Anyone can become a freelancer in today’s world. As a freelancer, you can expand beyond the Nigerian job market, connect with global opportunities, and earn in a stable currency.
However, starting as a freelancer—especially with no prior experience—can feel challenging. The job market is increasingly competitive, even for experienced freelancers, and the sheer volume of information available can be overwhelming for beginners.
But don’t worry! In this article, you will learn how to earn money from freelancing, even without prior experience. Let’s get started.
Who is a Freelancer?
A freelancer is a self-employed person who works for clients on a per-task or per-project basis. Freelancers are often remote workers and independent contractors, allowing them to work anytime and from anywhere.
Since freelancers aren’t tied to one company, they can work for multiple clients and set their hours. This flexibility allows freelancers to have more control over their earnings and maintain a better work-life balance than traditional employees.
However, freelancers miss out on employee benefits like social security, pensions, or health insurance. Nevertheless, freelancing offers you more flexibility and control over your earnings.
How to get started as a freelancer with no experience
Beginning your freelance journey may be difficult, as everyone has a unique path. However, you can succeed if you remain determined and put in the effort. Here’s how to get started:
Define your goals
The first step to starting as a freelancer is to define your goals clearly. Understanding why you want to become a freelancer will significantly influence your approach.
Consider whether you want to freelance long-term or short-term. Are you looking to work as a freelancer full-time, or are you seeking part-time opportunities before landing a higher-paying job?
When I first started freelancing, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to commit to it for the long haul. At first, I was simply looking for a quick way to earn extra money. However, once I realized that I wanted to pursue freelancing over the long term, I began to prioritize long-term goals over short-term gains.
Defining your goals helps clarify how much you’re willing to invest in your freelance career and the types of projects you should accept or decline.
If you’re uncertain whether you want to freelance short-term or long-term, that’s perfectly fine. You can always change your mind as you gain more experience.
Identify your interests and strengths
Starting with something you’re already interested in is generally easier than tackling something that doesn’t appeal to you. This approach is beneficial when selecting the skills you want to offer as a freelancer. Building on your existing strengths not only makes skill development easier, but also makes your work more enjoyable.
For example, if you love experimenting with colours and patterns, you may consider becoming an illustrator or graphic designer.
Alternatively, if you are passionate about social media and connecting with an audience online, you may explore opportunities as a community manager or social media manager.
Learn in-demand skills and get certified
Offering highly sought-after skills ensures you have a steady stream of clients and enables you to price your services competitively.
Here is a list of some of the most in-demand skills for freelancers:
- Web development
- Content writing
- Copywriting
- UI/UX design
- Social media marketing
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- Search Engine Marketing
- Virtual assistance
- Graphic design
- Video editing
- Manual translation
- Customer service
- Data analytics
The good news is that you don’t need any prior experience in these fields to get started. You don’t even need a bachelor’s degree.
You can take certification courses on platforms like HubSpot Academy, Udemy, and Digital Marketing Skill Institute, for free or at significantly discounted prices.
Choose a Niche
Many experts recommend that freelancers choose a niche. Initially, I thought being a generalist was advantageous since I could handle various types of work. However, freelancers often earn more when they specialize.
By niching down, you can position yourself as an expert, which clients prefer. For instance, if a client needs content for their dog-walking business, they’re likely to choose a writer who specializes in pet topics over a generalist, even if the latter has impressive credentials.
This concept applies across various fields. Graphic designers might focus on book covers or social media graphics, while virtual assistants can target busy founders.
The good news is there are plenty of freelance niches to explore. However, ensure whatever niche you choose has a high demand so you can have a steady stream of clients.
Practice/Build a Portfolio
I once heard someone say experiences are for employees, while portfolios are for freelancers, and they couldn’t be more accurate. Your portfolio can be the deciding factor in whether or not a client hires you.
To build your portfolio, consider offering your skills to friends and family. For example, if you’re a social media manager, you could manage a friend’s social media page and help drive results for their business.
You don’t need a large number of items in your portfolio. In fact, a less cluttered portfolio is often more effective. Only display your best and most relevant work.
One practical approach I use is creating a Google Docs folder to gather all my samples. I then select and send only a few pieces that align with each client’s needs.
Decide on Your Rates
Setting your rates can be tricky, but it helps you target the right clients and prevents you from underselling yourself.
Ask other freelancers in your niche and location what they are charging. You can charge hourly, per project or word, although many freelancers prefer project-based payments because of the flexibility it provides.
As a beginner, be flexible and prioritize gaining experience. And when you are ready for a rate increase, feel free to raise your rates without anyone’s permission.
Also, avoid working for free, as it can harm your reputation and lead clients to expect free work.
Build a Personal Brand
A personal brand gives you more control over your freelance business. It can be the difference between always hustling for clients or having a steady income stream.
Luckily, building a personal brand in 2024 is not as difficult as you might think. Consider leveraging any of these platforms to build a personal brand.
Website
Owning a website can positively impact how clients perceive you. Not only will it help you gain the trust of potential clients, but it can also be a lead generating machine.
Use your website to talk about yourself and the work you do and display your portfolio. There are affordable options available for building a website. If you can’t create it yourself, you can either outsource the work or use drag-and-drop website builders.
Using your own name for the domain makes it easier for people to find you and establishes credibility. Remember to optimize your website with industry-related keywords so people can easily discover you through Google.
LinkedIn is one of the most accessible platforms for building a personal brand. It can give you a lot of visibility and connect you with people you thought were outside your reach.
The good news is you don’t have to be extraordinary to build a personal brand on Linkedin. Simply optimize your profile and share posts about the work you do to establish thought leadership. However, remember to connect with other people as that’s the ultimate purpose of LinkedIn.
X (Formerly Twitter)
When used to your advantage, X can be a lead generating machine that keeps your freelance business alive.
To optimize your X page for leads, start by choosing a professional profile picture. Spell out what you do in your bio or tag some companies you have worked for.
Create posts related to your niche and regularly offer advice to tackle common problems your ideal clients may be experiencing. You know you are doing something right when people can tell your tweet is going to be about graphics design or content writing even before reading it.
Also, you can take advantage of the newly introduced “Jobs” feature on X to connect you with life-changing opportunities.
Instagram and TikTok
As a freelancer, you should take advantage of every opportunity to showcase your skills and land clients, and that includes Instagram and TikTok.
Consider sharing tips and advice to build authority. And if you are a graphics designer or video editor, your Instagram profile can be a great portfolio.
On TikTok, partcipate in trends and post tutorials or industry tips to show expertise and engage followers. You can also post client testimonials and behind-the-scenes content to help build trust and keep your content visible. Just ensure you have a clear strategy in mind.
Leverage Freelance Platforms
Many freelancers landed their first clients on freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. These platforms provide access to thousands of jobs and often protect freelancers from scams. Here are some of the most popular freelance platforms among Nigerians:
- Upwork
- Freelancer
- Fiverr
- We work remotely
- FlexJobs
- Toptal
- People per hour
- Behance
- GitHub Jobs
- If You Could Jobs
- ProBlogger
Try cold mailing
Although cold mailing may sound intimidating, it could help you land your first client as a freelancer. The key to making cold emails effective is personalizing each message as much as possible.
To find email addresses, use tools like Hunter.io or Apollo.io. Then, create a thoughtful proposal that’s tailored specifically to the client’s needs and avoids any spammy language. If you don’t hear back, feel free to send a polite follow-up in a few days. Following up on a cold mail can increase your response rate by up to 28%.
Build your network
Most freelancers get jobs through referrals. If you intend on freelancing long term, then building a strong network is non-negotiable.
Start by connecting with other freelancers on social media. See them as your allies and not your competitors. Consider joining groups and online communities with other freelancers or potential clients. Share insights and provide value to the community.
The best way to connect with others is to be sincere. By genuinely helping others and offering useful resources, you can build a strong network.
Set up payment methods
The first time I received payment in dollars was through Upwork. It was simple and straightforward. All I had to do was login to my Upwork account and withdraw my earnings into my local bank account.
However, receiving dollar payments outside of Upwork proved challenging. The first organization I wrote for could only pay me through PayPal, which was not widely accessible in Nigeria.
Fortunately, there are now better options for receiving international payments in Nigeria. Here are a few of my favorites:
Mular: Mular stands out for its low fees and the ease with which you can convert any money you receive into Naira. While many payment apps focus primarily on dollars, Mular caters to clients and freelancers who prefer to be paid in cryptocurrency. You can receive USDT and four other cryptocurrencies from anywhere in the world and spend them as Naira. The best part? There are no P2P risks involved.
Grey: Grey is another popular payment option among Nigerian freelancers, especially because of its virtual dollar card. When you sign up with Grey, you can receive money in GBP and USD from anywhere in the world. You can also use your Grey dollar card to shop online and pay for subscriptions.
Payoneer: Payoneer offers significant flexibility, allowing you to receive international payments in multiple currencies. This is particularly helpful for freelancers who work with clients from various regions. You can send payment requests to clients and receive payments via local bank transfer or credit/debit card.
Don’t Give Up
Being a freelancer can be challenging at first, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it. As a freelancer, you are essentially building a business around yourself, so it’s important to treat it like one. Stay disciplined and don’t give up, no matter how tough things may get. You can consider joining a community of freelancers to find support and encouragement. Keep winning!