Freelancer - who is it and how to become a successful freelancer?

Freelancer is a freelancer, a self-employed person who offers his services to companies and several clients at the same time. In America, 35% of all working people are freelancers. Freelance is gaining popularity in the countries of the former CIS. The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world and even to a foreign company attracts more and more Russians. But freelance work has disadvantages.

Freelancers - pros and cons

Before deciding whether to be a freelancer, you need to know not only about the benefits of this mode of operation, but also about the pitfalls:

1. It will take time to gain a stable client base for decent earnings.
2. The work can be irregular. Many freelancers are experiencing times of "ebb and flow" in their work. We need a clear budget planning and a willingness to work off-hour, when there are a lot of work.
3. Working with numerous clients and projects is a challenge. Someone finds it really difficult to meet all deadlines, to perform work qualitatively. Freelancer is a great time manager.
4. Low earnings at first. In the modern era of the digital economy and with high competition, few are willing to pay a decent new freelancer.

Advantages of freelancing:

1. Work when you want . You want to sleep before noon - easily, to arrange a day off in the middle of the week - without problems. In the mode of freelancing, you can give your work hours when working at the peak.
2. Work with anyone you want . Rough and inadequate people can be excluded from work. If you feel that you do not agree with the character, or do not like the order of payment, you can just wish all the best and do not work on the project.
3. Work where it is convenient . One of the most compelling reasons that makes choosing in favor of freelancing. You can do work sitting in a local buffet or wheel around Europe, or swaying in a hammock under a palm tree. In the park, in the library, in bed, being in pajamas - anywhere!
4. Work for yourself . Who is this freelancer - the one who is his own boss. No one hangs over it and does not rule. All the important decisions are behind him.
5. All your money. Freelance allows you to receive all the profits from the project, there is no boss - there is no distribution of funds between the company and employees.

Types of freelancers

Specialties of freelancers are very diverse, from humanitarian to technical ones. Forbes was the top 10 professional areas where you can make an excellent career as a freelancer:

• marketing;
• business project management;
• web development;
• work with texts;
• Accounting;
• insurance;
• teaching;
• work in social. networks;
• graphic design;
• administrative assistance.

What freelancers are in demand now?

To become a successful freelancer, you need to have experience in a field that is well paid and in demand:

1. Programming and software development . Specialties related to programming, especially with the creation of mobile applications, are the most highly paid.
2. Web-design . With the rapid development of business in the network, there is a growing need for web designers. Services designer flilansera well paid, but the competition is high - it is important to be an experienced and creative specialist.
3. Content marketing . Tasks for freelancers in the field of content marketing - writing unique articles that will increase the attendance of the Internet resource. Being a successful content marketer means reading a lot, writing a lot, being an inquisitive and creative strategist.
4. Graphic design . Nowadays infographics are in demand. Visualization is important in the online environment, so graphic designers are in the top 5 most paid areas for freelancers.
5. Copywriting . What is the work of the freelancer copywriter? Creation of content for websites, writing descriptions of goods and services.
6. Video editing . The high need for video editing in the freelance area is related to the opportunities that the business provides to platforms such as YouTube, Instagram , etc.
7. Management of social networks . Almost every business has a page in social. network, uses it to attract customers and promote the brand. With this, there is a high demand for specialists who would intelligently promote the account.

How to become a freelancer from scratch?

To start working for yourself is easy. It's as simple as downloading a page on the Internet. For example, the page of the site of the freelance exchange, where you can find your first client. Simple steps that will prompt how to become a freelancer:

1. Decide on the scope of activity.
2. Create an account on the exchange.
3. Set the prices.
4. Look for customers.

How to work as a freelancer?

Working as a freelancer on the Internet requires an integrated approach. To be a successful specialist, you need to try. Freelance is work. Earn portfolio, save recommendations, establish professional connections, look for clients, sell yourself. What is the work of the freelancer: in activity, in quality performance, in meeting deadlines.

Freelancer exchanges for beginners

Freelancers' exchange is a great way to find the first clients. There you can create your profile, earn a portfolio, and clients will eventually go to the performer themselves. There are stock exchanges that are general and specialized, on which specific specialists, copywriters , web developers, designers and others are "hanging out".

Famous foreign freelance exchanges for those who want to work for a foreign company:

• freelancer.com;
• upwork.com;
• guru.com.

The largest stock exchanges runet:

• fl.ru;
• weblancer.net;
• freelance.ru.

Exchanges for copywriters:

• etxt.ru;
• text.ru;
• textsale.ru;
• advego.ru.

Stock exchange for illustrators and graphic designers:

• logopod.ru;
• illustrators.ru;
• russiancreators.ru.

Exchanges for programmers and specialists 1C:

• 1clancer.ru;
• devhuman.com;
• modber.ru.

How many freelancers get?

Freelancer - a person whose income depends only on himself. The more you work, the more experience, the more chances to work on large projects and earn more money. At the thought of leaving work in the office of many people, there are many doubts about how to get a freelancer to pay for work. Council one - work on a contract basis, believe the word to the customer - a noble business, but not always grateful.

Do freelancers pay taxes?

How to pay taxes to a freelancer is an exciting issue. On the one hand, there is a tempting prospect of them hiding, on the other - the risk of a fine. The freelancer receives the same income as a person working for the company. The same - in the sense that it is subject to taxation. First, you should always work with the client on a contractual basis, where everything will be prescribed, secondly, for the convenience of taxation, you can open an IP, or regularly and timely submit a declaration.

Tips for freelancers

Freelancers-beginners are thinking how to become a successful freelancer, how not to get trapped, how to have reliable financial support. These tips will help:

1. Prepare yourself . Before you leave work in the office and immerse yourself in the world of freelancing, you need to collect all the tools for success. For most professions, such as copywriting or graphic design, you need to have an impressive portfolio to convince the client to hire you. It is better to prepare in advance - analyze your experience, select those parts that can be reflected in the portfolio. Start with part-time employment - take work on individual projects in parallel with the current work in the office.
2. Sell ​​yourself competently . We were taught that bragging is bad, but if you do not talk about yourself and your achievements, you will hardly be able to convince the client to hire you. The secret of success is to support your resume with facts. For example, if you are trying to convince a potential customer that you are an excellent specialist in creating content for business blogs, send him samples that were developed earlier.
3. Identify goals and plan for achieving them . Before you start working in freelance mode, you need to decide what you want to achieve. Count how much money you need to earn a month to provide for yourself. How many projects are you willing to take, and how much will you get the money.
4. Be active . Do not sit back in the hope that customers will find you. Be active users in social. networks, on exchanges, look for your target customers.
5. Be in the "get-together" . If you work alone, does not mean that you need to isolate yourself from society. People trust the recommendations received from people. Attend events, online conferences, build relationships, exchange experiences.
6. Collect reviews . Recommendations from the customer - a great way to get a new one, they prove that you are not the only person who considers you a professional.
7. Develop your brand . There are thousands of other freelancers, what sets you apart from them? Your brand is your personality. Develop your site, your accounts in social. networks, top up the portfolio. Sending an e-mail, be sure to specify the links.
8. Always make a contract . One of the main mistakes made by many freelancers is that they do not sign a contract with the client. Sometimes it ends sadly.

The richest freelancers

As practice shows, the old adage does not lie. If it sounds too good to be true, it's true. Famous freelancers have proved this:

1. James Knight (James Knight), a programmer who earns $ 1000 per hour.
2. Linda Formichelli (Linda FormichellI), copywriter, earning on texts from 250-400 $ per hour.