5 ways to find freelance work

Speaking as someone who currently has the availability to take on some new clients, I know how tricky it can be pulling in freelance work. 

Side note: If you need help with your content right now, don’t hesitate to get in touch! 

In fact, I would say it is one of the biggest challenges facing all freelancers, ensuring that you have a constant flow of work coming in. 

I’ll admit, I’ve been pretty lucky up until now and I’ve had a strong stream of work coming in and often, the client has come to me, not the other way around. 

But now, I find myself with a space to fill and I am looking to work with some exciting new brands this year. So I’m going to share what I’ve learned over the last six to seven years when it comes to finding new clients. 

It’s worth saying at this point, not all of these techniques are made equally and some will be more effective. You’ll also find that you prefer using some techniques more than others and that’s OK. 

Just go with what feels natural and what brings you the best results. 

Here are five ways to find freelance work. 

1. Let people know you’re looking

One of the biggest and simplest steps you can take is to let people know that you’re looking for work and are available to take on new projects. 

And there are several ways you can do this. You can share your availability on your website or on social media (more on this next). But one of the top ways to do this is on LinkedIn, setting your profile as ‘open to work’. 

After all, if you don’t let people know you're available, how are they going to know they can employ your services?

2. Promote yourself on social media 

Now, this one can be a little more uncomfortable depending on how you feel about social media and self-promotion, but it can also be a really great way to find work. 

By continuing to promote yourself across different social media platforms, you can get your name out there and let people know you are available to hire. 

It’s best to choose the platforms that are most popular within your industry or the platforms where your target audience tends to hang out more. 

And yes, it can feel a little cringey at first, but it’s important to try and push past that. Once you master self-promotion on social media, you can increase your chances of clients coming to you and having a steady flow of work. 

3. Use traditional job sites 

Traditional job sites can be a little trickier to navigate when you’re looking for freelance work, especially if you work remotely. 

That’s because most employers that use job boards are looking for full-time employees and usually, those that come into the office, even on a hybrid basis. 

However, you shouldn’t rule these sites out as some companies will post freelance or short-term positions on job boards too. So it’s always worth signing up for alerts or browsing job boards to find your next project. 

4. Make use of freelance platforms 

As well as traditional job sites, there are also several great sites out there that are dedicated to freelance workers and as a result, these can often be more fruitful when looking for work. 

It’s worth saying, some of these freelance platforms can advertise low-paid work and some are worse than others, so it’s a good idea to choose some of the more trusted platforms. 

Conduct some research into the platforms available for your industry and these can be a great way to get started and find clients. Some of the better sites (in my opinion) include:

• Upwork 

• People Per Hour 

• Fiverr

• Freelancer.com

• FlexJobs 

There are other, more industry-specific, job sites out there that can also be beneficial, so do make sure you conduct some research and read reviews to find the right platforms for your business. 

5. Cold pitching 

The final suggestion on my list is cold pitching, which I’ll admit, can be a tough one, especially if you've not done this before. But if you are successful, this can land you some really great clients that you’re genuinely passionate about. 

If you’re not familiar with this concept, cold pitching means reaching out to a company and letting them know about your services and how you can help them. 

You do this without a job being advertised, which is why it can be harder to see results. But if you sell yourself effectively, you might persuade them that they can’t go on without your services. 

The good news is, there are lots of great resources online to help you write a good cold pitch, like this one here. 

It’s time to go out there and find freelance work

These are some of the best ways I’ve found to find freelance work, no matter what industry you work in. 

Sure, you may prefer some techniques to others and some may be more beneficial, but it’s a good idea to have a few options on the go. This can help you to find regular work. 

There are also some great ways you can help bring clients to you, such as creating an impressive website, but that’s an article for another day. 

If you know of any other good ways to secure freelance work, drop them in the comments below!

The best things about being a freelancer

Having worked for myself for around seven years now, I cannot imagine working in any other way and if you’re also a freelancer, you might feel the same. 

But if you’re not currently self-employed and you’re considering making a change and becoming a freelancer, you might not be aware of all the benefits of working for yourself. 

So I thought I’d share with you some of the best things about being a freelancer and why it is hands down one of the best decisions I ever made. 

It’s so much more flexible

One of the best things about being a freelancer is the freedom to set your own schedule. You don’t have to work the typical 9 to 5 days unless you want to, that is. Instead, you can work the hours that suit you and your lifestyle best. 

This can really help with productivity, for example, if you work better early in the morning or later in the evening you can work when you’ll be most effective. 

Of course, you may still need to manage emails, take calls or attend meetings during traditional working hours. But for the most part, you have the flexibility to set your own schedule and work as and when you want. 

You can achieve a better work-life balance 

Following on from this last point, the flexibility to manage your schedule means freelancing can offer you a better work-life balance.

For example, it makes it much easier to fit your work around your personal life, which can be great when you have family or other commitments to attend to. 

For me, it usually means that I go for wonderful dog walks and visit areas of Cornwall that we tend to avoid during the busy summer months. It also means I can work my life around my husband, visiting family and seeing friends that work shifts. 

You can also prioritise your personal time and you don’t have to put in holiday requests and wait for these to be approved (although you do have to let clients know when you’re going to be off). 

Variety is the spice of life

You know what they say, variety is the spice of life! And freelancers often have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects for different clients. This variety can make your work feel a lot more interesting and stimulating.

Because, let’s face it, conducting the same activities day in and day out in a traditional role can quickly become boring. 

But when you’re a freelancer, you can go after the projects you really enjoy, in your preferred industries, and when things get a little mundane, you can shake it up by taking on new projects and exciting new clients. 

You can prioritise personal fulfilment and wellbeing 

Another great thing about being a freelancer is you get to be your own boss and you can see the direct impact your work has on your clients. This can be extremely fulfilling. 

Not only that, but you can watch your business grow and feel a tremendous sense of pride each time you reach one of your goals. All of which can be great for your confidence, happiness and fulfilment. 

You can also prioritise your well-being in a number of other ways. Managing your workload, environment and hours makes it much easier to care for your physical and mental health.

You have the freedom to work from where you want

In most cases, being a freelancer gives you location independence, as many freelance jobs can be done remotely. This allows you to work from anywhere with an internet connection and opens you up to more opportunities for travel and living in different locations. 

It also means you can create your ideal work environment, whether it's a home office, a co-working space, a coffee shop or a deck chair on the beach.

Over the years, I have worked in lots of weird and wonderful places, including our campervan, the beach, in the car, rest stops, hotels and more. 

Greater earning potential 

As a freelancer, you set your own rates and you have the ability to take on as much or as little work as you want. 

This can give you greater earning potential than in traditional roles, depending on how much you charge and the projects you take on. 

You are in charge of your progression and development 

Being a freelancer often requires you to wear multiple hats, from client management to marketing and project execution, you’ve got to do it all! This can provide you with plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and keep learning new things. 

You are also in charge of all your progression and development. You can take on training courses and continue to boost your skills whenever you want, something that can be harder to orchestrate and guarantee when you are employed. 

You can expand your network 

Lastly, working with multiple clients exposes you to lots of different industries and professionals. This provides you with opportunities to expand your network and potentially open doors to new opportunities.

This can be useful not just for your freelance career, but also if you choose to rejoin the traditional workforce in the future, as you’ll have a bigger network to tap into. 

I love my freelance life! 

I honestly, honestly couldn't imagine living or working any other way right now and becoming a freelancer was one of the best things I ever did for myself. 

We are planning on buying and converting a van soon and returning to van life, which means that I’ll once again be able to travel and work from lots of wonderful locations - and I can’t wait!

Thinking about going on a road trip? Here are 9 reasons why you should

Thinking about going on a road trip? Here are 9 reasons why you should

As we continue to save for and plan our next campervan conversion, we cannot wait to get back to life on the road! 

I mean, we really really can’t wait to get back to life on the road. 

And as I look back through old photos and videos from road trips gone by, I’m so excited to start planning the next chapter (so far Portugal, Morocco, Ireland and Croatia are at the top of the list). 

But with so much road trip talk going on at home, I thought it would be nice to share some of the reasons why going on a road trip is absolutely one of my favourite things to do. And why I think it’s one of the best ways to travel and see the world. 

Hilarious really given that I don’t actually drive myself… 

But putting that aside, if you’re thinking about going on a road trip this year, here are nine reasons why you absolutely should. 

1. For the adventure 

Road trips give you the opportunity to explore new destinations. Travelling by car or van means you can enjoy beautiful landscapes along the way, discover charming small towns or get lost in bustling cities. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is, you can have a truly memorable adventure no matter where you go. And you aren’t limited by public transport, flights or transfers. You can just hop in the front seat and go to most places. 

It’s also very nostalgic, reminiscent of simpler times and it can even feel romantic, like a chance to escape your everyday life and create memories on the road. 

2. To go off-the-beaten-track

Road trips often lead to serendipitous discoveries of hidden gems and they allow you to go off-the-beaten-track to find places like quiet, unspoilt beaches and tiny towns. You can also go to places that may not be accessible by other means of transportation like train or plane. 

3. For the freedom and flexibility 

Unlike many other forms of travel, road trips provide the freedom to set your own schedule. You can stop whenever and wherever you want and you can easily change your itinerary on a whim. 

I think this spontaneity always adds to the adventure, allowing you to embrace unexpected places and go where the road takes you. This can lead to much more memorable experiences.

4. Because it’s better for your bank balance 

Road trips can be one of the most cost-effective forms of travel, especially when compared to other modes of transport like flying. For one thing, you’ll have more control over your expenses along the way, including accommodation and dining options. 

And if you’ve got a campervan for your road trip, then you really can stick to a tight budget as you’ll be sleeping and even cooking in your vehicle. 

In most cases, just as long as you have petrol money, that’s all you need. 

5. To spend more time in nature 

Road trips present you with the perfect opportunity to spend more time in nature. This also gives you the chance to take part in different outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, surfing and camping. 

Or, you can just get lost in the outdoors, sit on the beach reading your book and spend as much time as possible outside. This is great for escapism and stress relief and it can give your mental health a real boost.  

6. You can get away from the stresses of everyday life 

Disconnecting from technology during a road trip can be incredibly rejuvenating. It means you can relax and recharge. You could even do a bit of wild camping if you really wanted to go off-grid for a while. 

Either way, you’ll be spending time outdoors, on the move and having adventures, which can help the stress of everyday life melt away. 

7. To form stronger bonds and meet like-minded roadtrippers 

Road trips give you the chance to meet fellow travellers and those embarking on similar journeys to your own. It also gives you the opportunity to bond with whoever you’re travelling with, if you’ve got a travel companion with you, that is. 

This can lead to lasting memories and stronger relationships, as well as new friendships, sharing experiences and stories along the way.

8. It’s easier to immerse yourself in different cultures 

It’s easier to immerse yourself in different cultures as you can visit multiple local attractions, try regional cuisines and interact with locals in lots of different places. 

Plus, being able to drive further afield than the typical tourist traps means you can get to grips with the real place and people that live there. Not just the typical touristy destinations. 

And, as you can be more flexible and spontaneous, you can also spend longer in the places you love to get a deeper understanding of those places and people. 

9. To grow as a person

Finally, spending time on the open road allows for introspection and personal growth. It gives you plenty of opportunities for self-discovery and reflection away from the routines of daily life.

You might even find that you never want to stop moving and that life on the road suits you best. 

So, if you’re thinking about heading off on a road trip this year, what are you waiting for?