Top Trick for Getting New Clients as a Freelancer
Ғылым және технология
If you're wanting to become a freelance web developer, the most pressing challenges typically revolve around getting new clients. When I initially launched my freelance business I struggled to acquire customers. However after a few months of trudging through the traditional channels I discovered a great solution that resulted in generating over $290,000 in revenue last year. And it's what I want to discuss today.
Let's begin by reviewing the list of options for where you can find new clients as a software developer. I've read countless blog posts and a number of books on the subject, and the following were the most popular recommendations.
Friends and family. This may seem like a natural place to start, however it's been my experience that friends and family typically expect you to work for free or incredibly cheap. This channel can be good if you're just starting out and you need to build a portfolio, however it is not scalable and usually not too profitable.
Network events. For networking you can join your local chamber of commerce or find networking groups where you can promote your business. This approach can work well in some cases. However each time I've tried it I've discovered that there were already several other developers attending working on getting new clients for their own freelance businesses. I wouldn't let my experience with this option stop you from trying it, but make sure you're prepared to compete with others. I remember attending a chamber of commerce "meet and greet" a few years ago. When everyone around the room introduced themselves and their business, there were half a dozen freelance developers, who were all offering the same services.
Outsourcing services. This is the option that I want to focus on today. Interestingly enough I was told by a number of freelance "experts" that this avenue was too difficult. However I found a great way to use it for getting new clients as a freelancer.
Like I already mentioned, I had a difficult time in the beginning getting new clients. Using services such as Odesk and Elance (which have now merged and are now Upwork) were especially challenging. Even though I had a solid portfolio and a decade of experience I couldn't get a single client. Some of the challenges were the following:
I didn't have any ratings or reviews. Not many clients are willing to take a risk on a developer without some type of recommendation from others.
I was priced higher than the majority of other freelancers. The majority of the freelance teams marketing services on outsourcing sites are offshore. This meant that I was having to compete against developers offering to work for, at times, 90% cheaper than my rate. I charge $100 per hour, while the majority of offshore teams are charging $10-$20 per hour.
I didn't have the time to pitch each potential client. In regard to marketing my freelance services, I was very streaky. I would get motivated for a few days and send out a large number of pitches. And then I would get depressed that I wasn't getting any replies and I wouldn't send any proposals for weeks.
After struggling for a few months I knew I didn't have any control over challenges #1 or #2. However I could do something about #3. I was working a full time job at the time, while also attending grad school, so my time was very limited. With that in mind I came up with a marketing system. And it actually worked!
Since I'm a little bit on the stubborn side it took me a while to admit it, but I finally came to terms with the fact that I wasn't getting new clients as a freelancer. Especially with the methods that I'd been trying up to that time. So I put a plan into action that involved hiring some freelancers of my own. I assembled a team that helped fill in my weak areas.
In order to start getting new clients as a freelancer I knew I had to have clearly written proposals that described my services. And I also knew that the proposals would have to be sent out 24/7.
With that in mind I researched sales copy writers on Upwork and hired a talented marketer who created three different proposals that I could use. This included sales copy that advertised my: experience, portfolio, and expertise as a developer. I had three versions created because I wanted each one to be targeted to a specific type of project. For example, one of the proposals focused on enterprise projects. Another proposal was targeted at building APIs. While the third had content geared toward startups.
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Пікірлер: 87
the video starts at 3:20
@timnik8588
4 жыл бұрын
So fking sick of this people, who make their videos so long and 75% of the video is full of useless information..
Outsourcing the sales on upwork ? Ingenious! Such a Good idea I had to subscribe !
Great suggestions, I'll be implementing some of this for sure and see how it goes.
Thank you very much for the information! I just joined upwork and was curious if it was a path I should invest in. Great content, Thank you again!
this video is such an eye opener at it was uploaded on my birthday, this is the key to unlock the next level for my career
Many of us already know outsourcing works well but you didnt mention anything as other comments asking here is that - How that guy from UpWork found the clients, what was the systems used and how he ended up getting so many clients? This is what we want to know when we are looking for videos on how to get clients!
@ncrockbloom3122
6 жыл бұрын
Stop asking the real questions !!!!
@BirgitDeubner
6 жыл бұрын
It seems simple to me. The 'system' was somebody else was available full time to do the searching. He paid somebody else $6.50 per hour to full time comb through potential projects/clients with the proposals that he paid somebody else to write for him. The person doing the searching was able to dedicate full time to the job hunt search, while the guy in the video himself is spending his time full time earning a much higher hourly wage in his full time job. Only when he has the leads that his hired job hunting person found him, only then does he drop the other paid work. He didn't find these jobs himself because it is too time consuming at first, in relation to how much more immediate financial value he can get out of his time investment at existing work. I think he did gloss over how he eventually got the firsts jobs without having reviews, but I suspect he did a handful of jobs for cheap to deal with that problem.
@Jaafar_Alkhalifa
4 жыл бұрын
@@BirgitDeubner Where was he searching ?? That's the question. Did he joined freelancing sites and started submitting proposals ? Or joined Facebook groups ? Or Twitter or what exactly ??,
@BirgitDeubner
4 жыл бұрын
@@Jaafar_Alkhalifa Both.
@seorulez
4 жыл бұрын
@@BirgitDeubner how someone submitted proposals on behalf of him in upwork?
Excellent advice!
Thanks a lot for this great content. I have just seen a light. Thanks again
@edutechional
4 жыл бұрын
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
This is a very helpful video, thank you very much I have been stuck on exactly how to get clients and if I am going to go door-to-door physically to each business what do I hand them, a press kit? Some sort of folder with printouts of my services. It’s also confusing, I was trying to find a link for the course that you speak about in this video. Is that still available?
Thank you so much for this I’m exactly in this place
@edutechional
3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
this is helpful. 😊
fantastic video
Love the video, just one question, that person you hired to find work for you on ELance (upwork) how did hi find jobs for you that rate over 100$ if you couldn't do it? Are there jobs like that on Upwork? I'm from a bit different field, I work as an illustrator and lately I have hard time finding clients. Thank you anyhow!
Well said ..Freelancer business need lots of dedication..Not a quick rich scheme
Hey bud. Enjoyed your video. Nice guide :)
@edutechional
5 жыл бұрын
I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
it doesn't matter if you have 100 people who do the same thing as people go with the people they connect with the most on an emotional level. Another thing is everyone does things differently and many of my referrals come from people who offer the same service as I do but don't want to take on a particular project because either it's not interesting for them, not in their niche, they already have more work than they can handle, it's not enough pay for them or the project is too small or too big for them. I would not be discourage by competition if anything this is validation that it's a popular service that fills a need.
Very true, that's what I did as well. In fact I have a team of freelancers that work with me and we build up sales teams , marketing teams etc. Your Personal Workforce is the organization I made so that people can cut short their search. And you are right, it has to start from zero, you have to acknowledge that you need help and then you'll grow
@edutechional
6 жыл бұрын
Absolutely!
@nicolejsaunders
5 жыл бұрын
I've thought of this too. Why not hire out what you're not the best at so that your company can grow... I've always had the sense that I'm failing because I'm trying to do it all.
@danielempire3381
5 жыл бұрын
Sergio Savic yeah bro
Great content. I do all of this myself. I am an ex programmer and now do Business Development for very large fees in a very specific area. I create new clients by providing expert "cold calls". That is,. I really understand what the client might need and make a specific pitch towards their needs. It works incredibly well but I don't use tools like freelancer or outsource my material. You have given me very good food for thought however. Thanks!
@hmohammed33
6 жыл бұрын
What I don't get is how you identify someone as a lead in order to make the "cold call"? How do I find a potential lead and find out their problem to solve?
Good advice but sometimes the demand depends on what service you do
That's a very informational video, I am also working on a startup especially on upwork, and I am satisfied with your idea, but I am new in hiring and agency working and need guidance, can you help me a little, thanks
smart stuff
This has been very helpful. Do you have any recommendations where you can a reliable virtual assistant? I'm assuming that what "Sai" is?
@edutechional
4 жыл бұрын
I found him on Upwork.
This is very helpful... but.. it's hard when you don't have the projects coming in to pay for outsourcing.. Any tips? I've tried hiring someone overseas but I've never been able to find someone who's english is great...
@edutechional
4 жыл бұрын
I'd had really good success with hiring virtual assistants from the Philippines. English was their first language and they did a great job conversing with potential clients and their rates were affordable.
@nicolesaunders081
4 жыл бұрын
edutechional awesome. I guess it just takes some digging. Thanks!
Thanks sri
It's policy violation to share your profile with other freelancers, How come you did that? Might they be caught the IP and suspended your profile?
Hi Jordan, so did you do freelance while you were the cto of devcamp? Or were working for some company and freelancing on the side? May I ask how many hours you worked a week?!
@AJ-rs3ub
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you
@edutechional
6 жыл бұрын
No, my current schedule doesn't allow for it. But I did in previous jobs. And I worked nonstop, probably around 90-100 hours a week.
@AJ-rs3ub
6 жыл бұрын
edutechional I’m going to do this and see what it really takes. I’m doing freelance full time and it’s spotty. At times I get discouraged. Like I want to commit fully 90+ to freelance but I don’t think I have the discipline yet. What’s your take on my situation? How did you build such excellent work ethic? Thank you
Hi. How are you? Great video! I have a question for you. Could you explain how sai (your virtual assistant) started bidding on Upwork? Did you create a Upwork profile just for him? Did you give him your own upwork account? ( Would this be dangerous, couldnt he steal your profile/upwork money etc). Maybe you started an agency account. Could you explain this in more detail? Thank you!
@edutechional
4 жыл бұрын
I created an agency account with multiple accounts, he used his own in the agency account.
how did you outsource this SY to bid on the projects ? did you gave him access to your upwork account which is not allowed as i know ?
@edutechional
7 жыл бұрын
I have an agency account that can have multiple users.
@karaboll47
7 жыл бұрын
unfortunately, freelancer .c om don't have that service and I reached my maximum income to around 3 k a month , get projects finish them then try to find new ones,so always a gap that i cant avoid.do you have any suggestions on that. thanks
@ajjukalu9684
5 жыл бұрын
@@karaboll47 i can do marketing for you if you want..
Bro your gold thanks
You mentioned that when you started getting too much work you started to hire other developers to take on the work you couldn't handle. Did the clients know about this? Feel like if a client hires a freelancer they would expect that particular freelancer to do the work?
@edutechional
5 жыл бұрын
Oh yes, I always tell the client when I'm bringing someone on and make it clear which tasks they're working on. Transparency is key.
Wish I had the money to do this...
What happened when you ran out of connects? Would only take a few hours for that to happen. Did you pay for more?
@GauravImon
4 жыл бұрын
Dear Clients: My job: Video Editor/KZread channel Manager/website/SEO/Graphic Designer Rate: 4$/Hr Whatsapp: +917061743998 Email: gauravfreelancer007@gmail.com
Brilliant
@edutechional
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
I have experience as a recruiter
Hard work paid you off, glad :) I would appreciate if you could refer the VA from Philippine. Its hard to find serious people who offers valuable services. Thank you.
@edutechional
6 жыл бұрын
You can search for him on Upwork, his name is Trinity Sy.
@dhyadxb3418
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot!
@GauravImon
4 жыл бұрын
@@edutechional Dear Clients: My job: Video Editor/KZread channel Manager/website/SEO/Graphic Designer Rate: 4$/Hr Whatsapp: +917061743998 Email: gauravfreelancer007@gmail.com
hello sir ..I am a graphic designer ...I want to work with you
I would like to be part of your team. Can i join?
@danielempire3381
5 жыл бұрын
amar patil hey
Software development and graphic design are notoriously bad markets to be in on Upwork. Those are the markets where Indian and Filipinos can undercut.
@edutechional
5 жыл бұрын
I had quite a bit of success with it and got some great clients. Many clients on sites like Upwork are specifically looking for domestic developers.
@testingbeta7169
5 жыл бұрын
and that's what the client get for being cheap. here are real quotes from clients, 1 - "I wish my other guy (indian) was reliable like you, he disappear for weeks" 2 - (this is funny) "Can you contact XXX (and indian again) on skype id xxx he is not responding to my messages" - the indian guy than used excuse of earthquake which wasent even in the area he was claiming :P These are the clients often trying to get the cheapest rates from those who offer it ( I personally command higher than other freelacners from my country, because Im both experienced qualified and reliable and I'm not contentmill or passing work to cheaper freelancers)
hello sir ..i am a graphic designer ...i wont to work with you
Very helpful, thank you! I'm trying to start my own graphic designer business and quit my day job at the agency. Freelance is hit or miss, and I'm afraid to take the leap without a solid client base. THANKS again for sharing. Jen www.JensCreativeDesigns - combing the art of graphic design and illustration.
@edutechional
5 жыл бұрын
I'm glad that you found it helpful, good luck!