Being a freelancer may not guarantee a steady stream of income but it can significantly help aid in covering a huge chunk of a student’s expenses. It’s also important to note that it requires a greater sense of responsibility because many times, you’ll find yourself finding a way to strike a balance between work and studies. Your job and school can be both demanding so how do you freelance successfully without compromising your studies?

Find the right niche for you
You are now probably convinced that freelancing is a good side hustle for you while studying but the world of freelancing is vast. To succeed, it’s imperative to find the right niche or field where you’re good at.

Ask yourself what you do successfully? What are your strengths? Your skills? What do you do best? Do you have a knack for writing? Or photography perhaps? Do you love teaching or imparting knowledge and skills?

Tap on the available resources
Unless you already have talked to potential clients or some people interested in the services you offer, you should learn how to start somewhere. Most freelancers these days are working from home and the good thing about it is that most of the resources you may need are made available online.

If this is the first time you’re launching your services, you may try Upwork or Fiverr. You can also tap on social media to market yourself. Be smart about choosing the platform for building your brand and make sure it works for your niche.

Determine your rate
This is one of the most exciting parts about freelancing - getting to decide on your pay rate. But while you have the liberty to determine how much you should be paid or while you have to make sure you don’t get paid less than you should, it’s also equally important to make sure you don’t ask for too much.

Commit your time
If there’s one thing people love about working as a freelancer is the fact that they can work on flexible hours. This makes it an ideal setup for college students looking for income while studying. However, even if you can decide which projects to accept and work on, it’s important to be responsible when it comes to meeting deadlines and getting things done on time. Your commitment is just as important in a freelance job as it is in a full time job. So when you’re given a task or project to work on, be sure to commit your time and dedication. This will help you establish a good reputation for future career opportunities.

Pursuing college education may be financially challenging but by dabbling in the world of freelancing, you’re not only earning money on the side but also building the foundation for landing a career in the future.