Hello Money Makers?
Any get rich quick scheme you see online is probably a scam and I am sure you have come across those “Make 100USD in a Week by Just Viewing Ads” somewhere while surfing the net. For you to get good money over the net, some level of effort needs to be applied. And just like in real life, nothing worthwhile comes easy. That is where I come in, to make it somewhat easy for you by giving you information. Information you can use together with action and be well on your way to making your first dollar online. I hope you have read my “foundation” articles and have already acquired all the necessary items I mentioned. Let me not waste any more time and get right to it.
Freelancing
One of the easiest ways to earn money online is as a Freelancer, and today we are going to look at who a freelancer is, what freelancing entails, and the potential of freelancing as an income generation source. I do not want to overwhelm you with a lot of information so that you do not get confused. So here we go.
Who is a Freelancer?
The name Freelancer is mostly used to refer to a person who is self-employed as an independent contractor to perform tasks and jobs remotely for clients either on a contractual or a permanent basis depending on the agreement between the client and the freelancer. There are a lot of industries and fields in which you can work as a freelancer; you just have to pick the one that works for you. These are some examples of industries where freelancing is common:-
- Admin Support
- Writing
- Computer Programming
- Web Design
- Translating
- Illustrating
- And a lot more…
Is There Really Money In Freelancing?
Yes, there is! Yes, there is! But this is mostly dependent on the type of industry you chose to venture in and how much effort you are willing to put in the chosen industry. Some industries such as Computer Programming have a high payout since they require a high level of expertise. To be successful as a freelancer, you have to incorporate professionalism into your work ethic and one of the biggest mistakes that newbies tend to make is that they do not take into account how professionalism affects his/her income. One reader asked me this, “But I am working from home! Why do I need to be professional? Do I need to put on a suit and tie to be a successful freelancer?”
Being a professional is going to give you a competitive edge over other freelancers in your industry so you don’t have to spend a fortune on one of those Harvey Specter power suits to look professional, no you can be on the couch or in bed in your P-jays and still be professional. “C’mon Robb, now that’s just crazy talk” No it's not. It is your online presence that needs to be professional. For example, having a LinkedIn profile makes you look like a pro and it will make finding work and networking very, very easy.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
I told you I will give you all the information you need, that means no sugar coating.
“Knowledge is Power” – Cercei Lannister-
Having all the info gives you the power to make an informed decision. This includes the good, bad and ugly side of working as a freelancer.
The good
First of all, one of the advantages that freelancing offers is the ability to make money anywhere you are as long as you have your computer and an internet connection. This means you get to do more jobs which translates to you making more money, and a step closer to that iPhone you have been planning to get yourself on your birthday.
Freelancing also allows you to make money through your talents or any skill you are good at. For example illustrations, writing e.t.c
Another advantage is that you don’t have to wait to get employed at a regular 9-5, freelancing allows you take your own initiative, learn a skill or two and get to workin’ for yourself and be your own boss!
The Bad and the ugly
There are all kinds of people walking the earth and you are obviously bound to run into them in your freelance pursuits, and they can come in the form of employers or clients who do not want to pay after you have given them a service. That’s why I always recommend you join a trusted freelance website which acts as a proxy for you and the client. Ensuring you don’t get hustled by unbecoming clients. The article will be all about freelancing websites. So go ahead and Subscribe to receive tips, tricks and hacks straight into your email.
I don’t really think I should be mentioning this because it’s kinda obvious, but just let me do so for the sake of those who don’t know, freelancers do not get employment benefits like pension, sick leave, health insurance, e.t.c. But you can do all of this for yourself since you will be your own boss.
How Do I Choose an Industry to Work In?
All the above-mentioned industries can make you money as a freelancer. So choosing one to work with is totally up to you. But the newbie friendly industries are the ones that anyone who has gone through formal education can do. Below is one of the best industries for newbies, how much they can earn per job and the different types of jobs available in each industry. Below we look at Admin Support as newbie friendly industry.
Admin Support
These are almost certainly administrative/ office related tasks and services that you do for a client remotely and they pay you. The clients are mostly companies that outsource their needs to you. There are a lot of admin support jobs you can do on the internet today. Here is a list of some of them. Don’t worry we will handle each one of them thoroughly through the course of these articles.
Top Newbie Friendly Admin Support Jobs for Newbies
- Virtual Assistant
- Data Entry
- Online Research
- Transcription
There are others I have not mentioned but I will in due time, once you get a hang of freelancing. These are the most important for you right now since you are just starting out online work. Online work involves a lot of learning as you go and involves a lot of trial and error. Luckily for you, I have undergone a lot of the errors you just get to the right places in no time.
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant, also known as a VA/ Virtual Office Assistant is basically a self-employed person who offers remote technical, creative and administrative assistance to clients. The most common ways used to provide assistance is through E-mail, fax, internet and phone-call conferences, with the use of communication tools such as Skype. As a virtual assistant, you can work for small businesses or support busy executives. Newbies with a secretarial background will have an added advantage but truth is, anyone can do it.
Data Entry
This is another newbie favourite and as the name suggests, this is the entering of data into a computer system usually from paper documents by using a keyboard, optical scanner or data recorder. A person who does data entry work is referred to as a data entry clerk. Data entry work could come in many forms, such as entering data into Microsoft excel sheets. Data entry is very, very newbie friendly since it requires basic knowledge.
Online Research
Online research is a profitable ‘work from home’ job that involves the gathering of information for either a company or an individual. The main sources of information are online databases, websites, Google, blogs, newsletters, and many other sources. When starting out as an online researcher you can expect to earn around 10$ per hour depending on what the client is paying and how wanting the job is.
Transcription
Transcription is the conversion of audio or video recordings into text. This is the best for newbies because there are a lot of jobs available. With good listening and typing skills, you can start getting paid as soon as possible. A person who does transcription work is usually referred to as a transcriptionist. Transcription is divided into three categories i.e general transcription, medical transcription, and legal transcription. As a newbie, general transcription is the one for you and it can get you around 20$ per hour.
I hope this article has given you some insight into freelancing as an income generating source. The next article will be on the freelance websites you can join to find work, how to join them and everything you need to know about freelancing platforms. And as I mentioned above, this was just an introductory article in freelancing. I will go into details of each them in future articles. So stay tuned.
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