting freelancing or finding a remote job. For similar blogs stay tuned to Techsol AI.
