Freelancing for dummies

Freelancing for dummiesFreelancing is one of the most lucrative ways toearn a living nowadays. You can do it as a sidebusiness or you can do it as your regular one. Itreally depends on how much you can do and how muchyou can earn from the assignments that you get.One thing good about freelancing is the fact thatyou donot have any scheduled time. Unlike regularwork, wherein you have to come to work at aprescribed hour and render a specific number ofhours of work, in freelancing, you work only until

the project is done. Afterwards, your time isfree.Freelancing for the first time, however can bepretty daunting especially if you donot have theexperience to back you up. For those who isthinking of plunging in, better think twice. Youmust remember that though freelancing can becomea career, not everyone is cut out for it.It is not a career that everybody can take onwithout sufficient experience and contacts. Ifyou have to do it, make it your sideline first andthen gradually ease out of your regular job if thepay is already enough to support all your monthlyexpenses.Below are some tips for people who are just at thebeginning of their journey towards freelancing.Read on and you might be able to get some ideasto start you off.

Establish your contactsThe number one thing that you have to do whenstarting to freelance is to establish yourcontacts for these are the people who are goingto give you assignments. This is the reason whyit is good to do freelance work if you have alreadydone similar jobs for a number of years.This way, you are already recognized in theindustry and know a lot of people who can give youassignments.Establishing contacts does not only mean thatyou'll just be getting their calling cards. Youalso have to make sure that they remember you byestablishing good rapport with them.Build a solid reputationAnother important thing about freelancing is tomake sure that you do every job well. Rememberthat freelancing is a job that relies on the

assignments that are given by others. Unlike aregular job where you have a steady income andsteady number of work, with freelancing, the workis anything but stable! You have to compete forevery job that you get. For this, you need a solidreputation to see you through.Start smallFreelancing does not mean that you have to leaveyour work and just be a regular freelancer. Youcan actually do freelance work on the side whilestill earning a steady income with your regularjob. Of course, you have to make sure that thisis acceptable with the company you are workingwith. This is where the personal ethics will comeinto play.In doing freelancing work while still holding aregular job, you have to make sure that you arenot doing jobs for companies or people who aredirect competitors of your company. As much as

possible, stay out of the industry that you arein and only accept jobs that are for a differentindustry. This way, there will be no conflict withyour work.