INDIVIDUAL LEARNERS

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Digital Freelancer
Nanodegree Program Syllabus
Overview
The goal of the Digital Freelancer Nanodegree program is to prepare students to enter the digital marketplace by teaching key
skills to create a successful digital business. Students will learn freelancing basics and essential skills as well as how to build
their personal brand to start a successful online business in the global freelancing marketplace.

Learning Objectives

A graduate of this program will be able to:

• Successfully find clients and market their services to clients.

• Properly scope out projects to manage client expectations and create price points.

• Manage clients throughout the build process.

• Bill clients and receive payment in a timely manner.

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Program information

Estimated Time Skill Level

1 month at 10hrs/week* Beginner

Prerequisites

No prior experience is required, but it is recommended that students are comfortable with basic computer skills such as:

• Managing files.

• Using third-party online programs.

• Navigating the internet through an online browser.

Required Hardware/Software

There are no software and version requirements to complete this Nanodegree program. All coursework and projects can be
completed via Student Workspaces in the Udacity online classroom.

*The length of this program is an estimation of total hours the average student may take to complete all required
coursework, including lecture and project time. If you spend about 5-10 hours per week working through the program, you
should finish within the time provided. Actual hours may vary.

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 Course 1

Freelancing 101 & Preparing to Market Yourself

This course will discuss the fundamentals of digital freelancing by outlining the benefits and disadvantages of working for
oneself, as well as the main differences between working as a freelancer versus a traditional role. In addition to establishing
the mindset and skills of a freelancer, this course will teach how to market oneself as a freelancer by creating one’s personal
business identity and brand, using social media in a strategic way to find clients and creating a portfolio website targeted
towards client acquisition.

Course Project

Building a Portfolio Website that Will Get You Hired

As a digital freelancer, the most essential item to have is the portfolio website. A portfolio website
humanizes someone and gives the client a chance to interact with them in a more intimate way. It also
highlights one’s skills in the field by showing instead of just telling and allows the client to reach out and
contact the freelancer.

For this project, create a 4-6 page portfolio on a website hosting platform of one’s choosing. The website will
consist of a homepage, an “about” page, a “portfolio” page and a “contact” page. By the end of the project,
learners will have a functional, client-ready website that raises awareness about their services among
prospective clients, articulates their skills and services, and displays and highlights relevant projects from
their portfolio.

• Explain the difference between digital freelancing and a traditional job.

• Distinguish between the security of traditional work and the fluctuating nature
Lesson 1
of freelance work.
Fundamentals of • Describe the benefits and pitfalls of digital freelancing as a profession.
Digital Freelancing
• Explain the roles in which a digital freelancer may take on including boss,
networker, and self-advocate.

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 • Leverage marketing strategies in demonstrating a personal brand.

• Develop a thematic, professional brand to be used in communications to

potential clients.
Lesson 2
• Articulate one’s professional journey and motivations through an elevator pitch
Marketing Strategies to and professional description.
Set Yourself Apart
• Outline and document guidelines for one’s brand using marketing resources
such as a brand bible.

• Craft a personalized resume highlighting past projects.

• Create the foundation of growing a professional social media network.

• Develop a complete profile including a profile description, profile picture, and

highlighted and targeted interests.
Lesson 3
• Design social media posts on a social media site that highlights professional
Building a Professional Social achievements and communicate targeted interests.
Media Presence
• Initiate and engage in connecting with fellow social media participants to
market their freelance business.

• Craft professional responses to social media messages and comments.

• Explain how to design and develop a website targeted to client acquisition.

• Describe the components of a personal website to highlight personal projects

Lesson 4
to potential clients.
Developing Your Website • Synthesize the benefits of self-marketing via a personal website.

• Develop the prototype of the landing page.

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 Course 2

Managing Freelancing Projects

This course covers the freelancing project journey end to end, starting with how and where to find clients and ending with
the process of closing out a project with a client. It covers best practices for each stage in a freelancing project as well as
bootstrapping a freelancing career. This course draws on learnings from practical experience and considers a variety of
real-life scenarios and strategies that freelancers are likely to navigate.

Course Project

Working with a Mock Client

In this project, demonstrate the skills learned in the course by working with a mock client to practice the
initial communication stages. Manage the project by utilizing the project management process through
a tool called Trello and invoice the clients. Completing this project will help learners get comfortable
interacting with clients and going through different project stages.

• Utilize freelancing platforms to find new clients.

Lesson 1
• Create a profile on a freelancing platform.
Creating a Process to
• Send an initial expression of interest (EOI) to requests from clients by using
Source Clients
strategies to increase the chances of getting hired.

• Work with the client to create a project scope by applying freelancing best
Lesson 2 practices.

• Determine a pricing framework by deciding between fixed cost or time and

Negotiate a Project Scope
materials contract based on client needs.
& a Pricing Framework
• Formalize the initiation of the project including NDAs and service agreements.

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 • Use best practices and strategies to manage client projects effectively.
Lesson 3
• Adopt effective communication strategies and tools to keep the client on the
Managing Projects same page while working on their project.

• Assess with the client that all client’s deliverables are met.

Lesson 4 • Secure payments after the deliverables are complete.

Completing Projects • Send invoices to clients with all necessary information.

• Manage exceptions like a bad review from a client.

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Meet your instructors.

Melissa Hong

Founder at OMG Code

Melissa is a Top Rated Plus Upwork Freelancer, Velo Certified Wix Partner, entrepreneur, and
founder of tech company OMG Code. Melissa has attended UC Berkeley, studied medicine (while
learning Spanish) in Guadalajara, and has worked many places as a digital nomad. She believes in
never giving up.

Anupam Jain
Founder at Saathi Re

Anupam runs a tech startup using data science to provide information about social impact
organizations. He holds an MS in computer science from University of Southern California
and has spent more than a decade designing and building technologies for underserved
communities. He has 6 granted patents at USPTO.

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Udacity’s learning
experience

Hands-on Projects Quizzes

Open-ended, experiential projects are designed Auto-graded quizzes strengthen comprehension.
to reflect actual workplace challenges. They aren’t Learners can return to lessons at any time during
just multiple choice questions or step-by-step the course to refresh concepts.
guides, but instead require critical thinking.

Knowledge Custom Study Plans

Find answers to your questions with Knowledge, Create a personalized study plan that fits your
our proprietary wiki. Search questions asked by individual needs. Utilize this plan to keep track of
other students, connect with technical mentors, movement toward your overall goal.
and discover how to solve the challenges that
you encounter.

Workspaces Progress Tracker

See your code in action. Check the output and Take advantage of milestone reminders to stay
quality of your code by running it on interactive on schedule and complete your program.
workspaces that are integrated into the platform.

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Our proven approach for building
job-ready digital skills.
Experienced Project Reviewers

Verify skills mastery.

• Personalized project feedback and critique includes line-by-line code review from
skilled practitioners with an average turnaround time of 1.1 hours.

• Project review cycle creates a feedback loop with multiple opportunities for
improvement—until the concept is mastered.

• Project reviewers leverage industry best practices and provide pro tips.

Technical Mentor Support

24/7 support unblocks learning.

• Learning accelerates as skilled mentors identify areas of achievement and potential
for growth.

• Unlimited access to mentors means help arrives when it’s needed most.

• 2 hr or less average question response time assures that skills development stays on track.

Personal Career Services

Empower job-readiness.
• Access to a Github portfolio review that can give you an edge by highlighting your
strengths, and demonstrating your value to employers.*

• Get help optimizing your LinkedIn and establishing your personal brand so your profile
ranks higher in searches by recruiters and hiring managers.

Mentor Network

Highly vetted for effectiveness.

• Mentors must complete a 5-step hiring process to join Udacity’s selective network.

• After passing an objective and situational assessment, mentors must demonstrate

communication and behavioral fit for a mentorship role.

• Mentors work across more than 30 different industries and often complete a Nanodegree
program themselves.

*Applies to select Nanodegree programs only.

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Learn more at
www.udacity.com/online-learning-for-individuals →

01.06.23 | V1.0