Daily Career Connection

Freelancing is when you provide your skills and expertise to other persons/companies and organizations on a contract basis.

There are definite steps that can be taken to ensure that you build a solid foundation for your freelance business.

1. Search out freelance sites, browse the projects, the responses of the bidders, the types of jobs and the going rate. Some freelance sites charge employers and others charge the freelancers and the employers to register. Get to know a couple of the sites that you are comfortable with.

2. Decide what skills you have to offer and research your competitors by re-visiting the different freelance sites and viewing the profiles of people who offer the same services that you do.

3. Build your profile. Take your time, plan your keywords carefully. Use the keyword tools selector to determine the keywords that are most used. It is not best to rely on your own ideas of what keywords are used by the general public.

When scoping your competitors, find out what they offer and what you can do differently. What will make your services unique? Why should a small business owner hire you rather then your competitor?

4. Determine what you must charge for your services in order to make a profit. Now determine the minimums you can accept. You may want to accept the minimums until you get 10 or more positive reviews. Feedback is important. It is like your online job performance rating.

Will you be able to compete with freelancers world wide? If you cannot compete on that site, try another site. (Note: Americans who provide services, such as writing copy, proofreading, accounting, training, graphic design, legal advise, are wide open)

5. Be sure to explain to the Employer exactly what you will do when and when and in some cases why.

6. Keep your emails to your clients, short, professional and informative.

7. List yourself on several freelance sites; especially the new ones. The newer sites will provide you with an opportunity to shine for business owners when they show up.

8. Learn what you need to learn in order to become one of the very best freelancers in your selected category.

9. Don’t under estimate the profiles of those on the freelance sites who may not speak or write English very well. Once third world freelancers understand what the clients want, they are masters at making it happen.

10. Be patient, give yourself time to get into the swing of freelancing, its a different world and can be extremely lucrative.