Learning freelance skills has become paramount to the success of anyone who wants to land a remote job. Over the past 10 years, the remote work arena has expanded so much that a lot more people have started to work online. More people have become aware of the amazing perks of working online. As a result, online remote jobs opportunities have become more competitive than they used to be. Nowadays, to be successful in the online world, you need to have freelance skills that are in high demand. You also learn how to position yourself strategically to land the best paying freelance jobs, even as a a beginner.

Here is my number one piece of advice to remain on top your game and be competitive: master the freelance skills you currently have, and develop new skills. When I started working online as a side hustle, I only knew about translation. It was my primary job category, and I was happy with it. But over the years, I learned graphic design, photography, videography, creative writing, medical interpreting, etc. to say the least.

The demand for skilled freelancers keep growing, but this is good news: it means that the more you polish your freelance skills and get some, the more likely you are to land some of the best paying freelance jobs out there.

So if you are looking to learn new freelance skills for remote job opportunities, here are my top rated websites. Whether you’re into marketing, writing, web development or customer care, these freelance skills websites will help you polish your skills and make you more competitive in the online marketplace.

Freelance Skills Website: Coursera

Coursera is by far my favourite online platform when it comes to learning new freelance skills, for free. Whether you are in social media marketing, graphic design, project management, teaching, creative writing or music, Coursera has the course for you! It was the first platform that I used when I was first introduced to the world of learning online. On Coursera, you can sign up and learn any freelance skill for free. You also have the option to upgrade your learning by purchasing a course completion certificate at the cost of $50 USD (and above).

If you want an in-depth training in a specific niche where you can land the best paying freelance jobs (for instance, graphic design), Coursera also offers in-depth course specializations from reputable universities across the world (USA, Europe, Asia, etc.). Another aspect of Coursera that I love is the fact that they do offer financial help and scholarships for those who are unable to pay for the paid courses.

Top Freelance Skills to learn on Coursera: everything. 

Freelance Skills Website: EdX

Next to Coursera, my second favorite platform to learn freelance skills is  Edx. They offer a lot of free courses from reputable universities such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Berkeley University of California and many more. They focus mostly on technical skills (data science, computer science, engineering, etc.) but also have skills building in the fields of business management and digital marketing.

Top Freelance skills to learn on EdX: data science, computer science, coding, engineering. 

Udemy

Udemy is also a great platform, but they target professional adults and students. Their niche is more geared toward technical skills (engineering, coding and web development), but the courses are excellent. A lot of people take Udemy courses and land the best paying freelance jobs online (web developers for instance). At Udemy, the majority of courses come with a cost, with a starting price as low as 10.99 USD.

Top Freelance skills to learn at Udemy: engineering, coding and web development

Freelance Skills Website: Futurelearn

FutureLearn is a relatively new platform (founded in 2012), but has become very popular. They offer courses in a wide variety of skills (business and management, creative works and arts, social media, languages, tech and coding, health, etc.) I love this platform specifically because they have a lot of courses in the healthcare field. You can take free short-courses, in depth programs and online degrees. Even though I am a physician, I love going back to that platform to explore other areas of medicine, or just learn something new. The occasional new piece of information is always welcome. If you land one of the best paying freelance jobs in the medical industry (freelance medical writing, telemedicine assistant, medical proofreader, medical transcriptionist, etc.), having some freelance skills in this industry would definitely be useful. 

Top Freelance skills to learn at Futurelearn: healthcare, business management, teaching, creative arts and media

Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)

The Lynda platform is a subsidiary of LinkedIn, and has actually recently been renamed “LinkedIn Learning”. Because Lynda is associated with LinkedIn, they can recommend the top skills to learn based on your Linkedin profile. Their freelance skills set portfolio is very diverse: Lynda offers courses in graphic design, web development, photography and business, just to name a few. Moreover, with Lynda, you get a 30-day free trial to start with. After the trial is over, you need to pay a subscription to access their courses. Once you sign up, you have access to all these courses. You also get a recognized certificate with every skill course you complete!

Top Freelance skills to learn on Lynda: Almost everything!

Important Notes:

For each one of these platforms, there is a FREE option and a paid option. The great thing is, you have the ability to choose which one you want to opt for. Eventually, to showcase your freelance skills, I would always recommend picking the option that gives you a completion certificate. This is what you get to display on your profile or your freelance skills portfolio. New freelance skills will set you apart from the crowd. You will have a higher chance of snatching the best paying freelance jobs, growing your income and funding your dreams!

As the years go by, a lot of the common myths around working online disappear, one after the other. Now, more than ever, is the time to jump on board, secure the bag and start working online.