This week, I’m excited to share a guest post from Araminta, who runs the blog Financially Mint. She teaches students how to make, save, and manage money. Araminta has been working online for years and really knows her stuff! Enjoy her post and check out her blog for more finance tips.
I started freelancing when I was just 16. I was eager to earn money, but there were no job opportunities in my small village near Barcelona, Spain. Now, I freelance part-time alongside blogging, and you can do it too if you’re interested. Here, I’ll focus on freelancing as a side income.
Freelancing takes a lot of hustle. You’ll earn almost nothing in the first month, a bit more in the second, and it could take about six months of hard work before you see good results. But freelancing is great because it offers flexibility, allows you to manage your own clients, and helps you learn new skills like writing, editing, design, and programming.
Here are some steps to get started with freelancing:
1. **Identify Your Skills**
Figure out what you can offer to clients. Are you good at writing, designing, or coaching? Check out Fiverr.com to see what others are offering. Some people do unusual things and still make good money. Classic freelance jobs include ghostwriting, graphic design, research, digital marketing, virtual assistance, and teaching. I started with ghostwriting and article research at 16, and even though I was underpaid, I loved earning money.
2. **Create a Portfolio**
As a side-income freelancer, you don’t need a full website. Instead, gather examples of your work to show potential clients. This could be a project you did years ago or an interesting article you wrote. If you have nothing, don’t worry—hustle will get you clients. Use your portfolio to showcase your capabilities and experience.
3. **Start Simple**
The first clients are the hardest to get. I suggest starting with Upwork because they have contracts in place, and it’s easy to find work. The pay might be low initially, but it’s a good way to get a feel for freelancing. Set up a professional profile on Upwork and look for quick, low-paying projects to build your portfolio.
4. **Build Connections**
Networking is key to getting clients. Word of mouth is your friend. As you gain more clients on Upwork, you’ll start forming connections, and satisfied clients will refer you to others. Keep testimonials from every good job you do as proof of your capabilities. Once you have a solid client base, you can move away from Upwork and charge higher rates. Always use a contract that outlines your work, charges, and payment terms.
5. **Expand Your Presence**
Once you’re comfortable with the process and want to level up, create your own website. You can start with a free page on WordPress, Blogger, or Weebly, or buy a domain name. Your website should showcase all your projects, testimonials, and clients. As client requests increase, set a limit on your working hours to avoid burnout.
Freelancing offers true independence since you set your own hours and rates. Success is all yours, but so are any failures. It’s not for everyone, but even as a side income, it teaches you a lot about people, yourself, and your work ethic.
Now that I have my own blog, I use it as my portfolio. Most of my freelance work comes from other bloggers or people in my network, so my blog is enough to show what I can do. If you’re a blogger, you might find this approach useful too.
Freelancing requires hustle, patience, and can be frustrating, but it’s scalable and enjoyable if you’re good at and like what you’re doing. Good luck on your freelance journey!