Congratulations! If you’re reading this, it’s safe to say you’ve decided to take the first step in your freelancing journey and that is a milestone in and of itself. Starting a freelancing career can be equal parts exhilarating and terrifying, but there’s so much opportunity in this space. Luckily, you don’t have to start from scratch and figure out how to navigate being a freelancer on your own. We’re here to help kickstart your business by sharing tips and tricks on how to win more work, starting with the best freelancing marketplaces all independent contractors should explore.
More often than not, if you’ve been introduced to the world of freelancing than you’ve heard about Fiverr. The Israeli-owned online marketplace is used worldwide and is a platform that allows freelancers to advertise their digital services via “gigs”. It’s completely free to open a gig and offerings can range from graphic design, copywriting, data entry, social media marketing, and more. Buyers can search for a desired service and connect directly with their freelancer of choice.
This platform is great for beginners, as it allows freelancers to really test the waters. You can advertise various gigs; determine which services you really enjoy or are performing particularly well and use that information to guide your freelancing journey.
In essence, Upwork is very similar to Fiverr. The online marketplace allows users to create free freelancing profiles to advertise services, however, this platform focuses a lot on bidding. Buyers on the platform have the ability to post job openings and in return, freelancers are able to create customized proposals for the job in question. If the buyer likes the proposal and cost estimate, they will send a direct message confirming their interest.
Upwork tends to have higher paying clients with increased expectations, which lends well to freelancers that have a little more experience under their belt. However, this marketplace also caters to beginners.
As we’ve seen for years, social media platforms are not just used personally but professionally. Facebook groups are a great way to network, as well as promote your services, so branch out and join Facebook groups that either fit your niche or target audience. For example, if you provide various copywriting services, look for groups that cater to virtual assistants or marketing. Quite often, you’ll find people posting job opportunities looking specifically for freelancers to complete tasks on either a per-project basis or longer-term partnership.
While LinkedIn is known as being a professional networking platform, many only utilize this strictly for corporate opportunities. However, freelancers can find immense opportunity here. Connect with companies you'd like to work for and actively post about your freelancing services on your profile. Also, don’t be afraid to cold pitch or execute a keyword search to find opportunities within your niche.
While you start exploring these platforms, also be sure to keep checking your RitersBlock account. The platform curates job listings from top freelancing sites, like the ones previously mentioned, to help you ultimately win more work.
