How to Start Freelancing With Zero Skills: A Friendly Beginner’s Guide to Earning Your First Dollar Online
Why Starting Your Freelance Business is an Ideal First Step to Making Money Online
Freelance work is rapidly growing in popularity as a way for people to generate income through various methods. No experience necessary, no formal education necessary, and no specialized tools or technology knowledge required.
In order to start working as a freelancer you need to have a willingness to learn a new skill and demonstrate a consistent ability to promote yourself.
Freelancing has opened up income earning opportunities for people all over the globe: full-time students, stay-at-home parents, “9 to 5” employees and retirees alike are making money by freelancing. Most of these individuals began with very little and have built their businesses into sustainable sources of income.
This guide is designed for someone like you who is just starting and wants to become a freelancer, but doesn’t know how to get started. I’m going to take you step-by-step with compassion, practical tips, and friendly support along the way to help you start earning a living online!
Beginner’s Guide to Freelancing
Freelancing can be intimidating for beginners. Most individuals don’t think of freelancing as something that’s just for people with a lot of experience. But the fact is freelancing is actually one of the easiest, fastest, and most flexible methods available to generate income online, even if you feel that you have no prior experience or skills whatsoever.
Below are some of the main reasons why freelancing is ideal for beginners:
✔ You can start by learning skills that can typically be learned in just several hours or days.
You do not have to be a graphic designer, web developer, or internet marketing expert to get started freelancing. Many of the freelance services available today require only a basic level of skill.
✔ You work on your own schedule.
You can choose to work whenever it is most convenient for you. This could include working at night, in the early mornings, or on weekends.
✔ You get paid while you learn.
Most beginners will learn through experience. Your first jobs will typically serve as a stepping stone to developing your skills. Each job you complete will help you improve your knowledge and experience.
✔ You can start working without having to spend anything.
In many cases, freelancing platforms do not require any upfront fees to create a profile and start looking for jobs. The only things you will need are a computer (whether it is a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet) and an internet connection.
✔ Each task that gets completed helps boost your confidence.
The first time you make money online, no matter how little it was ($10), you will feel like you have accomplished something. You will think, “I can do this!”
Step #1: Pick an Easy Skill So You Can Learn It and Start Freelancing
Freelancers need something to offer (a skill). However, you don’t have to have an advanced skill set; you just need something that’s easy to learn and solves a problem for someone else.
Here are some easy-to-learn beginner skills you may want to pursue:
1.Social Media Management (The Easiest Skill For Beginners)
Having a presence on social media is critical for all businesses today. Companies want to ensure that their social media profiles are filled with curated content. Social media management includes creating and scheduling social media posts, responding to viewers’ comments and questions, and keeping up with current trends in your target audience’s lifestyle.
By developing these three things, you will be able to effectively manage a business’s social media profile; the advantage of social media management is that it is a service that businesses need, meaning that you will find many beginner freelancers to hire for this role.
Canva is a graphic design platform for businesses with little to no artistic ability to create designs with their simple tools. With Canva you can create:
- Logos
- Flyers
- Posts on Instagram
- Business Cards
- Banners
- Simple Ads
Businesses prefer clean, uncomplicated design as opposed to a piece of art that is highly detailed.
In the basic writing and copywriting section of freelance writing jobs, the more concise and understandable the writer’s work is, the more likely they will be successful at earning money in this field.
Common entry level writing jobs include:
- Product descriptions
- Writing Blogs
- Social media captions
- Website Content
- Rewriting and Editing
Freelancers that write are able to build long term careers from writing, which makes it the most profitable of the freelance skills.
Virtual assistants help businesses with:
- Managing email accounts
- Scheduling appointments
- Responding to customer inquiries and questions
- Small administrative tasks
If a virtual assistant is organized and reliable, they will be doing very well as a virtual assistant.
Canva graphic design
platform for businesses with little to no artistic ability to create designs with their simple tools. With Canva you can create:
- Logos
- Flyers
- Posts on Instagram
- Business Cards
- Banners
- Simple Ads
Businesses prefer clean, uncomplicated design as opposed to a piece of art that is highly detailed.
In the basic writing and copywriting section of freelance writing jobs, the more concise and understandable the writer’s work is, the more likely they will be successful at earning money in this field.
Common entry level writing jobs include:
- Product descriptions
- Writing Blogs
- Social media captions
- Website Content
- Rewriting and Editing
Freelancers that write are able to build long term careers from writing, which makes it the most profitable of the freelance skills.
Virtual assistants help businesses with:
- Managing email accounts
- Scheduling appointments
- Responding to customer inquiries and questions
- Small administrative tasks
If a virtual assistant is organized and reliable, they will be doing very well as a virtual assistant.
Data Entry
Data entry is one of the easiest freelancing jobs. If you can copy, paste, sort and type with accuracy, then you’ll qualify to work as a data entry specialist.
Video Captioning/Subtitling
Automated tools provide automatic captions for videos. Your job will be to review and correct the automated captions. Video captioning or subtitling is an easy way to make a profit and is in high demand.
Transcription
In transcription, you simply listen and write down exactly what you hear.
It is a straightforward, flexible way to make money as a beginner.
How to Pick Your First Freelance Skill
Think about the following things when selecting your first skill:
Which freelance skill is the easiest for you or would be the most enjoyable to work on?
How quickly do you anticipate that you can learn and become proficient at the skill within 3 days?
What skill would you feel secure providing as a freelance service to someone else?
Pick just one skill, and stick with it until you see results (at least 30 days of consistent effort) before considering switching to another freelance skill or service.
Step 2: Start Building A Basic Portfolio When You Have NO Experience
Many beginners have the mindset: “I don’t have experience so who will hire me?”
However here’s the biggest Secret: You don’t have to have real clients to build out your first initial portfolio, you can build sample work.
What Should You Create As Sample Work?
If your selected area is Canva design:
Build 5 social media posts, A simple logo and A flyer for a fictitious business.
If your selected area is Writing:
Create a blog post about something you are passionate about, a product description, and an example “About Us” page.
If your selected area is Social Media:
Create a 7-day content calendar, A series of example Instagram posts and A series of example Stories.
If your selected area is Data Entry or Administration:
Build an example spreadsheet, organize a fictitious client’s calendar and Create an example email template for the fictitious client.
Where can I have my portfolio hosted?
You can use:
Google Drive
Google Sites (this is a free website!)
Canva portfolio template
A PDF
Typically 3 to 6 examples of your work, will give you a very professional appearance
step 3 : Set Up Profiles on Freelancing Sites
Now that you have your skill + portfolio you need to show it to potential clients.
Freelancing sites that are ideal for beginners:
Fiverr
Upwork
Freelancer
PeoplePerHour
Guru
When Creating a Strong Profile Consider the Following Suggestions :
✔ Upload a good quality, smiling profile photo
People hire real people, not pictures with no faces!
✔ Have a well-written, friendly Bio
Example: “I assist small business owners in creating simple yet effective social media graphics using Canva. I enjoy working with companies to expand their online presence through creative graphics and dependable support”.
Warm. Friendly. Simple.
✔ Provide samples of your portfolio
Even if you made them yourself, they still count!
✔ Use lower rates when starting out
This will help you acquire your first clients quicker.
Step 4: Build Trust and Confidence by Starting Off with Smaller Projects
Rather than diving straight into $500 projects and being disappointed, focus on taking on smaller projects first, and use those experiences to help you grow your skill set and build a portfolio.
Examples of Smaller/Initial Projects to Consider:
- Resize 10 Images
- Create Three Instagram Posts
- Write a Product Description
- Transcribe a Short Audio Clip
- Create a Basic Logo
- Write Captions for Video
When completing these simple tasks you will:
- Increase Your Confidence
- Make Money
- Obtain Reviews
- Increase Your Skills
As you can see, momentum is what you should focus on, rather than trying to achieve perfection.
Step 5: You Need to Work to Improve Your Skill, NOT Just Read About It
Many beginner freelancers believe that they must learn every single thing about freelancing before they begin working. THIS IS WRONG!!!
The best way to improve your skills is through EXPERIENCE!
Here are some examples of free resources for you to learn about and improve your skills as a freelancer:
YouTube
Canva’s Design School
HubSpot Academy
Coursera (FREE COURSES)
Skillshare (7 day free trial)
TikTok freelancers who offer advice to others
Google Digital Garage
As you complete more and more projects, your skill level will continue to grow.
Step 6: As You Become More Experienced, Increase Your Rate
Once you have successfully completed five to ten projects and have received positive feedback from clients, it is finally time to start charging a higher rate for your services.
For example:
In Month One: Your rate should range from $10 to $15 (USD) per project
After Months of receiving positive reviews, you could charge $20 to $50 (USD) per project
Once you have developed your skill set significantly: Grow your rate to $100.00 (USD+) per client
Long-term goal could be as much as $500 to $2,000 (USD) depending on your area of expertise.
As you gain confidence in your skills, they will also grow in value.
Step 7: Expand Your Search to Include Permanent/Future Opportunities
When you feel confident, start contacting:
Local Shops
E-commerce Business
Social Media Stars
Personal Trainer/Coach
Entrepreneurs (Start You Own Business)
Dining Locations
Cosmetic or Hair Stylist
Real Estate Agent
These clients generally pay more as well as require a long-lasting relationship.
Freelancers generally make their way up to solid monthly earnings from this area.
Conclusion:
Skills Aren’t Your Problem; Getting Started is
Freelancers aren’t perfect, nor do they necessarily have experience; the only thing they possess that makes them different from you is courage.
The courage to try new things, the courage to have your first client, and the courage to believe you can earn money online.
Every successful freelancer was once in a position similar to yours — unsure of themselves and unsure of whether they could make it work — but they acted!
Now it is your turn.
