Whether you're currently working full time and want a little extra cash in your pocket, are looking to change to a work at home career, or are out of work and struggling to pay your bills, working as a freelancer is a wonderful option. And unfortunately, it's one that many people overlook.
If you've ever looked into finding freelance assignments, you've probably seen in the past that most work at home freelance jobs have been outsourced to countries where the pay and cost of living are low. But for native English speakers, a lot of these jobs are becoming available again as companies begin to focus more on the quality of service and content rather than the quantity. And while many companies will always choose to go with cheaper labor, there are still plenty of openings out there for those who need to earn a little more.
The truth is, it doesn't matter whether you're working in a country with low salaries and a low cost of living, or are living in one of the most expensive places in the world. There's work enough out there for everybody. You just need to know where to look for it. Want a piece of that work? Read on for seven interesting ways to make money freelancing.
1. Freelance Sales.
Recently, more and more companies have been outsourcing their sales or simply hiring freelancers to boost their existing sales force. This is often a good option for native English speakers, as many of the worlds biggest consumers live in the English-speaking world. If you have experience in sales, freelance online or telephone sales may be just the ticket, and can earn you anywhere from $15 to $50 (American) hourly.
2. Freelance Graphic or Web Design.
Are you currently working in graphic design for a brick and mortar company? Then there's no reason why you can't freelance your services online, as well (or instead). While there's a lot of competition for this sort of work, there's a ton of jobs out there waiting to be filled.
3. Freelance "Expert Advice".
There are numbers and sites where individual customers go to pay for information or advice from experts on anything from building a new computer to writing an internet dating profile. The companies that provide these services hire freelance "experts" to help their customers with their problems. In order to qualify for this kind of work, you have to prove your expertise and your qualifications in a certain field, via a college degree or demonstrable experience. Pay is generally based on your level of knowledge and experience.
4. Freelance Tutoring.
There are millions of kids out there who need a little extra help at school. And with technology being what it is, there's no reason why that help must always be given face to face. With webcams and real-time voice chatting, you have everything you need right on the internet. So whether you want to do in-person tutoring or do it on the net, there are tons of ads and resources out there for people looking for tutoring help. For most tutors, the pay is anywhere from $10 to $15 hourly, or more for those with very specialized knowledge or experience teaching.
5. Freelance Writing or Editing.
While there's a lot of competition out there for freelance writing, there's also a lot of work, too. The web just keeps growing and growing and growing. And so people who run website need tons of content to keep it going. Not sure you have the chops or the creative skills to write your own content? Proofreaders, editors, and rewriters are also in high demand.
6. Freelance Photography or Video Production.
Looking into this kind of work can be a lot of fun... and there are very few limits with what you can do with it. Love to take photos and have a flashy camera? Let that expensive piece of equipment pay for itself. Take photos of people, objects, and landscapes, and put them for sale on any of the dozens of photo-selling websites on the internet. Or take your camera or camcorder, and offer up your services as a professional wedding (or birthday or bat mitzvah) photographer or videographer.
7. Freelance Translation.
Speaking and writing a second language is a skill that not many people have-- especially in the English-speaking world. Put that skill to use doing translations online. A simple search for translation work will show you the sheer number of opportunities out there. If you're interested in freelance writing, as well, doing some translation work can also give you a foot up into the world of freelance writing. And you never know where you can go from there.
