Freelancing A Complete Guide

Everyone these days are getting more aware and search for the options to earn or make money online like Freelancing, Blogging, Affiliate marketing etc. But in this pandemic most of the individual have lost their jobs or laid off plus have received less or no salary as well.

Not only this few individual are struggling to get job though have good skill set but not sure where to start? What to do? in-fact overall market impacted due to pandemic.

Moreover, stats shows quite high volume of jobless individuals (More then 2.5 million reported Globally as per news agencies) but in this hard time mainly in 2020 year, have made most of us to think about another source of income.

As a result of which, many are planning to opt for Freelancing sites but do not have any Idea how it works? Where to create account? How to Bid? How to get projects?

Basically, Keeping this in mind and to help all individuals this article is written. So that one can be self-employed as well as can become somewhat financially stable and at least take care of day to day expenses.

Let’s take a tour about Freelancing guide and related terminologies to understand how it works? So let’s begin. 🙂

Do you know what Freelancing and a Freelancer?

If not then no worries at all as I mentioned earlier we are going to cover within this article so I have tried explaining same in simpler way for my amazing Readers 🙂

Freelancing is all about working online on projects for different customers based on your skill-sets. This is possible online by creating account in Freelancing sites. In other ways we can say working part time by sitting at home is called Freelancing. The person doing Freelancing are nothing but called Freelancers.

So, basically Freelancers are called Self-employed as they are not committed to one particular employer for a long duration of time. They work as per their convenience and self-committed.  

Some Freelancers are also working full time as well as they are finding it more interesting as they are paid well.

How one can become a Freelancer and can start with Freelancing?

It’s pretty easy and straight forward process. You just need to look for good Freelancing sites and just need to register for free and setup your account. Create account in 1-2 site initially not more then that as keep things simple and limited.

I have shared few trending Freelancing sites next for your reference and also shared quick steps to setup account for all these sites.

Also, those who are not aware, please note Freelancer is a site name as well where people all around the world do Freelancing. So, please do not get confused as initially I also got confused what it is? It’s a site or a person? It’s actually both as both exists 😛

Then after doing a bit research it was clear that self-employed person are nothing but Freelancers and Freelancer site is a platform for Freelancers to look out for Projects posted by Clients around the globe.

Best 5 Freelancing sites to start with

I don’t want to confuse my lovely readers by sharing a long list of Freelancing sites so have decided to share Best 5 Freelancing sites to start with initially. As it is not possible to focus on all at once but one can master one or two and then it became easy for you to explore other sites as well as process is somewhat similar.

If in-case looking for more Freelancing sites then try searching in search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask me etc.

List of sites

Below are the list of Freelancing sites for which one can opt for and can kick start to be a Freelancer:

• Freelancer
• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Toptal
• Peopleperhour

Freelancer

It is mainly based on bidding system where Freelancers Bid as per the projects details shared by clients. For reference check Freelancer Bid Limit below as per membership:

Upwork

is more like a generalist platform but it is similar to Freelancer where client post there projects but here Upwork look for Freelancer specialized as per project requirement. Clients interview as well Freelancers before making their choice amongst multiple talented Freelancer. They can review and compare profiles as well.

Fiverr

It provides very simple platform for Freelancer/sellers by serving directory. Basically it works on Category and Sub-category basis.

Toptal

Toptal Looks for specialist or experienced individuals so it is a good option for finding experienced individuals such as Developers, Designers, Project Managers etc. It is well known for providing good results quickly.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour also prefer specialist individuals/Freelancers who are experts in particular field. It offers business to reach professionals all around the globe.

How Freelancing sites pay amount?

Payment depends on the work assigned to you so based on your skill set and it mainly depends on the payment platform Freelancing sites have collaborated or joined hands with payment platforms.

Also, All the above mentioned sites give option to receive and sent money via PayPal and redirects to setup PayPal account if one do not have account in-place already.

So, keeping this in mind, planning to share steps by step process of setting-up PayPal account so it will help those who are confused or stuck in-between.

Once opted for Freelancing site and then look what are the options available to receive money. So, then accordingly go for setting up accounts.

Also, look if you are targeting for overseas clients then go for PayPal or Payoneer secured global payment platforms.

How to setup account for Freelancing sites?

Below are the steps for registering free to all the Freelancing sites as discussed above:

1. Setting up Freelancer Account

• Click on Signup at Freelancer homepage
• Enter your Email address and password of your choice (Another way to signup is via Facebook (if you have already account setup then can go for this option))
• Click on check box to agree on Terms and conditions and Private policy
• Click on Join Freelancer
• Select Username of your choice (Once selected cannot be changed)
• Click next and then choose account type as ‘I want to work’
• Once registered, verify your email address (you will receive confirmation email on email address entered in 2^nd step)
• Make sure to complete your account details

2. Setting up Upwork Account

• Click on Signup at Upwork homepage
• Enter your email address (another option is via Gmail account or Apple users)
• Click on Continue with Email
• Make sure to complete your account details like company name, Tagline, website url, company logo etc.
• Now billing method required to be setup, choose anyone Credit card, Paypal, Bank Account. Go with PayPal as it will allow payments from all around the globe.
• Make sure to complete your account details

3. Setting up Fiverr Account

• Click on Join at Fiverr homepage
• Enter your email address and Click continue
• Select Username
• Choose a password and click on Join
• Verify your entered Email ID by clicking on Activate your account (check your email received from Fiverr)
• Make sure to complete your account details

4. Setting up Toptal Account

• Click on Apply as a Freelancer at Toptal Homepage.
• Select how you want to get hired e.g. As a Developer, Designer, Finance Expert, Project Manager, Product Manager.
• Fill details from Mentioning Name, Email id, password, confirm again password.
• Click on Apply to Join Toptal.
• Confirm you are not a robot by selecting correct images as requested and click on next.
• One more round of image selection will come for Verification. Click on verify.

5. Setting up Peopleperhour Account

,

• Click on Signup at Peopleperhour homepage
• Select I want to work as a Freelancer
• Click on Signup with email
• Fill Details by sharing you First Name, Last Name, Email address, Password
• Click on Signup option
• Verify your entered Email ID and Activate your account
• Make sure to complete your account details

How to get your first projects? How to start with first project?

You can get projects directly and work on it. Most of the Freelancing sites shows projects based on your skill sets shared within your profile as shared initially while setting up complete profile.

For example: Look for Digital marketing, SEO jobs, SMM (Social Media Marketing), Facebook Marketing etc within search option, add these skills within skill set if you are a Digital Marketer.

Make sure to complete your profile in freelancing sites to get projects of your interest & skills sets. As objective of Freelancing sites may be similar to provide platform for talented individuals and clients to post projects and get those talented individuals who are looking for Freelancing work based on there interest or skills set.

Apply to projects by going through details as shared by Client and then share information about you and show-case your work if any like website links so that based on strong and valid reasoning they will prefer you over others and project will be your. 🙂

Also, different Freelancing sites have different process or rules to follow as some use Bidding system like Freelancer.com and some do not use. So, it totally depends which site opted for or planning to opt for.

If the client is happy with your proposal then they will definitely going to assign you project. Also, to start with one make sure you share quality work.

And not just working to earn money as soon as possible as in this way you will lose client trust plus it might going to impact your rating too which other clients can see and may rethink to offer project or not. So, just be careful and try to make trust amongst client.

How to receive payment from Freelancing sites smoothly?

To receive payments online there are multiple options and also it depends on Freelancing site you have opted for. One of the payment system is PayPal which is the easiest & quickest way via which you can get money online straight away to your account.

Many people around the globe uses PayPal for smooth transactions without currency barrier. PayPal also a good option for amount credited from all around the world without waiting for currency exchange. PayPal, bit easy too when it come to account creation.

Another good option is Payoneer which is also secured global payment platforms. It supports ~200 countries across the globe. It process international payments quickly as it works for Local payments.

Conclusion

Freelancing sites have given a good opportunity to individuals to show case there talent by selling their skills and working as per your convenience.

Although at the start it takes some time to setup things in-order to get projects. One key is to maintain patience as might be possible one will get projects after a while. If you are looking forward to work as a Freelancer then what you are waiting for? Setup account and start earning right away.