More and more people are turning to the Internet as a means to make additional income or even a full-time income. If you have any of the following skills you can certainly earn money as a freelancer.
There is a big demand for people with the above skills. On the flip side there is also a lot of competition. Still if you are determined you can find online work in one or more of the above categories. Finding work as a freelancer.
You can find work at any of the established freelance websites. Some of the well known ones are:
There are many more. Some offer secure payment options such as guaranteed paid for hourly work. Other freelance sites use secure Escrow type payment options. In this way you as a freelancer will be guaranteed payment if a project is completed successfully.
The key factors to success are:
A strong profile
Your profile should summarize your areas of expertise and related experience. Also include your portfolio show-casing your previous and current work. These could be actual samples or links to online projects such as websites you have worked on. You should also include any academic achievements. Include courses, tests and other academic qualifications.
Once you start working as freelancer the results of this work will be reflected on your profile. These will include details of jobs, the type of work and most importantly the feedback from your buyer or employer. When potential buyers view your profile they pay specific attention to your feedback score.
Your job applications
Only apply for work that you are confident you can actually do. When applying read the job requirements carefully and address them in your application. Do not use a generic approach. Buyers receive many applications and will scan most of them. Address the requirements and if you have done a similar project say so, and give the reference.This will increase your conversion rate. It is common to apply for 10 jobs only to get one interview. Apply for many suitable jobs. It is also a numbers game. Apply for as many as you possibly can. This gives you a better chance of getting more interviews. Then you can accept jobs according to your workload and commitments.
The terms of the assignment
You must be comfortable that you understand the
scope and requirements of the project. With this knowledge you must ensure the
time frame and remuneration are reasonable. In the beginning you may need to accept lower paying jobs simply to get your foot in the door. At the same time don't shoot yourself in the foot. Do not agree that a job can be completed in week when you know it will likely take 3 weeks.
Payment - when and how? Will the job be fixed price or hourly. Most freelancers work internationally, so buyers and freelance companies will need a way to pay you. In most cases the buyer will pay the freelance company, which in turn pays you.
There are many international payment gateways. Make sure you know how you are getting paid and that you have the appropriate account to receive payment. You also need to know when you will be paid. There is often a waiting period before you actually have access to the funds.
Up-front fee - in the beginning this might be difficult. However try to negotiate a 10% or higher up front fee as this will provide you with some security.
Safe account - some freelance companies have a system where the buyer places the funds in a secure Escrow account. On successful completion the money will be released from the secure account. Apart from guaranteed hourly work, this is your strongest form of security.
Communication
It is vital to communicate with your buyer during the course of an assignment. If you are unsure about a specific requirement, ask the buyer for clarity. If you have an idea that will be beneficial to the project, put it on the table. Many projects fail as a result of poor communication.
Quality work
You want a good feedback and to this end you need to deliver quality work. Quality involves amongst others presentation and functionality. The project must function and appear as the buyer expects.
Deliver on time
Most buyers are on schedules and some have tighter schedules than others. Make sure you deliver the project within the agreed time frame. If there is some reason why this is not possible you need to get your buyer's agreement on an extension of time.
Sign-off and feedback
If you deliver a quality project on time you have a happy client. Make sure you get the appropriate feedback as this becomes part of your profile. The more positive feed backs you get the more work you will get.
Follow the above guidelines and to improve your career as a freelancer.
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