7 Best Freelancing Websites to Get Started in 2022

7 Best Freelancing Websites to Get Started in 2022

Freelancing has become increasingly popular in recent years, but you can’t just decide to start freelancing one day and expect to make any money at it right away. Getting your name out there takes time, and figuring out how to go about actually making money with your freelance work takes even more time. If you want to start freelancing in 2022, there are a few different things you can do right now that will help you in the long run, including building up your portfolio and familiarizing yourself with the best freelancing websites online. Here are seven of our favorites!

Top 7 Freelancing Websites

We’re committed to helping you find a fulfilling way to make money online, and a good place to start is by looking at freelancing websites. Upwork and Freelancer are two of the most popular today, with many more popping up on a regular basis. The best part? If you have no experience, most sites will allow you to complete your first job for free before requiring payment. The whole process is incredibly simple: Find work, complete work and get paid (if it’s not too early). By using these websites to their full potential, you can easily make $500/mo without any background or formal training.

Tips for Successful Freelancing

Freelancing sounds great, but it isn’t for everyone. If you’re just starting out, here are some tips for successful freelancing. Don’t quit your day job: There is a reason why so many people say don’t quit your day job. For most people, freelance work is supplemental income, not a primary source of income. Well, then be prepared to take on all kinds of new responsibilities and make sure that freelance work is bringing in enough money (and keeping your bills paid) before ditching that steady paycheck from your 9-to-5 gig.

Protect Yourself from Scammers

While some freelance websites are legit, there are others that are outright scams. Upwork is one of those sites where you can sometimes find yourself dealing with scammers. If you’re new to freelancing and unfamiliar with how it works, spotting a scammy job can be hard. So if you aren’t sure about something and it doesn’t feel right—trust your gut! Use Google (or other search engines) to look up info on a company or a potential client and read reviews from previous employees or clients.

Connect with your target audience

The freelancer economy is expected to grow more than 20% annually through 2020 and will bring with it more opportunities for people looking for new ways to make a living. If you’re seeking out freelance work, don’t worry if you have no experience; today's freelance platforms are largely user-driven and very welcoming of beginners. You can look for gigs as an entry-level freelancer or as an expert.

Manage project timelines

No matter how small or big your project is, it’s important to set and manage timelines so that you can deliver on time. Don’t forget about your own internal deadlines either: Try to aim for a timeframe between 30 minutes and an hour at first, which will help you get used to keeping track of task durations. You should always add an extra buffer of 10-15 percent on top of what you think you’ll need too, just in case something unexpected comes up. When everything goes right and your project delivers on time (which it will), remember to pat yourself on the back!

Set realistic expectations with clients

If you're new to freelancing, set realistic expectations from day one. If a client asks you for something that's outside your skill set, it's OK to explain that you don't have experience in that area and offer alternatives that match your skills. Don't feel like you have to say yes just because someone offered you a job your time is valuable too. And if things aren't working out with a client, be honest about it: tell them why you won't be able to do what they want and give suggestions on how they can find someone who can do it better. The freelance world is competitive enough as it is; take advantage of being more relatable than faceless!

Avoid common mistakes

If you're young and trying to get started, take it slow: don't quit your day job too quickly. I've seen students make the mistake of quitting a perfectly good job only to realize they didn't have enough business or clients after a few months. If that happens, getting back into a full-time position is going to be almost impossible. Instead, work hard at freelancing for at least six months before giving up your day job. In addition, make sure you have an emergency fund of about $1,000: having a few months' worth of expenses set aside will help if you need some time between projects.

Create a portfolio website

There are lots of good reasons why you might want to put together a portfolio website. Perhaps you want potential clients to be able to check out some of your previous work. Or maybe you want proof that you’re capable of handling similar assignments (or bigger ones) down the road. You could even use your website as a way to network with other creatives who can help you land freelance gigs (think LinkedIn, but with less Bumble and more design work). No matter what kind of freelancer you are or plan on being, chances are there’s an audience for what you do online so build one. Here’s how