Starting a freelancing career from scratch can be a big step. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are full of competition, and it may take weeks or even months to secure your first order. However, this guide will provide you with a roadmap to land freelance clients, even if you’re starting from zero with no previous experience.
5 Steps to land Freelance Clients
Step 1: Define Your Offering
The first step in your journey to land freelance clients is to identify your skills and based on them, list down the services you can offer. Your skill is your area of expertise, such as writing, designing, or programming. Your service is the tasks and jobs you offer as a skilled individual, such as writing blog posts, designing logos, or coding websites. Your offering is a full package of your skills and services that you present to potential clients.
For example, if you’re proficient in SEO, you could offer services like Local SEO, Site audit, technical SEO, On-Page SEO, Keyword Research, etc. Each service could include deliverables like keyword optimization, meta tag adjustments, link-building strategies, content creation, website audits, and performance reports defining your offering. It’s beneficial to research how other freelancers in your field are presenting their services. Check their pricing structures and portfolios on various platforms and websites to understand the competition.
Step 2: Build a Portfolio
Clients need to know what they can expect when they hire you. Most people won’t take a chance on someone who has no work to show. Therefore, creating a portfolio that showcases your skills is essential. But how do you create a portfolio without any experience?
Let’s say you’re a video editor targeting restaurants to create promotional videos. You could start by compiling a few stock clips from the internet into videos that demonstrate your editing skills. Ensure you have four to five samples of projects to showcase in your portfolio. This approach can be applied to any skill, whether it’s content writing, graphic design, or web development.
Once you have your works ready, you can add them to any website, such as Notion, Behance, or Dribbble. Remember, first impressions matter a lot in freelancing, so make sure your portfolio is attractive.
Step 3: Find Clients
The next step is to find clients. Create a concise one-minute pitch about yourself, explaining what you can do and what you can offer to potential clients. In this pitch, share who you are, and where you’re from, and include a link to your portfolio. Explain your services briefly and mention why clients should work with you. Keep it short and transparent, and mention that you’re new to freelancing and are offering a discounted rate.
Take this pitch and send it to all your ideal clients, whether it’s via email, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Create a lead list of people who might be interested in working with you and send this message to them. Aim to send around 50 to 100 emails or messages every single day. The main goal here is to showcase your work and get noticed. Learn how to acquire clients by sending effective cold emails in the video below on “How to Use Cold Email to Get Clients.“
Step 4: Create Value and a Personal Brand
Once you have a few clients coming in, the next step is to increase your sales by creating value. Post about your journey on social media, show your client’s work, share what has worked for you, and share client testimonials. This will create trust in the community and act as social proof for new clients. They’ll understand that you have worked on similar projects before and you can provide them with great value.
Step 5: Diversify Across Multiple Platforms
The final step to land freelance clients is to diversify and be available on multiple platforms so people can see you and find you easily. Once you have a lot of clients coming in, make sure you raise your price steadily.
For example, when you started, you might have charged $5 for a 1-minute video. Now, you might charge $100 for a 1-minute video. So, depending on how much value and proof you have, you can increase your prices. The best time to increase your prices is when you have a lot of work. Once you have enough demand for the week, you can increase your prices for the coming weeks. If you still get projects, you can understand that what you’re providing is still valuable for the new price. And even after increasing the price, if you still get a lot of work, you can then evolve from a freelancer to a business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, landing freelance clients from zero might look challenging, but with the right approach and determination, you can successfully navigate the freelancing landscape. Remember to define your offering, build a portfolio, find clients, create value, and diversify across multiple platforms.
FAQ’S
To attract initial clients as a beginner freelancer, it’s important to have a portfolio showcasing your skills, even if they’re unpaid projects. Craft an engaging one-minute pitch highlighting your services and offer discounted rates. Actively reach out to potential clients via email, social media, or job platforms, aiming to send 50-100 pitches daily.
Freelancers should offer services aligned with their skills and expertise. Identify your proficiencies, such as writing, design, or coding, and list out specific tasks you can provide, like blog writing, logo design, or website development. Research how other freelancers present their offerings to understand the market better.
Building a strong personal brand involves consistently creating value for clients and showcasing your work on social media. Share client testimonials, behind-the-scenes insights, and successful project outcomes. This establishes trust, acts as social proof, and attracts potential clients organically.
Yes, diversifying your online presence across various platforms is essential for increasing visibility and making it easier for clients to find you. Maintain an active presence on job boards, social media, personal websites, and niche communities to expand your reach and attract a broader client base.
