Looking to land freelance jobs online? Hooked on the prospect of setting your daily schedule and having the flexibility to work from wherever you want? Dreaming of being your own boss and choosing your own clients? You’re not alone, freelancing is on the rise in 2016 so get ready to ditch your cubicle and get started. Freelancing can be hard work, but with focus, hustle, and a few insider tips – you can make it, and we’re here to help.

1. Quick Tips to Launch your
Freelancing Career

2. Looking to land freelance jobs online? Hooked on the
prospect of setting your daily schedule and having the
flexibility to work from wherever you want? Dreaming
of being your own boss and choosing your own clients?
You’re not alone, freelancing is on the rise in 2016 so get
ready to ditch your cubicle and get started. Freelancing
can be hard work, but with focus, hustle, and a few
insider tips – you can make it, and we’re here to help.

3. • Showcase your best work on your
personal site, GitHub profile, Behance
profile, and any other relevant
locations for your area of expertise.
• If you’re just getting started and don’t
have previous work under your belt,
give yourself practice projects to create
examples to show off your skills (logos,
mockups, apps, code, diagrams, etc.)
Update your online
profiles quarterly
If a client is interested in working with
you, they might look you up online as
part of their selection process. This is
your chance to showcase your best
while they are browsing search results
for your name. Remember, it’s all
about trust! Potential clients haven’t
had the chance to meet you before,
these profiles let them know they are
in safe hands working with you.

4. Some helpful things to include:
• What was the timeline? If it was a rush
job, show your ability to work with tight
deadlines.
• What were the goals? Point out
specific approaches and solutions you
provided to help the goals be met.
• Were there specific challenges? How
you deal with these are a testament
to problem solving and client concerns.
Don’t just post a link
to your work, explain it
Your previous work is the best way to show
how you have helped other clients achieve
their goals, something all clients look for when
evaluating freelancers. This is more than just
an opportunity to showcase your skills, but
how you collaborate with your clients. Was the
client stumped before they found you? Were
you able to help them get over a roadblock and
achieve their goals? These stories are valuable
to potential clients because it shows your
dedication and communication skills.

5. Keep your social profiles polished
Your social media presence
is an extension of your
professional online profile. If
your client finds your social
profiles in their research, it
should shine a positive light
on you. These profiles are
an opportunity to show your
personality, create a personal
connection, and network to
find future work.
Follow these tips to make sure your public social
profiles help, not hurt, your freelancing career:
• Don’t use NSFW language.
• Don’t have publicly visible religious or political opinions.
This is a quick way to be removed from competitive bidding
environments.
• Post links to your previous work to show your skills.

6. Contributing to communities that are specific to your skills is
a great way to highlight your abilities and show that you are
active in your profession. By being proactive in sharing your
knowledge and helping others, you are providing clients with
a real-world example of what working with you is like.
Get the most out of your contributions with these tips:
• Author content that demonstrates your specific abilities.
• Keep your content engaging and straightforward, this is a
great chance to demonstrate your communication skills.
• Practice creating different types of content to show a
variety of communication styles; blog posts, how-to’s,
product reviews, videos, and more.
Establish expertise within your industry

7. Personalize your
proposals
Submitting proposals can be time consuming,
but it’s one of the most important parts of
successful freelancing. This is your chance
to set yourself apart from the rest. To save
yourself time you can create basic templates
to use across proposals and then fill in
specific information as it relates to each
project. Always remember, your proposal is
like an interview, what would you say to be
sure you are the top candidate?
The basic building blocks of a great
proposal include:
A personal
introduction of
yourself and
relevant work.
Your estimated
timeline for the
required work.
Last, but certainly not least, be sure to
proofread! This shows your attention to
detail and communication abilities which
are key to maintaining a positive working
relationship with your clients.
Responses to
any questions
the client had
in their project
description.
An outline of
the finished
deliverables you
will be working on.

8. Be positive and clear in all communications
Nobody wants to work with an
abrasive freelancer. Keeping all of your
communications positive, even with the
most difficult clients, is an excellent way to
set yourself apart from the crowd and gain
repeat clients. One of your ultimate goals
is to receive positive feedback at the end
of projects, after all, your reputation as a
freelancer depends on it.
Here are some best practices for keeping
your client happy:
• Start your messages on a high note. A
simple “thanks for the quick response” can
set a good tone right off the bat.
• Avoid speaking in confusing technical jargon.
Remember, your client hired you because
they aren’t an expert in the field – you are!
It’s part of your responsibility to guide them
through the project and make sure they feel
their are in safe hands with you.
• Be sure to address their questions with
straightforward answers to show you value
their time.
• Reply to client communications promptly, if
you fall silent for a few days they might grow
nervous and frustrated.

9. Client feedback is an invaluable
component of your online freelancing
reputation. After a project is complete,
be sure to be proactive in asking for
a positive 5 star review. Some clients
might not leave feedback immediately,
but a gentle nudge might be all they
need. Positive feedback from your
clients is something that comes with
hard work, good communication, and a
personal touch.
By following these quick tips, you’re
well on your way to growing your
freelancing business!
Be sure to get feedback from your clients

10. For even more tips, tricks, and resources to boost your
freelancing career, join Experts Exchange.