This article contains basic tips for freelance beginners in Kenya. You will learn what it takes to build a freelance career and you can start advertising your skills right away. If you have decided to venture into freelancing it will not be as easy as you think but our freelance website will throw you into the water, with a floater. Apexlistings is a freelance website that allows you to sell your skills as virtual assistant services.
Building a freelance career is not as easy as it sounds. Doing it right takes some planning, strategy, and a lot of patience.
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If you're considering freelancing as a way to supplement or replace your current income, here are a few tried and tested tips on how to get started
Do your research
Before you dive blindly into freelancing, do extensive research. Find blogs and articles written by successful freelancers and read their stories, learn about the business, and learn from the mistakes they made as they were starting. Most freelance beginners are misinformed and that's why they give up before they can even make it.
A vast number of writers know that ‘to become a better writer, you must read often’. Writing is more than just stringing words together coherently. If you do not have a good understanding of what you are writing about, you need to research because if you do not understand the topic then how will you convey it?
Find a niche
Choosing a niche allows you to focus on your goal. Simply put, find an area to specialize in. High-paying employers do not work with generalists. Once you find your niche and focus on it, you build authority and become an expert. Your chance of getting hired increases too. However, the niching process takes a lot of trial and error so keep trying different areas until you find the one that is perfect for you.
You can choose your niche from:
Work experience, Education, Passion, and Personal experience
Practice and continue learning
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Although you do not need a degree to become a freelancer, it is important to continue learning. New and different freelancing trends are emerging daily and to be on top of your game you will need to continue learning. Take a few online courses or just read extensively on freelancing. If you are a writer, have a few of your friends read what you have written and give you honest feedback. Perfect your skills by learning from those who have done it before you.
Create a portfolio
The most asked question by beginner freelancers is usually, 'How do I build a portfolio with no relevant experience yet?' Guest writing is one idea. Some blogs accept guest writers on their platforms. Submit those articles. Keep writing samples and saving them to create a portfolio. Most employers want to see samples of what you have done before they consider you for their task. Therefore, make your portfolio stand out. Create a masterpiece and job opportunities will find you. If you are a graphic designer, create a portfolio of graphics you made even if they were not for profit. You need to have a selling tool. When you join a platform like Apexlistings, you need to get verified, during verification, you have to submit a portfolio.
Put yourself out there
Join Freelancing Platforms and get the most out of them. Build a profile that sells you and share your profile on all your social media pages. Let your social media followers know that you are available for freelancing should they need to get something done.
Don't wait for gigs to come to you if you are still a beginner, be proactive, approach people, and use your followers for networking. Being a freelancer means you have to hustle for work until clients start finding you themselves. Sell your services via all social channels. Find other freelancers and interact with them, helping each other grow. Note that no one will discover you until you make your presence known. Use Apexlistings to publish your first virtual assistant services.
Look at how much you charge
Take care of your interests as much as you are desperate for work. Do not agree on too low prices and allow Buyers to overwork you. Remember that they are also in need and that's the reason why they are looking for you. Don't overdo it either. If you charge too high you scare Buyers away.