Freelancing is a very rewarding career path – your time is yours, you choose your projects and you have no boss to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. There are many benefits of being a freelancer; and with the economic down turn in the recent months, taking the reigns on your own career is a wise move in this time of pink slips and downsizing.

I have been freelancing since I graduated college. In fact, I have been taking small writing assignments and projects when I was in college to help me augment my allowance. I found freelancing very convenient and rewarding, and it’s just the path I want to take. It has been five years since I took my career in my own hands, and I would like to share with you a few things to help you get started as a freelancer.

Define Your Area of Expertise

Before marketing yourself in the freelancing and outsourcing niche, ask youself, “What do I do best?”  It is very important for you to define your area of expertise. Are you an excellent writer? An efficient link builder? An innovative graphic designer?

Carve a niche for your skill set. Don’t try to market yourself as an all-around freelancer, because let’s face it, everybody knows no one is great at everything. It is simply quite impossible to be able to perform every imaginable service or task for a client. That is, if you want to produce mediocre output for your clients.

I remember making that mistake a couple of years ago. I presented myself as an all-around, go-to gal. I wrote original articles, rewrote articles, designed blog templates, coded HTML and CSS. Yes, I was able to produce a good enough outcome, but not so great that I can be proud of my work. It was mediocrity at its finest, and my client was none too pleased with the output.

So don’t learn it the hard way. Pick certain areas that you can specialize in and perfect the skill set. Make it so that every client will always want to work with you again and again and again. Remember, when you specialize in a specific field, you can command more for your service.

Build Your Portfolio

There is nothing more of a turn-off to prospective clients than a freelancer bidding on a project and presenting no proof of his skills.  Sure, you are new at freelancing, but that does not excuse you for not having a portfolio. If you have yet to land your first project, you need to work hard and build your portfolio. Create sample articles or even mock designs and templates that showcase your talents and skills. Give it all you’ve got and make sure your samples will impress your prospective clients.

Have a Website or Blog

A website or blog works side-by-side with your portfolio.  I personally find it quite baffling when a freelancer, virtual assistant or graphic designer does not have a website or blog, especially if majority of his or her projects come from freelancing sites.

If you are a writer or a virtual assistant, a simple website showcasing your portfolio, your profile, your objectives and your contact information will do. If you are a graphic or website designer, it is imperative that you put your best foot forward and create the best possible design or website to present your skill and expertise.  Not having a website defeats the purpose of marketing your services online.

Join a Freelancing Website

Offshoring and outsourcing has boomed in the last decade. Along with this came freelancing websites and networks that connect businesses that are in need of help in some way and freelancers who are able to provide their services.

I am sure that you will find it very easy to join freelancing networks. After all, it’s only one Google search away. Once you have joined a network or two, make sure to fill your service provider profile and to showcase your best works to attract prospective clients.  Finding clients and landing projects is easy when you join a freelancing website, because everyone who would need your service is already there. You would only need to put your best foot forward.

These are just a few tips to help you jumpstart your freelancing career. But don’t forget, the most important qualities of a great freelancer – hardworking, patient, and able to manage time wisely. Add the tips you have just learned and you’re on your way to success.

article written by guest blogger:  thebloggermom

 Surefirehire.com freelancers are available to ensure your staff over-heads stay at a minimum. Apart from reducing your business’ exposure to the risk of employing staff, even those on short/fixed term contracts, using Surefirehire.com to source staff allows you to access freelancers with a high skill levels from developing economies. This means that you may end up paying less for a highly qualified website designer than you do to the guy who cleans your car! Although this may seem immoral to some, one has to acknowledge the fact that we live in a globalized economy and folks living in India simply need less cash to live on than folks living in Indiana and therefore they can charge less money to do the same jobs. Surefirehire.com brings together people who are looking to get the highest quality of work completed with those who have the highest levels of skill, although the most experienced freelance staff will charge higher rates, there are many freelancers with great talents looking to break into the freelance market who are willing to work for a lower fee and a good recommendation.

 Surefirehire.com gives freelancers the best opportunity to market their skills and talents to the most lucrative employers. If a freelancer is looking to increase their earning potential they can use the unique systems incorporated into the Surefirehire.com system to make sure employers know how much they are worth. This means that as an employer you can see examples of a freelancers work, or check out who they have worked for before you (and most importantly what was thought of their work) before you even begin to communicate with a freelancer.

 Surefirehire.com has given me the chance to find great opportunities to using my technical skills to boost my income, I have had to compete hard to be the winning bidder on the right projects, but it has definitely been worth it. I have used freelancing as a way to build a career in an industry I wanted to move into. As I develop my own on-line portfolio I am looking forward to using Surefirehire.com to source gifted individuals who will help me survive as a business man in this economic climate.

Guy Cross