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Top Tips to Become a Latino Freelancer

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Top Tips to Become a Latino Freelancer

For souls like me, who refuse to become a part of the 9 to 5 rut, freelancing or self-employment seems like a pretty viable option. However, with almost everyone taking a shot at freelancing, it has become a pretty concentrated field. It can be hard to make your mark (marca) as a freelancer when every other person is also one.

Therefore, with all its benefits and flexibility, freelancing also requires a ton of effort, especially in the beginning. 

But all hope is not lost. You don’t have to burn the midnight oil( quemarse las pestañas) and figure out how to become a freelancer. I am sharing a couple of tips that worked the best for me while becoming a freelancer. 

Set Up a Dedicated Work Setup

Freelancing might be known for flexibility but that does not mean it can work out without any self-discipline.  The first step in disciplining yourself as a freelancer means having a dedicated workspace. Working from the couch or the bed can negatively impact your productivity and cause you to struggle with focus. This is why I always vouch for having a proper home office with no distractions.

This includes a desk, a chair, and a proper setup. You can get monitors if you want to. But make sure your setup has an ergonomic chair that won’t make you unnecessarily tired. I use Herman Miller’s Aeron Chair, which has been a lifesaver for my back. 

Moreover, ensure that you have a stable, high-speed internet connection that won’t make you lose clients or work hours with connectivity issues. In case you are looking to upgrade your internet, I recommend Optimum Internet, which has high-speed plans at a low price. They provide customer service in Spanish as well; you can browse through Optimum en español to find good deals on the internet. Lastly, if you live with family, a sturdy pair of noise-canceling headphones can be a game changer for your focus and productivity. 

Try Your Hand at Multiple Platforms

If you think about freelancing, Upwork and Fiver might come to your mind. These might be the most popular platforms, but these are not the only ones. With every other freelancer using these, it has become significantly harder to find work on these platforms. Plus, if you are just starting out, it is going to be super hard to attract a client. So, I would recommend not limiting yourself to just the popular freelancing platforms.

There are so many others like Toptal, ZipRecruiter, Guru, People per Hour, Freelancer, etc. These are not overly costly like Upwork and are less likely to be so saturated. You can sign up for the ones that fit your niche and apply to jobs daily. Moreover, you can also try your hand at LinkedIn. Most successful freelancers do not use any platform, but instead get clients from LinkedIn. You can mention the services you are offering and it appears directly on your profile. Lastly, scoring clients from LinkedIn also means you don’t have to pay the platform a fee for the payment you get.

Define Your Work Hours

Freelancing is known for flexible work hours. This means you can work anytime you want, given you are fulfilling the deadlines you have committed to. However, it is still important to define your work hours for the sake of self-discipline. Now, it is important to know that defining work hours does not mean making it another 9 to 5 job. Defining your work hours helps you create schedules and plan your outside work commitments accordingly, without them affecting your work. 

These hours can be any time in the day based on the time when you are most productive. Plus, they don’t have to be eight hours either. They can be less or more, depending on the amount of work you have. Most freelancers increase their work hours in peak seasons and decrease them in holidays. But whatever work hours you choose, remember it is important to consistently follow them every day so that you can maintain your productivity(productividad) and discipline.

Make Connections

Networking has been mágico (magical) for me, to say the least. As a newbie, I had grossly underestimated the feat and regret doing so. Freelancing is an ever-evolving field and networking can help you become secure as a freelancer. I recommend using LinkedIn for building connections and interacting with other freelancers. 

It is also important to build lasting relations with any good clients you have or had in the past. You can do this by providing a really good service and connecting with them on LinkedIn after the job has ended.

Not only will you get endless guidance but networking can also open doors to better-paying work opportunities for you. 

Networking also allows you to collaborate with other freelancers on big projects. Moreover, it enables you to score new clients. You can also meet people who are advanced in your skill set, which can help you upskill and get important insights from your industry.

These are just four tips that changed freelancing for me. You can grow through consistently learning new ways to improve as a freelancer. Learning combined with self-discipline are two traits that can help any freelancer in the long run.