If you’re interested in working independently, freelancing may be the answer for you. You’ll have the freedom to do what you want, when you want, and with whomever you want to do it with, but that doesn’t mean it comes without hard work and challenges. 

To help you out with all the challenges involved with freelancing and successfully starting your own business, here are ten (10) steps to get you on the right track.

1) Define your niche

What do you have experience in? What are your hobbies that you're passionate about? What can you offer that nobody else can? 

Once you figure out what your specialty is, it will be easier for people to find you. Plus, when a client hires someone who does the same thing as them, they want to know that the person understands their business. 

Remember that freelancers work with many clients throughout their career so choosing a niche will help both yourself and your clients.

2) Establish your personal brand

Establishing your personal brand is one of the most important things you can do when starting out as a freelancer. 

A strong brand will help you stand out from the competition, increase your chances of success, and attract more customers. Here are some tips for establishing your personal brand. 

- • Keep it relevant: Focus on what makes you different. There's room for everyone in this industry; be confident in what makes you unique and show off that strength to separate yourself from other freelancers. 
- • Choose wisely: Take the time to choose a memorable domain name or Twitter handle so potential customers can find you easily online. Make sure that any social media profiles use the same branding elements. 
- • Maintain control: Your brand should represent who you are, not just what services you provide. 

It's always a good idea to keep certain aspects of your life private (family life, etc.), but being open about who you are and what inspires you will make for a better online presence.

3) Get organized

Find an office space or other place where you can work from. Set up your accounts on any necessary platforms, like social media and email services. 

Create a website or blog for your business so that potential clients can find you online. Also set up a reliable payment system so that you can get paid for the work you do. 

Finally, make sure that you have everything in order for taxes and keep track of expenses so that you know what your costs will be each month.

4) Join relevant online communities

Join a relevant online community to find out about the latest trends, tips, and tricks related to your industry. These communities provide great opportunities for networking with professionals in your field. The more you get involved, the more connections you'll make that will help you grow professionally. 

You can also look into chat groups on Facebook or LinkedIn to join these conversations. Find forums that are relevant and interesting to you; they could be centered around digital marketing or design. If it's your first time posting on any of these forums, introduce yourself briefly before asking questions or sharing ideas. 

Keep in mind that there may be some members who are experts within the field and can offer valuable advice on how to succeed as an independent contractor; this is their job after all!

5) Build a strong social media presence

Developing a strong social media presence can lead to new opportunities for freelance work, including collaborations with other creatives or even full-time jobs. 

Here are five ways to develop a strong social media presence.

1) Create a clear, compelling profile that reflects your personality. Make sure it includes your best work and offers insight into who you are as a person.
2) Share your content consistently on all platforms. Your posts should be consistent across each platform to maintain continuity. The average Instagram user checks their account eight times per day so it's important that your posts stand out in the feed and don't get lost among the hundreds of other images. 
3) Respond to comments, messages, and emails from followers promptly but respectfully. 
4) Engage in thoughtful conversation on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. 
5) Tag influential accounts when you post something so they will see it.

6) Create a portfolio

A portfolio is an essential tool for any freelancer. It's a collection of your best work that you can use to show potential clients what you have done in the past. As a freelancer, it's important not only to create a portfolio but also to keep it up-to-date with the latest examples of your best work. 

Clients want assurance that they are hiring someone who has been successful in the past. Your portfolio should include several pieces of your recent work, with detailed descriptions on how you completed them. 

These should showcase the level of skill and creativity you bring to each project while also giving the client an idea of the type of experience they'll receive from working with you.

7) Develop a pitch

If you don’t have a written pitch, talk about your ideas in person. Look for business cards or flyers at the local library or community center that list opportunities for freelancers. 

Make a list of potential clients in your area who might need what you offer. Try to think of five companies or businesses that might be interested in your services. 

Check out their websites and find their email address. Contact them and send them an email with a brief description of your service, asking if they are currently looking for someone to do what you do.

8) Find clients

Freelancing is a great way to make money without the stress of a 9-5 job. But how do you find clients? If you are just starting out, one way is to offer your services for free in exchange for credit or referrals. 

Whether you're looking for an individual, company, or even a non-profit organization, this can be a good place to start. You might also consider partnering with another freelancer or student who may be interested in doing the same type of work.

9) Get paid

Once you've got your first gig, it's important that you get paid for your work. There are a few ways of doing this, including invoicing clients monthly or asking for payment upfront. 

Be sure that you're collecting the right contact information so that you can follow up with clients if they don't pay on time. You should also keep records of any expenses incurred in the course of working for a client, such as supplies. These will be deducted from your final invoice. 

There are also freelancers who only offer their services on an hourly basis. If you do so, make sure to factor in all of your expenses when deciding how much to charge per hour. 

If you want to ensure timely payment, include a clause in your contract that states that all payments must be made within thirty (30) days after receiving an invoice.

10) Keep learning

Learn from experts, coworkers, online classes, books, YouTube videos...anything you can find! 

It'll help you improve your skills. Plus, it's not like knowledge doesn't grow on trees - the more you learn about how to do something, the better you'll become at it.