How I started
I worked as a contract employee from home for many years and when that job ended, I couldn't face returning to the work place. I started searching the web for Freelance writing jobs. I have tried every site out there and had varying levels of success. Over the past seven years I have learnt a few things and now I will share them with you.
Things to remember
1. This is a job... you can't sit around all day and expect to be paid.
2. You will spend hours searching for work and nobody pays you for that time.
3. Its a great idea to have some back up funds or a full-time employed partner when you first start. You will not make a lot of money at first. It can take years to find your stride. I am only in a really happy place with lots of work now.
4. People will try to scam you. This is the internet and it can be very hard to trace people. I spent weeks on a job only for the client to vanish without payment. Learn to judge clients.
5. A friend told me that you need balls of steel in this job and that's true. Editors and clients can make you feel worthless and as a freelancer it is very personal.
6. Be prepared to work through the night to meet deadlines
7. People will treat you like you don't work.
8. Finally you will never have another true holiday again. Vacation time does not exist in the freelance world. When you don't work, you don't get paid.
So on the positive side
Your time is your own. You are able to work odd hours so that you can be there for your children.You can work anywhere in the world. Most work will be in US$.
What should you do
If you want to give freelancing a try, it's actually pretty easy. Some sites you sign up and they send you work, others you browse through job listings.
Only ever sign up on free sites. Run away from any site that requests money. The majority are scams.Don't ever give out your card details.
So here are the steps:
1. Go to PayPal and sign up for an account. The majority of sites and clients will want to pay through PayPal.
2. Get an online FNB account if you don't bank with them. This is currently the only way to get PayPal payments in SA. FNB are very helpful in setting this up. Money takes 5 - 8 business days to clear in your account.
3. Now start signing up on websites. Spend time on your profiles and use a great picture. This is what a client uses to chose you to do the work. Here are the names of a few sites to try:
Upwork.com
Guru.com
Fiverr.com
Peopleperhour.com
I don't personally use any of these sites anymore but they can be a great starting point. Be aware of clients with new profiles when you first start as these can be a scam. Stick with experienced clients and they will help you to build a decent portfolio.
If you would like to write articles try:
iWriter
Custom Content
Pure Content
Freedom with writing
ProBlogger job board
Some of these sites have fairly stringent application processes, so be aware of that.
The other way to get jobs is to ask around on your FB page or other social media. You may be able to get clients through your contacts and these can be high paying clients.
I realized that I have lots more to say on this topic and a massive deadline looming... so this will be a series of posts. Feel free to ask question. Type the site name into Google. Sorry no time for Hyperlinks today:)
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