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More people than ever are turning to freelance work as a stable source of income in the aftermath of COVID-19. Here's how to get your first Fiverr and Upwork Freelancer job off the ground.
There are numerous advantages to freelancing. To begin with, you get to be your own boss.
That means choosing what type of work to do, whom to work with, when, and where -- in a quaint cafe, a camper parked by a picturesque lake, or snuggled up in bed. It’s this level of freedom that draws so many people into this style of work.
Most importantly, freelancing allows you to broaden your skillset, allowing your work to grow and evolve to new levels. In comparison, it isn’t always easy to branch out into different avenues or to ramp up your earnings with a regular, full-time job.
If you’re completely new to freelancing, or are still in the daydreaming phase, that’s OK. Everyone has to start somewhere. We’ve got some great tips on where to find relevant gigs, as well as how to successfully market yourself.
MORE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO FREELANCE NOW THAN EVER
Once COVID-19 hit, the world of freelancing exploded. Suddenly a huge portion of formerly in-person jobs moved to the virtual domain. With that came more freelancing opportunities.
In fact, a recent survey conducted by Upwork found that 61.9% of respondents said they were planning to incorporate and create more remote opportunities in their workforce -- all as a direct response to COVID-19. Seriously, this is an excellent time to launch your freelancing career.
For freelancers who have been negatively impacted, there are ways to keep afloat during COVID-19, such as improving your tech situation and reaching out to past clients.
For example, having the most up-to-date version of Zoom is extremely helpful as the world turns to more virtual meetings and interviews.
A past client might suddenly be looking to revamp their website to include pandemic-related changes -- and you’re just the writer to do it!
In a nutshell, devoting time to starting or ramping up a freelance career is a smart move, enabling you to have some portable income during a time of economic uncertainty.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND YOUR FIRST FREELANCING GIG?
Whether you’re looking for work as a writer, graphic designer, data analyst, or software developer, there’s something for everyone out there. And the easiest place to find such jobs is on a dedicated freelancer platform.
One advantage to using these platforms is that clients can post public reviews of your work, which helps to build your reputation and reliability as a freelancer.
One downside is that most freelancer platforms take a commission from each project. This fee usually comes out of your final pay, which means you get slightly less than the agreed-upon rate.
Many freelancers account for this by raising their project fees by an extra 10-20%.
Even though the commission fees hurt, it’s still worth it. The freelancer platforms curate a list specifically tailored to your skills and talents, saving hours of search time on your end.
HERE ARE THE PLATFORMS WE’RE GOING TO DCUSS:
- Upwork
- Fiverr
1. What is Upwork?
Upwork is a popular online marketplace connecting freelancers with a wide range of businesses.
Whom it’s for: There are hundreds of categories, such as software development, engineering, writing, translation, graphic design, video production, data entry, accounting, and more.Expertise level:
Anyone can join, including complete beginners. The jobs are listed in three tiers: entry level, intermediate, and expert.
Upwork offers a wide range of opportunities for freelancers.
Upwork is an excellent place to launch your freelance career. It’s easy to jump right in, with a majority of entry-level jobs not requiring a portfolio.
In fact, I landed my very first freelance gig through Upwork. It was a basic article about rowing machines and paid a mere $15 -- which was only $12 once Upwork took its 20% cut. But, as I’ve noted, we all have to start somewhere.
We highly suggest taking advantage of Upwork’s free webinars and events, with informative sessions about growing and upscaling your freelance business. As the leading marketplace for freelancers, they know their stuff.
HERE’S A BREAKDOWN OF UPWORK’S FEES:
20% on earnings up to $500
10% on earnings between $500.01 and $10,000
5% on earnings that exceed $10,000
Keep in mind that the above structure refers to work with each specific client. For example, if you do a series of logos for Joe’s Locksmith, Upwork will take 20% until Joe has paid you more than $500.
At that time, Upwork’s fee will drop to 10%. However, if you’ve just started work for a new client, that fee will start at 20%. Check out Upwork’s fee structure if you need more details.
Upwork offers a Basic plan and a Plus plan for freelancers.
Freelancers have a choice of two plans when signing up for Upwork. The basic plan is technically free, but you have to buy Connects in order to apply or bid for jobs. A single Connect isn't expensive, just a mere $0.15 plus tax, but it does make you think twice before applying for jobs. The connects roll over up to 140, and they expire after one year.
Alternatively, you can sign up for Upwork’s Plus plan at $14.99 per month. With this plan, you’ll receive 70 Connects each month, plus you get access to extended reports, the ability to see competitors’ bids for jobs, and more. See the chart above for the full details.
Bottom line: Upwork’s fees and membership plans are downsides, but it’s definitely the leading platform for finding freelance jobs in a variety of fields. With enough persistence and dedication, you can land some satisfying, long-term, high-paying jobs. Make sure to take advantage of their free webinars!
Fiverr is an online freelancer platform connecting those with a range of skills to meet practically every business need.
Whom it’s for: Anyone can join. Their most popular services are web and mobile design, WordPress, and logo design.Expertise level: Every level of job is offered, from entry-level to expert.
Fiverr originally started off by offering work at $5 per project -- hence the name. Needless to say, it was a great way to step right into freelance work with minimal experience. That is, if you were willing to work for $5!
In 2014, Fiverr removed the $5 price tag. However, many jobs still go at the same shockingly low rate, but more of them are moving into more realistic pricing.
Similar to Upwork, Fiverr takes a 20% cut from every transaction. However, there’s no sliding fee structure for ongoing work with the same client.
HERE ARE FIVE STEPS TO SIGN UP AS A FIVERR SELLER:
1. Create a seller’s profile
2. List a specific gig, such as doing voice-overs or photography
3. Include a video introduction
4. Offer a package (this is an excellent way to enhance your earnings)
5. List extras for your gig
The first two steps are required. The last three steps are optional, but they will help boost your profile and draw more attention.
We suggest making your profile stand out as much as possible because Fiverr is definitely a competitive market.
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Bottom line: Fiverr is a great platform to land quick and easy jobs, thus building your portfolio.
However, it’s not the best option for ongoing work since the 20% fee remains the same, even after long-term work with the same client.
Once your freelance business is up and running, you can sit back and relax a bit. It’s good to know you’ve got a steady income stream, no matter where your adventures may take you.
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