I found my first web design client by sending out a cold email. I was browsing landscaping companies near me on Google and came across a website that was only half complete. I was curious to find out if the owner of the website had plans to finish it off, so I decided to send them an (cold) email. Usually, sending out cold emails doesn't work too well. This is largely due to the fact that most cold emails that freelancers send out are not personalised, and so the person receiving the email feels that there is little attempt to actually connect with them and solve a business-related problem they may have. In my case, I took the time to do a bit of research on the company and identify the areas I could help them. From this, I drafted and sent my email and, as a result, they were impressed enough to give me a call and go on to become my first client.
I started trying my luck with online work in Upwork, then known as oDesk, back in October 2012. Freelance work was not that popular yet. There were only a few who has been in the market seeking for this unconventional type of work. I am a writer, and my niche is on tourism and travel. A friend of mine suggested that I try getting some jobs in the said platform. She joined before me having started less than a year ahead of me. She gave me the link and gave me instructions on how to proceed. The first batch of proposals that I’ve sent did not merit any response. It took me three more attempts before I finally received an offer. It was for a local resort here in my country. The pay was not that high, but it paved the way for many contracts to come. That was how I started building my profile. Many years have passed, and I am still writing happily. Looking back, I know that it was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life.
Buzz marketing entails getting your community so excited about your brand that your reputation grows. That's how I got my first freelance client. One of the online members of my community was impressed with my web content. This grew into trust for my brand. He hired me to coach him to boost the success of his business. He even involved a friend in forming the improvement plan. In this way, my brand's reputation grew more. Members of my online community have often hired me to coach them. If you want to get freelance clients, nurture your bonds with your community members. Buzz marketing works.
Freelance employment sites like People Per Hour, Freelancer, & Upwork, in my opinion, frequently receive a terrible rap. However, they can be helpful if you're just starting out, don't have a large portfolio, or aren't used to dealing with clients. Despite putting quite a bit of time & effort into bidding & developing my rating and reputation, Upwork is where I found my first client. But many of my visitors used these websites successfully at first before moving on to more significant & lucrative jobs. So don't discount them before giving them a shot. The next step is to differentiate yourself from the competitors & negotiate a fair price. As your reputation grows, more work comes your way.
I found my first ever freelance job on Elance, which merged with o-desk to become Upwork. I didn't do anything too special. I created a profile with some of my better work samples but didn't see to much traction right away. I later created an online portfolio to better represent my work and my personal brand. That really did the trick it seemed, because i started picking up work a few weeks after. That's was probably my first experience with learning the power of branding. IT was a good experience that set a lot of my mindset on marketing today.
I love what I am doing and I am absolutely devoted to the process behind my entire work. I was always concentrated to increase my level of knowledge and Facebook groups have turned out one of the best places where I could find a huge amount of different problems to resolve, and possess more experience in my field in a short period of time. This is how I find my first freelance client, I was resolving people’s problems in the group and some of them started to notice that I have enough knowledge to be able to resolve their problems. I earned their trust and respect because I was helping them and I was doing it right. The funny thing is, that I wasn’t even thinking about getting clients, I was just doing what brought me a lot of fun and clients were just a side effect.
Data Scientist, Digital Marketing & Leadership Consultant for Startups at Consorte Marketing
Answered 4 years ago
Years ago, I was tired of my day job and wanted to make extra money. So, I learned web scripting and some basic design skills. I mentioned this to a guy who used to spot me at the gym. His mother owned a jewelry wholesale business and wanted to put her business online. So, they hired me to build a new website. It was entirely relationship based and didn't require a portfolio or an assessment of my skills. I was extremely grateful for that gig, which encouraged me to expand my knowledge and to eventually go fulltime with a company of my own.
I found my first freelance client in 2009 after searching for writing jobs (in German) on Google. I came across a freelancer forum where an agency was advertising for a job to create product descriptions. Turns out Google was a great tool to find jobs even back then ;) We worked together for about 4 years and I took over a few different projects, one of which was the blog of a deal website (with discounts, special offers, etc.) as well as a blog focusing on news about energy and electricity.
I was preparing for the LSAT and had used a test prep service to study. I didn't end up going to law school, but had pitched this company for marketing services. Being a past student of their prep course, I think, helped to get me a foot in the door and some of my experience with the LSAT helped me to think about the customer when updating pages on their website and language used.
I found my first client in a WordPress theme Facebook group. I willingly answered a question from a user regarding a technical problem he was having with that theme and its builder. Then he wrote me via DM and I helped him with another issue he had. Finally, he asked me if I would like to build his website and I send him a quote.
I got my first client from Upwork by reaching out or pitching to clients. Initially, I did a lot of research to find clients that align with my niche, and this global freelancing platform helped me get one. I categorized the shortlisted clients based on their domain and built a template message. On the other hand, I sent samples of my work in every field. In case there was nothing to show, I would start a brand-new project in that domain and send them my GitHub repo to let them know what I was working on.
I found my first freelance client on LinkedIn. While it is not always the case, you will often find new freelance clients on LinkedIn. The best way to identify potential freelance clients is to look for companies that are typically hiring a freelancer – such as an advertising agency or a small marketing firm. Once you find potential freelance clients on the platform, it is important to customize your profile and make it as appealing as possible. Include information about your experience and qualifications on your profile so that they can see what you can bring to their business.
When I first went on Upwork, I would send out proposals to clients who paid well. I sent about 100 proposals without any feedback from them. That's when I realized that my main problem was that they didn't trust me because I didn't have any ratings. So I set out to get a rating. I started applying for jobs where the client seemed desperate enough to pick a newbie. All I was interested in was that rating so that other clients could trust me. This plan worked in my favor, although I had to write a whooping 4000words for $12.
Getting my first freelancer gig was the uttermost surprise for me. I was looking for freelance work at various freelance websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and many more. I was contacting businesses that need freelance work. Alternatively, I was applying to many companies on LinkedIn. Ultimately, I got my first client on LinkedIn. I mailed them my proposal and they replied positively. I was working on a similar project which helped me get experience. I believe they provided me with the gig after looking at my experience in the relevant field.
I learnt a few years ago to never underestimate the connectivity of social media. Well, it wouldn't be inappropriate to say that I bumped into my first freelance client on social media, even before I was able to start the conversation that earned me my first gig, I had seen multiple ads online from people who required the service of a freelancer. In all honesty, I never thought or even expected that freelancing would be one of the areas where I thrive, but I must admit that I'm more than happy with my current success and how easy it is to meet enthusiastic clients on social media.
As you enhance and solidify your skills, your ability to market that as a service should begin on day 1. Networking should become the gospel of anyone who wants to crack into the field of freelancing. Marketers, executives, and fellow freelancers are the biggest resource and will help you more than Google. Without your portfolio and ability to showcase your skill and profile, a client won't take up your offer. What you offer to the client shouldn’t merely be a service, but a thought-out business plan that analysis the gaps in their approach and how your work could fill the very same. Analyzing your output at each to attune your approach will help you land your first freelance client across different websites such as Upwork, LinkedIn, Twitter, and so on.
I met my first client on Facebook. I had posted some of my contents on a freelancers group wall. He took an interest in my work and sent me a direct message to that effect. We took it up from there, and I was glad to work for him. I have gotten lots of recommendations based on my delivery of the first gig. One satisfied client makes working for many more feasible.
The first website I used as a freelancer was Upwork when I was specializing in financial advising. The website's good is that it connects you to clients who want professional help. I used this to get my first client since it was much easier, especially in the internet age. I used this website for a while to raise my portfolio before going on my website, which helped me a lot.
In my role as an HR manager, I operate on a freelance basis. I used to post my skills, competencies, and flexibility to work routine on LinkedIn since I knew in such a professional networking place I could not lack a client allowing remote working. Sure enough, it took me less than two months after I put my open-to-work badge on to get hired as a freelance HR manager by my first client.
Upwork is a website where businesses and individuals can find freelancers for various projects. I found my first Upwork client by searching the site for writing projects that matched my skills. I then sent proposals to each of these clients, outlining my qualifications and why I was the best person for the job. After a few days, I heard back from one of the clients and we agreed on a price and timeline for the project. This Upwork client ended up being very happy with my work and even hired me for additional projects in the future. Upwork has since become one of my main sources of income as a freelancer.