Freelancing. Sounds great, right? Work on your own terms. Be your own boss. Make money from anywhere.
But there’s a problem. You got no clients. No experience. No clue where to start.
Don’t worry. Everyone starts here. The first client? Hardest one to get. After that? It gets easier. Let’s break it down. Step by step.
Then, pick a skill you can sell.
What are you good at? Writing? Graphic design? Coding? Video editing? Admin work?
If you don’t know — as you should — then find out.” Pick something marketable. Something businesses need.
John always have a passion for photography. But making money from it? No idea. Then he found out about photo editing gigs. Started small. Photoshopped images for influencers. First client came in a week.
Lesson? Find a skill people pay for.
Step 2: Build a Very Basic Portfolio (Without Any Clients)
Nobody hires without proof. But what if you’ve never had a boss? Easy. Make samples.
Writers? Write blog posts on Medium.
Designers? Create mock logos.
Developers? Build a mini website.
Video editors? Edit a random clip.
Sarah aspired to be a social media manager. Had no clients. So, she ran her own Instagram like a boss. That became her portfolio. Clients loved it. First gig landed in 2 weeks.
Step 3 – Create a Profile on Freelancing Sites
Everyone is not going to discover and stumble across you. You have to meet your customers where they are.
Best places to start:
Upwork — Solid clients, competitive though.
Fiverr – For the novice, quick jobs.
PeoplePerHour – Combination of small and big projects.
Freelancer. com – Excellent for global customers.
Optimize your profile:
The training data is from up until October 2023.
Strong bio: “I create eye-catching logos, so brands can stand out with a great visual identity. Let’s create yours!”
Portfolio: Upload samples, even if self-created.
You got Mike, a new content writer; it took him four days to land his first writing job, with only an enhanced Upwork profile.
Step 4: Provide free (or discounted) work (but don’t make a habit of it)
I know. Working for free? Sounds bad. But hear me out.
Do ONE for free, to get a testimonial.
Provide discounted rates for first clients.
Overdeliver. Make them love your work.
One happy client = Reviews. Testimonials. Referrals.
Lisa, a graphic designer, created one free logo for a local café. They loved it. Sent her to three other businesses. Soon, she was booked out.
Step 5: Network Like Crazy
Who do you know? Friends? Family? Co-workers? Someone needs your service.
LinkedIn post: “Hey, I’m beginning freelance writing. Need a blog? Let’s chat!”
Join Facebook groups. Engage. Offer value.
Attend local events. Talk to business owners.
While attending a family gathering, Chris mentioned he was a web developer and landed his first client for a $500 project.
Step 6: Cold Pitching (Scary But Works)
This is because sometimes, you just have to take the first step.
Come across small businesses with terrible websites.
Email them: “Hey! I noticed your site needs a little bit of a makeover. Want me to revamp it?”
Keep it short and friendly.
Most won’t reply. That’s okay. A few will. And those few? Could be your first clients.
Jessica (brand strategist) sent 50 cold emails Only 3 replied. But one of them became her first paying client. Worth it.
Step 7: Leverage Social Proof to Establish Credibility
Even small wins? Show them off.
Got a testimonial? Post it.
Finished a small project? Share it.
Helped a friend? Highlight the results.
People trust proof. Show you can deliver.
Tom worked on a free project, and wrote a case study. Shared it. The following week hired a $1,000 a client.
Step 8: Be Relentless (Clients Won’t Appear Like Magic)
Getting that first client requires work. Might take days. Might take weeks. Don’t stop.
Send proposals daily.
Improve your skills.
Keep networking.
A virtual assistant, Julia applied for 10 jobs per day. Took three weeks. But once she landed one? More clients followed.
Takeaways: Just Do It, Correct as You Go
No clients? No problem. Follow these steps. Keep pushing. The toughest is to get your first client. But once you get it? Momentum kicks in.
Start small. Show proof. Network. Pitch. Stay patient.
Your first client is waiting. Go find them.