Today, freelancing has gone mainstream as employers rely more on independent workers for sustaining and growing their businesses. But these are particularly different kind of workers from the current cubicle crowd. In the cubicle world, workers are given tasks to complete and chase the next assignment. Freelancers never stick to just one task, they network and market to find work, complete it, and then bill for it. Gears are switched once the freelancers get paid for their work and they become professionals.
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| Freelancing |
This fluid
work medium of freelancing rewards nimbleness and flexibility.
There is a saying by freelancer of my country
and I am proud of him.
There is no
better feeling when it’s working well. But for growing and thriving in the
freelancing business, you need to have the essential information at your
fingertips.
“Hisham Sarwar”
Definition
of Freelancer:
A
self-employed person who offers his services to different clients while
operating himself as his own boss. A freelancer selects his own services menu,
prices, and targets the clients market. It’s just a myth that a freelancer
refers to people who work for free. In many cases, freelancers earn more than
their office counterparts.
When it
comes to flexibility, freelancers are absolutely free to set their time zone.
They can choose full time or part-time projects of their choice. Freelancers
work similar to independent contractors. For freelancers the continuity of work
might be different. Some freelancers might work with the same clients over a
large range of time and some may higher freelancers work with one client just
for one project. In the freelancing’s world, it is easy to build a community
that is far more than a professional network. It is place where the freelancers
can share their knowledge, resources, and encouragement with other freelancers.
There is no
doubt that freelancing is a profession which is on its peak, but like
everything it has some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
of Freelancing:
Perks of
freelancing include….
· If you are aware of your skill which
you want to offer, it is very fast to begin with, getting hands on the first
client is actually the beginning of your career.
· Freelancing is very easy to start,
you can start it at any time of your choice. You can use your network to find a
client for work.
· It is very affordable. With the
service to offer to clients, you must be having the necessary equipment for to
deliver your work on time. You can promote your services by using linked in and
other social media platforms. You will only be required to invest in business
building tools such as websites.
· There is a big demand for freelancers
in the market. In the competitive market, the demand for reliable and quality
freelancers is growing day by day and also many businesses recommend to have
freelancers as their workforce instead of hiring typical employees.
· Freelancing offers flexibility in
choosing your own working hours and place of working.
· In the beginning, you may have to
work for any client who chooses you. But as you grow, it’s your own choice to
pick the clients with you want to work for.
· While you are supposed to deliver the
work in the way client requires, but as a freelancer it’s all your choice how
you complete the project.
Disadvantages
of Freelancing:
The
disadvantages involve…
· Setting a freelancing business takes
some time. Getting enough clients that can make it a business to support you
and your family financially is not just a matter of few days.
· Freelancing is not like the
traditional office jobs. There can be an irregularity in the work flow of
freelancers. Sometimes there will be a lot of of projects to work on and in some
cases, days will pass without even a single project.
· It can be difficult for some freelancers
to manage multiple clients and projects at a time. It is not easy for many
people to keep track of deadlines and deliver good quality work on time.
· You may be paid low in the beginning
of freelancing career. Beginning with lower rewards may be needed by
freelancers but it’s essential to charge your worth as soon as possible.
Difference
between a freelancer and a home-based service business:
There is not
much to differentiate between the above two as both work as self-employed
individuals, work for many clients, set their own business hours, and free by
the same self-employment tax rules. But there are some things that create a
difference between home-based service businesses and freelancing. A business
owner works under a business name whereas a freelancer works what whatever name
he/she wants. Usually a freelancer works according to the requirements of the
market whereas a home business owner finds different ways to fill the gap in
the market.
Getting
started as a freelancer:
Building a
freelancing career can be as easy as finding work from a freelance market
places. Employers can be found by networking with contacts. But before you begin,
you have to decide some significant things including:
Decide what
you want to offer:
Beginning
with freelance work requires you to decide the services you want to offer to the
clients. Freelance work includes content writing, graphic designing, web
designing, social media management, digital marketing, photography, bookkeeping
etc.
The target
market:
After
deciding your services, it is time for you to think about your brand and unique
selling propositions. It is up to you to either specialize within a specific
niche of your service such as copy writing or WordPress web design or within a
particular market.
Online
portfolio:
A social
media network such as LinkedIn is a good place to start with career networking.
To promote your services, you need to create and build an online portfolio.
Even setting up a website to represent your profile will be helpful in offering
you get more customization and flexibility than that of LinkedIn.
Setting your
prices:
Always be
sure to charge prices for your work that can not only cover your expenses but
also helps you to earn a respectful life style.
Reach out:
You can
connect with potential clients with the help of your network. Freelance
websites such as Freelancer.com, fiverr.com, Guru.com or Upwork.com can
help you finding work. For experience, testimonials and referrals, these
websites are fantastic source.
Freelancers
have to learn, adapt, and grow with the experiences throughout their journey.
Becoming an intentional freelancer is a choice that should be made consciously
as it gives peace of mind when you know you can afford the life you are living.
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