How To Get Your First Freelancing Client

If you prefer to be in charge or are looking for additional income on the side, or simply need an outlet for your creativity, freelancing is the way to go. In this blog, we are going to look at how to get freelancing clients.

Freelancing is all about taking the first step. Your skillset is something that you best define. Only you truly know what your strengths are and how to use your skills to the best advantage. Understanding the flair for your passion is the best way to take the first step in nurturing your passion. That’s how you start finding freelance gigs, a continuous journey of rediscovering your passion.

When the newspaper was at its peak, freelance journalists and writers found a place to exhibit their skills. Coaches, speakers, and leaders freelanced worldwide, traveling to share their life experiences with new people. Now, there are innumerable opportunities for the freelancer in you, especially in this digital world.

Bonus Read: A Guide To Create The Perfect Freelance Project Proposal

Let's check out some of the best way to get freelance clients.

Setting Up Your Freelancing Profile

Once you have identified your skillset, the next and most crucial step is to set up your profile and build a portfolio. People have to know who you are and what you can do—having references and showing what work you have done is how you get freelancing gigs easily. They are one of the best ways to get clients to come to you instead of you reaching out.

Start by documenting the projects you’ve worked on so far, compile a word document with links to all your work, and create an online portfolio. If you don’t have experience, don’t worry. Read websites like Moz, Search Engine Journal, or any niche that interests you.

Mingle with other freelancers and establish your interest in the field of your choice. The best part about freelancing is that you can work for people anywhere on the globe.

Where Should You Look?

It is a great idea to get your LinkedIn profile sorted out. Connect with your friends and get in touch with other people in their network, let people know you are looking for freelance work. Promote your business on social media platforms and get the word out.

In the meantime, develop your skill sets by working on your projects or helping a neighbor out with the residential society newsletter. Put up a few examples of your work and let people see how good you are. If you’re just starting out, you should consider working for free, not the entire work but free samples.

Remember, when setting up a profile on any of the freelancing websites, you have to list your services and show how proficient you are in your niche. If you want to write about cars, be clear. If you’re good with photoshop, hyperlink to some of your creative work. If you’re a great video marketer, pin your success stories to the dashboard for the world to see. There are tons of websites that can has an answer for your question on how to get clients.

Here are some of the top websites to look for freelance gigs:

1. Upwork has been making a lot of noise recently, and for a good reason. It is quite easy to put up your requirements and find a freelancer. The competition is out there, and that’s a good thing. If paying a percentage of your income isn’t appealing, look at Flexjobs; they have a membership.
2. Craigslist has been around a long while, and they don’t even charge you, although we have all heard about the scammers. Be sure you don’t submit your details to websites that aren’t legit.
3. Fiverr is a great place to list your services. It doesn’t cost anything to list yourself.

Tap Into The Native Market!

However, if you get a freelancing gig from any of the top websites,  you would have to be content with just about 80% of your rate, even maybe less. But, as you grow, your value grows. The more research you do, the higher your chances of landing a freelance gig. But when you do land a job, be sure to stick to your commitment with quality work done on time.

A job search on Facebook or Linkedin will show you hundreds of listings for writers, designers, artists, and photographers in your locality. Freelancers can be part of groups with daily postings about a new work opportunity. Online groups are hands down the best way to get freelance clients.

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Read through the job descriptions and apply for the best fit gig. You may have to share references to sample work or take an assignment. But it’s worth it. Bide your time until you finally decide to follow up if they don’t get back to you in time. Finding freelancing gigs is about persistence, among other aspects that make you an invaluable resource.

Some friendly advice for a freelancing career

• Don’t give up – Keep at it. Try, fail, repeat, and succeed.
• Communicate – Let people know what you are about and what you expect in exchange for your services.
• Be proactive – Put your work out there
• Network constantly and consistently
• Put 100% into everything you do, don’t do it for the sake of it.
• Never bite off more than you can chew
• Stick to schedules and promised timelines
• Be professional, always
• Understand your industry and stay up to date
• Look for work on multiple sites until the work starts flowing in
• Don’t treat it like a side hustle. Treat it like a profession
• Last but not least, get in touch with other successful freelancers and get tips on how they got where they are

Once you deliver your first few pieces of work, it will take off. If you are good at what you do and have put in the effort, it won’t be long before people you have done work for start telling others in their network. That’s how your freelancing gigs turn into a lifetime of opportunities!

I hope this answer your question about how to get freelancing clients :)