It is important to have a portfolio to showcase your talents and skills when starting your freelance career. And with the millions of freelancers in the world today, you need to stand out. It can be challenging for new freelancers to find the best freelance jobs and create a detailed portfolio. But if you can get creative, you can find some cool gigs and build your portfolio easily. Here’s how.
What is the highest paying freelance job?
This may be surprising, but the current highest paying freelance job is copywriting. The other top jobs include; web development, digital marketing consultant, social media manager, and SEO specialist.
In other words, these are the top skills that you may want to learn. And with all of these jobs, a strong grasp of the English language (including grammar and punctuation) is important.
Related: How to Make Extra Money As a Freelance Writer
What freelance jobs are most in-demand?
Along with the jobs mentioned above, some in-demand freelance jobs include virtual assisting and graphic design. While these freelance skills may not pay as much as copywriting, they’re a great way to start your freelancing career and build your portfolio.
Related: Highest Paying Remote Careers in 2021 (Top 12 Ideas!)
Which freelancing skill is best for beginners?
You should start with the skills you already have!
For example, have you ever worked in customer service? If so, becoming a virtual assistant may be a great and natural switch for you.
Love browsing through social media and playing around with photoshop? Try graphic design.
Have a college degree? Utilize that to work online in a similar field!
Overall, the most popular freelancing skills are:
- Editing and proofreading
- Social media management
- Graphic design
- Virtual assisting (admin tasks)
- Transcription
- Customer service
So if you can learn those skills or have already tested them out offline, you can build your portfolio in the online world too.
Related: How Freelancing Could Change Your Life
Which skill is best for freelancing 2022?
Web development is an extremely high-paying and needed gig. So if you can learn how to code (CSS, HTML, etc), you can be high in demand!
There are many free coding “bootcamps” you can take, or you can study it in school. If you’re a fast learner, you can even teach yourself!
Related: How To Make Money Programming (Time to Use Your Skills!!)
Does freelancing pay well?
It can, but it’s going to take hard work and dedication to get there.
As a freelancer myself, I started at $15 an hour over 6 years ago. Obviously, that wasn’t enough when you factor in self-employment taxes, insurance, etc. But now, I make a little over 6-figures a year (gross, about $70k-$85k after taxes and fees!). But again, that took me upwards of 6 years.
Related: 20+ Jobs That Pay 50k A Year Without A Degree! (Anyone can do these!!)
How can I start freelance with no experience?
The key to freelancing is to just jump in and get started!
Now, I’m not saying quit school or your day job and just leap into the unknown. But, you can start with one or two gigs at a time, or start testing out your skills and updating your resume and portfolio as you work.
Think of freelancing as a part-time job and work hard.
- Take a few classes.
- Sign up for sites like Skillshare so you can learn more skills.
- Reach out to your network for work.
- Take on some (simple) free projects to boost your portfolio.
- And you can also check out some of the best freelance jobs down below to help you get started!
Related: Want to Earn More Money? Start Upskilling!
Best Freelance Jobs Sites
As you can see, it’s not hard to get into freelancing, although you’ll need certain skills to pay the bills. Here are some of the best freelance jobs and sites you can use to upgrade your portfolio.
Job Search Apps
Finding freelance jobs can be easy with the various freelance job search platforms available today. The freelance job market offers many opportunities for freelancers with different levels of expertise.
Look for jobs or projects that require minimal experience or offer short training. These types of work can help you test the waters a bit and start building your portfolio.
If your focus is on getting experience and not so much to make money, lowering your rate on these platforms can help you book work easier. However, avoid lowering your rate too much as this can make potential clients think you are inexperienced.
Utilize Social Media
Messaging brands on social media that you would like to work with can lead to freelance jobs or long-term opportunities. Reach out to brands and give them an attractive elevator pitch regarding your services and why they need it.
Sometimes, being persuasive can save you from needing a lot of samples to prove your skills and eagerness to work with them.
Ensure that any social media account you have has images of your freelance work, so the person you are messaging can easily reference your work.
Social media is also an excellent way to connect and maintain relationships with past clients. Keep your social media accounts updated and use them responsibly to maximize benefits for your freelance career.
Related: 8 Tips to Help Land Your First Freelance Client
Volunteer
One way to find projects is to offer to do work for free. Many freelancers do this, in the beginning, to get started. This is not absurd. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself and have something special to include in your portfolio.
When volunteering, you can mostly do the work the way you want. Just be sure you volunteer at the right organization or company where you can get relevant experience.
It is not only the number of freelancers that is booming but also the companies who are seeking them.
Companies of all sizes now seek freelancers for various tasks and roles. You can look for start-ups or even local entrepreneurs that might need your service and help. Some companies offer internships for freelancers. Some may be paid, but not always.
Ask Around
Do not be afraid to ask around for freelance work. It is good to start building a network and communicate with other freelancers and people involved in the industry you’re focusing on as a freelancer.
You can also ask for additional challenges at work that you can use in your portfolio or reach out to current clients to ask about additional work to add to a contract. If you attended college or a certification program, ask your professor or classmates about potential opportunities.
It’s also ideal to join a freelance community when first starting out. Having a network of freelancers can give you a support system to navigate the industry, and they can also recommend you to clients when they have the chance.
Related: 6 Benefits of Upskilling Yourself at Work
Building up a Portfolio & The Best Freelance Jobs For Beginners
In many ways, including freelancing, the toughest part is starting or knowing where to start. Not having anything on hand to prove your talents can be intimidating at first, but remember that everybody has to start somewhere.
Building anything is always a process. Go out there and find the best opportunities to hone your skills and build your freelance career and portfolio.
AUTHOR Kimberly Studdard
Kim Studdard is a strategy consultant and course launching expert. When she isn’t spending time with her daughter and husband, or crying over This Is Us, you’ll find her teaching other mompreneurs how to scale their business without scaling their workload.
