I have recently been starting up in freelancing as a coder. And I think the hardest part of getting started up is portfolio. It is extremely hard to find clients who will allow you to take on a project with no portfolio or showcase of your work. So it is very important you get some form of portfolio together that you can present to potential clients to show them your capabilities. Just a little tip >,< hope it helps.
i think you should follow some of famous outsourcing websites where you make account and take some time for review then apply as a bidder, whatever you're designer or developer...
you can visit these two websites: freelanceswitch.com freelancefolder.com these are FREE blogs for you to read on how to become successfull freelancer
@pipes ... actually i m a self taught web developer/designer .... recently designed/some commercial websites and cms which are running on lan networks ....
It's all about putting together a business plan. Decide what you want to sell, who you want to sell it to, how much you charge, then advertise.
You need a good portfolio, some case studies of your works, and need to join some freelancer websites like Guru, RentACoder, Elance, Scriptlance, GetAFreelance etc. Thousands of freelancers are earning from this profession. If you work hard, you'll also succeed.
To start as a freelance web designer, you have need to do a few things: 1. Make a portfolio - Without portfolio, you will fail to get clients. Make a portfolio with your work on it and make the portfolio appealing. How to create a better online portfolio is a great article to help you learn how to make a great portfolio. Following those techniques will help you make an appealing portfolio. 2. Set your Prices - You will need to set your prices ahead of time, or you will not know what to charge. I would suggest to charge lower than your competition since you are just starting out. You will find yourself getting more clients and it will help build your portfolio. Read these articles on how to price yourself. 3. Read about freelancing - As a poster said above: I would read Freelance Switch and Freelance Folder daily. Their articles are very informative and will help you become a successful freelancer. 4. Learn Search Engine Optimization and Marketing - After you have set up your portfolio, I would suggest jumping into marketing your services and learning about Search Engine Optimization. I would post your services in the Services forum of this website. I typically gain many clients through this forum alone. Then I would learn how to optimize your website. A good start is my article: 50 SEO Tips for Webmasters. It is very basic and easy to understand and implement. It isn't hard to start becoming a freelance web designer, but it is hard to become a successful freelancer. Good luck on your venture and make sure you always update your portfolio. Your portfolio is the reason you will get clients.