Freelancers are a critical part of any economy. They allow entrepreneurs the ability to start new businesses and hire people without the responsibility that comes with a full-time employee. The employer benefits, and so does the freelancer.
The field is extremely attractive because of the relative freedom it allows you to have. Most freelancers work remote jobs, and we all love remote work after getting a taste of it during the pandemic.
However, the popularity of freelancing is also a double-edged sword. If you are just starting out, you will have to face a lot of competition from people who have been in the game for years. How do you compete and start winning gigs? Well, that’s precisely what we will focus on today.
1. Focus on Presentation
More often than not, it’s how you package and sell your services that counts more than anything else. Unless you happen to be a master in your field, employers are just going to bracket you along with other people based on skill and experience.
To be noticed, you want to present yourself and your services as if you are already a professional. A sort of fake it till you make it a play.
This means taking the trouble to make a few high-impact investments. These aren’t mandatory, but if you really want to stand out from the rest, it makes a difference.
The first thing would be to have your own professional website. This tells an employer that you are serious about what you do, and this isn’t just a college student trying to earn beer money.
This is one of the easier actions to take due to how simple website creation has become. You have options like Hocoos that make it possible to have the entire site within ten minutes or so.
Once you have a website with information about your services, it’s time to start featuring testimonials. As much as possible, try to avoid just adding their comments as regular text on your website. Instead, screenshots of their words from vetted platforms like Fiverr or Upwork help lend some credibility.
2. Build up Your Portfolio
It doesn’t matter what field you are in, proof of skill is the first thing you want to look at. Potential employers are looking for someone who can get the job done, and you want to show that your track record shows this.
If you are in the field of writing, consider starting a blog of your own. Make it a habit to write at least one piece a week and ensure that it is as good as it can be. Don’t let the lack of clarity stop you, though. You don’t have to write about a specific niche. As long as you are putting up quality content, that’s all that matters.
Of course, if you want a job that focuses on a particular field, then definitely create content based on the field. You also don’t need to write hundreds of pieces if you are doing this just for a portfolio. A potential employee is only going to take a look at a few of them to make their call.
No one is going to be sitting down with a cup of coffee and reading all your articles. Thus, it’s better to aim for quality rather than quantity. Try to also diversify the styles of pieces.
If you happen to be a video editor or a programmer, the same principles apply. Ensure that what you are creating has a “wow” factor rather than just a lot of average creations. A strong portfolio is how you get your foot in the door.
3. Up Your Communication Skills
A priority that many employers have is a team of workers that can communicate perfectly. Good communication makes it possible to have a smooth workflow, and this is particularly important in remote work.
Right from your first contact, take care to double-check everything you say. This means you are looking for grammar errors, unclear sentences, a lack of clarity, and even the tone of your sentences.
It may seem overkill, but taking care of these aspects is what sets you apart from the thousands of other freelancers.
Data from Pumble shows that 70% of employers state that communication is one of the most desired skills that they look for in a potential employee.
In conclusion, it can feel like you are up against the world when you first start out as a freelancer. After all, you see that your competitors have been in the field for years and have 7,402 reviews with 4.9 stars. How do you compete with that? The answer is one step at a time.
It may feel like you won’t ever catch a break, but by following these steps, you should be landing a gig, faster than you expect. Stay strong and keep hustling.
Matthew is a seasoned researcher and writer with over five years of experience creating engaging SEO content. He is passionate about exploring new ideas and sharing his knowledge through writing. Matthew has a keen eye for detail and takes pride in producing content that is not only informative but also visually appealing. He constantly expands his skill set and stays up-to-date with the latest SEO trends to ensure that his content always performs well in search rankings. Matthew can be found reading, surfing, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen when he’s not writing.