<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">You work for yourself as your own boss, when you want, and where you want. Starting a freelance business can be highly rewarding.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Since the 2020 pandemic, the number of freelancers has increased, many of whom have been disillusioned by the nine-to-five life. But making it solo isn’t as easy as it might seem.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>New freelancers have to work hard to set up a client base and earn a good income. As a result, it could take weeks or months before you develop a decently sized clientele.</div><div><br></div><div>1. Understand Your Niche</div><div>Although this freelancing tip may seem obvious, it isn’t. Before taking other steps, new freelancers must understand the space they’re about to enter. Therefore, they must conduct comprehensive research to understand their niche and how they fit into it.</div><div><br></div><div>Some freelancers might have knowledge about their niche from previous full-time jobs, but that isn’t enough when you’re handling all the work by yourself.</div><div><br></div><div>Since you’re going solo, you need to dig deep into your niche. Your research should help you identify:&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>2. Become a Generalist or a Specialist</div><div>As a freelancer, you can be a generalist in your industry, or you can venture into specific topics and services.</div><div><br></div><div>A freelance writer, for example, can choose to write for any niche they find clients in, or they could build authority in one niche, let’s say health and wellness.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Build a Website</div><div>All freelancers need to have a website to showcase their work. There is nothing better than an online portfolio to help new clients understand your capabilities.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“If you are creating a website yourself and can’t afford to hire a designer, then consider looking into website templates so that you’re still putting something out there that’s beautifully done,” advises Breanna Rose, founder of Rowan Made.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Create a Process</div><div>No matter how good a freelancer tip is, there is something you have to build on your own — discipline.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As a freelancer, you should have a defined work process that dictates your everyday workflow, not just for your craft but also for back-end operations.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Pick Tools Within Your Budget</div><div>Freelancers heavily rely on software to get work done, especially with remote working becoming the norm.</div><div><br></div><div>Upwork estimates that 22% of the American workforce will be working remotely by 2025.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As a freelancer, you’re paying for all your tools by yourself. That means you have to handpick your tools to match your budget.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>If you’re starting and can’t afford to pay for all the best software, you need to make the most of what you have.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>WordPress, for example, is a great web host that’s inexpensive. You can use it for the first few months to a year before commissioning a custom website based on your freelance career.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s important to remember that there’s plenty of free, open-source software that can do what a paid app does. So, in the beginning, it might be better to use multiple free tools rather than shelling out for a whole platform.</div><div><br></div><div>Unless previously specified, your clients will not care if you use free or paid tools to get the job done. They just want high-quality work within the given deadlines.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Set Your Rate</div><div>This freelancer tip is crucial to you and your career long-term.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Your rate depends on your niche, but generally, you can charge by the hour or the project. You can also split up payments across project milestones or deliverables.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A freelance writer, for example, can do all of the above but can also charge per word.</div><div><br></div><div>There are many ways to decide how much to charge clients. Here is a detailed guide that could help.</div><div><br></div><div>Generally, a flat rate is better than an hourly rate. That is because hourly rates give clients the opportunity to dispute the hours listed or question the amount of work needed. Micro-management is another big worry for hourly payments.</div><div><br></div><div>PRO FREELANCING TIP: If you decide to use a flat rate, always ask for a deposit upfront. You can choose how the client will make the payments.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>For example, you can ask for half your fee before the project commences and the rest when you’ve submitted the assignment. Customize it for every project.</div><div><br></div><div>Clients will likely offer lower rates for beginners. The key is to build up your client base quickly, so you have proven work experience and testimonials that empower you to negotiate for higher prices.</div><div><br></div><div>Once you’ve got your bills covered, you can switch clients based on your desire to explore new topics or branch out into other forms of freelancing.</div><div><br></div><div>7. Leverage Social Media</div><div>Every freelancer must be comfortable with marketing themselves.</div><div><br></div><div>Social media platforms are excellent for this. You can use Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to advertise your skills and get in touch with brands for potential work.</div><div><br></div><div>Self-promotion is crucial, especially if you’re new to the industry as a whole.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>While an experienced creator will have knowledge acquired from previous jobs, all a rookie has to show for their work are self-made samples. Many clients on job boards will not give you a chance over industry pros - this is why you must reach out and market yourself.</div><div><br></div><div>On platforms like Twitter, there are specific hashtags, such as #freelancedeveloper, that you can browse through to find freelance jobs or freelancing tips from experts.</div><div><br></div><div>Pick hashtags for your niche and leverage them to showcase your work and attract interest.</div><div><br></div><div>Remember that your social media efforts should complement your job board and freelance platform efforts. According to reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>