How To Start Freelancing In South Africa 2023

In 2022 I decided to try freelancing in South Africa myself, I made R1023 in my first month. I was not using Fiverr, Upwork, Or any of these popular freelancing platforms. The reason I did not use any of these freelancing platforms is that I have discovered a secret that I will only share with you.

Freelancing has been around for decades people quit their 9 to 5 jobs to become full-time freelancers because it allows them to be their boss. I stumbled upon freelancing while I was looking for ways to make money online way back in 2019. I created an account with Fiverr and set it up following some random guide on YouTube, But I never earned anything.

2 years later I realized the biggest mistake that I did when I was trying freelancing in 2019. In this article, I will teach you everything that I know and experienced while trying to be a freelancer as a beginner. By reading this article you increase your chances of success by 99% but only if you do exactly what ill be telling you.

To become a freelancer you only need a skill that can be done online, No certificate or degree is required but having one can improve your credibility to get more gigs. “Gigs are freelancing jobs offer”

If you believe you don’t have a skill that you can provide as a freelancer, don’t worry there are so many skills that you can learn in 2 to 3 weeks and use as a freelancer to earn yourself money.

• Content Writer
• Pic Background Remover
• Advert Poster Design
• Minimal Logo Creator
• Create Thumbnails
• Script Reader
• Shorts Video Editor

If you are a beginner at freelancing I will guide you on how to get started to become successful. Before you decide to be a freelancer you need to acquire at least one skill that can be done remotely/online, I have already given you some that I know are the best for beginners in freelancing.

Here is a road map for you to follow

1. Learn An Online Skill
2. Choose A Freelancing Platform
3. Publish Your Fist Gig/Job
4. Get Your First Customer

Now that you already have the skill in mind that you want to turn into your source of income, You need to learn it and become good at doing it to produce something unique that people would be happy to pay for it. I will be using Thumbnail Design as my example in this article.

If you have never used any graphics design tools like Photoshop or Illustrator I will recommend you start learning to design Thumbnails using Canva. With canva you can get pre-build thumbnails then the only thing you have to do is to customize them. See an Example below

1. Visit Canva and create an account
2. Get a video tutorial on how to use canva
3. Practice creating thumbnails by recreating random thumbnails from youtube
4. Spend 5 to 6 weeks practicing

Choosing a freelancing platform can be a daunting task, but it’s important to find the platform that best suits your needs and skills. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a freelancing platform as a beginner:

1. Type of Work
   • Different freelancing platforms cater to different types of work. For example, Upwork and Freelancer are known for their wide range of services, while Fiverr is known for its focus on creative services like design and writing.
   • Determine what type of work you specialize in and look for a platform that matches those needs.
2. Payment Methods
   • Different platforms have different payment structures. Some take a percentage of your earnings, while others charge you a monthly fee or require you to purchase credits.
   • Make sure you understand the payment structure and how it will affect your earnings.
3. Client Base
   • Look at the platform’s client base to see if they have clients that match your target audience. Some platforms cater to startups and small businesses, while others work with large corporations.
   • Determine who you want to work with and find a platform that matches those needs.

Obviously, as a beginner you don’t want to be targeting businesses of any scale, you only deal with individuals. Like with our example of Thumbnail Design you will only be dealing with individual content creators.

I recommend you start with Sproutgigs as it is one of the best micro gigs/jobs freelancing in South Africa platforms you will ever find. The best thing is that it is still new, which means you will have fewer competitors.

It is possible to make money by freelancing while living in South Africa. Many freelancers in South Africa can earn a comfortable income by offering their services to clients locally or globally through freelancing platforms.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that freelancing can be competitive and it may take some time to build a steady stream of clients and income. You may need to be patient and persistent to establish yourself as a successful freelancer.

So hope this guide will help you with your journey as a freelancer. But there are still more things you can do to earn money online before you become well-established as a freelancer. Here are my Top 5 ways to earn money online