What’s the most efficient way to get freelance clients except for things like fiverr.
Replies17
- I'm on Upwork too, cant say it's brought me much success, people just aren't willing to pay the fair price for freelance creatives. All my clients have been from my network recommending me which I'm incredibly grateful for. My industry is very small so building an honest network is more relevant than ever.
- @Peter Jackson That was what I asked myself, and honestly Upwork and Fiverr I just don't feel good about them and they don't have the type of clients I'm looking for or want to work with. And with that said does not mean its not for everybody. We just have to as you said be honest about the direction we will feel is the right way to go. I feel better about network online, social media and meeting people face to face. I have a background in cosmetics and am known from that so I will start there.
- @Ioana Luca thank you so much for this. I will be sure to apply the tips.
- @Brandon Airihenbuwa I got my first client on Upwork in the first month of searching and basically I did 2 things: I was clear what I wanted to find there, and was confident I will get there somehow. And I actually did a career change when I started with Upwork, so I didn't have any previous experience.But the competition wasn't as high then as it is now, that's for sure. So here are a few tips that I've learned along the way. I found the application itself to be very important when you're applying to a project/job on Upwork (and not only). Take the time to properly go through the job description, to research the company, and make the application all about them and how you can help them, instead of you, your skills, your experience (they can also see that on your profile). See if you can find something that would help the potential client in some way and put that in your application, offering suggestions/inshights. Show them your experience and skills by providing value. It doesn't have to be anything huge, but just something that is of the clients' interest and that shows your expertise and motivation.And also take a bit of time to have a complete profile on Upwork with your experience, summary, any kind of portofolio items you can add, reviews/testimonials you got from other clients (even outside of Upwork), courses you've done, anything that highlights your experience and who you are, how you work.Last but not least, at the beginning when you don't have any experience on Upwork (not sure if this is your case), it might be an idea to start with a smaller project, even on a lower rate than what you have set for yourself, can be short-term until you get at least one feedback and review on the platform for clients to see and trust that you are a professional. Or offer clients a 1-month trial to see your expertise (and leave you a review), after which you will renegotiate the terms. There are so many out there that are unprofessional, and I've heard many bad stories, so that companies looking to hire are rather skeptical when it comes to profiles with no ratings. Alternatively, check the requirements for Rising Talent, which could help you land your first clients even without reviews. And try to look for companies that have their own reviews as well, cause there are also unprofessional clients out there. ;)Hope this helps.
- @Ioana Luca How did you get the first, I have tried upwork and just couldn't figure it out. Do you have any tips?
- @Geoffrey Bunting My ultimate goal is to get a really good portfolio going with my own domain. I also feel like some people sometimes underestimate what you can get from early stages of platforms like Tik Tok, yes you would need to edit and shoot videos yourself but if done right with the right strategy it is really effective for getting a following. The way I see anyone successfully getting what they need from the platform for their business is to NOT talk about the business or anything directly but instead use the content you make to draw people to your site without even asking. Not sure if what I said makes sense the way I said it but that’s my take on it. As for The Dots the way you connect with people is very direct and gets you closer with people you connect with which is something I really like.
- Firstly, have a look at this https://uxdesign.cc/fiverr-its-bad-guys-it-s-bad-6b3ed2d78400 for why Fiverr isn't efficient or... anything but grief, really. As are all bidding sites like Upwork, Elancer, and Reedsy, etc.The alternatives? I'm actually working on an article about this which I'll link here when I'm done, but probably won't help with actively engaging clients. Depending on the work you do, you can get involved in client-based communities (self-publishing, for instance). But the best way to attract clients is with a killer portfolio and strong SEO.Unfortunately, we don't have much in the way of platforms to help with client outreach. The Dots could be good, but there are A LOT of cheap clients using it and it works better as a collaborative platform for artists - which is good; artists need a proper community.Freelancing is rough, especially for the unestablished. Budgets are declining, clients becoming cheaper and more entitled, and breaking into an industry dominated by unethical platforms like Fiverr is increasingly hard. Shit that works for one person won't necessarily work for another and a lot of advice out there is VERY outdated.
- @Guya Maggi definitely helpful thank you! Yes although we are more connected online now more than ever, word of mouth is still as effective as it always has been. Especially if you have a good personality it goes a long way. Thank you again!
- Hey Abass, excellent question I never get tired of reading the answers.Call me old school, but my favorite way to find clients is still word of mouth. It might sound very salesy, but pitching myself to friends, ex colleagues, friends of friends, people at my co-working space more often than not got me work. I owe few clients to Upwork tooWhat I mean is that every occasion of answering the question:" And what do you do?" can lead somewhere interesting. Calls might not come in immediately, but being a nice person, showing you like what you do (and that you do it well!) does make people talk about you and refer you to others in need of your services.Hope you find this helpful :) Cheers!
- @Peter Jackson I see what you mean. I feel like Fiverr doesn’t capture everything I could give and I think creating my site and distributing myself would be much more effective for me. Thanks!
- A lot of good ideas start with questioning bad ideas.You’ve identified Fiverr as the wrong direction for you.What is it about this platform that doesn’t align with your values?Why wouldn’t your ideal client use this kind of platform?Who are your ideal clients?Is there a way you can showcase added value to them?Is this really a question of ‘effective’ rather than ‘efficient’?
- @Ioana Luca Yes creating those networks is essential and I will definitely check out UpWork thank you.
- @Alessandro Novelli Yes I definitely understand what you mean. All those elements are key and making sure you stay consistent in the quality and always having something to resolve
- @Laura Hurst Thanks! I’ve been working on it and hopefully it works out great soon! I definitely agree showing the passion you have is a great quality.
- • Invest time and/or money in SEO for your own website (not an Instagram or Facebook page)• Share your work and talk about what you're passionate about. People don't buy products or services, they buy emotions. If folks can see you're passionate about your work then they'll be more likely to invest in you.Good luck!
- it depends by the services you provide, the problems you solve, your niche, your exposure, the quality of what you do and the impact your work has. Fiverr is the cheapest of the cheapest, and those are the kind of clients you are going to find there. If you are starting the best thing would be to work first for different studios, than go solo and get into the studios contractors lists.
- In general, the best ways to get clients is through freelance platforms like Upwork, social media groups like Facebook, referrals, networking, marketing your freelance business. For me personally, the easiest way was through Upwork, and once I got a few clients, referrals started to come in, so I didn't have to put so much effort into finding clients anymore.
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