I want to become a full time freelancer, how do I start?

Hi guys, my name is Dallin 24 years old these are my skills:

Frontend : HTML5 / CSS3 / jQuery / EmberJs / Bootstrap

Backend : Laravel / PHP / Emberbase

Database: MySql / PostgreSQL / Sqlite

Guys, please tell me how to get started, I try Odesk, peopleperhour but I couldn't find a client, anyone here have experience please share me, I'm really appreciate it

 

Start by reading the rules for this forum here https://forums.digitalpoint.com/thr...otes-services-belong-in-bst-not-here.1109274/

Maybe this posts topic would be better for general chat or general business.

Anyways, you say you know a lot but do you have anything to show for it? Do you have a portfolio? You could try freelancer.com or even the services section of these forums.

An easy way to market yourself is to answer questions users post in this forum, I have had lot's of members ask me if I am interested in getting paid to help them get something fixed or to make something.

 

Hi,

Head over to Freelancer and Elance. Bid on every project which you can do. Once you get a project, keep up on the time and price you promised them. Then your reputation will build up.

If you don't have a website of your own, make it and display your work. Also create some small web applications and promote in different forums, so people will know about your skills.

Always the first year of Freelancing is the toughest, but once you build your client base, then you can have a steady income. Hope you have some cash saved to push through the first year

 

many thanks guys

 

MarkusTenghamn, thank you, I got some project that I can show them, but I don't know how much I should bid, 10$ or 20$ an hour?

 

I don't know the quality of your work and you will be competing with other developers from all over the world. If it is your first project you might want to go below $10, I was definitely working below $10, probably like $5, when I started with html sites at the age of 15 or so. Now I have some clients that pay around $80 hour for work, but it can vary depending on what the work is for and who the client is.

 

I don't know, those projects that I have applied are all for expert ,so if I bid < 10$ then they might think i'm not a professional, I did try some but it didn't work

 

It also depends on where you live and what cost you have - bidding anything below $80-$100 (for me) would not work - I wouldn't make enough to make a living. $10 is completely out of the question. It might be better to find a more limited, national (instead of international) way of scouring the work-ads for possible freelance work (that way you only compete with others who needs about the same amount of money to survive).

 

PoPSiCLe please take a look at my profile:
http://www.peopleperhour.com/freelancer/dallin/web-developer/614875
and
odesk.com/users/~0152bbe9cdfa27dbb6

please let me know what you think, I really appriciate your help

 

Take some tests on odesk.com to show what you know. The more you have the more you will stand out compared to others. As for your portfolio, are they your designs or did you outsource the design? I would hire a designer if you don't feel like it is your strongest side, I usually do for projects. I would also add pictures that show off your programming skills, for php and mysql you might show a picture of a site with login functions and a lot of "data" for example, a ecommerce site would be one example. For js related stuff you could try posting images of cool drop down menus, interactive calendars or whatever it is that you might want to do.

I wonder where it would be hard to make a living making $80-$100 an hour

 

haha, yeah =)) love you guys

 

I afraid to take a test, I read some questions and I'm not sure I can make it > 80%, a lot of freelancers make it perfect score and odesk doesn't give you the second chance, you can take the test once and the score you is set forever, so sad
I'm not a designer, designing is not my strongest skill, I'm a backend developer but no one hire me so I have to find something else to make money, my designing skills are good enough to make some landing page, beside I know how to do SEO and some responsive css framework so I'm good enough to become a landing page maker lol

 

Here's what you do. You don't take the tests, because failed scores will kill you. Don't take jobs that are over your head. Take me for instance. I'm super unskilled, but know how to do some things. What I would do is skip the test. If the job looked insane I wouldn't touch it. If someone wanted one little form of information to go into the database with PDO and was paying $10 bucks I would put in a bid because I know how to do it. I know how to do it test or no test... but here's the thing. People look at tests, and people look at portfolios. I hired a layout artist on Freelancer. I don't hire if their portfolio sucks, and I don't hire if their profile sucks...

Here's some golden advice. If you can only take the test once.... Don't take it.. do not fail that test.

wait until you take some training courses and have the knowledge to become certified.

 

Norway. After taxes and expenses, those $100 an hour is down to less than $50, and that's below average hourly income.

 

I'm already on odesk: odesk.com/users/~0152bbe9cdfa27dbb6
but hard to find some first jobs

 

hey, can I work with you guys?

 

yuk, that's gotta make it hard to get business in Norway, considering most people don't factor someone else's tax system when considering spending money, lol.

 

Hmm, try making something notable for the site. If you make something notable here you'll gain access to extra portions of the site. Mainly advertising and marketplace. If this notable thing shows off skill you'll get noticed for that too... Why not make a tutorial on coding something, or check what hasn't been done in the tutorial/information section of the site. Making something cool would be a win win. Digital point would gain something, readers here would gain something, and you could show your skill level off doing it.

 

Yeah, you're right there. Don't under bid. Most people know they get what they pay for. Some people want to spend a grand, or even seven grand, because they know it's going to be worth it in the end. They're not going to sway from that too much. Money is quality.

 

Try to take some skill exams and clear it, as may be it will take some time but may be not.
Make your profile attractive for the employer, you can add some portfolio if you have. Explain what type of work you have already done in past.
And bid on more and more projects. Slowly you can get success. And if you get your first project then, make sure you will completed on time and answer all the queries of employer.
Best of luck.