Looking for freelance work from home and improved working hours? Well, you might have found the right place as freelancing is all about having that much sought after work-life balance. You might be looking for variety in your freelance work or passionate about pursuing a hobby and turning it into a profession. Done are the days of a 9 – 5 job, bring on the new life as a freelancer and enjoy the freedom!

Here are a few points you should know when looking into freelance work from home and how it can benefit you in terms of a prosperous career path. After all, you need to enjoy what you are doing right?!

Photo by Marc Schäfer 

Looking for freelance work from home?

Freelance work from home is regarded widely as a type of self-employment that focuses on a flexible arrangement, providing services to a variety of different businesses. Freelancers can choose which projects they would like to work on, no matter how scalable it may be. The catch is the projects that you opt-for need to match your skills, availability and consumer’s needs.

Typically, scheduled tasks could include website design, shooting videos, or writing weekly blog posts. However, alternative projects can fall under the freelance work umbrella that being, dog walking, assembling a wardrobe or washing your car think of it like tasking. The nature of freelancing is to work in a flexible way utilising specific skills to complete jobs through a professional service.

Usually, a consumer will post a job onto a freelance marketplace to give freelancers the option to apply for active projects. However, consumers can approach freelancers directly and ask for specific tasks/projects to be completed upon request, once they have perused the freelancers' portfolio and given it their seal of approval.

Once a freelancer has viewed job offers, they will contact the consumer via the job post and explain why they are the best fit for the job. The freelancer’s portfolio will show all this information, however, if a job is tailored it is advisable to upsell your skills and provide as much detail as possible as to why you would be the best fit.

In this space of time from a consumer posting a job to freelancers getting in touch, the consumer will then have to decide on the perfect freelancer. Shortlisting favourites is best practice ready for the next steps which are, contacting freelancers, processing the payment and getting the job done!

Services on offer are almost unlimited to a freelancer. It’s worth noting that there are specific fields which are particularly common. These include:

• Photography
• Graphic Design
• Writing, editing & proofreading
• Marketing, media & PR
• Videography
• Data entry, PA & VA work
• Programming & tech support

There are substantial benefits to freelancing, these include:

• Setting up is quick and easy
• Select the projects that you are passionate about
• Choose the hours you would like to work
• It’s financially achievable to freelance
• The work is varied and engaging

When looking into freelance work from home, you will observe that it’s common for students or recent graduates, those that have encountered an unfortunate job loss, flexible working parents, or people taking up a hobby that they are passionate about and providing professional services with existing and newly found skills. The freelancing profession can be gratifying and “a breath of fresh air” due to some jobs being exclusively tailored around freelancing therefore not available in a regular job.   

Freelancing allows you to get paid in one of two ways hourly or at a fixed rate. You could also specify that you are open to offers to ensure you remain in work.

Freelancers determine rates, and the amount set will depend entirely on what service is offered, the demand for the skill, how experienced a freelancer is, and the duration of the project.

Negotiating pay is sometimes possible; however, take into consideration your workload and factor in that you will not receive holiday pay, unlike a regular job.

Freelance work from home should be looked upon as both demanding and flexible at the same time. You will need a high level of self-motivation and be personable, adaptable, and a great communicator. It’s best to become a specialist in your chosen field if you are not already!

Consumers looking to hire a freelancer will require a strong portfolio stating all your experience and qualifications to stand out from the freelance crowd. You can show work examples to help further consumers understand your skills and what you can offer.

You can create such portfolios via Skillbox a freelance marketplace dedicated to helping freelancers find the right consumers.

Locating freelance work is accessible on job sites such as Skillbox. A job is posted for free by a consumer, therefore, allowing a freelancer to submit their request to complete the project.

It is essential to browse jobs and get a feeling of what is right for you to manage your workload effectively.

 

Quick steps to starting a freelance career.

Find below some top tips to boost your freelance career:

1. Choose a topic that is in demand. Finding something you enjoy is a priority; however, do your research to discover options before marketing your skill.
2. Reputation is key to brand success. Going solo can be daunting, although it is exciting to create your freelance brand and have an impressive online presence. You can do this through blogging, social media, and designing portfolios.
3. Portfolio to success. Consumers require a brief overview of previous experience; this means selecting your jobs can be crucial in gaining an enhanced reputation.
4. Pitch to victory. Detailing the specifics in a customised pitch is crucial to the success of your application. Focus on how your skills meet their needs; this could be the tipping point allowing you to have ongoing freelance work.

If you are looking to create a portfolio today, you can by visiting Skillbox and creating a comprehensive portfolio in a few steps. It's easy to find freelance work from home too!