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Launching Your Freelancing Business

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Launching Your Freelancing Business

This course is part of Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

Instructor: Tatiana Mulry

4,805 already enrolled

Included with

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

57 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

8 hours to complete

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

57 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

8 hours to complete

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

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.

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.

What's included

6 videos6 readings1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 29 minutes

Course Introduction 2 minutes
Giving Useful Feedback 2 minutes
Get acquainted with our freelancers 1 minute
Introducing Rajib Karmakar 4 minutes
Introducing Nick Rodrigues 15 minutes
Introducing Socks Whitmore 5 minutes

6 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Specialization Overview5 minutes
About CalArts and Extended Studies5 minutes
Instructor Presence and Staff Support5 minutes
Academic Integrity5 minutes
Forum Guidelines5 minutes
Requesting Peer Reviews5 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 5 minutes

Meet and Greet 5 minutes

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?

What's included

5 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 23 minutes

Go to Market Plan7 minutes
Clear Communication 2 minutes
Socks on getting the word out 3 minutes
Branding6 minutes
Rajib on branding 3 minutes

3 readingsTotal 50 minutes

Course 1 + 2 Recap 5 minutes
Go to Market Strategy15 minutes
Add Your Branding30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Go to Market10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Your Ugly Booth Strategy10 minutes

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!

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review

4 videosTotal 27 minutes

Customer Journey 20 minutes
Escalating Service Model 2 minutes
Pitch your solution 2 minutes
Socks on finding work 3 minutes

3 readingsTotal 45 minutes

Discover your customers30 minutes
Updating your pitch10 minutes
The "No" Game5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Speaking Your Customers' Language20 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 20 minutes

Pitch practice 20 minutes

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.

What's included

5 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review3 discussion prompts

5 videosTotal 15 minutes

Systems Eliminate Struggle 3 minutes
Nick on systems and processes 2 minutes
Get Found by Buyers4 minutes
Nick on finding buyers5 minutes
It's All About Them 2 minutes

1 readingTotal 15 minutes

Gather Your Portfolio15 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Attracting Customers15 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 30 minutes

Portfolio Review30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 25 minutes

Share your systems5 minutes
What's in it for them?10 minutes
Check-In on the "No" Game10 minutes

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.

What's included

5 videos5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 25 minutes

Reputation Management 3 minutes
Smooth Delivery9 minutes
ClickUp Demo 2 minutes
Handling Customers11 minutes
Course Conclusion1 minute

5 readingsTotal 46 minutes

Social Media and Business Etiquette Tips 10 minutes
Equipment Tips10 minutes
Creative Ways to Promote Your Business15 minutes
Content Marketing10 minutes
Next Steps1 minute

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Handling Your Business10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Share your favorite project management and task tools10 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(10 ratings)

Tatiana Mulry

5 Courses34,235 learners

Offered by

California Institute of the Arts

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Frequently asked questions

CalArtians can earn a certificate by completing all of the content in this course and the specialization at no additional cost when they join through the Coursera for CalArts program and use their CalArts email address when registering for a Coursera account.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.