How to Start Freelancing Without Experience

Begin a freelance career without prior experience by following these steps

 

A clean slate

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.

 

Find your calling

There are so many different ways to freelance, so defining the services that are right for you is the natural first step. You might already have a skill set in mind that you’d like to apply to your freelance work, this is a good basis to build from.

 

If you’re a creative type, you may choose freelance copywriting, design, or video editing. If you’re more technical, you might pursue web development, programming, or technical writing. In truth, the opportunities are nearly endless. So long as you can define a salable skill that a hiring client might need, you’ll be fine.

 

If you’re still unsure, here are ‘6 Top Freelancing Skills You Should Have in 2022’.

 

Learn the industry basics 

Nobody can be expected to become an expert in a new field overnight, but picking up some freelancing basics can help. These skills can include learning how to create an invoice, developing beginner-level market research, and understanding expected working practices for freelancers in your field.

 

 

A lot of the more intricate details you’ll learn over time. Practice makes perfect, and simply being exposed to the industry will have you learning all the time. Making sure you’ve got a grasp on the simple things like how to get paid, how to find work, and how to submit your taxes is the best way to start.

 

Here are ‘10 FAQs for Freelancers’ that should help you out.

 

Create a profile

This can mean many things. Literally creating a freelancer profile on a site like Revolancer will help you secure work, without the pressure of commission fees. Freelance marketplaces are a great way to connect to clients, and Revolancer allows you to do this, unburdened by fees, harsh moderation practices, or race to the bottom competition.

 

Creating a profile also means getting out there. Make yourself known by reaching out, offering work to contacts in your network to help build your portfolio. Building, maintaining, and sharing an impressive portfolio of freelance work is absolutely vital for securing clients. This document is the proof clients need that you can deliver quality projects. 

 

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, it will feel far easier.

 

Now that you’ve learned how to start freelancing without experience, you can start putting the work in. Take some time to make important decisions about which direction your new freelancing career will take you. Define your niche. Learn the basics. Develop your profile. Stick at it. You’ve got this!

 

Before you go

Now you’re ready to conquer the freelance industry, sign up to Revolancer today. And for tips on how to nail your portfolio, check out our guide, ‘How to Create a Freelance Portfolio’.

 

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Freelance marketplace: Revolancer