by Sadie King
As technology develops, the idea of doing freelance work becomes a more viable and helpful career choice. Doing freelance work offers the opportunity to work in your own environment, choose your own projects, and have more flexibility in your work. Freelancing will only become more popular as technology continues to develop and business owners realize the options they have when it comes to people who freelance.
Many people with English degrees choose to go into freelancing because of its many different career options and the flexibility of those options. Freelancers typically have the luxury of working from home and working on their own time, not necessarily having to follow a 9-5 work schedule. Though this can be seen as a luxury, it also means that a person who is interested in doing freelance work must have self-discipline and the ability to manage their own time. Freelancers also have the ability to pick and choose their projects, passing over the ones that don’t interest them. Starting out, some freelancers may have to accept projects they aren’t interested in just to get their foot in the door of the freelance world and to have work to put on a resume.
Companies are beginning to see the convenience of outsourcing to freelancers for some of their jobs. For example, publishing companies are beginning to outsource things like copyediting and proofreading, finding the convenience of hiring someone to do the work freelance preferable to having someone in-house to do the work. As time goes on, more and more companies are beginning to hire people to do freelance jobs instead of hiring someone to work full-time.
Though doing freelance work may seem like the ideal way to work, it can be hard to get a freelance business up and running, and the freelance world is one where connections are key. These are some things that could help when starting a freelance business.
Pick a niche
The idea of being able to just say that you do freelance work and then pick up any job that comes your way, no matter the type, could sound tempting. That said, it’s better to choose one thing that you do, may it be copywriting, graphic design, copyediting, etc., and sell yourself as a master in one of those crafts. Examine what your strengths are and play to your own advantages. It’s easier to market yourself, a very important thing when it comes to freelancing, when you have a specific niche.
Make connections
Who you know, especially when first starting out, can be the most important aspect of getting your business started. People still in college have built-in connections in their peers, professors, and anyone they encounter and strike up a relationship with on campus. Being on a college campus offers opportunities to network that aren’t necessarily there once a person enters the work force. Choosing to do work for charities or even for free to gain experience can also be a way to start adding names to your list of connections.
Build a professional website
When businesses or people start looking for someone to do freelance work for them, the first place they are going to turn is the Internet. There are thousands of websites for people who do freelance work. It’s easy enough to get a website up and put content on it, but it can be harder to design a website that is going to impress a potential employer. It can be beneficial to hire a web designer in order to give your website a more professional look. When it comes to website content, be sure to include examples of your work and/or a link to your online portfolio. And as simple as it seems, check, double-check, and triple-check your site for spelling and grammar errors.
Always be looking for work
Because freelancing requires almost constant job searching, it’s important to know that you always have somewhere to get income when you need it. There are multiple job boards on the Internet that provide options for those looking for work. Most freelancing niches had websites that send out newsletters with information about jobs and tips for employment. They also have meetings and seminars that could be the perfect places to network and continue to gain connections.
