Freelancing
Nora Toma is social entrepreneur, angel investor and philanthropist based in Cairo, Egypt. Nora is a co-founder of Tiye Angels Network and the Women Entrepreneurship Network, and is the Deputy CEO of Education For Employment-Egypt. She has over 22 years of experience in Strategy, Finance and Investment, with exposure that expands beyond Egypt into Europe, MENA and sub-Saharan Africa.
Nora is passionate about empowering youth and believes that economic empowerment is a fundamental starting point. She believes that start-ups are is the biggest hope for the youth bulge in Egypt and the Middle East, where the number of youth is larger than then number of available decent jobs.
Nora is a business mentor and a certified corporate director, and is registered with the Afro-Asian Union as a Women’s Rights Expert.
This practical freelancing course equips you with the essential skills to launch and grow your independent career. You’ll learn how to map your strengths, define your niche, build a compelling personal brand, and set up your freelancing business. The course also guides you through finding your first clients, pricing your services, managing client relationships, and organizing your time effectively, all designed to help you become a confident and successful freelancer.
MODULE 1: Introduction to Freelancing
Objective: Understand what freelancing is and whether it’s the right path for you.
• What is freelancing?
• Benefits and challenges of freelancing
• Freelancing vs. full-time employment
• Myths and realities of freelancing
• Self-assessment: Are you ready to freelance?
• Interactive or download: Personal readiness quiz
MODULE 2: Identifying Your Skills and Niche
Objective: Discover your marketable skills and how to position yourself.
• Mapping your skills: technical, creative, and soft skills
• Choosing a niche: generalist vs. specialist
• Researching market demand for your skills
• Assessing your competitive advantage
• Exercise: Create your freelance value proposition
MODULE 3: Setting Up for Success
Objective: Build the foundations for a professional freelancing setup.
• Choosing your freelance business name
• Legal basics: sole proprietorship, taxes, bank accounts
• Tools of the trade: essential hardware, software, and platforms
• Portfolio preparation: showcasing your work
• Creating your first personal website or portfolio profile
MODULE 4: Finding Freelance Work
Objective: Explore strategies and platforms to land your first job.
• Overview of freelance platforms (Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc.)
• Creating a high-converting profile
• Writing winning proposals
• Finding clients outside platforms (LinkedIn, referrals, cold emails)
• Exercise: Draft your freelance profile and a proposal sample
MODULE 5: Pricing, Contracts & Communication
Objective: Learn to charge what you're worth and protect your work.
• Setting your rates: hourly, per-project, value-based
• Understanding contracts and client agreements
• Payment methods and invoicing tools
• Setting boundaries and managing client expectations
• Professional communication tips (email, calls, follow-ups)
• Templates: Sample contracts and invoice formats
MODULE 6: Managing Projects & Time
Objective: Stay productive, organized, and reliable as a freelancer.
• Time management techniques for freelancers
• Tools for task and time tracking
• Dealing with multiple clients
• Keeping clients informed and engaged
• Staying motivated and avoiding burnout
• Bonus: Handling revisions and difficult clients professionally
MODULE 7: Building Your Brand & Growing Your Career
Objective: Scale your freelancing career and build long-term success.
• Personal branding and online presence
• Client retention and building a referral network
• Asking for testimonials and reviews
• Upskilling and specialization
• When to raise your rates
• Transitioning to a full-time freelance or small business model
MODULE 8: Finances, Taxes, and Legal Basics for Freelancers
Objective: Learn how to manage money, comply with legal requirements, and
protect yourself professionally.
• Managing Freelance Income
• Budgeting & Saving
• Pricing with Taxes in Mind
• Freelance Tax Basics
• Legal Basics
• Invoicing & Payments
BONUS MODULE: Freelancing Pitfalls to Avoid
Objective: Avoid common mistakes new freelancers make.
• Over and undervaluing your work
• Taking on every job
• Poor communication habits
• No written agreements
• Lack of consistent self-promotion
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