How to Start Freelancing As a Student Online in 9 Easy Steps

Every student wishes to make extra money on the side without affecting their studies. However, getting a part-time job can mean missing classes or being too tired to complete your classwork after a long day or night of work. Furthermore, getting paid work or internships before you complete your studies is difficult because such jobs are very competitive.

That’s why freelancing is the best way to make money online as a student without putting your grades at risk. You can work for a few hours between classes or at night just before bed. It also helps you gain some experience as you earn a decent income.

This article looks at how to start freelancing as a student online, even if you have no prior experience. Read on to get helpful tips on how to improve your success rate and earn more by working for a few hours every day.

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing involves working for local or international companies by completing some tasks without being a full time employee. As a freelancer, you offer services and get paid hourly or per project.

Freelancing allows you to work at your set hours and from wherever you are. Most companies always look for freelancers because they don’t have to pay benefits for full time employees. This means it is cheaper to outsource work because they only pay when needed, and more opportunities for you as a student.

The good thing is that freelancing is not reserved only for people with a career or a degree.  It is possible to start freelancing as a student, and we will see how in the next section.

Related Resource: Can You Freelance With No Experience? How to Become a Freelancer in 30 Days Or Less

How to Start Freelancing As a Student Step by Step

You have made the right choice to learn how to start freelancing as a student. You will make extra income and have better use of your time instead of wasting it going to clubs or hanging out with the wrong company. Here is a step-by-step guide to get you started.

1. Reflect on your goals and the skills you have

Before you start freelancing as a student, you should know why you want to do this. Clearly define your goals, how much you want to earn, and how many hours you can work daily. It is not enough to do it for the money. You need to reflect on your interests and things you love to do and align that with your freelancing path.

Everyone has unique skills that can solve other people’s problems and give you an advantage over others. For example, if you have an eye for design, graphic or web design would be the right path.

On the other hand, if you love story telling and have a knack for writing, then freelance writing is your best path. You may be surprised that your freelance path becomes a lifelong career. Furthermore, there are numerous free online courses to help you perfect the skills you already have or those you want to focus on.

It is also okay not to know what is best for you. In that case,, you can try one skill at a time until you get what resonates with you. Some of the best high demand freelancing skills to consider include writing, graphic design, transcription, proofreading, web design, social media management, and translation.

Related Resource: Top 10 High Demand Freelancing Skills That Will Get You Hired In 2024

2. Choose your niche and ideal client

Once you know why you want to start freelancing as a student and your unique skills or interests, you must choose the niche that best suits your skills. Contrary to the belief that people who know everything have a better chance of getting hired, the opposite is true. Clients prefer to hire specialists and not generalists.

Choose to focus on one skill in one niche so that you can have better chances of getting hired. For example, if you have decided to do freelance writing, it is better to choose one industry. For example, health, travel, legal, or parenting. This will narrow your focus and make you stand out.

Knowing your niche will also help you determine your ideal client and know how to pitch to them. However, if you cannot choose the industry initially, it is okay to write on different niches and then see where your passion lies.

But don’t attempt to try writing, transcription, or graphic design in one go. Choose just one skill and perfect if first. The best thing is that when you start freelancing as a student, you have plenty of time to figure out exactly what you want. So don’t rush. Choose one skill and go for it. You can always change the focus in the coming months.

Related Resource: 11 Best Passive Income Ideas For College Students

3. Get the required skills

Now that you know where you want to go, it is time to stack up on the required skills. Start with a free online course on YouTube, Alison, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning. Most of these courses are about an hour up to 4 hours long.

You can complete them in a weekend, and you’ll be ready to start practicing the next week. Moreover, you will use the same equipment you use for your classwork: a phone, tablet, or laptop. So, you have no excuse not to get started right away.

Related Resource: 4 Best Free Transcription Training for Beginners

4. Create an online presence

Now that you have the required knowledge, it is time to build your skills and showcase what you can do for your clients. You want to choose platforms that make it easy for clients to find you. For example, you can set up a free website on medium or publish articles on LinkedIn.

You can also create social media profiles on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or Twitter, depending on your chosen niche. There are also numerous platforms that allow freelancers to add a free portfolio, such as Dribble, Behance, or Clippings.me. Remember that you are starting as a beginner with no experience, so you need to use these platforms to showcase what you can do.

5. Build your portfolio

Start publishing content on your social media platforms to get samples you can show your clients. Writing on your blog, on Medium, or LinkedIn is a good way to have samples, even if you have not worked for a client before.

It also gives you a platform to practice your skills. If you want to work as a graphic designer, publish logos, social media graphics, or infographics on your social media to show an example of your work. This will come in handy when you start applying for jobs. You can also create a hire me page on your website, including a pricing structure for your freelance services.

Your portfolio should show some of your best work or samples. You will keep improving on this as you gain more work to showcase how your work will improve the client’s business.

Remember, at this level, you may have to work for free or charge low rates so that clients will agree to work with you before you gain experience.

Related Resource: How to Build a Writing Portfolio with No Experience in 1 Week

6. Network with other freelancers

When you start freelancing as a student, you should network with other freelancers. Join freelancing communities on Facebook, Reddit, or Upwork. Also, attend online events to learn from other freelancers and gain industry knowledge. Networking is a good opportunity to learn and build your reputation and give you a chance to get paid clients within the community.

7. Get an internship or entry level job

There are plenty of internships online where you can improve your skills. You can also get low-paying entry-level jobs to gain some hands-on experience for your skills. For example, you can get an entry-level job as a social media assistant working under a social media manager to help you understand the roles of the work and build your portfolio.

Some of the best freelance platforms for internships or entry level jobs include Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, Flex Jobs, and We Work Remotely. Request the clients you work for for free or entry-level jobs to give you testimonials that you can add to your website or social media channels.

8. Apply for jobs on freelance platforms

Once you have 3 or 5 samples of your work and feel confident enough to approach potential clients, it is time to start applying for jobs. Perfect your professional profile on Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn, and include your best skills, online certifications, and portfolio of your work.

Apply to as many jobs as possible, and do not give up too quickly. It may take a week and even months to get a high-paying job. But once you get it, it will open doors for the other. Ensure you do the job perfectly to get good reviews and build your reputation.

Every time you apply for a job, avoid copy-pasting the same cover letter to different jobs. Tailor your proposal to the job description and show how you can help the clients solve their pain points. Build a relationship with your clients to have a long-term partnership so that you can get repeat work and referrals. In a short time, you will be the go-to freelancer, and you will have consistent work.

Related Resource: Where Can I Get Freelance Jobs? 9 Best Freelance Websites to Find Work

9. Keep improving your skills

Ensure you keep improving your skills by creating more samples on your website or social media platforms, reading books, or enrolling in more online courses to enhance your knowledge. Adapt to the new changes in the freelancer world and learn how to use new tools in your niche. Use learning platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and YouTube to have up-to-date information and skills to become a top-rated freelancer.

Work around your class schedule so that you don’t miss class or miss a client’s deadline, as both are important. As you improve your skills, you’ll be able to work faster and submit work in good time.

Related Resource: 14 Essential Work from Home Tips for Beginners

FAQs

• Can you work freelance as a student?

It is possible to start freelancing as a student with no experience. However, you need to define your niche and determine the skills you need for the freelance jobs you wish to do. Then, get the required skills, create a few samples of your work, then reach out to potential clients.

• What is the easiest skill for freelancing?

Some of the easiest skills for freelancing that are also high in demand include copywriting, social media management, data entry, graphic design, and transcription.

• What is the best online job for a student?

Some of the best freelance jobs for students include freelance writing, proofreading, online tutoring, transcription, social media management, data entry, or graphic design.

• Is Upwork good for students?

Yes, as long as you are 18 years old and above, you can start freelancing on Upwork. You can get entry level jobs to build your experience as you study.

• Is it easy to get hired at Upwork?

Getting your first job on Upwork or any other freelance platform may be challenging. You need to create a professional profile and get entry-level jobs, complete some jobs successfully, and get good reviews to make it easier to get more clients.

Final Thoughts

Freelancing is the best way to earn extra income as a student without affecting your studies. To have a successful career as a freelancer, you need to perfect your client outreach, ask for testimonials, do great work, don’t miss deadlines, and manage your time to be the freelancer every client dreams of. Don’t get stuck in the learning phase. Get started and make your dreams a reality. This guide on how to start freelancing as a student is a good start for you. Check out the articles below for more tips and tricks on freelancing.

Happy earning!

Read Next:

• Top 10 High Demand Freelancing Skills That Will Get You Hired In 2024
• Where Can I get Freelance Jobs? 9 Best Freelance Websites to Find Work
• Can You Work On Upwork With No Experience? How to Earn Money from Upwork