At the height of the pandemic and the resulting lock downs, the Philippines lost 1.7 million jobs in the 12 months to January 2021. Many companies have reopened but some positions might never return. The good news is that employment in the informal sector has been rising.

Freelance work enables businesses to continue operations despite the changing quarantine guidelines. At the same time, it helps people escape the burnout of traditional jobs. You are given the freedom to set your own hours and choose the projects you want to work on.

Whether you’re shifting to remote full-time or wanting to increase your income as a virtual worker, keep reading to know how to get paid more when freelancing.

Put the ball in their court

When prospects don’t ask for your rates right away, avoid telling them. Feel them out as there are people who will pay more than what you may have quoted. Anyway, even if they get back to you with a low ball number, you’ll know not to continue wasting your time.

Learn how to pitch for bids

To win freelance work, make your bid proposals irresistible for your prospects. The 7 Rangi Formula is helpful in putting together a good bid response. They are as follows:

1. State your greetings – it may be as simple as ‘Good day!’ or ‘I hope you are doing well’
2. Mention their project – let them know you want to undertake their specified task or project
3. Introduce yourself – list down the industries you’ve worked with, your experience, and more
4. Provide an answer – explain what you are capable of doing for the project or problem
5. Prepare your portfolio – try working free for the first 3 to 5 jobs until you build a portfolio
6. Offer a sample – show your seriousness by making a mock-up or asking a question
7. Close with a call to action – close it nicely with a line like ‘looking forward to your response’

Pick job boards wisely

Not all job boards are made equal and you have to stop wasting time on those that pay peanuts for your work. If you want to make more money freelancing, research what your peers are receiving as their rates then try to match them. Use job boards for your specialisation.

Choose a specialisation

To earn more as a freelancer, you have to narrow down your niche. You might want to only write about finance-related topics so look for those kinds of projects and clients. Rather than limiting, this is a strategic move to become known for a specific type of work.

Not sure what you should specialise in? Have a look at some of the most sought-after skills in freelancers below.

• Writing – writing content for businesses, including product descriptions, press releases, social media posts, blogs, emails, case studies, video scripts, and books
• Voice over – recording voices for digital advertising, audiobooks, infomercials, animated videos, and everything in between
• Audio editing – polishing audio for podcasts, journalist interviews, influencer outings, business films and the like through various tools
• Graphic design – creating designs for business advertisements, web pages, personal brands, billboards, brochures, menus, banners, infographics and so on
• Translation – translating videos, user manuals, books, plays, medical documents, legal documentation, technical training guides, handbooks, and other content
• Music production – releasing your own original record or music as well as mixing and producing tunes for businesses to use in advertisements
• Video production – shooting, editing, and preparing video content for companies so it is partly on-location rather than fully remote

Maximise all opportunities

You might be overrun with projects today but you never know when another economy-changing event may occur. Never ignore good leads or referrals from colleagues, and consider if you may add them to your schedule. Even if the timing doesn’t work, take the chance to expand your network for the future.

Show off your work

Take the initiative and provide a portfolio before a prospect even asks for the link. Schedule a time to look through all of your previous work and compile those that highlight your skills and experience. Pick a suitable platform where to display all of it, preferably one that’s easy to access.

• Be descriptive when stating your speciality. For instance, use titles like ‘Content Marketing Specialist’ instead of plain ‘Freelance Writer’ when you actually know content marketing.
• Include short testimonials about you. Ask your previous clients or collaborators if they’re willing to give a short review about you to include in your portfolio.
• Provide a few samples of relevant work. Use this chance to showcase your best work while explaining the kind of services you provide and how you achieve results.
• Add your contact information. Make it easily for clients to find you for their upcoming jobs by adding a section of your contact details, including social media profiles.

Position yourself as an expert

Higher-value clients prefer to hire experts in their fields over those who are more of a jack-of-all-trades. If you have a niche skill, consider these ways to get the word out about your expertise:

• Mentor or teach in business schools, community colleges, or vocational programs to cement your reputation as a specialist.
• Create an online course, either as a free service on your website or for a fee on an online platform like Skillshare.
• Make a blog where you share insight on the hot topics, trends, and challenges related to your field while making it easy for employers to find you.

Start earning more as a freelancer in 2022

Many newbie freelancers think it’s easy to earn money by working from home. The truth is that improving your skills and building a reputation as an expert takes much time and effort. In many cases, it’s better to work as a virtual assistant than as a freelancer for stability.

As an offshore staffing agency, we at Remote Workmate are connected to employers from different parts of the globe. We advise online professionals like you on how to become more appealing to these clients.