For those looking to make a living doing what they love, the path of digital entrepreneurship via freelancing may be the answer. The popular trend of people working a 9-5 to pay the bills and using their free time to make extra money doing something they’re passionate about has created a world of financial independence for those searching for something more. We salute all those chasing their dreams and have a couple of tips to help you make sure you’re compensated fairly for your hard work:
1. Do your research
There are hundreds of platforms where you can find freelance work on the Internet. Try to find ones that specialize in what you’re passionate about. If you love photography or drawing look for a platform that focuses on artistic jobs. Or if you’re a singer or voice-over performer, try to find a platform that is focused on audio production.
A “one-size fits all” platform might seem like and easier option, but you can earn a lot more on specialized platforms. They allow you to see what other are charging for similar services and generally the prices on these platforms are higher than on more general freelancer sites.
2. Create a portfolio
It doesn’t matter how amazingly talented you are if the people who are trying to hire you can’t see what you can do. Make sure that you show your range and how much you charge for each type of work. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have “professional” work to put in your portfolio, it’s enough to show what you can do and update your portfolio after a couple of jobs.
3. Don’t forget the follow-up
It’s much easier to keep customers than it is to get new ones. However, there’s one simple thing you can do to get both. After each job you complete, send a thank you email and ask the person or company to rate/review your work on the platform where they found you. This shows your customer that you care about their opinion and positive ratings will help make your work appear more often on the freelancer platform.
With WU it’s fast and simple for customers to send money directly to a bank account or for cash pickup at over 525,000 agent locations worldwide. Plus, with Western Union you can easily track your transfer and know exactly when your money will arrive.
