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Freelance Jobs Near Me - How to Find the Perfect Job

  • 26 May, 2021

The way people make money is evolving rapidly. Every year, more and more people are transitioning into the freelancing world. 

A whopping 59 million Americans freelanced last year, earning almost $1.2 trillion in net revenue. 

If you're trying to break off the 9-5 routine and fancy yourself as your own boss, or if you've been swept up in the post-pandemic economic blow, finding freelance jobs from home might be a fantastic idea.

People search for, "freelance jobs near me," to hunt local remote working opportunities. But all they see is a search engine result page cluttered with different kinds of jobs.

So, before you look for remote jobs near you, first determine the type of job that fits your skill set, and then look for the perfect marketplace that lets you find legit freelance jobs online. 

Read on, as we’ve jotted down an extensive list of top freelance jobs you can do from home. Plus, you can also learn how to find freelance jobs, and which is the best freelance site for beginners in 2021. 

What Kind of Freelance Job Can You Do?

freelance jobs near me

The world of freelancing is filled to the brim, with jobs ranging from digital marketing and software development to video advertising to voice-over services. Before you vaguely look for freelance jobs near you, first determine that niche in which you wish to serve.

That said, let's take a quick look at some of the popular freelance jobs in 2021 that cater to a wide range of clients and pay well.

  1. Freelance Editing Jobs

Freelance Editing Jobs

If you have a knack for assessing written words and instinctively pick typos and grammatical mistakes while reading any piece, freelance editing jobs might be a good option for you to dive into.

A freelance editor’s job is to read, review, and improve a written piece for different clients to get it ready for publication. From content to structure and tone to grammar, freelance editors focus on all facets of a written work based on the kind of editor they are.

For example, if you are proficient at brushing up the mechanics of the text, checking grammar, and fixing sentence structure, you ought to become a freelance copy editor and learn more about it to increase your expertise. 

Remember that freelance editing jobs are not just limited to written content, but there are a lot of online media editing jobs you can go for such as video editing and photo editing. 

So, if you’re not so good at the English language but want to do freelance editing jobs, you can still make your way into this dynamic field by learning about how you can be a successful freelance video editor. 

  1. Freelance Art Jobs

Freelance Art Jobs

Despite the slump in the economy, several art fields, such as design and marketing, are booming. Having said that, it’s a good idea to get yourself freelance art jobs if you’re good enough at arts.

A freelance artist is someone who produces art for different clients on a contractual basis in exchange for a fee. 

Since freelancing has become more commonplace, the industry grows to provide freelance jobs online for beginners as well as seasoned artists. 

From digital illustrations to caricatures and graphics design to art direction, freelance art jobs fall into various categories. 

For getting started with freelance art jobs, you ought to have a stellar portfolio. It serves as both your business card and your entry ticket into the world of art jobs.

Hence, an appealing portfolio is the only way to stop dead clients and hire you. Don’t worry if you’re clueless on how to create a stunning portfolio since we’ve got you covered on that too. 

  1. Freelance Digital Marketing Jobs

Freelance Digital Marketing Jobs

In a freelance digital marketing job, your role would be to help businesses promote their products and services online, brand engagement, generating new leads, or enhancing a brand's image.

As a freelance digital marketer, you may well possess a wide range of skills from content marketing and social media to search engine optimization and website development.

If you want to make a start with freelance digital marketing, you'll have to choose whether you want to provide limited digital marketing services or a full range of them, depending on your skillset.

Freelance digital marketing jobs are a perfect fit for stay-at-home individuals looking to supplement their income. You can operate from the convenience of your own home and adjust your work hours to suit your timetable!

So, if you think you have the skill to get into freelance digital marketing and want to know more, sink in and get to know what freelance digital marketing is and how to become one

  1. Freelance Animation Jobs

freelance animation jobs

Animation is on the up and as the trend of online jobs binges, more and more people recognize the value of pursuing a freelance animation job.

In a freelance animation job, you can be choosy about the projects you take on, set your own schedules, and eventually expand into larger endeavors.

You may create animation for feature films, TV shows, commercials, videos, computer games, websites, instructional videos, or other forms of media. 

To be a successful freelance animator, you’ll need to polish your animation skills to perfection. You’ll need to get exposure to different industries to learn more creative ways you can deliver the best results. 

Moreover, you must be aware of the available resources to help you automate and streamline your animation process.

  1. Freelance Social Media Management Jobs

Freelance Social Media Management Jobs

If you've managed campaigns on social networking sites before, you might take on a freelance social media manager job to support companies that sell their brands on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms. 

Companies can often need assistance with comment management, community development, and social-selling activities. So, in a freelance social media manager job, you will frequently plan and conduct digital media strategies, as well as collect and review data from such campaigns. 

Social media management is not rocket science, and if you know your way around different social media platforms, and can focus on building a social media following through posting content, running ads, and staying on top of the game, a freelance social manager job could be the best bet for you.

Moreover, a freelance social media manager collaborates with the design team to create graphics and memes for different social media accounts. 

Get to know more about how to create impactful social media designs to take your brand off the ground. 

How Can I Get a Freelance Job with No Experience?

freelance jobs online for beginners

Well, getting a freelance job without any prior experience can be a bit problematic but certainly not impossible. You don’t need to worry as there are many types of freelance jobs you can opt for without having years of experience. 

First and foremost, get yourself clear with your interests and top preferences. 

If you have a knack for writing, it is preferable to start off with entry-level freelance writing jobs which can include writing articles, blog posts, eBooks, etc. 

If you are good at withdrawing and have web artistic skills, you can get yourself rolling in freelance design jobs. This can include designing logos, business cards, flyers, brochures, book covers, and the entire company stationary in a word.

If you have a basic background in programming, you can take up freelance programming jobs since the foundation is there, and all that’s needed is job-specific knowledge.

Determining The Right Place to Get Started with No Experience

To kick start your freelancing career with no experience, the best way out is to sign up for a good freelance marketplace as it offers the lowest barriers to entry. Freelance sites will assist you in selling your services to a wider audience of prospective customers.

Finding the right freelance platform determines how quickly you'll be able to land jobs and the quality of clients you'll be able to work with.

Millions of freelancers from all over the world already use freelance marketplaces. In order to get the job, they will keep lowering their rates and it won't help you get anywhere.

So the best approach is to pick a marketplace that’s fairly new and join it. Since there will be fewer freelancers, there will be less competition and it will improve your chances of finding a freelance job.

Tip: When you write “freelance jobs near me” in your search bar, you’d come up with a laundry list of job opportunities but don’t wait for a full-time job to hit your calling.

Until you find one, give a try to the freelancing thingy and you’ll see innumerable money with immense exposure in no time! 

Which Freelance Site is Best for Beginners?

freelance jobs from home

To pick and choose the best freelance site for beginners, you need to understand the most important aspects that make a freelance platform perfect for you. 

  1. Commission

All renowned freelancing sites charge a project-based commission from the registered freelancers on their site. 

Commission fees can range from 20% to 30%, which can be prohibitively expensive especially for those who rely solely on freelancing to provide for their families. A high commission rate means higher project rates which ultimately turn off potential clients.

Thus, an ideal freelance site would be one that offers unpaid membership and the lowest commission rate. At TaskShift, we charge only 3% commission, allowing freelancers to offer services without the need of charging unreasonably higher rates and attract more clients.

  1. Bids or Offers 

Every freelancing forum takes one of two approaches: either the customer lists a project for bidders to consider, or the freelancer makes his or her own tailored deals.

There are several freelancing forums that are employer-centric, in the sense that an employer posts a project with a job description, and freelancers bid by submitting applications while waiting for them to be approved or refused. This can be a time-consuming and aggravating method.

On the flip side, certain freelance platforms encourage users to showcase their related portfolios and charge fixed rates. You can create packages as per your services, adding extra cost for additional work.

So, as a beginner, it is best to consider a freelance platform that allows you to create your profile with a relevant portfolio and fair offers.

  1. Number of Services

Since you’re new as a freelancer and may not be sure about which industry to go for, it’d be suitable for you to pick two to three services you consider yourself good at. 

For this, you would need to choose a freelancing site that allows you to create more than one offer by adding a number of services to your profile. 

You may offer services like graphics design, content writing, marketing, project management, social media management, and web design/development all at the same time, following your skills of course.

Since we’ve now highlighted the features a good freelancing platform must-have, consider these aspects of each site when you’re cherry-picking the best freelance site to start from to make an informed choice. 

How Do Freelancers Find Work?

freelance jobs online

  1. Freelancing Websites

Freelance platforms can serve to be the best space to look out for freelance jobs online. It's pretty simple to find freelance jobs on these sites, which you can use to build your portfolio without delay.

As a beginner freelancer, your main goal would be to build an appealing portfolio. For that, you may have to take on low-budget projects or tasks that might not interest you much, but this will be beneficial for you in the long run. 

And if you can get through it all, you'll be rewarded with a wealth of experience that will serve as the base for your freelance career.

  1. Social Media

Social media is another good place to start your freelance job hunt. Start by joining Facebook groups and asking for job recommendations while providing 2-3 relevant samples of your offered services.

You can also post your work on other professional sites such as LinkedIn – the platform is filled with people who are looking for freelancers to outsource different projects.

Also, you should start networking while you're looking for your first freelance job from home. 

Utilize social media networks to create your online presence. If you're fortunate, you could find a customer by personal connections who might need you for a long-term project.

  1. Job Boards

There are countless job websites online such as Indeed or Monster Jobs that offer many project-based and flexible freelance job opportunities to choose from.

These sites also offer advanced search tools that will help you find freelance jobs that are most suitable for you.

However, if you are only starting out as a freelancer and don't yet have a dazzling portfolio, you may not be able to receive as much attention as more seasoned freelancers. 

So, don’t consider these job boards as a way to get your freelancing career off the ground with no delay.

Parting Thoughts

In conclusion, when you’re just starting out as a freelancer, it is crucial to research the market and run through the different sources of freelance jobs before settling on what works best for you.

As a new freelancer, you must have set some financial goals for yourself. To fulfill those targets, you’ll have to make sure that your pipeline of projects doesn’t run dry. Hence, you should look to pursue more than one skill instead of profoundly relying on one.

By reading this all-inclusive article, you must have jumped to a conclusion that online freelance websites are the best places to find freelance jobs as beginners. 

However, you could also give a try to other job sources to live through the situation and settle down on what works best for you.