Kim Pierson, a desktop publisher and data entry specialist located in Florida, has been freelancing for more than two years and began freelancing full-time last April. While Pierson has earned work on the Web, she's had more luck with the traditional route. Holly Hicks disagrees. In addition, she has had an opportunity to build her company's reputation by using the talents of other freelancers found and hired through the Internet to help her offer more services to her clients, thus increasing her success in a highly competitive area. Even traditional freelancers recognize the Internet's potential for boosting business.
Some freelancers never use traditional approaches to landing a project.
Tim Jurik relies solely on the Internet for his work supply. Although he is aware of the drawbacks of Internet freelancing, he says he would not be freelancing without the Web. The benefits of online freelancing have outweighed the disadvantages for many freelancers, including Jurik and Hicks. The Internet may not provide your sole source of freelancing income, but it is an excellent way to find supplemental work and to market your services to clients worldwide. Either way, creating a Web site for your services or portfolio and understanding the freelance marketplaces online are essential for success.