Now is the opportune moment to delve into freelancing. With approximately 80% of employers indicating an increase in the utilization of freelancers while putting full-time hires on hold, the freelance landscape is thriving. To initiate your freelancing journey, establish a profile on the platforms listed below and commence applying for gigs.
If you’re a beginner freelancer, check out:
Contra may be a smaller freelance platform, but its impact is significant. The opportunities feed is brimming with gigs posted directly on the platform and curated by the Contra team (also known as a sea of opportunities).
Moreover, they do not charge a fee, ensuring that you retain the entirety of your earnings.
Pangea stands out as another compact platform for freelance and contract work. What sets them apart is their provision of contract-to-hire job opportunities, which can be advantageous for those seeking a transition into a permanent position.
Additionally, Pangea is entirely free to use and does not deduct any portion from your earnings. The only drawback is that there might not always be a plethora of gigs available on the platform.
Fiverr stands out as one of the most widely recognized freelancing platforms. However, it’s essential to note that Fiverr operates globally, regardless of your location in the United States. While not inherently negative, this global reach means you’ll be competing with freelancers from countries where the exchange rate is lower.
This dynamic implies that while you may need to charge $20 per hour to meet your financial needs, someone in another country might charge $4 per hour. Despite this, it’s worth creating a profile and applying for gigs on Fiverr.
Upwork is another prominent freelance platform where you can submit proposals for a myriad of gigs. Given its international scope, it’s crucial to craft a distinctive profile and proposals to stand out among a diverse pool of freelancers.
Freelancer
With over 69 million users on this platform, highlighting your unique selling point in your profile is crucial to avoid getting lost in the sea of competition. However, the upside is that there have been over 23 million roles posted, offering plenty of opportunities to secure work.
LinkedIn is a surprisingly underutilized platform for discovering freelance opportunities. Beyond scrolling through the jobs feed, you can employ a reverse-search approach to land gigs.
Simply navigate to the search bar, input “looking for freelance [insert role type here],” and then filter the posts by “past week” or “past 24 hours.” This method reveals numerous posts from individuals seeking freelancers. Often, these roles aren’t featured in the jobs feed, potentially resulting in less competition for those opportunities.
FlexJobs serves as an aggregator, consolidating job opportunities across various industries into a single platform. While the extensive list of opportunities provides numerous gigs to apply for, it also means investing a considerable amount of time in sorting through them.
RemoTasks distinguishes itself from other platforms by focusing on gig work rather than long-term, one-on-one client engagements. Upon signing up, you’ll encounter a list of gigs, such as transcribing audio or labeling images, each offering a specific pay rate. Upon completing the task, you receive compensation.
Certain tasks may require a specific skill set, while others are simpler to accomplish, with pay rates decreasing as the simplicity of the task increases.
Once you’ve gained some experience, consider exploring the following platforms. However, until then, it’s advisable not to invest your energy in applying or creating profiles on them. The competition is tough, and you’re likely to either get weeded out or struggle to secure gigs.
Toptal operates as an exclusive network of top freelancers, with less than 3% of applications accepted. Consequently, it is not well-suited for beginners.
With over 3 million designers and agencies on this platform, the competition is intense, and you might find yourself getting lost in the mix.
To secure your first freelance client without prior experience, follow these steps:
Freelancer earnings vary based on the industry. Here are average rates in different sectors:
Freelancing demands more upfront effort than some alternative side hustles like driving for InstaCart or selling items on Facebook Marketplace. However, the potential income is considerably higher, and the flexibility surpasses other options.
If you’re willing to invest time initially, the long-term rewards in terms of income and flexibility can be substantial.
