5 Places to Find Freelance Gigs
Hi y’all!
Welcome to Day 4 of my “30 Blogs in 30 Days” blogging challenge. Everyday I’m setting aside an hour to spitball a blog post OUT THERE (except today I’m writing 2, as starting TOMORROW, I’m using Sunday as a day off from biz stuff).
I’ve been slowly microblogging about freelancing on Instagram, here. Honestly, I’m not super jazzed about the name or branding, so I’ll be overhauling it (and blogging about it, duh) here in the next few weeks. In the interim, check it out, as there are a lot of super helpful and ACTIONNABLE tips to be had.
One of the most common questions I get is, “Where do I find more freelance gigs?!!?” This is usually said or sent in a bit of a panic, when one is looking at one’s bank balance, or checking out airfares.
I got you, bb. Below are 5 places to find freelance gigs.
1. People You Know
It boggles my damn mind how many freelancers DON’T TELL PEOPLE THEY KNOW THAT THEY FREELANCE.
WHY?!?!
Y’all! Even in 2017, word-of-mouth marketing is the strongest driver of purchases. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten a freelance contract, with minimal effort, because someone I knew recommended me. Start posting about your freelance work on Facebook and LinkedIn (your personal pages), and introducing yourself at parties with your version of, “Hi, I’m Brianne! I use she/her pronouns, and I’m alife coach and marketing/consultant and freelancer. I’m also working on my debut fashion collection.” You can add your freelance work onto a line about what you do full-time, “Hi, I’m Jared, and I use they/them pronouns. I work as a graphic designer and I also do UI/UX as a freelancer.”
“Hi! I’m (Name), and I use (pronouns). I’m a (student/type of person) who does (type of work), and I also do freelance work as a (freelance work).”
To meet more people IRL, consider joining a coworking space for a trial period, as well as attending events you find on meetup or eventbrite. Events don’t have to be geared towards your industry — in fact, it’s more helpful if you decide to attend random events like “Writing Letters to Congress People” to meet folks you wouldn’t otherwise know!
2. UpWork
While it’s definitely a hit-or-miss platform, you can find great freelance gigs on UpWork if you make sure to sort by experience (AKA wage). Also, check out Guru!
3. Facebook Groups
Y’all, I’m such a fan of Facebook groups. I recommend joining a bunch that fit your niche, and offering actionable advice in the comments, and include an invite to reach out to you if they’re interested in working with a freelancer. (Want to make costumes professionally? Join cosplay groups! Want to be a fashion blogger? Join groups that relate to your style or identity!)
3. Craigslist
People *still* post jobs and freelance gigs on CL. Every few weeks I’ll search the CLs of big metropolitan areas for keywords like “remote” and “freelance.” I’ve gotten a few gigs off of CL, and friends of mine have had HUGE success with it. Remember to follow CL advice on [not] giving out personal/financial info!
4. Toptal & Power to Fly
Great for the techies are Toptal & Power to Fly. Both of these platforms screen applicants with a (technical background) and connect them with remote freelance or FT work.
5. Remote Work FTW
If you freelance because you want to be able to work from home/travel, you may want to consider working full-time from your home. Working remotely as an employee (part-time works too!) can add more predictability to your monthly income. I like Jobspresso and FlexJobs.
Did I miss a website or place to find freelance gigs? Drop me a line or comment, and I’ll add it (quoting you, duh!).
