K Saravana Kumar

“When inspiration does not come to me, I go halfway to meet it.” – Sigmund Freud

Getting started as a freelancer is very much like chasing your own dream. Freelancers have full freedom to make a career out of whatever they wish to be. As they say that it is the first step that is difficult; this short guide on how to get started as a freelancer will help you take that first step to a successful and fulfilling career.

How much time do you have?

The first step is to decide on how much time you can devote every day to working. You can work full time, part time or vary your timing depending on the project on hand. The amount of time you have in hand will help you decide the amount of work you can undertake and help you build up a schedule.

What is your area of interest?

The next step is to figure out your area of interest in which you want to work in. The biggest advantage of working as a freelancer is that you don’t have to limit yourself to one particular field only. There are many fields for you to choose from such as writing, software design, software testing, acting, designing and producing artifacts, tele calling, counseling, translation, tutoring etc. Even these fields have many subfields, for example, writing includes blog writing, article writing, website content etc. Similarly tutoring freelancing jobs can be based on language, subjects etc.

Prepare yourself

Once you have decided on which area you are going to look for work for, it is then time to prepare yourself. By preparing yourself we mean that you should brush up your knowledge about your area of interest. Checkout various freelance directories to what kind of jobs are being posted on the board there. This will give you an idea of what is ‘in’.
For example if you are interesting in online or distance tutoring the it would be helpful to you if you brush up your tutoring skills and knowledge on the subject you are going to teach. If you are looking for jobs in web design then make sure that you know about the latest languages in use.

Prepare a portfolio

Some might call it a resume but we prefer to call it a portfolio. Your portfolio will be a showcase of the all that you know. It should contain all the information about you. It should concisely indicate all the work that you have done in the past. List your qualifications in such a way that they make it relevant in the area you are planning to work in. If you have any samples of your work then you can include them in the portfolio too.

How much to charge?

Now it is the time to decide how much you are going to charge for the work. You can charge by the hour or by word or by projects. Make your rate competitive. Remember you can always change your rate after projects and as you gain experience.

Start Applying

With all the above preparations, you are now ready to apply for jobs. You can list yourself in freelance directories and also apply for jobs individually. If you are applying online then give them a two or three days to reply and make sure that you aim to build a long time contact.
Keep your mind open about some basic negotiations. Remember you are working freelance and therefore you can work on your terms.

Work ethics

It is very important for a freelancer to maintain his/her reputation at all the times. When you make a commitment make sure that you keep it at all times. Do not charge for something, which you have not done. Keep the communication lines open at all the times so that the client can reach you anytime.

By following the above steps, you will have a much easier journey in getting started as a freelancer. Happy bidding!

K Saravana Kumar

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Launching Worldwide Freelance Directory

If you have not yet joined the vast world of Freelance working then it is the time to do it. Freelancing is the ‘in’ thing in the modern workplace. One of the biggest advantages of freelancing is that it is a flexible job and gives you the freedom of choosing the kind of work that you want to do. Over 70 million of the world’s population does some or the other kinds of freelancing work.

The concept of freelancing has been there in existence since medieval times

In the good old golden days, it was the brave Knights who used use a big pole like weapon called the lance. Hence, the name freelancer came into picture. Over the years the term freelancing has gathered a lot of different kinds of options under its umbrella.

Various freelancing jobs include writing for blogs, article writing, news writing, editing, data entry, software development and testing, advertising, and even selling products online. Freelancing jobs can be paid by the hour or they can be paid in the lump sum for the job when it is done.

The terms and conditions of the freelance jobs are all basically the same all over the world it is only the branding that differs from freelancer to freelancer. The key to get started and become a successful freelancer is to find the right of platform to get the correct jobs that match their job skills.

There are many jobs that are available in the market for freelancers but most of the employers feel that the lack of the ways to reach the correct person for the job, does not give them the quality work that they want. This is where our idea of Launching a Worldwide Freelance Directory came in picture.

A worldwide freelance directory will benefit both the job seekers and the job providers. The job seekers will be getting a platform to go for a better branding of their talents and skills. They will also be able to keep up with the latest thing that is happening in the freelancing world. The directory enables the employers to feed feedback, which helps the freelancers build a genuine portfolio. The worldwide freelance directory, will give them an opportunity to get jobs from all parts the world.

For the job providers the worldwide freelance directory is a place where they can easily search for the right kind of person and rates to do the job required by them. They can assess the talents, read feedback about the freelancers and make a decision. In turn when the job completes the employee can leave a feedback for the employer, which helps them build their credibility for future assignments.

We make sure that only legitimate jobs are posted on the board and both parties have a common ground where they can address any discrepancies if they arise. The payment can be done through the directory, which makes it more secure. Another big advantage of a freelance worldwide directory is that the payment rates can easily be negotiated to both sides and nobody is left feeling unfairly treated.

Our worldwide freelance directory is unique in terms of categorizing the jobs and giving the interested parties the type of exposure they need to further their career and business. We also help the freelancers in learning the ropes of the business to help them grow and expand in the right direction. The correct negotiating dos and don’ts are also included in the guide.