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When the global recession hit in 2008, many people who had high-flying office jobs found they no longer had that kind of job. Instead they found themselves working in a bar, on a market stall or as a home worker to make ends meet. As technology becomes more advanced, it’s opening up new opportunities for people to work remotely from home and complete tasks online, uploading videos, images or documents and operating software remotely by logging into a virtual desktop. If you have a computer at home and a reliable internet connection — as well as some specialist skills — you could become an online freelancer. But how do you get started? And what are the challenges of working from home? Let’s take a look…
What is freelancing?
Freelancing is when you work for yourself as a contractor, rather than being employed by an organisation or company. As a freelance worker, you can choose to work on short- or long-term projects, which means you can pick up work when you want it. In return for your services, the client pays you a fee, which can sometimes be a daily rate, or you might be paid per project. You also pay your own tax and National Insurance, and may need to pay for your own health insurance too, as most freelance jobs won’t be covered by company sick pay.
How much can you make as a Freelance Home Worker?
The amount you can make as a freelance home worker really depends on the work you do. For example, if you’re a blogger, there’s an opportunity to make money from advertising, affiliate links and sponsorships, as well as from the products you recommend. Out the home, you’ll earn about $210 per day on average, but there are lots of opportunities to earn more as a freelancer. For example, there are websites like UpWork and Fiverr where you can find remote work, such as writing and designing, for a fixed price, or you could offer to do odd jobs for other people on services like TaskRabbit. There are also specialist websites that are dedicated to matching you with companies that need people with your skills. For example, Upwork and PeoplePerHour offer virtual assistance and transcription services, while Transcriptionist.co.uk and Scribie are two specialist platforms.
5 Common Challenges of Working From Home
– Finding work: As a freelancer, you can work whenever you want, but you’ll have to find work to supplement your income. You’ll need to put a lot of effort into marketing yourself and making sure potential clients can find you. – Managing your time: Freelancers usually have the freedom to manage their own time, but this can be both a blessing and a curse. When you’re earning money from home, you don’t have colleagues to have a laugh with or a boss to set you a deadline. This can be a challenge. – Working alone: Freelancers often work alone, and it can be difficult to stay focused, especially if you are easily distracted. This can be challenging if you work best with others around, so try to find ways to stay focused on your work. – Finding clients: Finding new clients can be challenging if you don’t have a lot of experience. However, it’s important to have a few regular clients to supplement your income from one-off projects because it’ll help you to stay consistent with your work. – Setting boundaries: If you work from home, you might find that you’re asked to do favors for friends and family. To avoid overworking yourself, it’s important to set realistic boundaries for the amount of work you’re willing to do.
3 Ways to Make Money as a Freelance Home Worker
– Specializing: If you have a skill, such as writing or photography, then you’re well-placed to make money as a freelance home worker. Choose a niche that interests you and has a lot of potential for growth. For example, food and drink and health and fitness are always in demand, as are parenting and pet care guides. – Networking: Your network of friends and family may be able to give you work, so it’s important to stay in regular contact with them. It’s also a good idea to join online groups to connect with fellow freelancers and find out about upcoming projects. – Online platforms: There are lots of websites that are dedicated to matching employers with freelancers. You can also use social media to find out about new opportunities, and apps such as Upwork, Fiverr and PeoplePerHour allow you to advertise your services.
Conclusion
Freelancing is a great opportunity for people to earn extra money when they want. You can work from home whenever you like, and you have the freedom to pick and choose which projects you work on so there is no pressure to take on something you don’t want to do. There’s a huge demand for freelancers, especially people with specialist skills, or who can offer a unique service. For example, if you can write, design or edit photos, or you can offer social media management or virtual assistant services, then there’s a good chance you’ll find work. It’s important to set yourself up properly to succeed as a freelance home worker, but it’s a great way to make money from home and work flexible hours in your PJs so there’s really no excuse not to give it a go!