Are you looking for a career with a high level of flexibility and consistently growing demand? Then becoming a freelance web developer may be an idea worth exploring. Whether you’re already employed in a 9-5 capacity or a student looking at career options, freelance web development offers a lucrative option for those with the right skills. Yet freelancing carries its own unique challenges, so here are a few tips to help you get started.

Boost your core skills

Freelancers are usually hired by companies for their specialist skills. If you want to earn a living as a web developer, this means that you’ll have to have a strong set of core IT skills and a record of web development to show potential employers. Freelancers who are experts in their area of specialty are usually able to charge more per hour, day, or project, than their salaried counterparts. So if you want to succeed in the freelance world, you’ll need to set yourself apart and start making yourself an expert. Look at IT courses at training.com.au or other providers, go back to university, or get some practice with an internship first before you make the leap into freelancing.

Establish a web presence

You need to be proactive about finding clients, but you should also be thinking about making it easy for them to find you! With this in mind, create a strong digital portfolio and business website. This alone won’t draw work towards you, but combined with answering job adverts on freelancing sites it should help you get started.

Find the right clients

Other ways to find clients include all of the usual marketing options, whether it’s making cold calls, distributing flyers or business cards, or running an email campaign. If you already have some form of professional network from your university courses, use this to your advantage to connect with peers and get advice.

Don’t be afraid to say no

After you’ve made such a big effort to find clients, you’re home free, right? Well, not completely. You need to distinguish between the jobs that will advance your career and those which aren’t really worth your time. If the client seems fussy, the pay isn’t stellar, or the project is beyond your abilities, it may be better to pass and wait for something that’s a better fit.

Ride out the ups and downs of freelancing

One final factor to take into consideration is that work can ebb and flow when you’re a freelancer. Be sure that you have some money in your savings account to ride out the low periods when no one’s in need of your services, and keep working every day to land new clients or update your portfolio in the meantime. Not everyone is equipped to handle times of financial uncertainty – do you think you could do it? You might also find that you need to chase down payments when you’re a freelancer. This is an unpleasant side to the business, but it’s inevitable that every freelancer will end up with a client at some point who is late with payment. Know your fees, and request them upfront if you’re worried about this!

You can make a solid living as a freelance web developer with the right skills and a knack for self-promotion. The benefits of freelancing are manifold, but always be sure that you know what you’re getting into first.