Hi guys, it’s Alston.
In this guide, we are going to learn how you can start working as a freelancer in freelancer.com.
I’m going to give you a full in-depth Freelancer.com tutorial as well as an explanation on how to do it.
Step by step instructions from learning about freelancing:
- How you can create an account
- How you can set up a profile
- How you can find projects and contests to work in
- How you can place a bid
- How you can submit an entry
- How you can manage your finances and get help and support.
So everything you need to learn, the video will be in a step by step categorized format.
If you are a beginner or you want to learn everything, I would encourage you to watch the video from start to beginning.
However, if you are only interested in certain parts of the video, I will leave a times tab with the chapters in the description so you can click on that to follow only the interested sections for you.
Freelancer.com Tutorial Course
What is Freelancing?
So without further ado, let me go into first, what is freelancing? That is the most important one to just give you an introduction.
If you are seeing this video, you would already know it.
But just for explanation, freelancing is a type of work where you are not based on one company or a business shop or something like that. It is where you choose what you want to work on.
So the concept works like this: A client or business posts a job. You read through the job and you say, “This is the payment I require. This is the time I will take.
These are my request criteria and everything.” And if the client wishes to agree on that project and accepts your bid, the project automatically starts, and you can start working on that project.
So you define what you want to work, whom you want to work for, and what are the criteria for the work.
That is the main concept of freelancing.
Freelancing Benefits
And the next one is, let’s look at the benefits of freelancing because just to get an idea of why freelancing is important to you.
Work From Home
First, the main concept is work from home or work from anywhere where you have the basic laptop or the tools you need to do the job.
So that is the main thing.
You are not fixed to a schedule; you are not fixed to a location.
You can work from anywhere you want.
So this can be ideal for part-time students or even someone who’s looking to stay at home and looking for some additional part-time work or just to have a project.
Independence
You are your own boss when it comes to freelancing.
Even though you accept clients, they are not controlling you.
You decide on what you are working, you decide on what you want to work on and everything.
So it gives you a sense of independence for you.
Variety of work
With freelancing, you are not just limited to the daily projects you get.
For example, if you are working in a company, you might do the same thing again and again every single day.
But with freelancing, the different requirements, the work you do will be different from each client to client or each project to project.
So you will get something unique out of each different project or from each different client.
Income potential
Income potential also, you’re not just limited to something fixed by a salary from a company or something like that.
With freelancing, the income will depend on how many projects you complete, the quality of your project, or the rate you set by you and accepted by the client.
Your skills, your talent as a salesperson, your talent as the work you can complete, that will influence how much income you can earn as a freelancer.
Global opportunities
Again, if you’re just providing a service within a city or a location or just for a group of people, you might not discover all the demand you can get worldwide.
But with online freelancing platforms, you can find work pretty much from global opportunities.
You can find work from different countries, different geographical locations, and everything.
So you’re not just limited to one location, but you can get jobs from worldwide. Those are the main advantages of freelancing.
Freelance Job Types
Let’s discuss the different types of freelancing jobs.
To begin with, this is just an overview summary, and there is a wide range of options available to you.
These popular jobs mentioned earlier are not the only ones you can pursue.
As long as you can offer your services to a client and complete the work in a freelancing manner, you can find various freelancing opportunities.
Here, I have listed some common freelancing jobs for your reference.
If you are not new to freelancing or don’t have a specific profession, you might be wondering what options are available to you.
Consider this list as a starting point for exploring potential opportunities.
What is Freelancer.com?
First, let’s understand what freelancing is and its benefits.
Now that we know the types of freelancing jobs, let’s delve into the concept itself.
Freelancer.com is a website that connects individuals seeking freelance work.
It is the biggest one.
| Year | Revenue (EUR million) | Organic Growth (%) | France Revenue (EUR million) | International Revenue (EUR million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 484.5 | 52% | 352.7 | 131.8 |
| 2017 | 589.2 | 22% | 412.9 | 176.3 |
| 2018 | 626.3 | 6% | 451.1 | 175.2 |
| 2019 | 674.1 | 8% | 485.7 | 188.4 |
| 2020 | 503.2 | -25% | 362.8 | 140.4 |
| 2021 | 505.1 | 0.4% | 365.1 | 140.0 |
| 2022 | 800.2 | 59% | 509.7 | 290.5 |
It serves as a platform for individuals and businesses to collaborate on projects.
To summarize, freelancing offers numerous advantages.
However, the challenge lies in knowing how to proceed.
We grasp the concept and appreciate the benefits of working from home.
But how do we actually get started?
Which websites should we use?
Where can we find projects and contests?
This is the predicament we face.
Enter Freelancer.com, one of the leading freelancing websites.
While there are many platforms available, Freelancer.com stands out.
It serves as a marketplace for freelancers and employers.
Everything is managed through their platform.
So, that’s what Freelancer.com is all about.
Freelancer.com Benefits
Let’s explore some of the benefits offered by Freelancer.com.
Big Marketplace
Firstly, it serves as a large marketplace, which is crucial for the freelancing concept to thrive.
As a client, you can find numerous potential employees for your project.
Pro Networking
As an employee, you have access to a wide range of clients and projects to work on.
Freelancer.com brings all these connections and opportunities to one platform.
The website boasts a vast network, allowing freelancers to connect and form partnerships.
It provides a space for creating relationships within the freelancer community.
Freelance Job Categories
Freelancer.com offers an extensive range of job categories.
This categorization makes it easier for you to find freelancing opportunities in your specific profession.
Secure Payment
Another significant benefit is secure payment handling.
In the freelancing world, handling payments can be a major concern.
Freelancer.com addresses this issue by providing a secure payment interface.
They manage the payments, including pending and milestone payments, ensuring a safe transaction process.
Skill Development
Moreover, Freelancer.com recognizes the importance of skill development.
They offer a feedback mechanism, review processes, educational courses, and guides to help freelancers improve their skills.
By working and learning through Freelancer.com, you not only complete projects but also continuously enhance your professional abilities.
These are the main benefits that Freelancer.com provides to freelancers.
Freelancer.com Projects vs Contests
Let’s explore the different types of work you can find within freelancer.
It is important to understand these distinctions because in freelancer, you not only get projects but also contest projects.
Let’s first learn about the differences between projects and contests.
Freelance Projects
A project is where a client places a requirement for something they want to be done.
They post the project on freelancer.com, and freelancers matching the project’s category or skills can place a bid.
The bid includes the freelancer’s rate, estimated completion time, past work, and skills.
Freelancers essentially sell themselves to the client, explaining why they should be chosen for the project.
The bidding process continues until the client reviews all the bids and selects one freelancer to work with.
The chosen freelancer starts working on the project, and once it’s completed, the client pays them.
The final result of the project is then delivered to the client.
With projects, clients choose one freelancer to work with, based on specific requirements and skills.
Reviews and previous work are essential for clients to assess the freelancer’s capabilities.
The bidding process can take longer as the client reviews all the available bids and may request additional information before starting the project.
Projects can encompass various types of work, such as coding, teaching, marketing, and more.
Freelance Contests
On the other hand, a contest works differently.
In a contest, clients post a project with specific requirements, often related to graphic design.
Instead of placing bids, freelancers submit their final work for that project.
For example, if a client needs a logo design, freelancers will create and submit their designs.
The client can provide feedback and choose from various designs submitted by different freelancers.
Contests, on the other hand, involve multiple submissions for review.
Instead of working with just one freelancer, clients receive design entries from various freelancers.
Once the client decides on a particular design, they award the prize money to the freelancer who submitted it.
Contests are primarily focused on visual and design preferences.
Freelancers can submit multiple entries for a contest, and results are typically faster compared to projects.
Contests are well-suited for graphic design and other visual work.
Freelance Projects vs Freelance Contests
To summarize, projects involve choosing a single freelancer based on specific requirements and skills, while contests allow clients to review multiple submissions before choosing a design they prefer.
Freelancer.com offers both options to accommodate different work preferences.
Create a Freelancer.com Account
How to create a freelance account:
To start creating a freelance account, follow these steps:
- Go to freelancer.com.
- You will land on the homepage.
- Click on “Sign Up”.
- This will open a sign-up page.
- Provide your email address. If you need to create a new email account, here’s how to set up a Gmail account.
- Make sure you have access to this email address as all communication will be sent there.
- Create a password with a minimum of six characters, including lowercase, uppercase, and a number.
- Click on “Join Freelancer”.
- It will ask for a username, providing suggestions based on your email address.
- If you prefer a different username, you can enter your own.
- Click on “I want to work” since you are creating a freelancer working account.
- Next, you will see a page where you can select the skills you want to assign yourself as a freelancer.
- Choose all the relevant skills based on your profession and job skills.
- The skills are organized by category and tags, allowing you to easily navigate and select.
- You can see the number of available jobs in each category, giving you an idea of the current market demand.
- By clicking on a skill, it will add it to your selected skills and display the available jobs for that skill.
- You can choose up to 20 skills for your free account.
- Once you have selected your skills, click on “Next”.
- You have the option to link your social media accounts to automatically fill in your profile information.
- If you prefer, you can manually fill in your profile details by uploading a profile image and providing your first and last name.
- Make sure to use your real name, as it will be important for account verification.
- Write a one-line description about yourself that will be shown in your profile and bids.
- Provide a detailed description about yourself and your work in the text field provided.
- You have up to 3,000 characters to showcase your skills and unique qualities as a freelancer.
- Next, select the languages you speak, ensuring accuracy for verification purposes.
- If your preferred language is not listed, it means it is not currently supported.
- Select your date of birth for further verification.
- Enter your location, preferably your permanent address for consistency with verification documents.
- The address field will provide suggestions as you type, making it easier to fill in the details accurately.
- Once you have completed all the required fields, click on “Next”.
- Now, you will be prompted to verify your email address.
- Check your email and click on the verification link.
- After verifying your email, the “Next” button will be enabled.
- Click on “Next” to proceed.
- You will then have the option to verify your payment method.
- If you choose to verify, you can select either debit card and PayPal or credit card.
- Verifying your payment method will add a verified badge to your profile and allow you to get paid faster.
- Review the benefits and make your selection.
- Once you have completed the payment verification or chosen to skip it, click on “Next”.
Congratulations! You have successfully created your freelance account and can start exploring opportunities on freelancer.com.
Setup Freelancer.com Profile
Let’s explore the process of setting up a profile on Freelancer.com and the importance of having an attractive and professional profile. Let’s dive into the details!
To begin with, let’s take a look at the dashboard on Freelancer.com.
It’s the first thing you see when you log in. This dashboard provides an overview of your activities and projects.
Creating an account on Freelancer.com is incredibly easy. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps.
Once you have created your account, though, the job is not done.
This is just the beginning of your journey on Freelancer.com.
Now, let’s focus on setting up your profile.
Your profile is crucial as it defines you as a freelancer on the platform.
It is what clients see and use to assess your skills and capabilities.
Having an attractive and attention-grabbing profile is key to standing out among the thousands of individuals on Freelancer.com.
It is essential to make a strong first impression on potential clients.
To start the profile setup, go to your username and click on “View Profile.” This will display your profile as it currently appears on Freelancer.com.
Take a moment to review all the different text and details you have provided, including your name and live-action examples of your work.
When clients visit your profile, they should get a clear picture of who you are and what you can offer.
Your profile needs to be complete, professional, and well-presented to make a positive impact.
One aspect of Freelancer.com that can benefit your profile is the Preferred Freelancer program.
It is a unique specialty program within the platform.
Not everyone can join this program, so it adds an extra layer of credibility and exclusivity to your profile.
Preferred Freelancers enjoy exclusive invitations to high-value projects and receive additional badges and qualifications.
To check if you meet the requirements for the Preferred Freelancer program, click on the “Preferred Freelancer” link and review the minimum requirements page.
Certifications also play a significant role in strengthening your profile.
Freelancer.com offers certification exams for various skills and languages.
These exams act as proof of your knowledge and expertise in a specific area.
Clients can gain confidence in your abilities when they see relevant certifications on your profile.
By completing exams and obtaining badges, you demonstrate your competence and commitment to quality work.
To purchase an exam, select the desired skill or language and proceed with the payment.
Passing an exam adds the corresponding badge to your profile, indicating your level of proficiency.
Remember, certifications are not limited to languages alone. You can find exams for specific skills as well.
Completing these exams and displaying the badges can give you an edge in winning projects.
Besides certifications, you can further enhance your profile by verifying additional details like your phone number, payment methods, and email address.
These verifications add credibility and trustworthiness to your profile.
To fully utilize your profile, take advantage of the “Browse Similar Freelancers” option.
This feature allows you to explore other profiles in the same field or category as yours.
You can gather inspiration, learn from their descriptions, and identify ways to improve your own profile.
By browsing similar freelancers, you gain insights into how others present their skills and expertise.
This can help you refine your own profile and make it even more appealing to potential clients.
In conclusion, creating a compelling and comprehensive profile on Freelancer.com is crucial for success as a freelancer.
Your profile is the first impression clients have of you, so make it count.
Invest time and effort into setting up a professional and attractive profile, showcase your skills through certifications, and explore other profiles for inspiration.
With a strong profile, you’ll increase your chances of landing high-value projects and building a successful freelance career on Freelancer.com.
Freelancer.com Projects Jobs
Let’s explore the process of finding freelance project jobs on a platform.
Let’s break it down step by step:
First, we need to complete the profile section, ensuring that all the necessary information is filled in accurately.
Once the profile setup is done, we can proceed to learn how to search for freelance project jobs.
To begin, we go to the browse section and look for something called Projects.
Scrolling down and clicking on Projects will load all the available projects within the platform that match our skills or categories.
To stay updated with new projects, we can refresh the page and see the additional job listings.
There are around 2,000 projects to explore.
To narrow down our search, we can use various filters provided, such as rate, fixed price, skill type, and listing type.
These filters help us find projects that align with our preferences.
The listing types include featured projects, sealed projects, projects with NDA requirements, urgent projects, and projects posted by recruiters.
We can choose to filter projects based on location, languages, and sort them by various criteria like the latest, oldest, lowest price, highest price, lowest bid, or most bid.
Once we have applied the desired filters, we will see a list of projects that match our criteria.
When a project catches our interest, we can click on its title or any part of the listing to access more details about it.
The detailed project page provides information such as the number of bids, average bid, project requirements, and the client’s details.
We can review the client’s rating and past reviews from freelancers who have worked with them before.
This information helps us assess the credibility and reliability of the client.
After thoroughly reviewing the project details, we can decide whether to place a bid or skip to the next project.
To place a bid, we need to complete our profile by setting our hourly rate and uploading a professional profile image.
Once our profile is complete, we can save it and proceed to place a bid on the project.
The bid amount can be customized, and the platform will display the fee and levy deducted from the bid amount.
We can also specify the timeline for the project and provide a detailed proposal to convince the client.
Additional options, such as video proposals and suggesting milestones, can enhance our bid.
Optional upgrades, like sponsored placement or sealing the bid, are available for an additional cost.
These upgrades can improve the visibility of our bid.
Finally, we can submit our bid and wait for the client’s response.
It’s important to keep track of the number of free bids we have left, as it varies based on membership level.
By following these steps, we can navigate the platform and effectively find freelance project jobs that align with our skills and preferences.
Freelancer.com Contests Jobs
Now I’ll guide you on finding freelance contests to work on.
It’s an important aspect to consider, especially if you’re interested in design contests.
To begin, click on the contest tab next to the project.
This will open up various ways to access the contests.
You can either go through the designated section or visit the homepage and navigate to the contest page.
Once you’re on the contest page, you’ll see all the available contests that match your selected skills.
Click on the title of a contest to view its details.
This will show you the person who provided the contest details and the submission type.
It’s worth noting that the submission process is different here.
Unlike other contests, you don’t have the option to submit a bid.
Instead, you’ll find a supported submission rate and an option to submit your entry.
When you click on “entries,” you’ll see the finished designs submitted by various freelancers, rather than just proposals.
The client can then review these designs, choose a winner, or provide feedback until they find something they truly like.
If you decide to submit your entry, make sure to provide an entry title and describe your design.
Additionally, set a sell price to allow the client to purchase your design even if you’re not selected as the winner.
To promote your entry, you have the option to highlight or seal your design.
Sealing a design entry ensures that only you and the client can see that particular design, preventing it from being copied.
When you’re ready to submit your entry, click on “Add File,” select the file, and then click on “Submit Entry.” Your entry will be displayed for the client to review.
This process is similar to projects, but instead of bidding and proposals, it involves submitting entries and communicating with the client.
You can find all the relevant information on the results screen, including descriptions, titles, required skills, the number of submitted entries, and available pricing.
For example, if you click on the “entries” section, you’ll see the total number of entries that have been submitted, such as 196 entries.
Finally, when the client makes their decision and selects a winner, the individual who receives the winning prize will be awarded the corresponding prize money.
Freelancer Account Management
Now, let’s quickly take a look into all the ways of managing your account with messengers, notification, and alerts.
This is also important. When you find work, find a contestant to work, you now need to have the option to communicate with the client.
Here you will see an icon. Here, it will show you all the messages or chats you have with various clients and contest holders and everywhere.
Here, it’s currently empty because it’s a brand new account.
But as you start to communicate with potential clients, placing bids or submitting contest entries, this section will get filled up fast.
So you have a decentralized space to manage all your messages.
When you click on this particular icon, here you can see all the recent projects matching your selected skills, along with all the details.
You will see all the different contests and projects as well. This is where recent notifications will be shown.
You can also click on “Saved Alert” and set up an alert for certain keywords.
In order to do that, you need to click on “Save Alert” and make sure that the notification is turned on for this device.
Click on “Search Project” and insert a specific keyword you wish to see on the project.
For example, if I type “eBook” here and I want to make sure that I receive a notification whenever a newly posted project contains that keyword.
So that is how the alerts feature works.
Notifications related to my work or account will be shown there.
Now, let us see how we can start managing our freelance account.
This is also important because we now know how to set up a profile and find work.
Now, let us see all the managing options available.
First, membership. As a free member, you only get 6 bids per month.
So obviously, if you are planning to work full-time as a freelancer, that might not be enough for you.
In that case, you have the option to upgrade your account to various levels.
Basic, plus, and professional premiere options are available. For each of these options, you can see the number of limitations or unique features available.
You can upgrade your membership and have a read through all the details available for you.
For basic membership, you get 50 bids.
You can see the monthly price or the price if you go for the annual payment option as well.
These details are shown here. For plus membership, you will get a start free trial option.
For all other memberships, you can upgrade directly if you want.
Those details can be shown from the membership page.
When you click on account details, account analytics, it will show you the analytics for your freelancer account.
It will show your total earnings, total earnings for the past days, job proficiency rates, completed jobs, on-time job budget, earnings over time graph, ratings per skill, earnings per skill, earnings per client, bid conversation.
All those data will be shown here.
Market statistics is where you need to have a paid membership to access these details.
It can show you marketplace statistics like high-demand skills, trending skills, overall rankings, skill rankings, bids per milestone.
These data will be helpful for you as a freelancer to reverse engineer it or use these details to help yourself get a better profile or win more projects.
Now, when I go into Bid Insights, it will show me all the data related to the bidding state.
It is a professional member feature, so it’s unavailable in a free account.
Now, let me go into Settings.
Settings will give you an option to change all the name, address, and other data.
You can edit or change those details from the profile page itself.
Email notifications allow you to change your email address and configure your email communication preferences.
Membership shows your current membership and transaction history.
Freelancer Finance Management
Let’s take a closer look at the different features offered by the platform to manage your finances and payments.
When it comes to finances, you can access the details by navigating to the Financial and Payments screen.
Here, you’ll find information about your account’s financial status, including your finance details and the ability to add funds.
Having funds in your account opens up various possibilities.
For example, if you plan to upgrade your membership or make optional upgrades while placing bids, you can use these funds to cover the costs.
Freelancer provides numerous payment options to cater to your preferences.
Whether you prefer UPI, PayPal, Skrill, or wire transfer, you’ll find a range of choices available to you.
Some options might be unfamiliar, but don’t worry; Freelancer has you covered with detailed information about each method.
In addition to managing funds, you can also update your tax pin or GST pin directly from the Financial and Payments screen.
This ensures that your tax details are up to date, allowing you to seamlessly add or withdraw funds from your account.
It’s worth noting that without setting these details, you won’t be able to perform any fund-related activities.
When it comes to withdrawing funds, Freelancer offers multiple options to suit your needs.
You can choose Express Withdrawal, PayPal, Skrill, or wire transfer, depending on your preference.
However, it’s essential to consider the associated fees and specific requirements for each method.
Transaction history plays a vital role in keeping track of your financial activities.
Freelancer provides a transaction history section where you can access details related to your account, such as transactions, invoices, milestones, and pending funds.
To gain a comprehensive overview of your financials, Freelancer offers a financial dashboard.
This tool goes beyond project management, providing you with the ability to create income statements, balance sheets, and more.
By leveraging these features, you can better understand your earnings, costs, and effectively manage your finances.
The Manage screen is another useful feature that allows you to access project-related options.
Whether you want to view your bids, current work, past work, or contest entries, everything is neatly organized for your convenience.
As your workload increases, staying organized becomes crucial.
Use this word counter tool to keep track of your writing projects.
With Freelancer’s financial and project management tools, you can keep track of your tasks, projects, and contests efficiently.
The task list feature serves as a small utility to help you manage your tasks effectively.
From managing funds to updating tax details, withdrawing funds, and keeping track of transactions, the platform ensures a seamless and organized experience.
Whether you’re just starting out or have a substantial workload, these tools will help you stay on top of your finances and projects.
Freelancer Help & Support
Freelancer not only provides you with all the necessary tools but also offers options for learning and support.
To access support, simply click on the support menu.
This will take you to a page with extensive support documentation, including step-by-step instructions and necessary information.
When you scroll down, you will find various sections and categories, and you can load more options as well.
If you are interested in a specific topic, you can click on it to get a detailed introduction on how to perform a particular task or improve yourself.
The help and support sections of Freelancer also provide valuable information for self-improvement.
In addition to that, you can explore the browse section, which offers learning materials and other options.
Freelancer also provides groups where you can not only learn but also participate in various communities that interest you.
These communities are created by other freelancers for networking and communication, allowing you to establish professional relationships with your peers.
You can view and join different communities based on your interests.
By clicking on “View,” you can see the discussions happening within a particular group.
Each group may have different discussions, providing diverse insights and perspectives.
You can also access files and details related to the group members.
Moreover, you have control over the notification settings and the ability to invite others to join the group.
The Freelancer homepage itself is a valuable source of information.
If you’re unsure about what to learn, simply scroll through the homepage, as it offers informative posts and interesting content.
These resources and posts can contribute to your learning journey and provide valuable insights.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I have provided you with all the details about Freelancer.
I understand that you might be feeling tired at this point, and if you’ve watched the video, you would probably feel the same way.
Instead of just watching the video, I recommend taking action and setting up your account while following along with the video.
Start by creating your account and completing your profile on Freelancer.
Freelancer.com offers a vast marketplace for freelancers like you to find work opportunities.
I hope this video has been helpful in teaching you how to navigate Freelancer and accomplish various tasks.
If you have any specific questions or need further assistance, please let me know in the comments section.
I’ll be sure to reply to your queries and, if necessary, create a separate video to address them.
Once again, thank you for watching, and I wish you a great day.