How can I make money with freelancing?

If you have marketable skills like writing, designing, web development, marketing, project management, or anything else, one of the easiest ways to make extra money sustainable online is to start freelancing.

And while freelancing might not be as scalable as some of the other ideas we've talked about, it's not uncommon for loners to create six-figure freelance businesses for themselves. (In fact, I've interviewed tons of them on my podcast!)

Today, more than 54 million Americans are choosing to forgo traditional careers and start a freelance business.

There is a lot of work and customers to be found. If you know where to look. To start, you need to know if there is enough demand for your skills to make it worth looking for work. Start by searching for jobs on sites like Flexjobs, SolidGigs, Contena, great content, or one of the dozens of other skill-specific freelance job boards.

How many jobs similar to yours are there? If there's a decent amount of them and there seems to be a steady demand, shortlist those skills and start researching companies and industries that are hiring.

I've written a comprehensive guide to starting your own freelance business, but here's a quick list to get you started:

• Decide on your goal: Do you want a little extra income or do you want to work full-time as a freelancer? It takes time to set up a freelance business working from home, so it's important to know your goals from the start.
• Finding a Profitable Niche: We've talked a lot about this. But, where are you most comfortable. What niche do your skills, values ​​, and interests intersect? Do you have 10 years of experience as a technical writer? Do you have long-standing PR connections that will be invaluable in helping start-ups successfully launch a crowdfunding campaign? Determine what makes your value unique and place a strong emphasis on showcasing that strength to your potential customers.
• Identify Target Customers: Write down exactly who you want as a customer, then start researching those businesses and building your list. You'll want your portfolio and cold emails to align with the companies you're talking to.
• Set strategic prices: The $37.50/hr you earn in your day job doesn't even come close to the hourly rate you'd have to charge to get the same net annual income, once you're self-employed. This infographic on calculating your freelance hourly rate can help you decide what to charge.
• Pitch, cold email, and sign your first clients: Now it's time to go after the clients. Mention them in your content. Contact them by email or LinkedIn. Customize your presentation to show what kind of value you bring to the table.

Finally, remember to always have a strong freelance contract in place and track your clients' satisfaction levels through surveys.

You might work on small jobs first, but getting into the habit of not starting freelance work without a contract in place can save you a lot of money later on.