October 20, 2022
How to be an effective freelancer
Freelancing is undeniably one of the best ways in which individuals at various levels of proficiency can gain exposure to working on real-life projects while taking on clients’ jobs. Typically, the project outline is stated by clients, then an individual decides if it is within the range of projects that they can handle before getting to work.
The freelance economy has gained traction over the years, as more professionals and amateurs within various fields enter the freelance market to render services to clients based on experience, skills, and sometimes education, at a cost.
Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and of course Topcoder, amongst others, have breached the gap between clients and individuals that can render various services while working in accordance with set guidelines and requirements of a project.
How to be an effective freelancer
The journey to becoming an effective freelancer is relatively straightforward. However, easy as this may seem, a lot of frustration can arise from being overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to get the same projects as you. Nonetheless, to make the whole journey of nailing gigs across these popular freelancing platforms less daunting, consider the following;
Define your long-term goals: People get into freelancing for a variety of reasons. For some, it could be to serve as an additional means of income, while for others, it could be that they want to gain work experience. It is important to note the bigger picture in the long run so that the wheel is steered in that direction, and it helps to re-strategize when plans do not align with the end goal.
Understand your strength and carve a niche around it: There is no doubt that the pool of opportunities in freelancing can leave one almost drowned. It is almost as if there are no opportunities. In spite of this, self-discovery plays a key role in determining what opportunities to tap from. Knowing the services to render based on personal skills and strength helps an individual seek profitable opportunities in that niche without getting distracted, thereby increasing productivity and overall career contentment.
Identify lags in your skill and improve on them: Clients prefer individuals who have just the right skills to be employed for their projects. In whatever niche, a freelancer might be offering services, the right fit is an individual who is up to the task. It is therefore necessary for an individual that wants to be fit for the job or project to fill in blanks that might be present in their skillset - achieved through constant learning and practice.
Work on getting the right types of equipment: Investing in the right set of equipment can never go wrong. The right instruments help to deliver high-quality work, which gives you an edge over competitors.
Find a freelance platform that works best for you: A lot of freelance platforms are on the Internet nowadays, each with its own flexibility, pros, and cons. It is the duty of a freelancer to conduct research on the one that works for you while aligning with your goals.
Set your pricing and adjust when needed: Allow for flexibility while setting your freelance rates. This is so that you can accommodate the uniqueness of different projects - while some projects are short-term, others might be long term, with some being urgent, and others being very demanding. Allowing for a flexible rate helps to set the price just right for a project.
Start with part-time freelancing: It is always advisable to have a backup job, just in case it takes longer than expected to land a freelance gig when starting out - especially when you have not landed any gig before. While the prospect of being a freelancer seems promising, note that things may not always go as planned. In instances like that, a backup job still keeps you running and gives you the chance to re-strategize on how to land gigs. Having no backup job in that instance may leave one frustrated and losing courage. With experience and having landed freelance gigs, you may then consider a full-time freelance career.
Deliver high-quality work to gain credibility: This comes with expertise and using the right set of equipment if need be. It also promotes the level of trust a client has in a freelancer and increases the chances of being selected for another gig in a pool of competitors.
Ensure consistent communication with the client: Effective communication with clients not only creates a strong relationship with them but also increases the chance for a future project or that they’ll stand as a future reference by putting in good words in a testimonial.
Build your portfolio and work on branding: Building your portfolio comes right after working on a client’s project. This is necessary to showcase skills and experience that might be required for prospective jobs to potential clients. Branding also helps to communicate to clients that a freelancer is a professional, therefore giving such freelancers an edge in a pool of competitors.
Benefits of Freelancing with Topcoder
People may get into freelancing for different reasons which could be; to create an additional source of income, to gain experience, to add to their portfolio, replacement of full-time employment, or even for a change in career. The good news is that Topcoder embraces people no matter the reason they choose to get into freelancing - cool, right?
Below are some perks that come with freelancing with Topcoder;
Freedom to choose projects to work on: Topcoder is a very unique freelancing platform that lists projects in the form of challenges. In this case, various freelancers get to work on the same project. This is quite different from some freelancing platforms where you get to work on a project only after a client approves your proposal for the project from a pool of applications.
Everyone gets an equal opportunity to work on projects: Freelancing on Topcoder gives you the autonomy to choose whatever project you decide to work on, irrespective of your experience and skillsets without discrimination. The mantra at Topcoder is that as long as you can deliver high-quality projects in accordance with the guidelines, you deserve to be given a chance - this is one of the reasons why it is preferred by freelancers over other freelancing platforms.
Flexibility with location: Another perk of freelancing with Topcoder is its remote nature. Freelancers from all over the world can work on multiple projects - anywhere, anytime.
Gain multiple skillsets: Not only does Topcoder offer freelancing opportunities, but its popular skill builder competitions help freelancers learn new skills so that they can take on projects they could not handle with an opportunity to get paid. Learning with a chance of getting paid is another opportunity Topcoder provides for its freelancers. Also, freelancers get the chance to work on various projects, in turn gaining new skills across multiple client projects.
Helps you to deliver quality work: The nature of freelancing on Topcoder makes it a very competitive one for freelancers to get paid. One thing for sure is that freelancers get to work on client projects in accordance with a timeline and project guidelines on Topcoder. However, only the top submissions to a project get paid for it. This helps to ensure that freelancers put in their best to deliver high-quality submissions on a project in order to increase their chances of getting their submissions accepted and therefore, get paid.
The pros and cons of freelancing
As promising as the career outlook of a freelancer might seem, knowing the downsides to it is very important before considering this career path as a full-time or part-time venture.
The pros and cons of freelancing, though not exhaustive, are stated below.
Pros of freelancing
The freedom of choice: Freelancing comes with the avenue to work on projects based on one’s availability and skillset. Freelancers get the autonomy to decide which projects they want to work on.
Flexible work hours: Freelancers get to work on projects any day, anytime. The routine 9 am- 5 pm work schedule becomes a thing of the past for freelancers. Freelancers get to map out their daily routine to work on projects in the most convenient way possible.
Remote work opportunities: Freelancing comes with the benefit of working with different clients across the globe as long as they have the necessary skill set for taking on a project.
The pay is good: Freelancers get to state their rate for a project especially after taking into consideration various factors such as the duration of the project, and the technicality, amongst other factors. Hence, the issue of being underpaid is off the list as prices are fixed in favor of the freelancers. Some freelancers also work on multiple projects which in turn brings multiple incomes.
Gain work experience and exposure: This comes with working on different projects for different clients over the years.
Cons of freelancing
Inconsistent nature of work: This is one of the major downsides of freelancing. Sometimes freelancers get to work on a ton of projects, and some other times the projects are just not coming in. Consistently getting projects is one of the challenges faced by most freelancers and it might even be harder for a newbie due to inexperience in making project proposals.
Absence of work benefits: Health insurance, paid leaves, travel benefits, and other work benefits that are enjoyed by being an employee of a company are solely the responsibility of a freelancer to factor in when charging clients as they do not always provide these to freelancers.
No privilege of working in a team: Most times freelancers work solo. This deprives them of the opportunity to master skills such as team playing, emotional intelligence, and some other team management skills sometimes.
Very competitive: It might be very hard to get projects sometimes, especially for newbies. This is why it is advisable to go into freelancing part-time before considering it for a full-time option.
Top twenty freelance skills to learn
Freelancing is all about rendering services to clients. Below are the top skills that clients may demand your services in;
Web development
UI/UX design
Blockchain programming
Copywriting and editing
Video editing and videography
Graphic design
Software development
Digital marketing
Virtual assistance
SEO specialist
Content creation and scripting
Photography
Web design
Mobile app development
Translation
Coaching and tutoring
Branding and logo design
Blogging
Customer service
Quality assurance
The most in-demand skills for freelancers
The below list, though not exhaustive, includes some of the skills a freelancer should have to thrive in the freelance economy.
Programming skills - Freelancers with this skillset might provide services such as web development, mobile app development, and software development, amongst others.
Writing skills - Freelancers with this skillset might provide services such as UX writing, copywriting, content editing, and blogging, amongst others.
Design skills - Freelancers with this skillset might provide services such as UI/UX design, logo design, website design, branding, and graphic design, amongst others.
Project management skills - Freelancers with this skillset might provide services such as social media management and project management, amongst others.
Product management skills - Freelancers with this skillset might provide services such as social media management, SEO services, and customer service, amongst others.
Digital marketing skills - Freelancers with this skillset might provide services such as social media management, SEO specialty, content creation, and scripting, amongst others.
Soft skills such as negotiation, time management, effective communication, problem-solving, and creativity are also important for a successful freelance journey.