What’s up side hustlers, Jamasen here, CEO of LoopGenius and author of Beyond9to5. If you’re new here, we cover tips on Monday, tools and news on Friday. We’re all about helping you grow your side business so you can escape the 9 to 5 grind!

👋 In today’s newsletter:

• Fast facts about freelancing

• How to start freelancing as a side hustle

• #1 ChatGPT prompt to generate marketing ideas for your freelance business

Fast facts about freelancing

Freelancing offers flexibility, creative freedom, and the potential to earn extra income outside your 9-to-5. Before we dive into the tactics, here are some fast facts to inspire your freelancing journey:

• By 2025, it is estimated that 70% of the global workforce will participate in the gig economy in some form.

• The freelancing market welcomes a diverse range of skills. Some sought-after areas include:

  • Freelance Writing: Blog posts, articles, content marketing, and copywriting.

  • Design: Graphic design, illustration, logo design, web design, and branding.

  • Social Media Management: Creating and managing social media content for businesses and influencers.

  • Content Creation: Video editing, podcast production, photography, and multimedia creation.

  • Data Science: Data analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.

  • Engineering: Web development, mobile app development, software engineering, and more.

• Freelancers worldwide contribute billions to the economy, and many successfully earn six-figure incomes.

• Many freelancers start as side hustlers, eventually transitioning to full-time freelancing due to the abundance of opportunities.

How to start freelancing as a side hustle

Step 1: Identify Your Niche and Skills

Discover your expertise and passion. Assess your skills, experience, and interests to determine the freelancing services you can offer. Are you a skilled writer, graphic designer, web developer, social media manager, or virtual assistant? Specializing in a niche will set you apart and attract your ideal clients.

Step 2: Build Your Portfolio

A professional portfolio is your gateway to showcase your capabilities and impress potential clients. Here are some places to create project-based portfolios:

1. Contra: Ideal for freelancers in creative fields like design, writing, and marketing. You can set up a portfolio, find jobs, and send invoices. Contra's Slack community is also a great place to connect with potential clients.

2. Playbook: A platform tailored for freelance designers. It allows you to create stunning boards to showcase your best work. You can also keep track of inspiration, manage files creatively, and collaborate with other designers.

3. Behance: Perfect for graphic designers, illustrators, and artists to showcase their visual projects and gain exposure.

Step 3: Choose the Right Platform

Utilize freelancing and job platforms to kickstart your side hustle:

1. Upwork: Offers a vast range of projects across various industries. Optimize your profile and craft personalized proposals to stand out.

2. Contra: Already mentioned above, but there are jobs in freelance writing, design, marketing, social media etc. posted every day.

3. LinkedIn: Leverage your professional network and create a strong LinkedIn profile highlighting your freelancing services. You can also search “Looking for a freelance [insert role]”, like “Looking for a freelance writer”. Filter for “Posts” and see everyone who is looking for freelance writers!

Step 4: Set Competitive Pricing

Setting the right pricing is crucial to attract clients while valuing your time and skills. Don’t be afraid to turn down potential clients who can’t meet your rates. Here are some examples of beginner pricing for various freelancing roles:

• Freelance Writers: $0.10 to $0.25 per word for blog posts or articles.

• Graphic Designers: $20 to $50 per hour for basic design work like social media graphics.

• Social Media Managers: $150 to $300 per month, per platform for managing and creating content.

Step 5: Marketing and Self-Promotion

Gain visibility and attract clients through strategic marketing. This will help set up your inbound marketing channels, where clients come to you:

1. Social Media: Showcase your work on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Engage with potential clients and use relevant hashtags.

2. Content Marketing: Start a blog or create content to establish yourself as an industry expert.

3. Networking: Attend industry events, connect with peers, and join online freelancing communities. Check out the Freelancing Females Facebook group, with over 64K members!

Step 6: Collect Recommendations

Provide top-notch services to build a positive reputation. Happy clients are more likely to recommend your services and offer repeat business. Be sure to update your portfolio with recommendations as you go.

Here’s a quick outreach template you can use to ask clients for reviews:

Hi [Name],

I’ve really enjoyed working together on [project]. Would you mind taking a minute to provide a recommendation for my services to help build my freelance career? If so, please send over 2-3 sentences about my work. How did I help your business accomplish its goals? What did you like about our collaboration?

Step 7: Time Management and Scaling

As demand grows, manage your time efficiently by using time-blocking techniques. Consider outsourcing non-core tasks to focus on high-value projects and scale your freelancing business. Check out more time management tips here.

#1 ChatGPT prompt to generate marketing ideas for your freelance business

Copy the prompt:

I need you to act as a social media strategist and consultant. I am a freelance [role] trying to grow my business by posting more on [platform]. Can you please provide ideas for [#] [platform] posts this week that help me attract more clients?

That’s all for now.

See you on Friday, side hustlers! 👋

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That's it for this week's edition of Beyond9to5. Stay tuned for more tips, news, and spotlights in our next issue. Until then, keep hustling!