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Launching Your Freelancing Business

The third course in the Building Your Freelancing Career specialization will help learners get their business plan ready to be public-facing and start finding work. The course will cover topics such as how to set boundaries with projects, how to build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and how to present one's work.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

This course will cover the major aspects of launching your business. You'll learn how to tell the world about what you do and why they should do business with you as a freelancer. In this first section, you'll review the course overview and student expectations. You'll also meet some special members of our community of freelancers who will give you practical insights.

Your brand promise

In this section, you will learn and think about how will you present your freelancing business to the world? What will you offer that is unique and different? What will your communication approach be?

The Customer Journey

How does a stranger become a customer? We'll walk through the stages of the customer journey so that you can understand the gradual process of nurturing a lead and get better at closing deals. Much of this learning comes from talking to potential customers!

Automate everything

Businesses that do well tend to create systems and repeatable processes to maintain high quality and lower costs. In this section, you'll identify opportunities to create a more streamlined business.

You can always get better as a freelancer

As you handle more and more customers, you'll want to keep improving. Find ways to streamline the delivery of your services and manage your reputation so that you can attract and handle more customers.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches learners how to transition from freelance ideation to freelance business

Provides insights and frameworks for developing a strong brand identity and value proposition

Covers the customer journey and sales pipeline, helping learners understand how to convert leads into paying clients

Offers practical advice on systematizing business processes and automating tasks, promoting efficiency and cost savings

Emphasizes continuous improvement and growth, encouraging learners to refine their services and enhance their offerings over time

Involves guest contributions from experienced freelancers, providing valuable real-world perspectives

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Launching Your Freelancing Business with these activities:

Volunteer at a non-profit organization

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Volunteer your services to non-profits or organizations aligned with your skills to gain practical experience, build your network, and give back to the community.

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Choose a non-profit organization to volunteer with
Identify your skills and how they can benefit the organization

Review branding basics

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Discuss the foundational concepts of branding that will be covered in the course by reading the literature on the subject, such as books and articles.

Browse courses on Branding

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Read books or articles to understand branding

Take online courses on freelancing

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Supplement your learning by exploring free and paid online courses that provide practical guidance and insights into the world of freelancing.

Browse courses on Freelance Business

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Research online courses on freelancing
Enroll in courses that align with your interests
Complete the courses and apply what you learn

Five other activities

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Join a peer support group

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Connect with other freelancers to share experiences, support each other, and get advice on common challenges faced in the field.

Browse courses on Community Building

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Find a peer support group
Attend meetings and participate in discussions

Attend freelance workshops

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Attend workshops that offer specialized training on key freelancing topics such as proposal writing, client management, or financial management.

Browse courses on Freelance Development

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Register for the workshops

Build a portfolio

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Create a digital portfolio that showcases your skills and experience as a freelancer, helping you establish credibility and attract potential clients.

Browse courses on Portfolio Development

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Compile your work samples
Design and build your portfolio website
Get feedback on your portfolio

Build a personal brand

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Establish a strong personal brand that effectively communicates your value proposition, differentiates you from competitors, and attracts potential clients.

Browse courses on Personal Branding

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Define your personal brand
Create a brand identity
Promote your personal brand

Develop a marketing plan

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Create a comprehensive marketing plan that outlines strategies for promoting your freelance services, reaching your target audience, and generating leads.

Browse courses on Marketing Plan

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Define your target audience
Develop your marketing messages
Choose marketing channels
Set a marketing budget
Implement your marketing plan

Career center

Learners who complete Launching Your Freelancing Business will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Freelance Writer

Freelance Writers create written content for a variety of clients. This can include website content, blog posts, articles, marketing materials, and more. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Writer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Writer

Freelance Graphic Designer

Freelance Graphic Designers create visual content for their clients. This can include logos, branding, marketing materials, and more. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Graphic Designer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Graphic Designer

Freelance Web Developer

Freelance Web Developers design and develop websites for their clients. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Web Developer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Web Developer

Freelance Videographer

Freelance Videographers capture and edit videos for their clients. This can include promotional videos, event videography, product videos, and more. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Videographer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Videographer

Freelance Photographer

Freelance Photographers capture and edit images for their clients. This can include portraits, event photography, product photography, and more. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Photographer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Photographer

Freelance Social Media Manager

Freelance Social Media Managers manage social media accounts for their clients. This can include posting content, engaging with followers, and running social media ads. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Social Media Manager by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Social Media Manager

Freelance Business Consultant

Freelance Business Consultants help their clients with a variety of business-related tasks. This can include business planning, financial analysis, and operations management. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Business Consultant by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Business Consultant

Freelance Marketing Consultant

Freelance Marketing Consultants help their clients develop and implement marketing strategies. This can include market research, campaign planning, and execution. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Marketing Consultant by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Marketing Consultant

Freelance Project Manager

Freelance Project Managers plan and execute projects for their clients. This can include managing timelines, budgets, and resources. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Project Manager by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Project Manager

Freelance Data Analyst

Freelance Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data for their clients. This can include data mining, statistical analysis, and data visualization. This course would help build a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Data Analyst by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Data Analyst

Freelance Data Scientist

Freelance Data Scientists apply scientific methods to data in order to extract insights and make predictions. This course may be helpful in building a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Data Scientist by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Data Scientist

Freelance Software Engineer

Freelance Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications for their clients. This course may be helpful in building a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Software Engineer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Software Engineer

Freelance Machine Learning Engineer

Freelance Machine Learning Engineers design, develop, and maintain machine learning models for their clients. This course may be helpful in building a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Machine Learning Engineer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Machine Learning Engineer

Freelance Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Freelance Artificial Intelligence Engineers design, develop, and maintain artificial intelligence systems for their clients. This course may be helpful in building a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Artificial Intelligence Engineer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Freelance Blockchain Developer

Freelance Blockchain Developers design, develop, and maintain blockchain applications for their clients. This course may be helpful in building a strong foundation for a career as a Freelance Blockchain Developer by teaching how to set boundaries with projects, build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and present one's work effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Blockchain Developer

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Launching Your Freelancing Business.

The Freelancer's Bible

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Provides a comprehensive guide to freelancing. It useful reference for freelancers who are looking to start or grow their business.

Launching Your Freelancing Business

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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