Freelance work is here to stay and Portugal is one of the best countries in the world for freelancers. In 2023, the Portuguese government issued 2,600 visas to foreign digital nomads who chose to live in our country thanks to its pleasant climate and tax benefits.

But freelancing in Portugal isn’t just for foreigners. Also known as independent work, freelancing refers to the practice of offering specialized services to clients or companies on a project-by-project basis. Content creation, web development, design, marketing, 3D modeling, or web security are some examples of services commonly offered by independent workers.

Although the concept of freelancing has been around for a long time, the pandemic has helped to popularize the classic image of today’s freelancer: a skilled worker, usually young and working remotely from their computer.

Being a freelancer

The term freelancer refers to an autonomous professional who offers services to various companies or clients, without being tied to a formal employment contract or a specific company. Being a freelancer means having the freedom to choose the projects you want to work on, set your own hours and often work remotely from anywhere in the world.

The main advantages of being a freelancer

1. Flexibility and autonomy: as a freelancer, you have the freedom to choose your projects and clients, which allows you to work in areas that really interest you and in which you feel most comfortable and have the most skills. You can set your own hours, organizing your schedule according to your personal and professional needs.
2. Diversity of projects and continuous learning: being a freelancer gives you the opportunity to work on a variety of projects with different clients and people. This diversity keeps the work interesting and offers lifelong learning. Each project is a new opportunity to acquire skills, get to know different industries and expand your portfolio.
3. Flexible remuneration and financial autonomy: you can set your prices based on the complexity and value of the projects, allowing you to negotiate directly with clients. With good financial management, you can plan and save during busy periods, ensuring stability over time

There are two ways of working as a freelancer:

1. Completely autonomous: you promote your work, attract clients and manage everything;
2. Through agencies: you don’t have a contractual commitment to the agency, but you do have to deliver work, production and quality. As in the previous point, you can choose the projects you want to work on.

How to work safely online

• Check the client’s history on the platform before accepting a job;
• Be extremely concise when defining deadlines, types of service and payments, documenting everything in writing:
• Avoid making negotiations or discussing important details outside the platform in order to always keep an official record of all decisions;
• Use the payment systems offered by the platform to ensure financial security;
• Be careful when sharing confidential information or intellectual property.

Areas where you can freelance in Digital Marketing

Development

In the field of development, there are a number of opportunities for freelancers who specialize in different aspects of creating software and applications:

• Web Developers: create and maintain websites that are efficient, responsive and aesthetically pleasing. Your work will help companies to have a solid and functional online presence.
• Mobile Developers: if you have skills in mobile application development, you can create innovative solutions for iOS and Android devices, responding to clients’ needs in terms of mobility and usability.
• Software Developers: by specializing in software development, you will create customized programs that meet the specific needs of clients, from management systems to productivity applications.
• Gaming Developers: you can develop games that entertain and engage the public, from simple mobile games to complex PC and console games.

Design

In design, creativity and attention to detail are key:

• UX/UI designers: focused on user experience and interface design, you’ll create solutions that are intuitive and enjoyable for end users. Intuitive and responsive websites require the work of a UX/UI Designer.
• Branding: if you have a talent for creating visual identities, you can develop logos and branding materials that faithfully represent the essence of your clients’ brands.
• Packaging: working with packaging design, you will create solutions that not only protect products, but also attract consumers and stand out on the shelves.
• Editorial/Print: you can work on graphic design projects for printed materials such as magazines, books, educational games, brochures and other editorial materials.

Marketing

Marketing is a vast and multifaceted field that offers various specializations for freelancers.

• Google Ads and/or Meta Ads specialist: as a specialist in the main online advertising platforms, you will manage advertising campaigns on Google, helping clients to reach a wider audience and improve their return on investment. It’s an area that requires constant updating of knowledge and best practices, but it’s also seen as a profession of the future.
• Social Media Manager: with a specialization in social media, you will create and manage content that increases the engagement and online presence of brands, who are looking for someone to keep their online visibility active, with the brand’s voice always in the spotlight.
• Marketing professional: as a marketing strategist, you will develop and implement communication and advertising strategies aimed at effectively achieving clients’ business objectives.
• Copywriter: if you have a talent for writing, you can create persuasive and effective content that resonates with your clients’ target audience, from blogs to advertising campaigns

Multimedia

In the field of multimedia, image is queen:

• Videographer: you’ll produce high-quality videos that meet your clients’ communication and marketing needs.
• Photographer: you can capture professional images for a variety of purposes, from corporate portraits to product photography.
• Video Editor: in video editing, you’ll work on post-production, creating videos that are cohesive, interesting and visually appealing. You can also specialize in video motion.
• Audio Producer: you’ll create and edit audio content for podcasts, videos, commercials and other projects.

How to become a freelancer at Scallent?

With a focus on bringing together the best professionals in various fields, Scallent offers a collaborative environment that facilitates project management, from development to delivery.

What is the Scallent journey like?

Much simpler than the Finance Portal.

1. Go to our website;
2. Fill in the form in the talent section;
3. Submit your portfolio;
4. Wait and show up for the interview;
5. Start working.

Scallent offers a hybrid model: you work on a freelance basis, which gives you the chance to choose the jobs where you want to make your mark, but you’re not alone. The right talent is chosen for each project.
Choosing a model like this gives you

• Conflict resolution: having an intermediary between you (or your work) and the client avoids the creation of small conflicts. And if there are any, you always have support.
• Less bureaucracy: simplified processes so you can focus on your work.
• Continuous evaluation and feedback: through satisfaction questionnaires, Scallent constantly evaluates the experience and performance of talents. There are always changes to be made in digital work, but having feedback and follow-up allows you to grow within your niche.
• Innovation and agility: Scallent combines the intelligence and quality of a traditional agency with the agility and innovation of freelancers.

Scale your talent

If you’ve made it this far, you’re ready to join the Scallent talent pool.