October is Freelancer’s Month on GMW! That means that for the entire month of October you’ll get tips, tricks and advice for starting your own freelance business and making some extra cash. And who couldn’t use some extra cash, right?
This is also a sneak peak into the first GMW ebook that is set to launch November 15th! Want more info on the ebook and other GMW happenings? Join the email list!
5 Action Steps for Turning Your Passions Into Paying Work
Whether it’s blogging, writing, web design, lifestyle design, money, gaming, or dogs – everyone has something they are passionate about. Everyone has something that makes them get up in the morning and smile. Everyone at some point says to themselves “If I could do x for a living then I can die happy.”
Take a look at what skills you have and see if any of them are marketable to other people. For instance, do you like to write? Consider taking up freelance writing and blogging. Do you like dogs? Consider starting a dog walking service in your neighborhood. Do you have a passion for Facebook and Twitter? Start offering social media management services to businesses and individuals.
Everyone has a skill set that they can make profitable – the key is finding it! All it takes is a little shift in perspective and some elbow grease and you’ll be freelancing in no time. Below you’ll find a list of action steps to help you start turning your passion into paying work.
1. Make a list of your marketable skills.
Find out what YOU can provide that others will pay for. Are you particularly good at something like web design? Are you really good at math? Do you know a second language? The possibilities are endless here!
For the time being make sure to just stick to one skill, that way you don’t overload yourself and can narrow down an audience.
2. Pinpoint your target audience/customer/client.
Once you have figured out your marketable skill your next step is to figure out who your target audience (customer, client, what have you) is. How old are they? Where do they hang out (online and off)? What problems are they having right now? Where do they live? Male or female? The more specific the better!
3. Set up a website.
Consider your website like your office or store front – a home base if you will. It’s where potential consumers go to find out more about you, window shop and contact you. You can opt for a free website but there are theories out there that claim owning your own domain looks more professional (you’ll also have a lot more admin options if you own your own domain).
As for design, don’t go too cheap! It’s the first thing a potential client sees so it should make you look good! There are a lot of great and affordable options out there for the beginner that are highly customizable and professional looking. I personally prefer Catalyst because you can use it on more than one website, but there are several other great ones as well!
4. Figure out how you will get clients.
Ok, this is a multi-pronged step. The good news is you already did the most important part – figuring out who your audience is and where they hang out. The next mini-steps are as follows:
A. Find out what online job boards are available to your specific service and use them!
B. Set up your social media pages – engage and share with your potential clients!
C. Get some business cards for offline marketing – I’ve actually landed clients from handing them a business card on the street.
(Quick Tip: Moo.com periodically has deals through other websites like Klout and FreelanceFolder for free mini business cards!)
5. Set realistic goals.
You probably won’t be a big money baller over night – it doesn’t work that way. But what you can do is set up realistic goals that you want to reach each month. Start small – for example, “This month I will land one regular client” or “This month I will make $100.00 from freelancing.” Once you start getting the hang of it all you can increase your goals.
It’s Your Turn! Share Your Passions!
Freelancing is a great way to turn your passions into extra cash. Take the time to really work through these steps and you’ll be well on your way to starting your own business.
Feel free to share your passions and your findings in the comments section! Who knows, you may just land your first client 
