How To Start Freelancing (With No Experience)
Begin a freelance career without prior experience by following these steps
Trying to start freelancing without experience might be a challenge, but it’s one that comes with plenty of benefits. Lacking experience doesn’t mean you’re lacking in talent, and if you’re clever in your approach, you can even use this to your advantage.
You can avoid getting bogged down by industry standards, and create your own path to success. To help you get there, let’s cover how to get the ball rolling.
1. Identify Your Skills and Passions
Identifying your skills and passions is an essential step in starting your freelance career. Your skills are the things you’re good at, while your passions are the things you love doing. When you combine your skills and passions, you’ll be able to create a freelance service that you’ll enjoy doing and will be profitable for you.
To identify your skills, start by listing all the things you’re good at. These can be hard skills, such as design, programming, or writing, or soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, or time management. Once you have a list of your skills, narrow it down to the ones that you enjoy doing the most.
Next, think about your passions. These are the things that excite you and that you enjoy doing, even if you’re not getting paid for them. They could be related to your hobbies, interests, or even your values. Write down a list of your passions, and think about how you can turn them into a freelance service.
For example, if you’re passionate about photography and have a talent for it, you can offer freelance photography services to prospective clients. Or, if you’re good at writing and passionate about travel, you can offer travel writing services to clients.
2. Choose Your Niche and Services
Choosing a niche is an important step in gaining the right freelance jobs. A niche is a specific area or industry that you specialize in, and it’s essential for establishing yourself as an expert in your field.
When considering your chosen niche, think about the skills and passions you identified in the previous step. What area or industry do you have the most knowledge and experience in? What services can you offer that will set you apart from other freelancers?
Here are some tips for choosing your niche and services:
1. Research the market: Look for gaps in the market where you can provide a unique service that clients are willing to pay for. Look at what services other freelancers in your niche are offering and see how you can differentiate yourself.
2. Consider your target audience: Think about who your ideal client is and what services they’re looking for. What problems are they trying to solve, and how can you help them?
3. Focus on your strengths: Choose a niche and services that play to your strengths and experience. This will help you establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract clients who value your expertise.
4. Start small: Don’t try to offer too many services or target too many niches at once. Start with one or two services in a specific niche and build from there.
For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you could specialize in creating branding materials and graphic design services for small businesses in the health and wellness industry. Or, if you’re a freelance writer, you could specialize in writing blog posts and website copy for tech startups. Niching down in the freelance world makes it much easier to find potential clients as a new freelancer.
3. Set Up Your New Freelance Business For Success
Once you’ve identified your skills, passions, niche, and services, it’s time to set up your freelance business. Here are some things to consider:
1. Create a portfolio: Your portfolio is your showcase of work, and it’s essential for proving your skills and expertise to potential clients. Make sure to include samples of your best work that demonstrate your skills in your chosen niche.
2. Register your business: Depending on where you live, you may need to register your business with your local government. This may involve obtaining a business license and registering for taxes.
3. Set up a business bank account: Separating your personal and business finances is important for tracking your income and expenses and simplifying your tax reporting.
4. Establish your pricing: Determine your pricing structure based on your niche, services, and experience. Research the market to see what other freelancers in your niche are charging and set your rates accordingly.
5. Create a contract template: A contract is essential for outlining the scope of work, deadlines, and payment terms for each project. Create a template that you can customize for each new client.
6. Create your own social media channels: If you’ve just started freelancing and are looking for your first clients, it is wise to start marketing yourself within your chosen industry with social media posts and content.
7. Make a website for your new services: Having your own website for your own business is a great place to show off your ability to new clients and get that first freelance gig.
Creating a strong portfolio is especially important, as it provides clients with a snapshot of your skills and expertise. Remember to update your portfolio regularly as you complete new projects, and showcase your best work to make a lasting impression on potential clients.
If you need help building your portfolio and promoting your own services, why not connect with the many freelancers available on Revolancer Beta? As a freelancer with no experience, you can grow your business immediately with our unique service exchange feature and land your first freelance job!
4. Start Getting Freelance Jobs
Once you’ve set up your freelance business and created a portfolio, it’s time to start finding your first client.
There are many freelance websites where you can create a profile, and start bidding on projects on a job board. Revolancer, in particular, offers a unique service exchange feature that allows brand new freelancers to get clients immediately by exchanging their services with others. If you’re wondering how to start freelancing with no experience, this is one of the best ways to find freelance clients quickly and build your reputation.
You will also want to think about networking. Reach out to friends, family, and acquaintances to let them know about your services. Also, attend industry events and conferences to meet other professionals in your niche!
Sharing your portfolio and work on social media platforms can also help you get in front of a potential client, as well as build your personal brand.
Securing that first client may take time and effort, but by utilizing these strategies, you’ll increase your chances of success. Before you start promoting yourself on the plethora of freelancing websites, remember that Revolancer’s service exchange feature is a great way to get your first clients immediately and start building your portfolio and reputation as a freelancer. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and showcase your skills and expertise. With persistence and dedication, you’ll soon be on your way to a successful freelancing career!
5. Price Your Services and Manage Your Finances
It can be challenging to know what to charge, especially when you’re just starting out as a freelancer. However, it’s crucial to ensure that you’re earning enough to cover your expenses and make a profit. Whether you’re doing this for a bit of extra money as a side hustle, or you want this to become your main source of income and have financial freedom, it’s imperative you figure this out!
To determine your pricing, research what other freelancers in your niche are charging. This will give you an idea of the industry standards and help you set your rates accordingly. Remember to factor in your experience, skills, and the value you provide to your clients when setting your rates.
Keep track of your income and expenses, and set aside money for taxes and other business-related costs. Consider using accounting software or hiring a professional accountant to help you manage your finances and ensure that you’re staying on track. You could also find a freelance accountant on Revolancer to trade your services with!
It’s also a good idea to establish payment terms and a clear contract with your clients when sending an invoice for freelance work. Outline your fees, deadlines, and expectations in writing, and make sure your clients understand and agree to these terms before starting any work.
6. Manage Your Time and Workload
As a freelancer, you are your own boss and responsible for managing your time and workload. While having control over your schedule can be liberating, it can also be challenging to balance work and personal life.
To manage your time effectively, create a schedule and stick to it. Set specific hours for work and prioritize tasks based on deadlines and importance. This will help you stay on track and avoid burnout.
It’s also important to learn how to say no to projects or clients that aren’t a good fit for you. Taking on too much work can lead to stress and subpar results. Be honest with yourself about your availability and capabilities, and don’t be afraid to turn down work if it’s not in your best interest.
Check out the best project management tools for freelancers in order to make sure you stay focused and on the ball.
7. Stick At It
Getting off the ground is the most challenging part. When you’re on square one, everything is ahead of you, so this might feel daunting at first. The trick is to ensure you’re taking each task in isolation, and recognise you’re building for the long-term. Once you begin to successfully deliver work for clients, and vitally, get paid as a freelancer, it will feel far easier.
Now that you’ve learned how to start freelancing with no experience, you can start putting the work in.
At Revolancer, we understand the struggles that come with starting a freelance business. That’s why we offer a platform where freelancers can exchange their services with others, get access to a community of like-minded professionals, and receive support in every stage of their journey. We believe that everyone has the potential to thrive as a freelancer, and we’re here to help you make it happen.
Whether you’re looking for a video editing pro, a digital marketing expert, a web designer, a virtual assistant, a social media manager, or a search engine optimization expert, you can find them all (and more!) under one roof at Revolancer.
So, what are you waiting for? Take the leap and start your freelance journey today. With Revolancer by your side, you can achieve your goals and build a successful freelance career!
Before You Start Finding Freelance Work as a Beginner
Now you’re ready to conquer the freelance industry, check out the Easiest Freelance Jobs for Beginners, and for tips on a freelance writing career, check out our guide, How To Become a Freelance Writer.
Freelance marketplace: Revolancer
