In 2022, learn how to work as a freelance digital marketer. To get started in freelance marketing, we’ve outlined all you need to know, including how much money you can make, what it’s like working as a freelancer, and what it’s like working from home. Although it isn’t for everyone, you never know whether it will work for you unless you try.
Consider working as a freelance digital marketer if you want a rewarding profession in digital marketing that allows you the most flexibility and independence. To become a freelance digital marketer, what do you need to accomplish?
A variety of questions about freelance digital marketing are addressed in this post:
- What does it mean to be self-employed?
- Freelance digital marketers perform a variety of things.
- To work as a freelance digital marketer, you’ll need a certain set of talents.
- How much does a self-employed digital marketer charge?
- As a freelance digital marketer, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
- As an independent digital marketer, what do you wish to do?
Let’s get started right away!
What does it mean to be self-employed?
Freelancers are those who work for themselves, rather than for a corporation. Freelancing is done on a project-by-project basis. Companies and enterprises outsource a large number of tasks to freelancers in a variety of fields. There are both advantages and disadvantages to working as a freelancer. In this essay, we’ll go into further detail about them.
Freelance digital marketers perform a variety of things.
Individuals who work as contractual freelancers in the field of digital marketing are referred to as “freelance digital marketers” (not an employee).
As a freelance marketer, you have access to a wide selection of digital marketing services. Typically, independent digital marketers are recruited for the following:
- Paid advertising, such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, YouTube Ads, and the like.
- Conceptualizing, composing, filming, editing, and promoting videos are all aspects of video marketing.
- Influencer advertising
- Search engine optimisation, includes keyword research, SEO content development, and developing backlinks
- Management of sales and marketing funnels from start to finish
Freelance digital marketers have many of options when it comes to projects, as you can see above.
To work as a freelance digital marketer, you’ll need a certain set of talents.
Depending on the services you wish to offer, the abilities you need to become a freelance digital marketer vary.
A wide range of specialties fall under the umbrella of digital marketing. A unique set of hard (technical) abilities is required for each area of specialisation. Even if you wish to specialise in one area of freelancing, there are some general talents you’ll need. Included among these are:
Writing for the Web and Print
The written word is the foundation of all digital material. As a result, having the ability to produce quality content is an absolute need. Even if you or your customer elect to engage a freelance writer or copywriter separately, you still need to be able to recognise good writing/copywriting, review draughts, and offer helpful ideas…. When you learn the fundamentals of content marketing, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities.
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
It doesn’t matter if you’re writing blog entries, LinkedIn articles, product descriptions on Amazon or Etsy, or app store descriptions. SEO is vital. Search engine optimisation (SEO) makes it simpler for your target audience to locate your digital material. Without it, you’ll have to rely on paid advertising and recommendations to get your products in front of people. Unless you plan to specialise in offering SEO services to clients, you simply need to know the basics of SEO.
Analytical tools for marketing
Whether you want to handle Facebook advertisements or provide email marketing services, you must be able to gather and analyse marketing data. Marketing analytics are essential because almost every component of digital marketing can be analysed, tracked, and adjusted….
The ability to work as a team
Hard and soft marketing abilities aren’t the only things you’ll need; you’ll also need a solid foundation in business. Keep in mind that you’re now working for yourself. To start and operate a successful business, you need certain talents. They consist of:
- Leadership and vision-setting are essential to success.
- Management of financial resources
- Organizing and directing a project
- Problem-solving
- promoting and selling a product or service
- Negotiation
- Networking
As your company expands, you may opt to hire additional employees. ‘ As a result, you’ll have to be proficient in the following subjects or areas:
- Recruiting
- Delegation
- Administration of Personnel
How much does a self-employed digital marketer charge?
Freelance digital marketers’ earnings might be extremely variable because they do not hold a salaried position. On the other hand, if you’re strong at finding new clients and marketing your skills, you may be able to make more money.
Digital marketing has its ups and downs, with some being more profitable than others. Some digital marketing services, including paid advertising and email marketing, tend to attract greater costs than others.
There are certain sectors that pay more than others, too. Companies with a lot of money prefer to pay their employees and contractors the most.
There is a lack of information on how much money independent digital marketers make. Only two data points are available for the annual income of independent digital marketers in Canada: CA$39,000 and CA$87,750.
Digital marketing freelancers in the United States may expect to earn anywhere from $46,313 to $80,288 per year, depending on their degree of expertise. $59,963 is the average of the 16 data values.
As a freelance digital marketer, there are too many variables that determine how much money you can make.
If you combine your freelancing with other sources of income, you may make anything from a few thousand dollars a year to more than a million dollars a year. That’s only the beginning.
As a freelance digital marketer, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
There is no such thing as a perfect profession, and that includes freelance digital marketing. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of working as a freelance marketing consultant.
Freelance digital marketing has some advantages.
There are several advantages to working for yourself as a digital marketing freelancer. Among them:
1. The ability to set your own working hours.
A freelancer has practically total control over his or her working hours. As long as you satisfy client deadlines, it’s up to you how much and when you work. Rather than being compensated based on how many hours you put in, you are now compensated based on the quality of your work. However, we don’t propose charging freelancers by the hour. There should be a clear distinction between freelance digital marketers’ hourly rate and their productivity and outcomes.
2. The ability to select from a variety of options
You may pick and choose the projects and clients you work on as a freelancer. If you’re just starting out, you might feel obligated to take on whatever client job you’re offered. That’s OK if you’re just starting out and trying to grow a customer base and, of course, make money.
You’ll be able to choose which tasks to take on more freely once you’ve established yourself and can confidently bring in a constant stream of clients.
3. Independence of location
The majority of freelance digital marketers choose to operate from their own homes or offices. If you have a computer and an internet connection, then you can work from anyplace. If you’re a digital nomad, this job is a good fit for you. You may mix it with your passion of travelling, or if you choose to work from home, no trips to and from work.
Earning money at a lower cost
The term “cost of doing business” is used in the business world. Expenses like travel, clothing, cosmetics, and lunches and coffees during the work commute are all part of the “cost of making money” for employees. As a freelance digital marketer, you don’t have to worry about these costs.
As a freelancer, you will incur expenses, but the majority of them are business expenses that are tax deductible.
Not a word of financial advise from me, as I’m not a certified public accountant. To find out what company costs you may claim in the location where you submit your taxes, you should see an accountant.
5. There is no limit to the amount of money you may make.
As an independent digital marketer, your earning potential is theoretically limitless. As long as customers are ready to pay, you may charge anything you want.
Freelancing can be combined with another business or even a part-time position. You may also work a full-time job and freelance at the same time. Regardless of the path you take, you will be able to enjoy both financial stability and the opportunity for advancement.
Benefits and drawbacks of working as a freelance digital marketer
It’s not for everyone to work as a digital marketer as a freelancer. It has its share of drawbacks, including:
Constant hustling and bustling
If you want to have a steady stream of new clients and prospects coming your way as a freelancer, you have to work extra hard. When it comes to becoming an entrepreneur, you may end yourself working more hours than you would as an employee. That’s because, on top of everything else, you have to sell your services and close clients.
Whether it’s a feast or a famine:
Another drawback of freelancing is that you don’t be paid on a consistent basis. There will most certainly be high and low points in the demand for your services. For example, even if you’re great at marketing, you can discover that customers slow down more in the summer and during the holidays.
The absence of any advantages
Freelancers don’t get paid time off, sick days, health benefits, disability insurance or any of the other perks that come with employment. To put it another way: You get compensated if you put in the time and effort.
Constant pressure to increase income
Your personal health and disability insurance policies are available to you and should be obtained. These, on the other hand, are expenses you’ll have to bear on your own. And they aren’t normally regarded as a part of a company’s operating budget. Please note that I am not an accountant and that local laws may differ.) Find out about your country’s tax regulations before making a purchase.) A rainy-day fund can come in handy if you ever need or desire to take some time off from work. In order to have the same benefits as an employee, you’ll need to earn more money than an employee’s wage.
Isolation and loneliness
Finally, freelancing may be a lonely and isolated endeavour, especially when working from home. An introvert may have a hard time with this and may wind up opting for office-based job as a result. Even introverts yearn for human interaction. It doesn’t matter which route you take, you’ll have to figure out how to acquire the social connections you require to be healthy.
As an independent digital marketer, what do you wish to do? The next stages are as follows:
This piece should have piqued your interest in working as a freelance digital marketer, and the following steps will help you get started:
First, decide on a focus. Is it search engine optimisation (SEO), Facebook advertising (Facebook Ads), social media or content creation? Decide on a niche within digital marketing that you wish to master.
Determine your ideal client: Which sorts of customers or industries provide you the most satisfaction? No matter what area you choose to specialise in, there’s no limit to what you can do with a laser-like focus.
As a digital marketer, you must know how to build and maintain an authoritative online presence. Before you even begin a conversation with a potential customer, they will conduct a background investigation and form judgments about you. Make certain that anything they uncover reflects well on you. Create a video résumé and an online portfolio in order to attract new clients.
Build your reputation by demonstrating your ability to deliver on your promises to clients. Make a record of everything you accomplish and keep track of your progress so that you can demonstrate your abilities. Also, be sure to get customer testimonials. To sell your products and services, you need social evidence.
