Hey everyone, my name is Janelle, and this is my real-life story where I'm going to share with you how you can succeed in Freelancing, regardless of your circumstances!
Competition in Freelancing is very high and challenging nowadays, so how can someone like me, who has not finished education and is already dealing with many family responsibilities, succeed in this freelancing industry?
Freelancing is now becoming a pool of opportunities everyone would like to dive into. It is also becoming heavy traffic where applicants are like the cars getting piled up in the Manila traffic!
Are you willing to get stuck in this traffic waiting for your turn to move forward, or drive through some fast lanes and get ahead with the others?
I started working from home ten years ago, and landing on my first client was never easy. So here are the steps I took that you can take to:
1: Find out what you're good at
Everyone has a unique skill or talent; you need to find that out. In my case, I don't actually have any diploma in any field or a special talent that I can boast about, but I have analytical skills and can converse in English very well, so I took the BPO industry.
Then I discovered the world of digital marketing and how demanding it is right now. I never had a degree in IT, nor did I experience websites and social media.
But since I had already mastered my customer service skills, I then searched for a Digital Marketing Company looking for someone to help them with customer service. That's when I got exposed to these new trends in Internet Marketing.
I started working as a Filipino virtual assistant back then, but since I was so eager to climb my way up, I proactively asked for tasks that I could take on on top of my current admin tasks.
I started with simple link buildings, off-page SEO, and content scheduling on WordPress and Social Media. As years went by, I learned about Campaign Automation, SEO, Facebook and Google Ads, YouTube Marketing, and even E-commerce Management. Now, I am already the company's Operations Coordinator and Customer Service Manager, and I deal with almost everything!
It doesn't matter what skills you have; you have to find out how to make money out of it. Do you know that even a guy who loves online gaming can earn thousands of dollars out of it? A funny guy who loves to make funny videos or loves to travel and capture photos can also make money from blogging and become the next YouTube viral artist!
Just dig that something in you and find out what you are good at.
2: Create your online profile
Clients and employers won't come to you; you have to be visible to them. Get started now and sign up for a free VirtualStaff.ph jobseeker account!
And when you do, you have to make sure that it stands out among others. Be very brief with your objective and what you can provide to your prospective clients. Include all your previous works/skills/references.
VirtualStaff.ph is the safest online jobs site in the Philippines.
Being successful wouldn't start unless you start taking action. Create your online portfolio now!
3: Prepare your own home-office
I ultimately believe that for someone to be efficient and focused while working from home is by having their own space where they can work away from all the distractions. Don't work from your bed. Aside from it will cause you bad posture, it can also cause you laziness and boredom.
Brief your entire family household on your work schedule and tasks
Working from home will indeed allow you to be with your family while earning, but still, professionalism is something that your client will be looking for and expect.
You can't just work and have a crying baby in the background or go to the grocery store while logged in. You have to make sure that your family members are also aware of what you have to accomplish during your work schedule so they, too, can adjust and not distract you.
Invest in the tools and equipment that will be necessary for your work
Well, we all know that you can't work without an internet connection and a laptop. But as soon as you land a job, you also have to make sure that you have backups in case of a power outage and internet connection failure. It is also lovely to sometimes work in a co-working space where you can meet and interact with your fellow freelancers.
4: Set your goals and create a plan.
Being organized and efficient is the key to success in this career. Now that you have learned how to overcome your distractions, you also have to make sure that you manage your work and life balance.
I started this year with a Goal, and I created a planner. If you wish to acquire multiple clients, you have to send out numerous proposals. Keep everything on a schedule. If you're already handling several projects now, make sure you maximize your time allotted to your highest-earning project.
And don't forget your family and relationship goals on your planner!
5: Aim for continuous learning
I have already mentioned above how I climbed my way from becoming a VA to a manager. On top of that, I'm also currently managing my own e-commerce business, and we're now providing online business consultation and marketing to small business owners locally.
How did it all happen? I just maximized the power of the Internet.
Almost everything now is free. You have to dedicate some time and effort to learn from these free resources. Here are some of my resources:
Google is a free library of everything. We even have a saying, "if you don't know it, just google it."
Blogs
Blogs have been beneficial in my career. There are tons and tons of helpful tips and tricks that bloggers are sharing. Plus, they are free!
Facebook Groups/Pages
Facebook has been beneficial in creating a community where you can learn, share and inspire.
I have joined so many Facebook Groups and have liked so many pages, also currently managing one, and most of my inspirations and ideas came from them.
I suggest you like and follow the VirtualStaff.ph official Facebook page to get the latest updates about online jobs in the Philippines.
I invested in my skills, and it's what I encourage you to do!
I usually spend a minimum of 30 minutes a day studying new skills and learning to become the best I can be.
Success with an online home-based job requires a lot of hard work, and it won't happen in a single snap. You have to be positive, assertive, and proactive if you wish to pursue this type of career.
Don't be disheartened if you don't immediately get hired. Instead, be persistent and keep applying. Persistence combined with improving your skills and creating an excellent profile is the three keys to getting the best online jobs on VirtualStaff.ph.
