I Tried Freelancing with Zero Experience. Here’s What I Learned (and What I’d Do Differently)
Let me be real with you upfront:
I didn’t think I was cut out for freelancing. I wasn’t some marketing expert. I had no niche. No portfolio. Just a tired brain from my day job and the sinking feeling that I needed to find a way to make something work—fast.
So I did what most people do. I googled “how to make money online” and ended up drowning in YouTube tutorials and Reddit threads that made freelancing sound easy, but also somehow terrifying.
I gave it a shot anyway.
Here’s exactly what happened—what worked, what didn’t, and what I wish I knew before I sent my first awkward pitch.
Week 1: The Overwhelm Is Real
I thought freelancing was just... signing up somewhere and getting paid. Spoiler: it’s not. I created accounts on Upwork, Fiverr, and a few Facebook groups. I filled out profiles, tried to sound professional, and realized I had no idea what kind of jobs to apply for.
What I did wrong:
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Tried to apply for everything (“I can do data entry! Also blogs! And design! And marketing?”)
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Wasted hours trying to “look legit” instead of just getting started
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Overthought every single word on my profile
Week 2: My First Real Gig (It Paid $5, and It Felt Like Gold)
After a dozen ignored proposals, someone hired me to write a 300-word product description. $5. That’s it.
But it was the first time I earned money online—and it felt unreal.
I delivered the work in less than a day. The client loved it. Left a review. And just like that, I had a tiny bit of momentum.
My setup?
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A $0 investment
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A free Grammarly account
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Google Docs
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A slow but loyal laptop
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Way too much caffeine
The First $100: Not Fancy, But It Worked
I didn’t make big bucks. But I started getting small jobs consistently:
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Short blog posts
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Simple editing tasks
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Typing handwritten notes
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Cleaning up messy resumes
What helped me the most:
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Being super responsive
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Doing small jobs fast (and well)
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Asking for honest reviews
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Saving all good work in a Google Drive folder for future clients to see
It took me about 5 weeks to hit $100. Nothing life-changing, but it made me believe freelancing could actually work.
What I Wish I Did Differently
Looking back, there are things I’d do way better:
1. I’d Stop Wasting Time “Looking Ready”
I spent days creating a Canva logo, writing and rewriting my bio, and tweaking things that didn’t matter. I should’ve just started pitching and learning from real feedback.
2. I’d Focus on One Platform at a Time
Juggling three sites (Upwork, Fiverr, Facebook groups) was exhausting. I eventually focused on one platform and saw better results.
3. I’d Specialize Sooner
Real Talk: It’s Not Always Glamorous
Freelancing isn’t just working in cafes and making money in pajamas. There were slow days, picky clients, and times I doubted everything.
But there were also wins:
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Waking up to payment notifications
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Building a skill I could use anywhere
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Realizing I didn’t need a boss to make money
So… Should You Try Freelancing?
Yes—if you're willing to start small, learn fast, and be patient.
You don’t need to be a pro. You don’t need a course. You just need:
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A service (writing, editing, design, admin work, etc.)
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A platform (Upwork, Fiverr, Contra, etc.)
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A few hours a week
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A willingness to suck a little at first
Start ugly. Start unqualified. Just start.
Final Thoughts (And My Advice to You)
If I were starting over today, here’s what I’d do:
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Pick one skill I can offer today (even if it’s basic)
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Sign up on ONE platform
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Create a simple profile and bio
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Apply to small jobs every day
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Deliver excellent work, even for $5
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Build reviews, improve my offer, raise rates over time
It’s not sexy, but it’s real.
And it works.
If you’ve been on the fence about freelancing—take this as your sign. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be in the game.
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