Freelancing is a growing and enticing work opportunity for anyone looking to work remotely on their own terms. If you don’t have a laptop or tablet, you may be wondering if it’s possible to do freelance work with just a smartphone. So, can you?
Gone are the days where laptops and desktop computers are light years ahead of our trusty smartphones in terms of technology and capabilities. With that being said there are some ways you could become a freelancer and make money with just a smart phone. Social media, management, freelance writing, virtual assistance, photo editing, graphic design, and more.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that certain tasks may become more difficult or time-consuming on a smaller screen and limited processing power. Below we will go over all of the ways you can freelance with just a smartphone, as well as some potential challenges and considerations to keep in mind.
Social Media Management
Most business owners don’t have the time to post on their on all of their social media platforms. This is where you come in as a social media manager. With just a smartphone, you can schedule and publish posts, monitor community engagement, and analyze the success of your efforts.
There are apps like Hootsuite, Buffer, and others allow you to schedule posts and manage them across multiple platforms, all from the palm of your hand.
For the content creation aspect, Canva is a great app for creating graphics for each social media platform.
Once you have a couple of different clients, keeping them organized on your phone may begin to become a challenge. It’s important to have a system in place for efficiently managing and tracking your progress for each account.
Freelance Writer
A couple years ago it was absolutely necessary to write on a computer. However, with improvements in smartphone technology and the introduction of apps like Google Docs, it’s now possible to write on a smaller screen. If you’re a good writer, you can pitch your services to businesses in need of website content, blog articles, newsletters, press releases, and more.
The only downside to writing on a smart phone would be the strain on the eyes, and also typing. But, there’s a solution to both of these problems. You could replace your current phone with a Samsung Galaxy fold, which offers both a smartphone and tablet experience, or invest in an external bluetooth keyboard to make typing easier (or both).
Some apps that are necessary for freelance writing on your smart phone include Google Docs for creating and editing documents, Slack or other messaging apps for communication with clients, and LinkedIn to find job opportunities.
You can also use Fiverr and Upwork strictly on your phone to find and apply for writing gigs.
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is someone who offers administrative or personal assistance remotely, typically using a computer and internet connection. But with just a smartphone, you can still offer services such as scheduling appointments, booking travel plans, organizing emails, data entry tasks, and more.
For this one in some cases there may be some tasks that require more computer processing power, but there are still a good number of opportunities for freelancing work with minimal technology.
If you just need to answer phone calls and answer emails, all you need is your smartphone and potentially a separate phone number for business.
If there’s ever a need that you need to be on zoom meetings, you can use your phone’s camera to communicate with clients.
Photo Editing
When it comes to photo editing, photo shop used to be the go to for everyone. But now there are tons of options for editing photos on just your smartphone. Some people need simple tasks like getting rid of a background, or resizing for social media, and others may need more advanced edits like color correction or retouching.
Regardless of what it is, chances are there is an app for it.
The biggest issue with photo editing is that it’s not common to get long term clients with this type of freelancing gig. However, if you list a gig on fiverr, and that becomes popular, you can get orders frequently.
Graphic Design
Similar to photo editing, graphic design can also be done on your smartphone. Apps like Canva and other design apps offer templates and tools for creating graphics for logos, website banners, YouTube thumbnails, presentation slides, and more.
Again, you have to find a good niche in order to get long term clients. But, there’s always the option to offer your services on freelancing platforms like Fiverr, and complete the work as it comes in.
How Can You Learn Freelancing Skills With Just a Smart Phone?
Just like being able to freelance with just a smart phone, you could also learn freelancing skills with just a smart phone as well. There are resources including YouTube tutorials, online courses, and eBooks that can teach you everything from writing to graphic design to virtual assistance.
Plus, with the internet on your phone, you can constantly do research and stay up to date on industry trends.
Tips To Being Successful As a Freelancer With Just a Smart Phone
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to successful freelancing with just a smart phone.
- Determine your niche and specialize in that area.
- Stay as organized as possible using scheduling and to do list apps.
- Keep it simple, and only offer services that can be completed on a smart phone.
- Be transparent with clients about the limitations of using only a smart phone for your services. You don’t want to get caught up in a lie.
- Make good time for your work as it may take a little bit longer to do on your phone.
What Are Some Of The Best Smart Phone Apps For Freelancers?
Canva: We mentioned Canva a hand full of times within this blog post, that’s how you know it’s a good app. There’s almost no limits as to what you could do on Canva.
Bookkeeping Apps: There are many apps out there such as Wave and Quickbooks that allow you to keep track of your income and expenses as well as invoice clients. This is very important when it comes down to taxes.
Fiverr and Upwork: These are both freelancing platforms where you can offer your services and find clients.
LinkedIn: If you don’t want to use those apps because of competition, LinkedIn is another option, where you could personally reach out to people and offer your services.
Notes: Whether you have an iPhone or Android, the native notes app is perfect for jotting down ideas and to do lists.
Conclusion
There’s a wide range of opportunities for freelancing with just a smartphone. It may not be as efficient or convenient as using a computer, but it’s still possible to offer valuable services and make money on the go. The key is finding your niche and utilizing the resources available on your phone.
As you start to make money, you could begin to save a portion of that money in order to eventually invest in a computer or better technology to improve your services.
If you found this article helpful, please share it with others who may be looking for freelance opportunities using just their smartphone.
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