SUCCESSFUL ONLINE FREELANCING” – AN EBOOK part 2

 Where To Look For Customers In 
Masses

So you have finally decided to take that first big step in your career change 

towards the world of freelancing, but there is just one hitch – you have no idea 

where to find your first clients and customers.

A few years ago you would have to act solely by means of local businesses and 

private residents of your community in hopes that someone, anyone you know 

could lead you to a potentially high paying client for your freelance work.

Writers always had it easier because there were hundreds of magazines and 

newspapers who always needed freelancers on a day to day basis – but if you 

were a web designer or a software programmer, chances are you were out of 

luck. But that was back before the internet wove its way into homes across the 

world.

Finding customers for your fresh freelancing operation has never been easier 

thanks to the internet. People and companies looking for freelancer workers to 

help them with a project or two are all over the place and can help you get 

started in the freelance world if you are lucky enough to find a client that will work 

with you time and time again.

Furthermore, as a freelancer you can also use the internet to your advantage to 

advertise your services on various forums and other freelance web resources. In 

these situations, instead of you looking for some prospective clients, they look for 

you – allowing you to focus on whatever tasks and projects you are currently 

working on for others.As an up and coming freelancer, the first thing you must do when looking for

clients is to get your name out there. Let people know who you are, what you do,

how well you do it, and what you can do for them.

Potential clients love a freelancer who is willing to get the job done right the first

time on a timely manner, and if you have no prior experience, you may have

trouble getting high paying customers to trust you right off the bat.

However, if you start with a few low paying jobs, you will quickly find that you can

advance through the ranks very rapidly and soon be able to net all of the projects

that will allow you to keep your freelance business self sufficient.

There is no better way to get off on the right path as a freelancer than to

assemble a clear, concise, and focused portfolio of your work.

You can either include this portfolio as an email attachment when you apply for

positions offered to you by clients, or if you have some web design skills you can

create a personal portfolio website that outlines all of the specific projects that

you have worked on over the years for various clients.

Whatever type of portfolio you choose to create, be sure that it is targeted to the

audience you are trying to attract, as there is no sense in including work you did

as a software programmer if you are looking for work as a freelance

photographer for example.

Now, when it comes to finding clients for your freelance business in masses, you

need to focus your attention to the various forums and discussion boards that dot

the web.

Google is a great way to search for different websites that are specific to your

chosen freelance field, and if possible you should avoid posting advertisements for your services in freelance forums that are not frequented by people who are

looking for freelancers in your line of work.

Posting out of section makes you look bad and could result in you being banned

from various freelancing websites that may have proven helpful to you in the

future as your business expands.

Because it is so important for you to find freelance websites that are focused to

your particular field of operation, you need to decide on one or two services that

you think you can find freelance work in and then go from there.

If you choose one of the popular freelance jobs, such as writer, editor,

photographer, web designer, or software programmer then you will have a much

easier time finding work online because there are so many different freelance

directories available to you.

As any kind of freelancer, one of the best places to start your search for

customers from around the world is Craig’s List.

This is your one stop shop that can help you find work in your local metro area as

well as in cities and countries from around the world.

Most of the jobs offered at Craig’s List allow you to work at home although you

may have to visit the offices of some of the higher paying positions from time to

time.

Another amazing resource for freelancers of all kinds is Guru, a website that

helps prospective freelancers in all fields find customers from around the world.

It caters mostly to well establish freelance professionals though, so you may

want to turn to it later once you have exhausted your other freelancing options.If you are a freelance writer or editor, there are a couple of excellent freelancing

websites for you.

The first is Freelance Writing, a massive database where employers and

freelancers can post their information in hopes that they will find a suitable match

on a per project basis.

You will mostly find lower paying jobs here, but it is a great start if you are just

getting into freelancing or if you are simply looking for a couple of easy part time

projects to supplement your current income.

Also, the Writer’s Market is a great place to not only find work but to learn all of

the ins and outs of the writing and editing business. You can get in touch with

potential clients as well as hone your skills as a writer.

Those involved in the world of design and programming should turn to

ScriptLance as their source of well paying jobs in their chosen industry.

As one of the leading websites for those involved in programming and design,

this is probably the most likely place that you will find a well paying job in the web

and software field. If you are looking for other options, check out the Freelance

Job Search, a website that will help you find lesser known, but well paying

freelance jobs in the world of web design, graphic design, and programming.

In Closing: Is Freelancing Really The
Way To Go?

If you are planning to quit your current job and enter the world of the freelancer,

then you had better be pretty darn well sure that this is something you want to

do.

Even if you are totally sure that you want to become a freelancer in your chosen

field, is it something that is financially possible for you?

Can you support your family on the salary you make from a freelancer?

What about healthcare, are you prepared to give that up too in pursuit of a future

as a freelancer?

Can you handle the stress that comes from working with tight, often ridiculous

deadlines on your projects?

Do you work well by yourself and can you speak well when talking with a

potential client who may want to hire you for his next project?

Finally, do you have what it takes to constantly advertise yourself and your

services to anyone who may be interested?

Far too often, people think that they want to be freelancers simply because it

sounds cool.After all, many people get it into their heads that there is no more relaxing work

atmosphere than being able to wake up late, work on your computer while you

are wearing your pajamas, and take off whatever days you want as your

vacation.

Sure, those are all perks of being a freelancer, but let’s be honest here - there

are quite a few trials and tribulations that you will have to go through as a

freelancer before you can reach the point where you do not have to worry about

your finances anymore.

Yes, that is something that so many people fail to realize – you cannot expect to

simply quit your current job for life as a freelancer and suddenly have hundreds

of potential clients knocking at your door in hope that you will do a project for

them.

There is much more to freelancing than that, so let’s find out if you have what it

takes to make it in the cutthroat world of the freelancer.

The first thing that you have to realize about being a freelancer is that you may

not be able to make ends meet on freelancing alone for quite some time.

So, if you are thinking about quitting your current job – don’t do it just yet.

Instead, test the waters and be sure that you like freelancing first, and find out

how much money you can make as a freelancer before you even begin to work

on your resignation papers.

As a fledgling freelancer, your best bet is to start off with clients that may not pay

as much but will be able to get you in the door.

Sure, you will have to take jobs that you may think are below you – but in the end

it will pay off Maybe not financially at first, but by way of getting your name out there and

adding employment opportunities to your ever expanding list of satisfied

customers.

Therefore, if you want to freelance professionally, you have to be willing to take a

pay cut at first in order to be successful later.

Secondly, you have to figure out whether or not you can support your family on

the salary you will make as a freelancer.

Remember that you will have to take a pay cut from your current job when you

first start out as a freelancer, and when you finally quit your current job for good,

will you be able to bring in enough work to keep your family’s lifestyle at the

same level it currently is?

These are important questions that you have to ask yourself before you make

that big leap into the world of freelancing.

While it is not very important if you decide to keep doing freelance work as a

supplement to your current income – it will become extremely important if you

decide to make your freelance salary your sole income.

Next, you have to think about what you will do for healthcare as a freelancer.

Without the support of an already established business behind you, you will have

to pay for your own (and your family’s) health insurance out of pocket.

This is not a big deal if you have a spouse that gets health insurance from his or

her workplace, but if your spouse is a stay at home parent or is involved in their

own freelance business, this becomes a major expense to think about.

So be sure that you will be able to afford health insurance for all of your loved

ones when you become a freelancer.Stress management is a key factor of working for you as a freelancer. You will be

faced with projects that may require you to work long and hard before you can

finish them.

Often, these projects will be extremely difficult and be under some ludicrous

deadline – making them that much more intense. So, are you good at handling

stressful situations such as these?

After all, if you are not able to get the project back to your client on time and in

working order, you may be discredited and have a much more difficult time

finding work for many months to come.

Are you a team player or do you work better as an individual? While this question

may seem insignificant, remember that as a freelancer you really have no team

to rely on should you not know how to do something.

Sure, you could scour the internet for answers to your questions – but that will

take away valuable time from your project.

So, if you are the type of person who can accomplish tasks more efficiently in a

group, then you may want to rethink the idea of going freelance, because the

individualize work environment of a freelancer is certainly not for you.

Finally, can you handle the fact that you must constantly advertise your services

to just about anyone who may need you to do some work for them?

Do you have enough self esteem that you can promote yourself as if you are the

best freelancer out there?

Being able to constantly advertise your services is a major benefit for anyone

looking to become a freelancer.While it is possible to by shy or withdrawn and be successful at freelancing, you

will have a much easier time if you are more vocal about promoting your services

to prospective customers.