World Of Freelancing, Guide For College Students

In college, there are many expenses you have to think about. You have the tuition fee, books, and other overhead costs. So if you don’t want to end up being broke, why don’t you try freelancing? This way, you can earn money, and at the same time build portfolio.  

But we have to be honest being a freelancer is not an easy feat. You need to be disciplined and you need to have a lot of patience before you can get your first client. Nevertheless, we’re going to share with you some of the most practical tips so you can be a freelancer and still be able to get good grades in school.  

Know What Skills To Offer  

This is a no-brainer, but you have to think about the skills that you can offer your clients. It could be graphic design, writing services, web development, or even tutorial services.  

There are a lot of things where you can do freelancing, and you should base it on your skills and. of course, your resources and time availability.  

Build Your Portfolio  

Before you can sign up your first client, it is important that you already have a portfolio at hand. This proves the quality of work that you can provide to them.  

It doesn’t have to be a project from a real customer, considering that you are still starting. But if you can provide personal projects which you think are valuable enough, then you can show it.  

As early as now, build your website. The good thing about the platforms today is that you can do your portfolio for free. There’s no need to buy a domain just yet, unless you want to invest in it.  

Finding Your First Customer  

For the first few weeks, it’s quite hard to tap into the market. And you might feel that it’s hopeless. After all, there are many competitors out there. You see, freelancing world can be ruthless, and you have to be prepared for it. If you are not going to put yourself out there, nothing will happen.  

You can start asking your family and relatives. Maybe they need a logo for their business. Then, you can go around and ask students from your university. Talk to leaders of school organizations, and partner with them.  

And of course, do not underestimate the power of social media. Start your business page and share it. At first this can be awkward, but once you get the hang of it, promoting your services is as easy as 123.  

Deliver Quality Services And On Time  

If you want to get more clients, then the best way is to do it right the first time. You can never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. If your first client is happy with your deliverables, expect that you will get new customers right away.  

And if that happens, make sure that you can still manage it. It’s ok to say no if you think your plate is already full. The best solution for this is to make friends with other freelancers. You can refer them as well just in case you can’t handle a few projects. Trust us, they will do the same for you.  

Draft A Business Agreement  

While freelancing seems like to be an informal way to do business, you should always have an agreement. This is to protect yourself and your client as well. In your agreement, specify the scope of work and even the total cost. The payment terms should be included as well.  

Think of running a full-blown business when making a contract. That’s also a good practice.  

Pay Your Taxes  

And yes, you should always pay your taxes. You might want to talk to a professional so that you will be guided on how to do it.  

Get Help With Your Schoolwork  

Now, we know that you have a busy schedule, and your professors might require reports and other tasks. What you can do is to ask help. Fortunately, there are service providers where they could help you complete your homework, and guarantee good grades. You might want to take advantage of these.  

This way, you can balance your time, and have more energy to grow your clients.  

However, this is not to say to forget your studies. Remember, you are doing freelancing to sustain your college needs. It’s not to replace an employment or business opportunity after you earn your degree.