Make Your FIRST ₹10,000 Freelancing in 30 DAYS as Student

Table of Contents

Introduction :

Want to start freelancing with zero experience? Discover how to make your first ₹10,000 as a freelancer in 30 days with this step-by-step guide. Perfect for students, beginners, and career starters looking to earn online and grow fast.

By the end of this article, you’ll understand exactly how to make your first ₹10,000 as a freelancer in just 30 days.

Maybe you’re in school, college, or just starting your career — and you’re curious about freelancing. If so, this guide is perfect for you.

Let’s be honest: one of the biggest mistakes beginners make is expecting too much too soon. Yes, it’s possible to earn big — even ₹1,00,000 a month — but your first goal should be small and realistic. The most important thing is getting your first client, completing your first project, and gaining that first bit of experience. That’s what really matters when you’re starting out.

I started freelancing in September 2020, and I made my first ₹8,000 that month. A couple of months later, in November 2020, I earned my first ₹1,00,000 as a full-time freelancer. That moment changed my life — I decided I would never work a traditional job.

At that time, I was living with my parents and working from my own room, in my pajamas, with clients from all over the world. I was earning more than I had ever imagined back when I was a student.

Week “First”

Choose the Right Skill and Audience

To succeed as a freelancer, set realistic goals. Your first ₹10,000 per month is a key milestone — focus on that first.

Next, pick one skill to specialize in. Don’t try to do everything. People who focus on one niche — like Notion experts, graphic designers for brands, or web developers for e-commerce — earn more because they are seen as specialists. On the other hand, if you try to do a bit of everything (like coding, email marketing, video editing, etc.), clients won’t see you as an expert in anything.

Whether it’s graphic design, video editing, coding, or UI/UX design, the key is to pick one skill and start learning. Don’t overthink it. Choose one, give it a try, and see if you enjoy it.

For example, if you choose video editing, here’s how you can start learning:

Go to YouTube and search for terms like:
- “Video editing masterclass”
- “Adobe Premiere Pro crash course”
- “DaVinci Resolve tutorial”
Watch the top tutorials and practice by doing exactly what they show.
Learn the tools, shortcuts, and how to make quality edits.

Know Your Target Audience

In your first week, also think about who you want to work with:

Do you want to work with small business owners?
Recently funded startups?
Corporate clients?
Real estate professionals?
Individual content creators?

It’s important to have a clear target. As the saying goes: “A man who chases two rabbits catches none.”

For example, at my agency Market Up, we focus only on startups and companies who want to grow on social media. That’s our clear and simple pitch.

Research the Market

Once you know your skill and target audience, study the market:

Go to freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork
Search for roles like “video editor,” “logo designer,” “graphic designer”
Check what top freelancers are charging
See the quality of their work and what results they deliver

This will give you an idea of:

What your services should look like
How much you can charge
What clients expect in return

Take Notes and Track Your Progress

As you’re learning and researching, write everything down:

Use tools like Notion or even a physical notebook
Note down price ranges, deliverables, and client expectations
Keep track of what you learn, what works, and what doesn’t

For example, if you see people charging $20 for one logo on Fiverr, or $10/hour for video editing on Upwork, that gives you a sense of the market value for your time and effort.

Week “Second”

Build Your Portfolio and Show Your Skills

Now that you’ve started learning your skill, it’s time to practice and build your portfolio — even if you don’t have any freelance clients yet.

You don’t need real clients to create real projects.
Start by creating sample projects using made-up business names and ideas. For example:

Design a logo for a fictional coffee brand.
Build a homepage for a fake dog food e-commerce store.
Edit a video for a content creator you admire.

This kind of practice builds your confidence and portfolio at the same time.

Instead of copying portfolio templates or asking, “What should a logo designer’s portfolio look like?”, just create what feels meaningful and fun to you.

Examples:

Love flying with Vistara? Redesign their logo or website for your portfolio.
Enjoy staying at Taj Hotels? Create a concept website for them.
Admire a YouTuber? Download one of their videos, edit it, and add it to your portfolio.

This shows potential clients not only your skills but also your passion and creativity.

Where to Host Your Portfolio

Once you’ve created a few sample projects, host them online where people can see your work. You can use platforms like:

Behance
Dribbble
Vimeo (for video editing)
GitHub (for coding projects)
Or create your own personal website

Pro tip:
Buy your own domain (like yourname.com) — it costs as little as ₹500/year. Having a personal site instantly makes you look more professional and serious about your work.

Use No-Code Tools to Make It Easy

If you’re not a coder, you can use no-code tools like:

Notion (you can even turn a Notion page into a website)
Carrd
Webflow
Wix
Framer

Create a simple portfolio that includes:

3–4 websites you’ve built (if you’re a web developer)
3–4 edited videos (if you’re a video editor)
Sample logos or graphic designs
Any other work that shows your abilities

Make sure it’s short, clean, and focused — just enough to prove your skill and effort.

Week “Third”

Get Discovered and Start Reaching Out

You’ve learned a new skill, you’ve built your portfolio — now it’s time to find real work.
This is where most beginners get stuck. They wait, hoping someone will magically find them and offer work. That’s not going to happen. In Week 3, your focus must shift to getting visible and actively reaching out to clients.

Make Yourself Discoverable

You need to be visible on the platforms where people look for freelancers. Here’s how:

1. Fiverr

Go to Fiverr.com
Create a strong profile
Add gigs that clearly describe your service (e.g., “I will edit your YouTube videos using Adobe Premiere Pro”)
Use keywords people search for (this improves your chances of being found)

2. Upwork

Make a detailed profile on Upwork.com
Highlight your skill, experience, and sample work
Apply for relevant jobs daily — don’t wait

3. LinkedIn

Build a professional profile using your niche keywords (e.g., Video Editor, UI/UX Designer)
Add a short summary about what you do and who you help
Upload samples of your work in the ‘Featured’ section

Start Reaching Out to People

Don’t wait for clients to find you. Go to them.
Reach out to the people or companies you’d love to work with.

Tips for Successful Outreach:

Don’t just ask for work. Show what you can do.
For example, if you’re a video editor and want to work with a YouTuber:
- Download one of their videos.
- Edit it in your style.
- Send it to them saying, “Hi! I love your content. I edited one of your videos to show you how I can help. Let me know what you think!”

This makes a much bigger impression than just asking, “Can I work with you?”

Improve Your Communication

Clients care about two key things:

How well you write and explain yourself
How quickly and clearly you respond

If you can improve just these two skills, you’ll stand out from 90% of freelancers.

Find Emails and DM People

You can use tools like:

These tools help you find professional email addresses of companies or creators.

Then, start sending personalized emails or DMs that clearly show:

What you can do
A sample of your work
Why you’re interested in working with them

Week “Forth”

Create Content and Show Your Work to the World

If you haven’t landed your first client yet, don’t worry! Week 4 is all about creating content to showcase your skills and get noticed.

How to Use Content to Get Clients For “How to Earn Your First ₹10,000 Freelancing in 30 Days as a Student”

Let’s say you’re a logo designer. Recently, many big companies have updated their logos and branding — for example, Air India changed its branding.
You can create a reel or a post talking about the new Air India logo, sharing your honest opinion, and showing your own redesign of their logo and branding.

Post this content on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or even YouTube.
Tag the brand or company.
Many people, including potential clients, will see your work.
This creates opportunities — sometimes thousands of people watch such content!

Why Being Discoverable on Social Media Matters

Being active and visible on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter helps you get noticed.
For example, I got a teaching opportunity on Unacademy just because someone saw my videos on YouTube and LinkedIn.

You can:

Share case studies of your projects.
Show the journey of redesigning a logo or building a website.
Talk about what you learned during the process.

Daily Content Creation

Post something every day — it could be:

A before-and-after design.
A tutorial or tips.
A behind-the-scenes look at your project.

By doing this consistently, you build an audience and increase your chances of getting hired.

Summary: Your 30-Day Freelance Challenge For How to Earn Your First ₹10,000 Freelancing in 30 Days as a Student

In these 30 days, you will:

Learn a skill.
Build a portfolio.
Make yourself discoverable on freelancing platforms and social media.
Reach out to potential clients.
Create and share content to show your expertise.

If you follow this plan, there’s a high chance you’ll get your first client willing to pay you ₹10,000 or more.

Take the Challenge

Start today! Call it “30 Days of Freelancing” and document your progress on social media every day. Share your wins, projects, and learnings for How to Earn Your First ₹10,000 Freelancing in 30 Days as a Student.

This not only motivates you but also attracts clients who see your dedication and skill.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or need help, feel free to ask in the comments or reach out. Good luck — you’ve got this!

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