The advent of the gig economy couldn’t have come at a better time. More people at home, a little more time saved on the commute – a greater chance to look for freelance jobs in 2024!
After all, India has the largest freelance workforce after the United States of America – so that means you also have competition.
In this short guide, we will help you figure out how to ace your freelancing game and stay on top of the competition.
Top 3 freelancer jobs in India
1. Web developer
Sharmaji was right – the world always needs engineers. Web development is one of the highest-paid freelance jobs in India.
If you possess skills in app development or troubleshooting, there is a good prospect for freelance jobs in this field. Companies today that are just starting out, look for web developers who can take care of their technical requirements, without hiring them full-time.
Our latest D2C wrap newsletter talked about freelance jobs that get paid the highest! Don’t miss out on any other editions.
2. Video editor and graphic designer
Video marketing is the future of eCommerce. No wonder the demand for video creators is also at an all-time high!
Brush up on your skills and be sure to add your work to your professional portfolio.
Graphic design is also a job that sees constant demand from companies that want to promote their brand across channels.
If you manage to get good clients, both these jobs pay well!
3. Content writer
Perhaps one of the most popular freelance jobs out there, writers are in constant demand for companies that need a blog, brochure, or social media content taken care of.
Content writing also involves proofreading, editing and curating content that the audience will not skip in order to get to the video.
If you have the right skills, put them right on top of your professional network bios and get to work.
Getting started as a freelancer
To successfully get the best freelancing jobs in India, you need to set up a few things first.
1. What is your freelance brand?
To get freelance projects, you need to tell the world about yourself.
And you need to start somewhere – with an online presence. Your own brand, if you will.
So, to start with, you need to have your own website or upload your work somewhere that clients can find you easily.
If you have a social media page (which you should ideally), you can match your website domain to the name of your business.
Example: If you were a freelance writer, and your business was named Writer’s Block, your website could be writersblock.com and social media handles could be @writersblock.
As for a website, platforms like Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix make it easier than ever to create and design a professional-looking site.
These platforms also offer templates that you can use to display your work, like writing or design samples. Integrate your sampled works into your website.
2. Creating a portfolio
Whether you’re a freelance writer, designer, or web developer, a portfolio of your work speaks volumes to potential clients.
Strong copy and testimonials can help sell your services, but portfolios feature your work in action.
Portfolios also save you time by weeding out bad-fit clients before they book an initial call.
Should you include all your professional work in your portfolio? No. The work in your portfolio should be your very best and show diversity in your skills and clientele.
You can save and protect your work with tools like:
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
- Links on your website.
OR you could create your own landing page that shows off your work! Choose Instamojo smart pages to show off your freelancing portfolio!
In case you do not want to spend money on a website, you can use third-party portfolio sites to feature your work like:
- Contently: Platform for writers, journalists, and content creators
- Carbon Made: Platform for illustrators, animators, architects
- Behance: Platform for graphic designers, illustrators, UI/UX, and more
Top 3 freelance jobs platforms in India
1. Upwork:
Upwork is one of the most reputed, popular websites for freelancing jobs in India. You can find work whether you are a new or a professional in the freelancing workspace – for any job category.
Upwork has an impressive client list that comprises names like Pinterest, Panasonic, Zendesk and Unilever. They have also managed to increase their revenue to an impressive $373.63 million per year!
2. Freelancer
For individuals looking for better freelancing opportunities in 2024 – Freelancer is the most rewarding website in India.
Freelancers are able to preview all the bids and posts relevant to the work they are interested in on the website.
On the Freelancer website, you might face some challenges getting your first one or two gigs, but once your profile on the website starts building up, the frequency of work increases manifold.
3. Fiverr
Similar to the Freelancer site, Fiverr is the LinkedIn for your freelance work!
Bonus reward? It pays you in US dollars and gives you a wide range of departments to choose from to kickstart your freelancing career.
Bonus: A Personal Social Network
Most freelancer projects are landed via word of mouth or personal contacts. Keep your contacts strong and your social network game stronger. Show off your old or existing projects and stay relevant in groups and circles of freelancers or agencies.
Challenges and solutions for freelancers looking for a job
Let’s face it, times are tough right now, so freelance jobs might seem scarce. According to Time of India, From $21 in 2020 to $26 in 2022, the average hourly rate for freelancers in India increased by 42%.
The average hourly wage for Indian freelancers was $41/hour, while it was $71 in some industries, like finance.
In India, a freelancer’s biggest challenge lies in being paid on time and securing the right project.
Some of the other challenges you might come across or already face:
- Negotiating the project price and service fees
- Contract and legal nuances
- Payment collections and trusted payment modes availability
- Invoicing and taxes
- Finding the right network
Overcoming Challenge No. 1 – Negotiate and set the price right
Don’t undersell your freelance game. Here are some tips on how to determine the price of your services.
- Cost-plus pricing: You determine the expenses involved, then add to that amount to turn it into a profit.
- Market Rate Pricing: Explore how much other freelancers are charging to give you rough estimates on what and how to charge your clients.
- Value-Driven Pricing: The client pays for what they believe the service is worth. This can come a little later in your freelancing career, once you have work you can showcase.
Related read: How to calculate your freelance rates: a practical guide
Overcoming Challenge No. 2 – Building a brand
We will keep this short and simple – network online.
As discussed, go aggressive with your online branding. A
personal brand is valuable when establishing authority as a freelancer and creating a long-lasting impression with clients. Have a logo, a name and a skill that is useful to people.
Whether you use a design tool like Canva or outsource your branding to an agency, personal branding should be one of the first things on your to-do list.
Along with a memorable logo, your personal brand should also include a business name. You can brand your business after your own name or a third-party name.
Related read: How to build a brand for your small business: Tips and practical examples
Overcoming Challenge No. 3 – Finding a trusted payment source
You need to choose a payment gateway that makes sense for any freelance jobs you secure. Lower transaction fees, multiple online payment modes – and if possible, a minimal processing time.
Instamojo has all of these.
Plus, you can always generate invoices on Instamojo, since we go beyond just giving you a place to collect payments. You can allow your clients to pay you using Instamojo via multiple online payment modes too.
Still, wondering how to choose your perfect payment gateway for freelancers? Check our guide for choosing a payment gateway for freelancers.
Case study: How Annada Menon became a freelance artist and grew her online brand
Annada Menon is an artist who turned to the gig economy to grow her career with her one true passion – art.
Annada uses Instamojo to collect payments and ship her orders using mojoXpress eCommerce shipping, but she also has a brilliant online presence.
If you, like Annada Menon Online Store and many other freelancers out there are looking to grow your online brand and find the ideal freelance job, then we can help you. Instamojo’s seamless payment gateway will let clients pay you on time and our invoice generator will help keep track of all your payments too.
We also have a FREE ebook curated for you to make that bold step towards becoming a full-time freelancer – a solopreneur! Download it here.
Collect your freelancer payments easily
