Greetings, I’m Guray — I’ve been freelancing professionally since 2020. It’s obvious that someone new to freelancing will face challenges. Let’s assume you have zero work experience, you’ve done nothing. I’ll explain how to start from scratch.
Starting from scratch — first of all, even if you know absolutely nothing, don’t be too upset about it. This work can be done even without any prior knowledge, because there are what we call generalist roles.
Generalist Roles
General roles include things like:
- Virtual Assistant — Even in this age of AI, there are still many areas where AI can’t fully help, especially in private management matters. There’s still potential here that shouldn’t be underestimated. You don’t need to know anything special for this. General tasks include sending emails, following up on emails, doing secretarial work, making calls — these are all great areas you can still work in.
- Sales — If you’re sociable, if you can speak certain languages or even just your own language, you can do this work by calling people and following up. There’s still a lot of room in this field.
- Customer Support, E-commerce Management , Data Entry … and list goes on.
With a bit of intermediate knowledge — areas you can learn by watching videos online and picking up concepts — digital marketing comes into play. This includes managing social media accounts, running Google and social media ad campaigns. TikTok is also entering this sector now. There’s also Yandex and many other platforms. You can get started very easily by watching basic tutorials online, including Google’s own academy videos.
Another area you can get into with just a bit of learning is beginner-level web design — platforms like Wix, Webflow, and similar drag-and-drop builders. If you have a bit of a design eye and some natural inclination, you can do this.
Beyond that, tools like Canva and similar platforms for social media design, post design, and social media management — with a little time watching videos and building familiarity, you can handle these well.
If you’ve noticed, everything I’ve described consists of tasks that people no longer want to do themselves — things they don’t want to spend time on. Using social media professionally takes enormous effort, and people increasingly don’t want to deal with it.
Here’s an example of the kind of work I see: an experienced software developer said, “I need help applying for jobs.” Even job searching has become a job in itself. As tools multiply and become more efficient, people’s reluctance to handle certain tasks grows — and with it, new needs and new opportunities emerge.
My Recommendations for Absolute Beginners
Step 1: Choose Your Niche
Choose your area, get some training, and become generally familiar with it. When a client mentions a term, you should at least have a rough idea of what they mean. When a client says, “I’m having trouble with XYZ, I need help,” you should be able to recognize his needs.
Step 2: Build a Portfolio
I strongly recommend this — don’t enter this field with zero portfolio. Once you’ve chosen your area and gained a general understanding, build a portfolio. Look back at anything you’ve done that’s even remotely related. It doesn’t have to be directly in your field — you can frame it a little. Maybe you managed a social media account, maybe you did something like virtual assistance. Combine that with your training and education. For example, if you graduated from school and know Excel, include that. Pull it all together so that when you open a profile, it’s ready — like a CV. Know who you are, where you are, and what you’re confident in.
Step 3: Choose a Platform and Open Your Profile
Platforms like Freelancer.com, Upwork.com, or People Per Hour — pick one and open your profile. Add whatever past work you have, even if it’s not perfectly aligned. Verify your profile — this is important. Do everything the platform asks.
If you have some savings, consider investing in a premium account or using the platform’s boosting features. I wasted a lot of time by not doing this early on. If you have the budget, do it. If not, no problem — it’s just a recommendation.
On AI-Generated Proposals
I strongly advise you to avoid AI as much as possible when writing proposals, at least in the beginning. It’s very obvious. I’ve been on both the employer and worker side of this, and it really shows. Show that you’re a reliable, friendly, approachable human being. Accessibility is one of the most important things in this age — be available when clients message you, turn on your notifications.
Step 4: Start Applying for Jobs
When applying, be concise and economical with your words. Write your proposals yourself. Read the job descriptions carefully — read the tone. Among 100 applicants, what sets you apart is a friendly, helpful, human response that directly addresses the client’s current problem. Just a few sentences can make you stand out, get you noticed, and win you the job.
Don’t be afraid of small jobs. After completing small jobs and accumulating five-star reviews, your credibility on the platform grows, and bigger jobs will find you. Agency clients will eventually come, offer you hourly rates, and give you steady work. You’ll end up with two or three regular clients and won’t need to constantly search for new work.
On pricing: Don’t undercut too aggressively. For example I even took a job for €2 in 2017, and honestly, neither the client nor I was happy. Start with a modest rate — $7–$9 per hour jobs are fine when you’re starting out. Chase them. Do them.
The Platform Relationship
Never try to take clients outside the platform. Don’t get into crypto payments or off-platform arrangements. These things will stunt your growth and can get you banned. When you take clients outside, you lose the platform’s protection — and clients will drag you around with no accountability. The platform’s commission is worth it. Don’t resent it.
Volume Is Everything
This business is entirely a volume game. If you send 300 proposals, maybe 10–20 of them will be from clients who actually have budget and serious intent. Of those, one or two will message you. That’s how the numbers work. If you’re not doing paid promotion, this is your job: send proposals.
Long-Term Perspective
My final advice: do this consistently for one year. If you stay engaged, keep learning, and keep researching — after one year, you won’t believe how far you’ve come. Making money online is genuinely possible, and you’ll see that. Maybe you’ll even open your own company, register as a sole trader, handle taxes — this thing can go in very different directions.
No matter where in the world you are, start. Especially for people in developing countries — Africa, Georgia, India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia — demand is high. Don’t hesitate. Start.
On Client Communication
Once clients start coming in, pay close attention to communication. Be respectful and professional. Once you reach a certain level, be selective about your clients. There’s no need to deal with difficult or suspicious people. If someone is respectful, pays well, and treats you right — help them. If not, walk away. Don’t take on jobs from unverified profiles or clients whose communication style you don’t like. It’s not worth the risk. Platforms can’t always moderate everything, and ending up stranded mid-project is far worse than never starting it.
Within 2–3 months of following this advice, a beginner can make their first freelance moves — and eventually build their own brand, open an agency account, and keep growing.
Thank you for reading. You can visit my homepage GurayWebPro for my Web Development services. My guides on web design and small business resources will continue. Thanks for following along.
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