Let’s be clear here, because what I did-what made me successful-was done BEFORE I went freelance, not after. Granted, my path to the flexible profession was abnormal. Having decided in college that “normal jobs” weren’t my thing, I used time in between studying and a karaoke bar job to set myself up. But when you read how I made the transition, you’ll realize that if you have any experience in your field at all, you’ve got it easier than I did. Just always remember that becoming a successful freelancer doesn’t begin the day you quit your job, but the day you decide it’s the lifestyle for you.
In between deciding to become a freelancer and becoming a freelancer, you need to prepare to be a freelancer.

For most of us, Freelancing full time, seems like a dream come true. We get to be our own boss, work our own hours, and are responsible for our own success. It all sounds great – and it is, but freelancing full-time isn’t for everyone. While some freelancers thrive on being their own boss, others find that they’re not as good at working for themselves as they were working for a company, or in their 9 to 5 job. For you to be successful as a freelancer, you need to be accountable for yourself. Otherwise, you might end up spending half the day tweeting and going through your RSS reader.
With freelance work being such an enticing prospect, no one would blame you for giving it some serious thought. However, a common issue does simply not know how to start. Fortunately, building a successful freelancing career is easier than it seems — just follow the steps below.
1. Choose Your Craft
Freelancing full time means you’re responsible for yourself and your work more than ever. There’s no one around to monitor how much work you’re getting done or whether you’re meeting your targets.
As a freelancer, you may be required to think outside of the box — we’re not all graphic designers or programmers. However, you may find that your “secondary” skills can offer up freelancing opportunities. For instance, if you are a strong writer, then you have the potential to develop a freelance writing business.
2. Create a Brand
The secret to succeeding as a full time freelancer is to treat it as a business. When you first start freelancing full time, you will need to create a strong brand that sets you apart from the competition. Your brand is your identity (i.e. your website, blog and social media accounts) and it should clearly communicate your unique selling proposition — what you do that makes you special.
With that in mind, you should narrow down your focus to a specific industry. For instance, as a graphic designer you might choose to do branding work for digital startup businesses only. This form of specialization will make you far more attractive to a specific set of prospective clients and give you a greater chance of success. You can try to cater to all and sundry, but you will probably only provoke indifference.

3. Build a Portfolio and Source Testimonials

In freelancing your earnings are directly dependent on your rates and there are no perks in freelancing. you need to be able to negotiate reasonable freelancing rates for yourself.
For you to be successful as a freelancer, Therefore, if you are good at what you do and can demonstrate your skill through a quality portfolio and positive client testimonials, you have every chance of success. The conundrum, however, is in building a portfolio without experience. Many freelancers will react to this by picking up the smallest and least lucrative jobs around, but that puts them into a vicious cycle of bargain-basement work.
So don’t be afraid to do pro bono work for the right clients when you are first starting out. The free work you do at this stage can ultimately be priceless when it clearly communicates your worth to future potential clients via an extensive portfolio and glowing testimonials. Also, offering your services at no cost is a gentle introduction into the world of freelancing where you do not feel the pressure of having to deliver a service of requisite value.

4. Start Pitching
As a freelancer, You should only seek paying clients when you are able to demonstrate your abilities (and your reputation) with a quality portfolio and testimonials. Once you have done so by working on pro bono jobs, it’s time to start pitching.
But whom should you pitch? Well, if you branded yourself correctly then you should know exactly whom to pitch. By having such a narrow focus, potential clients are far more likely to take you seriously than if you offered a generic service. Businesses want to work with freelancers who seemingly came into existence to serve them specifically — you can create this illusion through specialization.
5. You Must Learn to negotiate
As a freelancer, in a full-time job you’re paid a fixed salary each month with a raise every year, medical insurance, paid leave and other perks. In freelancing your earnings are directly dependant on your rates and there are no perks in freelancing.
In order to succeed, you need to be able to negotiate reasonable freelancing rates for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with starting out with low rates – as long as you steadily raise them as you gain a reputation for yourself and are always improving your skill set to deserve higher pay.Failure to negotiate rates means that you’ll be stuck with low rates – and nobody else is going to help you raise your rates.

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Is freelancing only about freedom? Maybe there is a lot more to it

A large number of people are opting for the freelancing way of work as compared to being a full time employee in an organization. A recent study revealed that approximately 1 million people in the U.S.A alone took to freelancing within a span of the last one year. What is it that is driving so many people to this kind of a work culture?

Source: www.motivaapp.com

One major factor, which goes without saying, is the immense work pressure in all fields of work, across nations. Freelancing helps one to stay in control of his or her workload allowing a certain freedom. However, there must also be something more to freelancing – something which is motivating men and women of different age groups. The pros of freelancing must be more powerful than the cons.

Benefits of Freelancing

1. Flexible work schedule

Probably the biggest benefit of freelancing, visible without much thought is the flexibility of work time. One can choose to work for 20 hours a day or even for 0. One can start early in the morning and wrap up by afternoon or sleep till late and start around evening. Work schedule is completely upon the individual when it comes to freelancing. One enjoys the freedom to work or not, to take leaves on certain days or to work at a stretch for weeks and then take a long break.

Source: www.cliparts.co

2. More free time

Since time management in case of freelancing is completely up to the man or the woman doing the work, there is a better scope to manage some free time. In fact, freelancing also teaches one to hone their skills in time management giving them the incentive to make out some free time for themselves. While a full time job requires one to reach on time and work for certain fixed hours each day, the possibilities of suddenly watching a movie or catching up with old friends are higher in freelancing. A freelancer can set schedules for spending time with family, reading and indulging in other activities. There is a lot more free time and ‘me time’ in freelancing.

3. Complete control over choice of clients

Freelancers are independent and in charge of finding their own clients. This also means that freelancing gives one the option to not work with a client or to work more for a certain one. There is no pressure to work for someone who pays less or misbehaves. Freelancing empowers men and women to find clients whom they comfortable working with – in terms of finance, workload, behavior, etc.

Source: www.entreprenista.com

4. Challenging work pattern

Freelancers are pretty much on their own all the time and thus, they are bound to be on their toes all the time. While freelancing gives the freedom of choice of clients and time, it also sets the challenge of finding new clients and keeping a constant flow of work. When freelancing, no one helps out with bidding for projects or striking deals with clients. On one hand, freelancers have to market themselves constantly. On the other hand, considering the rising competition in freelancing, one has to stay abreast of the latest in their industry and take to self development on a regular basis. One is constantly challenging their own self to improve and that in itself is exciting for most!

Source: greaterthanknowledge.wordpress.com

5. Freedom to indulge in other interests

Since freelancing empowers one to utilize their time in a better way, freelancers have the leisure to indulge in their other interests. A writer who is into freelancing might have interest in photography – he can get more time for it without compromising on other aspects of his life. There is much more space to explore what one likes, to develop new hobbies. These can in fact be developed into further income sources if so desired.

Source: www.workingmark.com

6. Greater rewards

This does not mean freelancing pays more. While it definitely can if done in the proper way, the term ‘rewards’ here refers to something deeper than money. Freelancing brings with it a certain kind of satisfaction, not possible in any other pattern of working. When one is employed by an organization, there is someone checking the work, someone bringing it and yet someone else who corrects it. When freelancing, an individual is completely in charge of their work – from start to finish. So it starts with the bidding where one has to prove their skills, proceeds to implementing those skills to create something great, then to make necessary corrections if any, after direct interaction with the client and finally getting paid for the work, both monetarily and otherwise. The kick that freelancing brings by telling you that ‘it was you all the way’, is an unparalleled feeling. It is the freelancer who gets acknowledged for the work and hired the next time for their brilliance.

Source: money.howstuffworks.com

There are also other benefits to freelancing such as the lack of need to work from a dedicated location. Freelancing gives the option of working from anywhere to the extent where some freelancers travel to get a different environment in which they can work peacefully! A person who is freelancing can get to spend more time with their near and dear ones and have the power to organise impromptu meets! Freelancing also helps one to be in charge of their finances in a better way – freelancers learn how to manage their income well and save up for times when they won’t have enough work. Most industries have the provision of per hour rates for freelancing work. This means that freelancers can plan their income well, especially if they have a major expenditure coming up. There is also no bar as to how many clients one can work for. Freelancing, above all, is empowering. However, this is not to state that freelancing is every individual’s cup of cake – freelancing comes with its own set of risks and is best taken up by those who enjoy challenges.

Source:- http://www.guerrillafreelancing.com/freelance-benefits/

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When you decide to pursue freelance work, you may not have a clue how to attract clients as a freelancer.

Freelancing is one of the finest job choices in the world right now. If you’re the student or if you’re currently in the market for the job, freelancing may be for you!

How to attract clients as a freelancer is a difficult question to answer. Following are some of the tips to help you get some attention as the freelance web developer, take a couple of projects and start building your reputation.

Build a website and maintain it

The first thing you do when you’re watching for help? You Google whatever you need, true?

Now, think about how people are going to find. If you’re a graphic designer and want to get paid his first performance graphic design, how will they know about their services and capabilities? Through their impressive website, that’s how! It’s super easy, and so important to have any. Let yourself be found on Google! Keep your website daily with blogs, status updates, photos, or whatever you want to your customers and potential customers to see. Show your finest work online in the specialized and beautiful way!

Get testimonials, and then flaunt

Recommendations play an important role in getting the business. Are more likely to hire a recommended by a friend of one who saw it in a newspaper ad mechanic. Witnesses can give your reputation as a freelancer one big push. After completing a project, make a point to get a testimony of his client. When you are adding witnesses to your portfolio, be sure to include the name and the client company. There is a difference, especially if potential customers have heard of customers or companies that list. All witnesses are not equal. Detailed, results-focused witnesses leave a lasting impression and work better than the strike praise. When communicating with customers witnesses, ask for feedback on the basis of figures. Or at minimum ask them to be more specific in your comments.

Blog Posting

One of the easiest (and more fun) to spread the word about their skills and their ability ways is to write about them. Your message must not even be long! They may be a little short paragraph, a “tip of the day” fast everything can prove that you are going to for their web development needs. You’re the expert, you are to be employed, and your blog is going to emphasize this point.

Contributing to open source projects

While many potential customers do not have a background in software development, others do, and customers prefer these freelancers with a quality experience, then how to attract clients as a freelancer? Working on the open source project is the great way to establish your credibility with customers like these. Contributing to open source projects gives you the benefit over the other independent professionals. And it’s not hard to do, but it can be confusing when you’re starting.

Send the correct samples

Although many freelancers are concerned about having a “full” portfolio, the fact is that customers are more interested in the relevance of their samples are. In fact, it is often more powerful to have only a single sample of high-quality work in this sample is highly relevant to what the customer really needs. Instead of thinking about your portfolio in terms of quantity, send customers 1-3 pieces that show you can do the kind of work they need. Doing so will give you a better chance to grab your attention from a portfolio that is 10 times greater.

Source:- http://collegeinfogeek.com/freelancer-first-client/

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The world has had tremendous growth in terms of technology. The introduction of the internet particularly has had a significant impact in socializing, business management, education, communication as well as improving the ability for a person to earn an honest income. Presently, the number of people engaging in online work is increasing. This is because the freelancing business has had a positive impact on the people who engage in it. Evidence shows that people are able to generate a stable income that is more than they would have in a normal and formal employment. Numerous organizations give individuals a proper platform to pursue their freelancing careers. The two most popular organizations are oDesk and Freelancer.com. In order to get a better picture on the best platform amongst the two, it is important to note their characteristics and compare their pros and cons.

The oDesk platform was first launched in the year 2003 to cater for the individuals who did not find satisfaction from their employment. The company sought to fill the global demand for a platform that would offer freelancers and outsourcing organizations a secure environment to interact. From its inception, oDesk was able to attract a freelance earning rate of nine hundred and twenty million dollars. This showed that the organizations is very successful in bringing together freelancers and outsources. further er, the company has quite good review concerning its service delivery strategy as well as payment process. One of the advantages of using this platform is its minimal fees of only ten percent of the total amount charged for any given task. The low fees is favorable to new comers and individuals who seek to start their careers. The profile system on oDesk is comprehensive therefore a person can write up all their qualifications. The higher one’s profile-ranks, the better his or her probability is to secure a task upon bidding. The system also provides for employment on an hourly basis and is flexible on the total cost or earnings per hour. Freelancers can negotiate with vendors freely. In addition, the platform also gives vendors the ability to keep track of the task awarded to various freelancers through screenshots, mos and keyboard activities. The organization also has a wide network incorporating freelancers and vendors thereby improving the chances of a new freelancer finding a suitable source of income.

Freelancer.com is also a global outsourcing platform founded in the year 2009. Since its inception, the company has been able to acquire a total of one hundred and fifty three million dollars in freelancers income. The company has had a near perfect expansion plan that has seen it acquire other platforms such as freelancer.de, Lime Exchange, and scriptlance.com. the expansion strategy allowed it to gain a good percentage of the freelancing market share. The organization currently has seven million one hundred thousand freelancers registered. Number of tasks posted is four million one hundred thousand. The huge number of freelancers shows that the company is a quality company. However, comparing the number of jobs posted and the number of freelancers registered shows that competition is very high. In terms of fees charged, the company takes a thirteen percent fee on all tasks completed.

Comparison

The oDesk platform gives new freelancers a better chance to launching a successful freelance career because of its low fees as compared to Freelancer.com. in addition, the competition at Freelancer.com is very high and this will make newcomers to have a very hard time in starting up. Recently, oDesk acquired Elance thus improving its network base and ensuring it is the market leader for now. The merger is favorable to both newcomers and veterans since it increases the number of tasks while reducing the competition. Therefore, oDesk is a better platform in terms of quality, payment and talent pool.

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Uber’s part-time working, contract based event hiring and any other reflexive working regime has been the results of increased productivity and better management. But, do you know, the recent increase in Indian freelancers and online employment has actually been responsible for strengthening the economy not only by bringing foreign money, but also making the global investors to trust our abilities.
Let’s see how else, freelancing has been the key door for India on global freelancing.

• Feel the Benevolence of ‘How the world works’:

Snoringat late hours in office just to get your overtime isn’t how you keep your career curve inclined. Don’t play the frog of a well, instead go out and talk with the corporate beyond lines. This will give you the big picture of doing, handling and rectifying business cliches and ducts at the biggest level. If you are think you are an expert of a certain kind of skill, with some smart steps and patience, you will be in recruiter’s eyes within few days.

• Increased Assets exchange:

This is in fact a sense of pride, whenever a client pays me from beyond the lines. This increases few micro points of Indian economy value. Being able to help Indian economy grow means you are giving your people a gift by increasing value for Rupee

• Sense of Responsibility and Leadership:

You will be the one to lead your Client to success and this increases responsibility only on you. The political blame games of 9 to 5 working goes out of convention here. No matter, you have to pay for any consequences, but you will also be rewarded full shares of whatever work is done along with an incentive (if you are lucky).

• No commuting, Work anywhere:

Apart from photography ventures and projects, there is rarely a job which insist you to commute outside for completing a client ask. Working from your own office and with own timings is always a great relief on mind. Most of the freelancers are satisfied with rather less income than employees, because the sense of relief while on work is priceless.

• Every Penny you earned is Taxable: This is the foremost benefit to earn more money while being a regular tax-payer. The money that you ponder from foreign clients is liable to some tax and filling the form once a year isn’t a hard task.

• You can still work in a team: If you do miss the joy of extra hour shifts in office, with lot of water spilling and jaw breaking jokes. You can still make a team, choose a common place and freelance better by together building repo of a professional freelance team. This brings a sense of reliability and work balance. The clients also trust you more as a company than as an individual and thus more work flows through different channels.

Make your move and get your first client today, by hyping into any of the major freelancing platform and bring your office at your home by switching to professional freelancing.

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• Your first shot is probably your last:

Never think like, a client will send you a “need you to complete my ASP project” himself, unless you have thousands of working hours reflecting on your name along with “No Red” in the ledger. So, the first thing is bidding proactively. Your bid is your first impression that matters the most to the client.

At the instant, you find a project suitable to your match skills, try to grab the opportunity by going beyond the mainframe title. Read the description and decrypt every info and need you can extract. Spend a little time to make a proposal that involves real-time changes and suggestions, a client expects to listen from his employee. Once, you portray yourself better, your chances to grab the project increases.

• Have certifications: Every major freelancing platform optimizes profiles, which have gone through the scrutiny of basic and advanced level certifications. Just like a star on the shoulder of an officer demands respect, same is the case with certifications. Giving exams and online tests over time, gives you the leverage of making things easier and faster.                                                                                                                       You will leave the anonymous community of starters and low performers and thus get quality work bringing wealthy earning hours into the act.

• Invest in Decorum and Management: You must have seen those Google images showing people doing freelancing at beaches and green outdoors. Well, they are too good to be true. An open space offers zillion things to distract. Try to build up a smart desk with all the office tools like a clock, paperweight, A listing diary and a laptop with all the necessary tools.      Treat your small place like an ideal office and also don’t enter with shorts or snickers. Maintaining a Decorum can help you work accordingly to the tasks and projects assigned. For your help, this home-office productivity guide from Life Hacker can help you collect real tools to make a good day at office

• The “Mayday” Backup: If you ever got stressed out with the work, or the situation is too lurking to create productive content, watch for the backup. By backup, I don’t refer you to a neighbor or livelihood friend. You are stressed out because you have lot of opportunities and beginners strive for that. Appoint projects to them as they can give you a better support by working at a less rate than your client would have agreed. Establishing a good contact base, both upward and downward, brings harmony of working as a Freelancing pro. You will get beginners in tons once you start searching. You also have a chance to grow your image as an Employer.

• The Time Consumers: If you think, checking emails and proposals and setting up the mood will only cost you 5 to 10 minutes, then you have to open your eyes on these time Keep things automated, visit your emails twice or at most thrice a day. Don’t let you sink in the blue social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter). Use RSS for notification of important or long-term clients. Keep a distance from instant chat machines, even your phone. Some tasks look like they are important, but consume a lot of time to keep your regime productive. Keeping automating tools and services can become handy in this condition.

• There is no sixth point actually and I want you to make the most out of the first five. I am emphasizing this, as more than 80% of the freelancers are losing their shape, just because of these points.

Keeping a balance between my personal life and freelancing is what I have always insisted. Share what productivity lesson, you have found during your career and add one more freelancing opportunity platform by signing up with Frisklancer.com.

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