How can I make money freelancing?

[Hugo E.]

Hey Guys, I have experience affiliate marketing, web design and development and want to make money using my skills. Where do I start? anyone here is working as a freelancer, share me any tips?

 

[Developer]

The answer to your question varies greatly on exactly what you want to do, what you CAN do, how good you can perform the services and how much money you want to make. Freelancing can be one of the most stressful things in the world, but it can also be one of the most rewarding and extremely lucrative.

You mention you have experience with affiliate marketing and web design, so, why not start off designing a spectacularly designed article type site and post a slew of articles on web design and development as well as a portfolio section with some of the sites you have designed.

Now, if you do not have any real world experience with web design (which I assume you DO otherwise you are not a designer, you are a hobbyist, lol), then I strongly suggest you get a hold of some friends and offer to build websites for them, OR, register a few domains for yourself, on various topics (subject matter) and design sites for those... Many designers make the mistake of thinking their portfolio has to be stuffed with customers' sites. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you designed it, it belongs in your portfolio. Just because it's not something someone paid you for does not take away from the fact that it's still your work and showcases what you are capable of doing.

Also, the main purpose of writing up some articles for the site is to let your intended audience know that you really do know what you're doing and what you're talking about. Your articles could be useful tips and tricks, case studies of previous clients and what hiring YOU did for them as well as any general information that could be useful to website owners passing by your site.

Your original question (the title of this thread) asked "how can I make money freelancing?" and the answer to that is partly what I have mentioned above as well as doing everything you can to actually get your name out there in front of the masses...

Get yourself a domain and design a website for yourself. Incorporate as many of the skills you have as possible. If you're great at SEO, make sure your site is on the first page of most SE's. If your greatest skill sets lie in the way of graphic design, make sure the images on your site make it POP. If your skill set is primarily "writing great content", make certain your page content is well written, proof-read and informative as well as MAKES your visitors want to hire you NOW.

Once you've got a site that you are proud of, get out there and hit the pavement. Get yourself social media accounts and befriend as many people as you can. Setup a fiverr account and be willing to do some miniscule jobs for just $5 to get your name out there. Get yourself setup as a freelancer on sites like odesk.com, freelancer.com, etc... Don't be afraid to sell your services at high discounts as you HAVE TO build a name for yourself first and doing so, sometimes, requires you to sell your time for much less than what it is really worth.

AND, if anyone says "don't ever sell yourself for less than what you're worth", they're right, HOWEVER, selling your services at low ball prices NOW is just good business sense as it helps you prove yourself to others who otherwise would never give you the time of day.

Think of it like a business lunch. A friend of mine, who is a high end attorney in my neck of the woods, always tells others that his time is worth $1,000 per hour and he NEVER strays away from that.

Now, yes, he is good enough to command that type of money for his time, however, when he tries to schmooze over new clients, he takes THEM to lunch, HE PAYS for the meal (and any "entertainment" that comes with it, if you know what I mean) and HE doesn't charge the "hope to be client" $2k - $3k for that 2-3 hour meal.

So, in reality, he just GAVE HIS TIME AWAY and HE ACTUALLY PAID FOR IT!

So, again, don't let anyone tell you that you should NOT sell yourself for less than your true worth, when just starting out. Sometimes, you just have to pay the cost of admission to be able to further enjoy the benefits of the ride, you know.

 

[savidge4]

Hey Guys, I have experience affiliate marketing, web design and development and want to make money using my skills. Where do I start? anyone here is working as a freelancer, share me any tips?

When you say you have "experience affiliate marketing" and then pose the question... "I want to make money using my skills, where do i start?" you are leading those of us that are reading this that your affiliate experience was not so fruitful. If you were to say that experience dictates outcomes.. where would this leave your freelance clients? Sure you can build a site.. but will it sell anything? If you cant develop an income stream for yourself how do you propose to develop one for clients? Sure it may be "easier" to build a site and go.. but is it really ethical? can you sleep at night knowing you are placing someone that payed you perfectly good money to get results, in the exact same position you are in right now? If you can, then join any number of free lance sites and start bidding on jobs..it isnt that hard.

IF you have read past the statement above and understand I am not trying to be belligerent... my best advice... make an affiliate program work... try amazon... pick a single product IE furnace filters as an example, and create a flow of cash. build the knowledge and understanding of what it takes not only to build a site.. but to create an income from a site ( they are 2 different things )

In the long run... building an affiliate cash flow will be more fruitful than freelancing. why get paid peanuts to build another mans wealth,when you could be building your own?

 

[HCFGrizzly]

Hey Guys, I have experience affiliate marketing, web design and development and want to make money using my skills. Where do I start? anyone here is working as a freelancer, share me any tips?

A short answer: You can create an account on freelancer and start searching for jobs that require your skills. It will be hard at first because you don`t have any ratings, but after you amass more and more ratings it will be easier to get projects

 

[Miguelito203]

You say you have experience with affiliate marketing. Do you have at least one blog on your own domain? Have you started to build an e-mail list (acts as a stream of income for your blog - besides the traffic you get from the search engines)? If you like to write, you might want to check out a product called Writer Help Wanted by Ron Douglas and Alice Seba. It not only helps you to improve your writing skills but teaches you about the business side of writing and provides you with a lot of places you can look for writing jobs. Since being a service provider and affiliate marketing are two different models, you could do both. However, you should wait until you start making money from one before you move over to the other.

Joey

 

[samimnoorzaitgc]

Go to freelancer, simply start a job. Get paid for every work you do. Looks like freelancer is the best solution for you. You'll earn money with your unique skills.

 

[Crystal Violet]

Hey Guys, I have experience affiliate marketing, web design and development and want to make money using my skills. Where do I start? anyone here is working as a freelancer, share me any tips?

I agree with many of the other posts about just putting yourself out there on site like Fiverr or Upwork and making offers for jobs that are listed. But I also want to say make sure that when you create your profile that you have a great profile. Think about what would make you want to hire someone in these positions, sell yourself and the benefits. I have had the experience of being invited to send a proposal for jobs. In those cases, you can potentially make more money as they reached out to you esp on sites like Upwork and Etsy. Be honest on your profile (I am very clear that my career background is not in what I freelance as however I am passionate in creating something original and collaborating with the client instead of being pigeon-held by the norms. Thus I've gotten requests to send proposals.) When you get the job, keep in contact with the client, update them on as needed, make sure you negotiate plenty of time to get it done and finish it sooner. Then ask for them to give you the highest rating and a quick comment on the site, if they are satisfied.

 

[AndiLim]

I am working as a freelance writer for a blog that talks about trendy topic. Well basically you will depend on your skills as for you who have knowledge in affiliate marketing, web design and development well you can start by posting it on your social media accounts. Tell your friends that if they are in need for someone who knows about digital marketing then they can call you. With that it will be easy for you to gain potential clients, a lot of people do look for freelancer. As long as you love what you do then you will never get lost in it.

 

[Valdenheath]

If website development means you can handle the technical glitches too then I would focus on that. I would be completely lost without tech folk, and I know there are lots people with online business sites who are hungry for a reliable person to help them.

 

[saurabhthakur]

Freelance, Upwork, Elance are such a good websites for freelancing work. You just create your account on these sites, fill the complete details and find work according to your knowledge. Starting is not an easy because you have note any rating. Once your account getting rating & some good reviews then it's easy to get work.

If you can do any work in past then you can create a work portfolio. Its make a good impression to client and also helpful to getting work easily.

 

[wrcato2]

This is all great advice and you should have enough idea's to get going with your freelance business. But many forget freelancing has been around for ever. Find businesses in your local area and promote your business to them. Many businesses may already have a design team, but others, many others, don't have a clue about marketing their business online.

they don't know a static html site from a WP blog, what social media marketing is and so on. Your skills could help them out. Use all the traditional offline methods to reach your local market and go door to door. You'll be surprised how much business you could get.

 

[AffEngineer]

Be specific in what you can offer, find different places and platforms to advertise your services such as upwork and even forums like this.

Even contact people who would like work done.

You'll have to work hard at the start but once you get some clients, referrals should start rolling in.

Good luck!

 

[wrcato2]

The secret to freelancing is to specialize. IF your a writer what you like to write about?
IM?
Real estate?
DIY?
Whatever it is, and you can write in that niche without having to spend days researching, then that may be your specialty. Specialists get hired more than generalist.

This goes not only for writers but any profession. Graphic designers, webmasters, etc.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[MeowNinja]

It's true... you have to stand out. The first 6 months to 12 months is the hardest. Depending on your situation, you can't afford to be choosy. You need to focus on amassing reviews, etc, before you can get to that stage.

Good luck! Plenty of awesome advice here!

 

[javievardy]

you can make more money with your skills . You should join the network to make money with freelancing as : upwork , iFreelance , guru , fiver.

 

[rfharris]

Just create a profile on a top freelancing websites like elance and upwork. Start bidding at reasonable price and you will surely get some work on these huge platforms. There are thousands of new jobs become available on these sites everyday so you will never be short of options. ALL THE BEST (Y)

 

[WebmasterPhil]

There are plenty of places to provide your services online. But looking at your location, Canberra, which is located in Australia I believe, you should target local businesses in your capital. Try offline marketing by visiting local businesses, get friendly with the owners, and hand out flyers, etc. There are plenty of local businesses who don't know anything about web designing, and even if they did, probably don't have good taste in design - so they might be willing to hire, but you have to know how to market yourself to them. Don't be afraid to ask, rejections are a normal part of the game.

 

[Mark Young]

For freelancing getting traffic will be one of the biggest hurdles to bear and cross, since you have got everything else established from the sounds of it. Find a place to sell and find a way to get tons of targeted traffic.

 

[expertintegrations]

Making money as a freelancer simple answer is yes! Its very possible there are many online places you can post up available for work & be able to have bids provided to help draw further work your way. Many of these sites allow you to register for free & post up your work ability & available for said work.

Also word of mouth, & posting on community boards; & also answering post where people are looking to outsource there work to people of your ability.

 

[Rockk]

You declare you could have experience with affiliate internet marketing. Are there
in least a single blog page on your own space? Maybe you have started to build an
email list (acts being a stream of income to your webpage -- apart from the targeted traffic
you comes from the search engines)? If you like to publish, you may want to take
a glance at a product referred to as Writer Support Wanted simply by Ron Douglas and
Alice Seba. That only means that you can improve your posting skills
non-etheless teaches you regarding the business area of publishing and supplies
you using a large amount of areas you may look for writing jobs. As being a
firm and internet affiliate marketing are two different models, you could do
both equally. However , you should wait until you start making money based on one of
just before you engage over to the other.