How to get started on your freelancing journey

If you're reading this, then chances are you've decided to take the plunge and start freelancing. That's great! The first step is going to be the hardest—and it's also the most exciting. So if you're thinking about starting a freelance career, the first thing you should do is stop and ask yourself why. Becoming a freelancer can be difficult and it's not for everyone. You have to be willing to work harder than ever before, while taking on all of the risks that go along with running your own business. But if you're tired of working in an office or being micromanaged by your boss, freelancing might be just what you need! Once you've made up your mind about whether or not freelancing is right for you, then it's time to get started! Here are some steps I took when I first started out:

Find a niche

You may have been told that you should just start with whatever you're good at, but this is a big mistake. You need to find a niche that allows you to connect with your audience and make them feel like they're getting something valuable out of what they're paying for.

Here’s how:

- Find something that interests you—or at least something that wouldn't bore the hell out of you if it was your only job. Think about the kinds of things that keep your attention when others are talking about them, or the topics and skillsets that interest people who are similar to yourself (e.g., “this person loves boats and knows how to build a boat from scratch! That's awesome! I'll give them $50/month so they can share their expertise on building boats!").

- Find out what people are willing to pay for these things—ideally, through some sort of survey or other market research method (like looking around on social media). For example: Is there an industry-leading blog covering this content? How much does it charge per month? What kind of traffic does it get? Are there any competitors charging less than $50/month for similar content? How much traffic do those blogs have compared with yours?

Get organized

As a freelancer, you're going to need all the organizational tools at your disposal to keep things running smoothly. In this section, we'll cover three areas: organizing your files and documents, organizing your time and finances, and finally how to ensure that you have a solid business plan in place.

Organize Your Files & Documents

It's important that you maintain an organized archive of all the files related to your freelance career—especially if it's one that can be accessed by others. If something gets lost or damaged, it's easy for someone else on your team (or even an old client) to get confused if everything isn't filed properly. Here are some tips for building up an effective filing system:

- Use folders with clear labels so anyone who looks at them knows what they're about

- Create subfolders within each folder as needed for further organization

- Keep similar items together; don't just toss them into any old folder because they look alike

Define your workload

You should determine the amount of time you can devote to freelancing before you start. This will help ensure that, when it comes time to work on a project, your schedule is clear and there are no conflicts with other commitments. If you have an idea of how many days it will take to complete a project, this can also help prevent overscheduling or under-scheduling yourself. Additionally, it's important to be honest with yourself about how much time you can dedicate to freelancing in general—you might want more flexibility than working from home actually allows.

Create a schedule that works for you

Setting up a schedule is an important part of the freelancing process. You need to be able to stick to it and make sure you're working enough, but not too much. It's also important that your schedule works with your personal life. What good is a schedule if you can't stick to it?

To create a freelance schedule, first think about what time of day works best for you and plan out how many hours per week you want to work. Then decide when those hours should take place so that they fit in with other commitments or obligations (like morning or evening classes). The next step is designing your own unique office space—whether it's in your home or at a local cafe—and setting out all of the necessary equipment: desk, chair, laptop/phone/tablet etc... Finally, keep track of everything on paper by creating a checklist where all tasks are clearly listed out along with dates and times they need to be completed by.

Set up an office space

An office is a place where you work, and it's important to set up a space you enjoy. The right environment will help you feel more productive and focused on your work. That said, not everyone can afford to rent an office space full-time—so what are the alternatives?

- Find some space in your home that has enough room for your laptop and any other supplies (e.g., paper, pens) that you'll need while working. It's best if this area is relatively quiet so that it doesn't distract from getting things done!

- If you have roommates or family members living with you who share common areas with one another (like kitchens or living rooms), make sure they know when they're allowed access to these places so as not interfere with each other's schedules too much -- especially during busy months when deadlines are fast approaching!

Set monthly goals

Setting monthly goals for yourself is a great way to stay on track and focused. They can be anything from finishing a project to making a profit, or even learning a new skill. Here are some examples of my personal goals:

- Finish editing episode two of my podcast

- Get at least five more clients this month

- Create 10 more blog posts in the next two weeks

More goals!

You will never achieve anything if you don't have goals. The more specific, the better.

- Set goals for your freelance career.

- Set monthly goals that align with your annual business plan and set weekly goals to keep you on track towards those bigger objectives.

- You can also break down these sub-goals into daily specific tasks and then even hourly ones if necessary!

Work hard so you can enjoy freelancing as much as possible.

When you're a freelancer, it's easy to get distracted by the thought of all the money you'll make. But don't forget why you started freelancing in the first place: it was because you wanted more freedom and flexibility in your work life. You want to be able to work on interesting projects with interesting people who are working in an environment that suits them.

That's why we recommend working hard, so that when you do finally take some time off (which should always be part of any successful freelance career), it will feel like a reward for all your hard work.

Conclusion

Freelancing is a lot of work, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I hope that this guide has helped you to get started on your own journey and enjoy the benefits of living life on your own terms.