Hello You.
My name is Faran. I am a Graphics & Video Editor and this is my story
It all started in October when I made my first gig as a Video Editor on Fiverr and by the end of the month I landed my first order. For starters, It’s not easy to get your first order as it was already high competition in Video Editing services category.
But with passion and determination, I turned Impossible to Possible.
It was the time during the COVID pandemic and Working from home has become the new norm not only for enterprises but also for individuals.
All these years I only Fiverr and Upwork. The two famous websites that help people to find freelance work.
Fiverr focuses on a gig-based approach that sees freelancers offering specific services for certain amounts of money. It is suitable when you are in a position to secure short-term or once-off employment. On the other hand, Upwork works on the basis of freelancers bidding for various job posts for freelancing, and it is suitable for looking for long-term freelancing projects and developing a business with a client.
This blog post is intended to write my story of How I made $10,000 from freelancing and the experiences I faced while working as a freelancer on the platforms Fiverr and Upwork. The following are guidelines that other people who want to engage in freelancing ventures to make money should take. I wanted to give the reader a glimpse of what I did, and how I was able to hit the $10,000 mark as a freelancer so that the reader can benefit from my experience. In this post, targeted at beginners as well as experienced freelancers, I hope to give useful tips that can assist a freelancer at work.
Choosing the right platforms.
There are many platforms for freelancing on the internet but choosing the right platform is what matters the most in the long run.
Other than Fiverr and Upwork there are:
Designhill
Toptal
We Work Remotely
Behance
SimplyHired
Guru
PeoplePerHour
An important initial step was deciding on the right platforms to join. That said, I researched on the Internet and also asked some colleagues and friends who were already familiar with Fiverr and Upwork. As a beginner I first started working on Fiverr because it operated based on gigs, Fiverr is ideal for clients and freelancers who need a quick and specific solution; freelancers can list services with prices clearly stated. This increases the chances of getting clients in instances where these clients seek specific tasks to be accomplished.
Upwork has a bid feature for placing offers which is best appropriate for projects of multiple months and ongoing assignments since it provides the independent workers with an opportunity to present offers and negotiate with clients for assignments. As I was a beginner and did not have a portfolio to show to clients I didn’t use Upwork. But as time passed and I was at the stage where I managed to build my profile to the client’s satisfaction I joined Upwork. In Upwork, the most difficult is to get the approval from client as it is a bidding system and you have to submit cover letters along with experience in the relevant task is necessary. But as you land your job on work you can develop long-term collaborations with specific clients and obtain continuous work.
Setting up the profiles
A profile picture is the first thing that clients will notice about you before they get to see any picture you post, so it is very important to make a good first impression. That is why it is critical for such a site to have a clear, professional picture, which goes a long way in establishing trust. Repeat after day two. Do not take random selfies; instead, have a proper headshot photo in which you appear friendly and businesslike.
Crafting a Compelling Bio
Make sure to write an engaging bio because this is your opportunity to let people know more about you and what makes you different. We learned to avoid listing ourselves as ‘available’ and instead, concentrate on our strengths, expertise, and what we have to bring to a particular client. Remain brief in your writing but be sure to provide adequate information needed for your audience to fully understand what you are talking about and do not leave out your personality. A bright example of a bio can be viewed on the site, and it may demonstrate what a difference it can make when clients are searched for.
Main Methods of Displaying Your Potential and Portfolio
A portfolio is a strong tool to demonstrate your competence and achievements in a specific area.
Concerning Fiverr, this means giving detailed descriptions of gigs and providing samples of some of your best works.
Upwork, it is all about creating your record and getting confirmation from clients with favorable reviews.
When selecting project samples, be certain to showcase those that you think will most effectively demonstrate your skills, and diligence in your work. This not only shows your capability and proficiency in the type of services you offer but also enables you to gain the trust of the potential market.
Finding Your Niche
Identifying Skills
When I began working as a video editor, my first task was to determine which of the skills were in high demand with low competition. I was always interested in Graphics and Video Editing because, in my university days, I used to do outdoor photography and often made some reels or shorts to upload on social media. I figured this category must be in demand on freelancing platforms so I made my gigs and started my freelancing journey.
Niche Selection
Choosing a niche was one of the major turning points for me as a freelancer. I focused on narrow fields, for example, reports, cover designing, book cover designing, sports edits, wedding edits etc. It was possible to enhance my skills and take up niches that I was interested in without much competition. I understood clients would rather hire a person who is specialized in a certain area than someone who can do a range of jobs.
Building Your Portfolio
Creating Sample Work
It is important to invest time in developing new coursework that shows potential employers the best of the candidate at the time which is especially important to beginners in any profession. It is best to have a personal website or a Google Drive folder to showcase some of your best work to clients. Here are some tips to help you create impressive sample projects that attract clients
Showcase Your Best Skills: Focus more on such projects, which showcase the best skills to the client. Graphic designers should start making logos, business cards or website designs, illustration templates, etc. There are also hobby projects done by actual video editors who can make such blogs or podcasts.
Reflect Client Needs: Develop samples of work addressing genuine challenges. That is why your potential clients know that you care about their issues and are ready to offer them the proper help.
Maintain High Quality: Make sure that the works that you choose for the sample collection are clean and professionally done.
Keep It Updated: Always add new samples that capture your work and skills, the latest and most relevant in your field.
Landing Your First Gig
Optimizing Gig Listings
Fiverr
The gig title must be short, and specific to the service you are providing.
The description of your gig should be able to offer users a clear understanding of what you are able to deliver.
Describe the specialties of your service, skills, or equipment you employ and why clients should opt for you instead of a competitor.
As for tags, adhere to those which describe your service best. This makes the gig easily found when users are searching using certain keywords hence enhancing visibility.
Add well-edited pictures, videos of the performance, or links to your previous work portfolio.
Upwork
Always Customize Proposals: Introduce each proposal depending on the job and highlight your experience and qualifications for it. State any previous works done and how they will be useful in handling the position in question.
To have clients in the initial stages of your services, you need to ensure that you set your prices low. Gradually, increase the prices as your profile gets better reviews.
Always, make an effort to communicate value when you are in the same price bracket as other businesses. There are other advantages that clients will gain from your company, examples include, fast turnaround time, and free consultations among others.
Providing Excellent Service
Communication
This is especially important as it will ensure that the clients have good things to say about the service that is given to them.
Builds Trust: Coming to regular meetings, this option is highly appreciated by clients since it fosters trust and strengthens the relations between the two parties. People would also like to be informed of the progress of their projects which have been commissioned.
Prevents Misunderstandings: Why Clarification Is Essential It is instrumental in making sure that the client and you are speaking the same language in terms of the project requirements, timelines, and goals. This reduces the likelihood of misinterpretation and mistakes, helping to reduce errors.
Demonstrates Professionalism: Always reply to the messages as soon as you can and without delay to demonstrate how much the client means to you and the business.
Paying close attention to the details is extremely important if you want to deliver work that will meet the client’s demands and keep them coming back.
It is wise to take the time and understand fully the needs of the client before starting the project.
Pay Attention to Detail: Proper work looks all, especially in the details. Make sure to review your contents, check the usability, and make sure that everything will suit the client’s requirements.
Use the Right Tools: Technical skills are essential when it comes to creating impressive and professional presentations in your line of work. This will assist you in staying current with the latest techniques to ensure your corporation flourishes.
Time Management: Time management should always be observed to ensure that projects are submitted on time yet quality works are developed.
Scaling Freelance Business
Increasing Your Rates
In as much as you get more repeat clients or make more projects, it is healthy to increase your charges when you’re more experienced as you grow your freelance business.
Expanding Your Services
Expanding the existing skills or services is effective in attracting more customers and subsequently, there are high chances of increasing the income. Here’s how to expand effectively
Building Long-Term Client Relationships
Clients who have worked with your company before are usually a good source of business and can significantly be of help towards achieving the goals of your business.
This is because through the measures such as increasing the set rates, offering more services, and nurturing client relations that lead to long-term contracts, freelancers can easily scale their businesses, making more money and realizing better profits.
Challenges and How to overcome them
Managing Time Effectively
Balancing multiple projects and avoiding burnout is a common challenge for freelancers. Here are some tips to manage your time effectively:
Prioritize Tasks: Start by identifying your most important tasks and prioritizing them. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance.
Create a Schedule: Set a daily or weekly schedule that allocates specific time blocks for each project. Stick to this schedule as closely as possible to maintain consistency.
Use Productivity Tools: Tools like Trello, Asana, or Todoist can help you keep track of tasks, deadlines, and project progress. Calendar apps like Google Calendar are also useful for scheduling work and setting reminders.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear working hours and stick to them. Let clients know when you are available and when you are not, to avoid interruptions during your off-hours.
Take Breaks: Regular breaks are essential to maintain productivity and avoid burnout. Follow techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break.
Delegate When Possible: If you have too much on your plate, consider outsourcing or delegating some tasks. This can free up time for more critical projects and help maintain a balanced workload.
Dealing with Difficult Clients
Managing conflicts and setting boundaries with difficult clients can be challenging but essential for a successful freelancing career. Here are some strategies:
Clear Communication: Ensure clear and consistent communication from the start. Set expectations regarding project scope, timelines, and deliverables. Document agreements to avoid misunderstandings.
Stay Professional: Maintain a professional demeanor, even if the client is challenging. Address issues calmly and objectively, focusing on solutions rather than problems.
Set Boundaries: Clearly define your working hours, response times, and revision policies. Make sure clients understand these boundaries to prevent unrealistic demands.
Manage Expectations: Be honest about what you can deliver and when. Underpromise and overdeliver to ensure clients are satisfied with the results.
Seek Compromise: When conflicts arise, seek a middle ground that satisfies both parties. Flexibility and willingness to compromise can often resolve issues amicably.
Know When to Walk Away: If a client is consistently unreasonable or disrespectful, it may be best to end the relationship. Politely explain that the working relationship is not a good fit and, if possible, refer them to another freelancer.
Staying Motivated
Maintaining motivation during slow periods can be tough, but here are some ways to stay inspired:
Set Goals: Establish short-term and long-term goals for your freelance business. Having clear objectives can provide direction and motivation.
Continue Learning: Use slow periods to learn new skills or improve existing ones. Online courses, webinars, and industry conferences can be excellent resources for professional development.
Network: Connect with other freelancers and professionals in your field. Networking can provide support, new opportunities, and inspiration.
Work on Personal Projects: Use downtime to work on projects that you’re passionate about. Personal projects can reignite your creativity and enthusiasm.
Reflect on Successes: Take time to review and celebrate your achievements. Reflecting on past successes can boost your confidence and motivation.
Maintain a Routine: Keep a consistent daily routine, even when work is slow. This helps maintain productivity and mental well-being.
Stay Active: Physical activity can boost your mood and energy levels. Incorporate regular exercise into your routine to stay motivated and reduce stress.
By managing your time effectively, dealing with difficult clients professionally, and finding ways to stay motivated, you can overcome common freelancing challenges and maintain a successful and fulfilling career.