Gautam Banerjee
Code Station have the Power to Master in VBA
The corporate world has rapidly changed more in the past two years. People have realized that the idea of a "safe and secure" job is just a dream that can collapse at any time. If you have expertise on a specific skill, you can remotely work for the best companies in the world at command earnings. Future of Freelancing in India looks promising. There is a huge scope of freelancing in India. More than a third of people have taken up freelancing in recent years.
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How To Become A Successful Freelancer?
Here are the few steps !
1. Decide your niche / Define your goals:-
Before you start working as a freelancer, identify your strengths and interests. You may then explore your options, analyse market competition, find a profitable niche and test your freelance idea.
2. Determine your target market:-
you can take a more shotgun approach to crack the first few clients. For instance, you can plan out who you want to work with and reach out to them. Once you work with these identified clients, you’ll know whether this is the type you need. If yes, you can continue to pursue similar clients. If no, you can identify a different set of target clients.
3. Start building your professional profile:-
Creating a professional job profile is the first step towards becoming a freelancer. Get in touch with companies looking for freelancers and get high-quality assignments. If you were involved in any freelance projects earlier, upload your work samples to your profile.
4. Find your ideal clients:-
Once you build your profile, start looking for clients. Check their requirements before approaching them and project your skills and experience that fulfil their expectations while making a deal.
Difference between clients and ideal clients:-
1. Clients pay you. Ideal clients make you part of the team.
2. Clients tell you what to do. Ideal clients tell you what success looks like then trust you to make it happen.
3. Clients look at you like a replaceable contractor. Ideal clients look at you as a trusted expert they’ll collaborate with for the rest of their life. Ideal clients are the result of matching three variables:-
1. What clients need,
2. What you offer,
3. Where clients express their need.
There are three main places to find ideal clients:-
1. Your existing network,
2. Freelancer communities,
3. Social networks like YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter etc.
4. How to Win the deal:-
First, Show the exact example of you successfully delivering their explicit problem. Don’t show them your whole portfolio, Second, offer a low cost, low risk option to get started. When trust is built, they then increase the scope of responsibility for you. Last, use an invoice tool and send the invoice to the client’s email right away.
5. Decide your pricing structure:-
Freelancers may typically charge per assignment, per hour or per word. But your niche and quality of work can determine your pay rate. If you are a beginner, you can do some research online to understand the parameters.
6. Create your website:-
Having a website can help you create your own identity, grow your business, promote your service and attract your target clients.
7. Communication Structure:-
When you start on the journey for how to become a freelancer in India, you need to prepare a pre-communication structure. This means that when a client responds to your pitch, you must have information concerning the service terms ready. These terms include payment terms, timelines, mutual rights and responsibilities, and copyright for the completed work.
8. Be confident:-
Being a freelancer is like running a business independently. In other words, it is like sole entrepreneurship. You need to have all seriousness if you don’t want an untimely collapse of the venture. Besides, you must be ready to face ups and downs with criticism and failure. For instance, not all your pitch emails will have a response. Continue striving till your industry begins to trust your work and provide referrals, helping you gain credibility and reputation. So, if you are aspiring to become a freelancer in India, it is time for you to start!
You should always Remember:
Freelance clients hire your outcomes, not your skills.
Examples of Outcomes:
1,200 word thought leadership article
1 minute product demo video
15 slide deck for external presentation
“First: you must strive. Nothing good is ever easy.”
“Your first few months are probably going to be challenging, and likely to take everything you’ve got.”
“Building a network and finding work are two sides of the same coin.”
“Deliver work that is better than anything your competitors are doing.”
“Don’t burn any bridges.”
“Do not piss people off. Remember that you’re a professional and are soon to be leader of your own company. Act like it.”
Popular Reasons to Become a Freelancer:-
1. Unpredictable Job Market,
2. Uunemployment and job insecurity.
3. You Do the Work You Love.
4. Your Time is Your Own.
5. You’re Free to Work Anywhere – Freedom
6. Be Your Own Boss.
7. The End of Office Politics
8. Your Efforts Reward You.
9. You’ll Gain Confidence.
10. The Potential for Growth.
11. You Are in Control
12. You Choose the Projects You Want to Work On.
13. You Choose the Clients You Work With.
14. You’ll Learn More than You Ever Thought Possible.
15. Low Startup Costs.
16. No Dress Code
17. Flexible Working Hours.
18. More Time With Family.
19. You Can Earn More than You Did Before.
20. Consistent Flow of Income in Freelancing.
21. You Have 100% Job Security.
22. Mmultiple and passive source of income.
High paying Niche Recommendations!
I cannot emphasize this enough...
Learning SEO is not optional if you want to make it big in the marketing world.
There are millions of freelance writers out there looking to be hired, but only a handful of them are capable of writing good quality content.
If you learn SEO you can specialise in SEO blog writing. It's incredibly High-paying and the crowd is much less since it demands expertise. -Sneha Banerjee
The Freelance Revolution in Numbers: Freelance Statistics (2019)
Currently, there are 15 million freelancers in India. as per some reports, the number of freelancers in India will grow to a whopping $20-30 billion by 2025.
According to a report published in 2018 by digital payment company Paypal, freelancers in India earn 19 lakh per annum on average. In the survey conducted by Paypal on 500 freelancers, it found that 23% of the freelancers earn up to Rs 60 lakh annually, 13 % earn 10-15 lakhs per annum, 8% earn 7.5-10 lakhs/annum, while the rest 23% earn an annual income of Rs 5 lakh.
There is no need to work at a specific location in a specific city because we all live in the global village called the internet.
If you have expertise on a specific skill, you can remotely work for the best companies in the world at command earnings that compete with anyone in the world with the same skill.
Freelancing is equivalent to raising a startup, but you go solo. As the days get longer, you figure out your forte, wonder where to start, search for a platform, learn to bid projects, estimate your income, and go through many sleepless nights till you get it all figured out.
As per PayPal Report (2018)
According to a report published in 2018 by digital payment company Paypal, freelancers in India earn 19 lakh per annum on average. In the survey conducted by Paypal on 500 freelancers, it found that 23% of the freelancers earn up to Rs 60 lakh annually, 13 % earn 10-15 lakhs per annum, 8% earn 7.5-10 lakhs/annum, while the rest 23% earn an annual income of Rs 5 lakh.
Currently, 60% of Indian freelancers are under the age of 30 years, and the average income of freelancers across India is INR 20 -30 lakh per annum and 23% of them make over INR 40 - 50 lakh per annum.
Money-Making Services Freelancers Can Offer:-
1. Writing Online:-
Writing jobs are the most common jobs freelancers can do online especially if they have experience in creating content for different types of publications.
2. Virtual Assistant:-
This job involves offering services similar to an office assistant at a regular job.
3. Website Design:-
Businesses and individuals are always in need of websites to provide information to customers or market their products as well as services. Freelancers that are good at designing websites can offer their services to build one from scratch or upgrade one that is already in existence.
4. Graphic Design:-
As a graphic designer, there are many services you can offer online such as logo design, illustrations, infographics, posters, flyers, and banner advertisements among others.
5. Proofreading and Editing:-
if you are good at picking out errors and making the necessary changes to documents so that they become more comprehensive then this is the job for you.
6. Transcription:-
Converting audio files into typed content is a service that freelancers can offer companies that need such help as part of their work. The job usually involves listening to files in audio format and then typing out what is contained in them.
7. Online Marketing:-
Marketing of products or services on behalf of companies from different parts of the world on an online platform is a service that freelancers can offer their clients.
8. Video and Animation:-
A majority of companies are communicating with their clients through images and videos, signaling the need for such services online. To meet this need, freelancers can offer services in this area such as creating online commercials and video greetings, editing/post-production of videos, and using 3D technology to produce relevant animations for their clients.
9. Teaching/Tutoring:-
Academic assistance is always required by students at all levels of education, making tutoring an essential service that can be offered by freelancers.
10. Customer Service:-
Offering support to customers of a company as part of their home-based staff is a service that is required by many organizations.
11. Online Consulting:-
People often seek advice on different aspects of their life online and are willing to pay for the most effective ones. Freelancers can provide information to queries for an agreed remuneration.
12. User Testing:-
For a website to be effective in reaching its audience, it needs to be tested by online users before being launched. Freelancers can be the ones testing out the websites and giving feedback on any changes that need to be made so that it meets the required standards.
13. Audio Services:-
Freelancers can offer their musical skills as a service to various online clients as per their needs. Some of the ways they can do this are through the creation of jingles, sound effects, and voiceovers.
14. Mobile App Creation:-
As technology advances, the need for applications that are tailor-made for smartphones and handheld devices is on the rise. If you have skills in building mobile applications, you can offer your services to individuals as well as companies that would like to have an application made for their business.
15. Online Advertising:-
Creating awareness of products or services on online platforms through advertising is a service that freelancers can offer many online users.
16. Career Advice:-
If you have good knowledge of how the job market works and can offer tips to job seekers on the best way to land jobs, then you can offer career advice services online.
17. Typing Services:-
Fast typing skills are an asset in the online world because of the many jobs that require expertise. Some of the jobs that freelancers with the skill can do include data entry, typing out of academic projects, and transcription among others.
18. Writing Reviews:-
Giving their opinion on different products is another service that freelancers can offer different websites at a fee. Since many online users rely on reviews posted on sites before making any purchases, many companies are looking for freelancers to write them on their behalf.
19. Research Services:-
Website owners are always looking for ways in which they can highlight the information on their site so that they are easily picked up by search engines. To make things easier for them, freelancers can offer services in domain research and keyword research to provide information that they can use to improve their sites.
20. Online Business Coach:-
Providing business tips and walking them through a crisis is a service freelancers with business knowledge can offer to owners at a fee. The information provided can include the creation of business plans, employee relations, and handling business finances among others.
21. Stock photography / Videography:-
freelance services could revolve around taking and selling stock photos/videos.
22. Social Media Management:
Many business owners and entrepreneurs recognize the importance of being active on social media, but they don’t have the time or knowledge to be able to do it themselves. freelancers can offer the services.
23. Video Editing and Production:-
Just like podcasts, online videos offer opportunities for freelancers to make money with editing and production services
24. Travel Planning / Tour Guide:-
If you have a lot of experience traveling or planning for travel, you could offer freelance services as a travel planner or travel agent and also you can offer involves guided tours.
25. Email Marketing:-
Emails provide an effective marketing tool for many companies. You will be in charge of writing content around products or promotions. Newsletters and other online content may also be part of your role.
How much do the most popular freelancing professions make?
When it comes to freelancing, there are many different types of work. Generally, the more technical a profession is, the more freelancers in that field can earn. According to CNBC and additional research data, the average hourly rate and annual salary for the most popular freelancing opportunities are listed below.
Writers: On average, a freelance writer has a rate between $30-40/hr, with an annual salary of around $42,000.
Editors: On average, freelance editors earn between $25-35/hr, with a yearly salary of approximately $40,000.
Programmers: Across multiple programming languages, the average freelance programmer makes $60-70/hr, with an annual salary of around $120,000.
General developers: A freelance developer looks to earn anywhere between $50-60/hr with a yearly salary of approximately $100,000.
Mobile developers: On average, mobile app developers make an hourly freelancer rate of $55-65 with an annual salary of $100,000.
Web developers: Freelance web developers design and create websites at an hourly rate of $50-60 with a yearly income of approximately $90,000.
Graphic designers: A freelance visual or graphic designer’s hourly rate is about $40-45, with an annual salary of around $90,000.
Bookkeepers: A freelance bookkeeper makes $30-35/hr with an annual salary of around $40,000.
Online marketers: Freelance digital marketers earn around $50/hr, with a yearly salary of approximately $100,000.
Photographers: A freelance photographer has an hourly rate between $35-45/hr, with an annual salary of around $42,000.
CRM managers: A customer relations manager (CRM) looks to earn $50-60/hr, with an annual salary of around $120,000.
Data analysts: A freelance data analyst averages $55-65/hr, with a yearly salary of $100,000.
Below are the three most common payment schedules for freelancers.
Hourly: A freelancer is paid per hour for their work at an agreed-upon rate.
Project-based: A freelancer is paid a set amount to complete a project with a defined scope and deadline.
Monthly retainer: A monthly retainer is a recurring payment that a freelancer receives based on an estimated amount of work for a project’s duration or a predetermined amount of time.