Starting freelance work is easy and most freelancers can find work within the first week so starting. That is because in the early days they will take on absolutely any work, no matter how poor the pay is or how long it is going to take them. However, that is not sustainable long-term and is not the way to earn your living.
If you want to be a well-paid freelancer you need to start off that way. Have a strategy in place and stick to it. It might take a little longer to get started, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Find Your Niche
There is no limitation on the range of professions you can be a freelancer in and the first thing you need to decide is which one is for you. It could be that you spend some time preparing for this, perhaps by completing a course for an online degree. There are some areas where a good education is vital even for freelancers. For instance, you may need a civil engineering technology degree if you want to freelance in the civil engineering industry, or a degree in accountancy if you want to freelance accounting services. The more education you have, the more money you can typically charge.
There are some areas that you will not win any work without the necessary qualifications, and that is something you have to be honest about, as the person giving out the work will want to see your certificate.
Set Up A Website
Having your own website where prospective customers can find out more about you and what experience you have already had can go a long way to building trust, and that is crucial if you want some of the better-paid work.
You should clearly explain the services you offer, tell them what credentials you have and if you have any testimonials to back you up that is even better. Make sure your site is user-friendly and appealing to the eye, and with interest content yo,u will stand a chance of getting some well paid freelance work.
Put Yourself In The Marketplace
There are a large number of marketplaces where freelancers can advertise their services, and where prospective users advertise their projects. The idea is to bring the two together and this often works very successfully. There are many different sorts of trades and professions and you should set yourself a profile on as many as you can that relate to your type of business.
The more places you are discovered, the more demand you will be in and the more money you will be able to charge.
Keep Your Rates Private
You do not need to advertise what your rates of pay are, as this can differ greatly from job to job. There are always things you will do for less than normal because you enjoy the work. By the same token, there will always be jobs that you will want to charge the highest rate for because it is a lot of hassle and you want it to be worthwhile.
Freelancing gives you freedom to work when you want, within reason. You will still have deadlines to meet and standard to maintain, and if you want well-paid freelance work you have to adhere to them
