Admit it: at some point in the pandemic, you’ve started looking into freelance work — maybe even during ‘office hours’, a.k.a. the time you’re working from home. You’re not alone! Millions of people have turned to freelancing to maximize their existing hobbies, use up free time they’ve saved from commuting to day jobs, or simply to increase their revenue stream. 

And why not? Freelancing offers flexibility and variety, allowing you to choose projects and workmates that fit your situation and timeline. But whether you’re a beginner or a veteran freelancer, here’s the thing: you can always get paid better. So check out these tips and apply them to your freelance flow to ensure you’re getting paid what you’re worth!

1. Be an expert at making a good first impression.

Like in-person job-hunting, you must look like you deserve to get paid well as a freelancer. Most freelance gigs are done remotely, so everything you do on your profile and online must speak volumes about your skills and professionalism. 

Aside from having an impressive portfolio, consider other factors. When potential clients Google your name, ensure that your portfolio and references to your work are listed on the top results. Chances are you’ll also be interviewed by the client via Zoom or Google Hangouts before getting hired. Prepare by testing your computer and connection, rehearsing answers to possible client questions, and listing down your own questions about the project.

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2. Check out the industry rate, then price your skills accordingly

Sometimes it only takes a little research to get paid higher. With a few searches on different freelance platforms, you can compare your rate to others within the same level of expertise and adjust accordingly. Look up the demands of your market for your particular skill and see if you need to charge higher, based on experience, skill, and even location.

Example: for copywriters, the average local rate for a 500-word article may be P1000-1500. However, the worldwide industry rate can start as high as P2500. If you’ve been copywriting for years, have glowing reviews from previous clients, or are working with international clients, you can stretch your rate towards the higher range. Just make sure your pricing remains realistic!

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3. Identify all your skills, then sell them as a package

A lot of local freelance projects are looking to hire a wunderkind who does it all. For example, a client who needs a website is more likely to hire one person who can do web development, graphic design, and copywriting — rather than hiring a web developer, a graphic designer, and a copywriter separately. 

So make a list of all your skills, identify which ones go together as a ‘package’, and be the ideal match for these kinds of employers. It increases your chances of getting hired, and you’ll be able to negotiate a higher hourly or per-project rate. 

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4. Create professional invoices and track them

In an ideal world, clients pay as soon as you’ve completed your project — but real life is much more complicated. Creating a professional invoice ensures you get paid, get paid well, and get paid on time. 

Whether working for clients locally or abroad, a service like Payoneer lets you send and receive payments quickly worldwide. Payoneer, a cross-border payments platform, offers freelancers simple payment methods options to get paid by global companies and marketplaces. On Payoneer you can create custom invoices: all you have to do is add the breakdown of your services and emphasize the date your payment is due. (Don’t forget to include tax in the billing so you’re not underpaid.) Payoneer also lets you forward and track that invoice to individual clients anywhere in the world.

Even better, Payoneer also effectively expands your client base. They have a presence in over 200 countries, and you can apply and get paid for suitable freelance work in any of them as long as you have a Payoneer account.

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5. Make it easy to get paid

Lastly, as a freelancer, be flexible and offer multiple modes of payments to get paid fast, highly, and often. 

GCash is, of course, your easiest and most secure option when freelancing locally. However, if you’re working for a foreign client, you’ll have to adjust to their currency, payment methods, and obvious lack of GCash accounts. And so we recommend signing up to a Payoneer account! It takes all the guesswork out of getting paid by an international client in USD, EUR, GBR, AUD, and more by converting your received payments into PHP. You can also withdraw your earnings into your GCash account easily. Just link your Payoneer account to GCash, then cash in your desired amount from Payoneer to GCash by following these steps.

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Are you ready to get paid better for freelance gigs? Then leverage your GCash account and use it to sign up for Payoneer! If you already have an existing Payoneer account, that’s even better — all you have to do to withdraw your earnings is to link your Payoneer to GCash and cash-in from there. Good luck and happy freelancing!

If you have any questions or concerns, visit the GCash Help Center to find solutions or submit a ticket so we can help!

Don’t have GCash yet? You can download the app on the Play Store, App Store, or Huawei AppGallery. Register to GCash and get verified today!