Looking for the best opportunities to earn money as a freelancer? This guide will show you in under 10 minutes:
- The most profitable areas
- Which platform to use for each service
- How much can you make per month?
- How to create a profile that makes people want to hire you.
- Tips to stand out and a practical test to understand if freelancing is right for you.
Main areas with demand for freelancers
Marketing & Content
Social media, traffic management, writing, copywriting, SEO, email marketing, video scripts. Good for those who enjoy communication, numbers, and a dynamic routine.
Design & Creation
Visual identity, UI/UX, ad pieces, presentations, basic motion graphics. Ideal for visual profiles with a concise portfolio and good storytelling skills.
Development & Tech
Websites, landing pages, simple integrations, automations, e-commerce, maintenance. Requires a technical portfolio and a clear scope (sprints, deadlines, deliverables).
Translation & Localization
Portuguese (Brazil): PT↔EN/ES, revision, subtitling, transcription. Great for those with good writing skills and attention to detail.
Audio-visual
Editing short videos (reels/shorts), vignettes, and light post-production. Growing demand for social content.
Local/in-person services
Renovations, carpentry, classes, technical assistance, cleaning services, events. Focus on geographic proximity and reputation.
What jobs are most in demand on freelance websites (and how to find them quickly)?
Below is a map showing what appears most frequently on 99Freelas, Workana, Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, and similar platforms. For each area, there is... deliverables, keywords for search and level indicated.
Marketing & Content
- Social Media (social media management)
Deliverables: monthly calendar, artwork + captions, response to comments, reports.
Search for: “social media”, “social media management”, “editorial calendar”, “Instagram posts”.
Level: Beginner to advanced (having some knowledge of metrics helps). - Traffic Management (Google/Meta/TikTok)
Deliverables: campaign setup, 14/30 day optimization, KPI reports.
Search for: “Google Ads”, “Meta Ads”, “campaigns”, “optimization”, “paid traffic”.
Level: Intermediate to advanced. - Writing and Copywriting
Deliverables: blog posts, landing pages, emails, short scripts.
Search for: “writing”, “copy”, “article”, “SEO content”, “landing page”.
Level: Beginner to advanced. - SEO (on-page, content, audit)
Deliverables: SEO guidelines, on-page optimization, simple technical audit.
Search for: “on-page SEO”, “SEO audit”, “WordPress SEO”.
Level: Intermediate.
Design & Creation
- Visual Identity and Brand Materials
Deliverables: logo, color palette, typography, simple manual, business card, covers.
Search for: “logo”, “visual identity”, “branding kit”, “brand manual”.
Level: Beginner to advanced. - Creation for Social Media and Ads
Deliverables: post packages, banners, ad creatives, thumbnails.
Search for: “Instagram art”, “creative ads”, “banners”, “thumbnails”.
Level: Beginner to intermediate. - UI/UX for Websites and Apps
Deliverables: wireframes, Figma prototype, key screen designs.
Search for: “UI/UX”, “Figma”, “interface design”, “prototype”.
Level: Intermediate to advanced.
Development & Tech
- Websites and Landing Pages (WordPress/Webflow)
Deliverables: institutional website, conversion landing page, adjustments and maintenance.
Search for: “WordPress”, “Elementor”, “landing page”, “Webflow”, “institutional website”.
Level: Beginner to intermediate. - Virtual Store (WooCommerce/Shopify)
Deliverables: setup, theme, payment methods, essential pages.
Search for: “WooCommerce”, “Shopify”, “e-commerce”.
Level: Intermediate. - Lightweight Integrations and Automation
Deliverables: forms, CRM, email automations, WhatsApp messages.
Search for: “integration”, “Webhook”, “Zapier/Make”, “automation”.
Level: Intermediate. - Maintenance and Corrections
Deliverables: bug fixes, performance, security.
Search for: “WordPress bug”, “optimize website”, “fix”, “performance”.
Level: Beginner to intermediate.
Data & Analytics
- Metrics and Dashboards Setup
Deliverables: GA4, Tag Manager, events, reports in Looker/Data Studio.
Search for: “GA4”, “Google Tag Manager”, “dashboard Looker”, “report”.
Level: Intermediate.
Translation, Revision & Localization
- PT↔EN/ES and Review
Deliverables: article translation, subtitles, spelling/style revision.
Search for: “Portuguese to English translation”, “proofreading”, “subtitling”, “transcription”.
Level: Beginner to advanced (short test is common).
Audio-visual
- Short Video Editing (reels/shorts)
Deliverables: cuts, captions, basic effects, weekly packages.
Search for: “video editing”, “reels”, “shorts”, “automatic captions”.
Level: Beginner to intermediate. - Motion/Lightweight Animation
Deliverables: vignettes, lower thirds, simple animations.
Search for: “motion”, “after effects”, “vignette”.
Level: Intermediate.
Local/On-site Services (GetNinjas and similar)
- Renovations and Maintenance
Deliverables: electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, minor repairs.
Search for: "renovation", "carpenter", "electrician", "plumbing".
Level: qualified professional. - Private Lessons
Deliverables: 4–8 lesson packages, study plan, support material.
Search for: "English class", "private lesson", "tutoring".
Level: Beginner to advanced. - Domestic and Event Services
Services offered: housekeeper, ironing service, waiter/waitress, catering.
Search for: "housekeeper", "cleaning service", "event", "waiter".
Level: Beginner to advanced.
How to quickly identify what's trending.
- Filter by "new projects": view the last 24–72 hours and save searches with alerts.
- Combine keywords: "setup", "audit", "monthly maintenance", "package", "urgent".
- Seasonality: beginning of the month (planning), days leading up to sales dates (creative and landing pages), end of the quarter (reports/analytics).
Delivery formats that close faster
- Entry-level product: express audit 24–72h with a checklist and action plan.
- Monthly package: 12–16 posts/month + 2 reports + 1 meeting; or “website maintenance + optimization”.
- Project completed: "High-conversion landing page in 7 days", "Logo + essential manual in 10 days".
Which platform to use for each service (quick map)
99Freelas (BR): Writing, social media, design, simple websites, translations, video editing. Great for beginners and getting initial reviews.
Workana (LatAm): Marketing, development, content, design; good for recurring contracts with SMEs in the region.
Rock Content/WriterAccess: Content and marketing; curation and better tickets.
Upwork (global): Dev, data/AI, performance, UX/UI; ideal for those who speak English and want to charge in USD.
Fiverr (global): Fixed-price gigs (logo, video intro, social package).
Freelancer.com (global): Bidding processes in various areas.
GetNinjas (local): Renovations, classes, domestic and technical services focused on your city (contact purchase model).
How much can you make per month (realistic ranges)?
Scenario 1 — Beginner part-time (10–20 hours/week) — 99Freelas/Workana
R$ 1,500 to R$ 4,000/month gross. Areas of expertise: writing, social media, light design, translation. Focus on 3–6 jobs/month and reviews.
Scenario 2 — Intermediate full-time (30–40 hours/week) — 99Freelas/Workana/GetNinjas
R$ 7,000 to R$ 19,000/month gross. Areas of expertise: design/UI, traffic, simple front-end, audiovisual, qualified local services. Seek 2-4 recurring clients.
Scenario 3 — Exporting in USD (20–35 h/week) — Upwork/Fiverr
US$ 20–60/h With above-average potential in Brazil even after fees. Areas: dev, data/AI, performance, senior UX/UI, video. Requires English and a consistent flow of proposals.
Remember the fees: 99Freelas (5–20%), Upwork (~10%), Fiverr (20%). Always calculate the liquid.
Tips to stand out (with ready-made templates)
A jargon-free proposal — 5 steps
- Diagnosis in 3 lines.
- 30-day plan (Weeks 1–4).
- Scope + out of scope.
- Milestones and deadlines.
- Price and next step.
Portfolio that converts (case structure)
Context → Goal → Action → Result (number) → print/artwork → 1 short testimonial.
Example: "How I reduced the CPC by 32% in 21 days."
Weekly prospecting funnel
Mon–Wed: 10–15 short, personalized proposals.
Thursday: follow-ups 1 and 2.
Sex: networking + requesting a testimonial.
Target: 2-3 calls/week and 1-2 closings/week after the first month.
Onboarding in 24 hours
Access, brand kit, audience, current metrics, calendar, references, decision-maker, feedback and payment deadlines.
Profile that makes you want to hire (checklist)
- Clear photo + legal name.
- Motto: "I help [type of client] achieve [result] within [timeframe], using [proof/technology]."
- 3 types of social proof: numbers, screenshots, praise, logos (with permission).
- Concise portfolio: 3–5 complete case studies.
- Visible CTA: “Request a quote” / “Chat for 15 minutes”.
- A sign of reliability: deadlines met > grand promises.
How to know if freelancing is right for you
It tends to match if you…
- Enjoy autonomy and learning by doing.
- Deals well with uncertainty and negotiation.
- Can you book? 10 hours per week with consistency.
Maybe not now if you…
- You need immediate, fixed income without any savings.
- Avoid talking about deadlines, price, and revisions.
- There's no time for prospecting (sending proposals and following up).
30-day experiment
Test in parallel: publish your profile, make 10-15 proposals/day, close 1-2 deals, request 1-2 reviews. At the end, evaluate satisfaction, pipeline, and financial results.
How much to charge without complicating things?
Price/hour = (monthly target / (working hours × occupancy rate)) × (1 + fees + taxes)
Ex.: R$ 8,000 / (120h × 0.6) ≈ R$ 111/h → +15% ≈ R$ 128/h.
For pricing per project: estimated hours × your hourly rate + 10% for unforeseen expenses.
Not necessarily, but the MEI (Individual Microentrepreneur) status makes issuing invoices and organizing taxes easier.
Between 10 and 20 hours/week to start; 30–40 hours/week for a more robust income.
Time to start by calibrating; then, migrate to packages/projects based on the best margin.
Well-presented case studies, personalized proposals, and fast delivery, with a request for a testimonial at the end.
Only with strategy (e.g., first case in a niche market). Then, adjust prices.
Yes, with a stable pipeline, recurring customers, and financial management.
Intensify prospecting, update portfolio, offer audits and monthly plans, improve titles/descriptions.
If you have English proficiency and a portfolio, yes. Charging in dollars increases potential; it requires consistency and cultural adaptation.
Conclusion: next step clear
The path to freelancing is a process. It's recommended to choose two platforms, create a profile that demonstrates value, send short, personalized proposals, and turn your first jobs into monthly contracts.
Within about 30 days, it's common to see faster responses, better initial reviews, and a higher average order value. From there, it's worth adjusting prices, refining packages, and, when it makes sense, scaling to markets that pay in dollars.
