Programming is one of the fertile areas in the IT industry. If you are a skilled and passionate programmer, your earning potential is endless. And there are more opportunities for upcoming programmers online than in the 9-5 work settings. So, in this article, you will learn how to start your freelance programming career.
You can become a millionaire in dollars within a few years if you start your freelance programming journey today.
I’m not kidding guys.
Every day about 4.95 billion people spend several hours a day on the internet. These people use a variety of applications.
They use these applications for educational, entertainment, communication, navigation, etc. purposes.
Guess What?
Programmers build and develop these different applications. So, it will be safe to say that programmers control about 75% of the tech space.
So, learning how to develop a freelance programming career is actually a good decision.
But Who Exactly is a Freelance Programmer?
Freelance programmers do the same job as the regular programmers who work in companies.
They write the same codes and develop the same apps. The only difference is that freelance programmers have control over their time.
They have the freedom to work wherever and whenever they like.
That means, as a freelance programmer, you have flexible work hours and decide on the type of project you want to work on.
Is Freelance Programming Profitable?
Of course, freelance programming is profitable. Freelance programmers get more opportunities and can work with multiple brands at a time.
Your earning is not fixed, it depends on your experience, negotiating power, and your creativity.
But you will definitely earn better than regular programmers.
In the United States for instance, freelance programmers earn a minimum of $60000 per year.
And this is about an average of $50 to $60 per hour.
As a freelance programmer, you have the option to either work per hour or per project. It depends on what you are comfortable with.
Some freelancers normally opt for the time-base payment. Perhaps, it’s because the model is similar to that of 9 to 5.
However, if your negotiation skills are great, pay per project is better. But in the end, it depends on what you and your client agree to work with.
How to Start Your Freelance Programming Career
Being a freelance programmer sounds nice. But the journey isn’t an easy one. I mean, it’s not something you start and become successful in one day.
You will need to put in the work. Be ready for the sacrifice. And of course, be persevered during challenging times.
One thing is certain – if you are consistent, hone your skills, and passionate about programming, you will be successful.
Without further ado, here is a step-by-step process of starting your freelance programming career;
#1. Become a Professional
The first step to start your career as a freelance programmer is to become a professional. Everybody can become a programmer, but not all programmers can become freelancers.
So, you have to learn the necessary programming language. There’s no way you can call yourself a programmer without knowing any programming language.
As a freelance programmer, you should be able to work in several languages.
Being able to work in several languages makes you a polyglot. And that makes it easier for you to find programming gigs easily because you can perform a wide range of tasks.
Interestingly, there are several platforms online where you can easily learn programming. All you have to do is to be passionate and willing to learn.
Once you have a basic understanding of programming, you should volunteer for open-source projects.
Of course, you may not earn much as an open-source programmer. But you have the opportunity to work with some of the best minds.
The experience you will get as an open-source programmer will be very valuable. And during this time, you will know your area of strength and the niche to specialise in.
#2. Develop Soft Skills
Just being a professional is not enough. You need to develop soft skills. By soft skills I mean, you should be responsive, have people skills, and emotional intelligence.
As a freelance programmer, you should be a team player and your communication skills should be exceptional.
There are instances when experienced and smart programmers may not be doing well in the freelancing space. And that is because they always mess things up when it comes to soft skills.
They don’t embrace teamwork, they are not transparent, they don’t check in on themselves, and fail to learn new things.
Even if you are one of the best programmers in the world, you still need to develop soft skills to succeed.
#3. Marketing Strategy
What’s the need of being a freelance programmer without a marketing strategy? Even if your programming skill is exceptional, you may not be able to attract the right client, except you have a good marketing strategy.
So, you should start by creating a portfolio. Ensure you put some of your best work on display.
Remember, the devil’s in the details. I know a freelance programmer who spent several weeks making her proposal perfect.
#4. Create a Profile on a Freelancing Platform
Once you develop your professional and soft skills, and create your portfolio, you are a few steps away from starting your freelance programming career.
The next step is to create a profile on a freelancing platform. The easiest way to grow your freelancing career as a programmer, is to create a profile on any freelancing platform.
There are several freelancing platforms you can join. But some of the best platforms for freelance programing are;
- Gun.io
- Guru
If you decide to start your freelance programming career on Upwork, check out our spell-casting Upwork proposal formats.
But if you don’t want to register on freelancing platforms, you can leverage your network. Reach out to your old clients, former colleagues, friends, and family.
Even if they don’t have a project for you, they may send you referrals and recommendations.
Some Juicy Freelance Programming Jobs You Can Do
Here are some of the juiciest freelance programming jobs you can do;
- Software application and developer.
- Network system administrator.
- Front-end and Back-end developer.
- UI/UX developer
- Database administrator
- Software Quality Assurance Engineer
- Machine and Deep learning engineer
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Cloud Engineer.
Conclusion
If you are a programmer and you feel you aren’t earning enough, it’s time to go nomad. It’s never too late to start your freelance programming career.
The opportunities are enormous and you tend to learn better and become outstanding in your programming niche.
Thank you for reading, don’t forget to share with your friends on social media. Who knows, this information may be the breakthrough they have been waiting for.
