How to Get The 1st Freelancing Client Without Appearing Desperate?

The other day, someone asked me in the comment section,

How to convince clients as a 1st time service provider freelancer, to make him trust us on handling & executing the work without coming across as too desperate????

Well...

This is a very good question. I understand what you mean, and the helpless feeling that you feel right now.

To give a background to all of you, I've been a freelance graphic designer for 2 years now. It was not an easy journey, and I could talk about all the negativities in this job, but that's not what we are going to do today...

My point is, nothing is easy at the start of everything.

I was working 10-14 hours a day, I did not earn as much as I do today, my head felt like exploding, and I felt like giving up all the time.

So keep these things in mind, because these things might happen to you, but I don't want you to give up.

To answer Mohib's question, here are my key points, on how to get the 1st clients without appearing too desperate.

1. Experience

At the start of my journey as a freelance designer, I approached business owners, to help them with their social media designs, and I was willing to do it for free.

Because I had no experience as a freelancer, I won't even hire myself if I am a client. So the only solution to get experience was to do it for free or at the lowest rate.

Remember, I was approaching them, so I can help them. Not that I needed their help. This is where you can mask being desperate. Get values, by offering values. It was a win-win situation for both sides.

I could suggest that you ask your family and friends to make you do some tasks.

Later, use the works as a portfolio for your future clients to see.

Get used to offering services during this time, and understand the art of entertaining people professionally. You will get many types of clients in the future, so get ready to toughen yourself up!

Just remember that... no one likes an empty can. Make your works speak for itself. Have some experiences. Have proofs that you can do what you offer.

2. Portfolio

I am not sure, what is Mohib's services as a freelancer, but, it doesn't matter what is the industry, you must have a strong portfolio, to make people trust you.

As a graphic designer, I was doing self-initiated passion projects, to display in my portfolio. What that means is... I imagined a company, I acted as the client, and then gave myself the design problems. Later, I solved every design problem the business needed.

If you want to be a freelance copywriter, start writing blogs on a niched topic you like, and post them online. When you want to get hired, link your client to the works.

If you offer transcription services, have samples of your work on your website or in Google Drive. Same as Virtual Assistance job, get a platform where you can show satisfied previous clients and your work samples. Seeing is believing. And a good portfolio focuses on quality, not quantity. Only display your proudest work and what you want to offer in your services.

3. Certifications

Another method I used to get clients is to join as many certification courses as I can. Not only does this offer confidence to your future clients that you know what you are doing, but it also offers you confidence because you now know more than before.

So no matter what you face in the job, you can solve it according to what was taught in the courses. As the saying goes, the bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch but on its own wings

There are many ways to get online courses for free like Hubspot, Coursera, Google Digital Garage, Skillshop by Google, and even Harvard!

4. Boosted Ads

Depending on your skills, you can use social media to advertise your services. I used to do this myself, and promote my services in developed cities in the country, where my industry is most appreciated.

On Facebook, you can use this button.

For Instagram, you can use this button.

You do need a business account because you are paying these platforms to advertise your services to other social media users.

I got my biggest client for my 1st month of freelancing from this method.

5. Word of Mouth(WOM)

WOM is one of the best marketing styles you can have for any business.

If you post your work online, and one of your followers sees it, they can introduce you to their friends who need helps from your services. The key to this marketing style is just to put yourself out there and create a good reputation for yourself. You can do personal branding and make a noise to people out there to let them know you are doing this or that service.

6. Upwork or Fiverr

I've heard so many people struggle to get started on these freelancing platforms. No one seems to hire you if you have no proof of previous hires and feedback.

So one of the best solutions I've heard someone share online was to get a client from a local business and tell them to hire you through Upwork or Fiverr. Not only this method is safer due to the payment security of the platform, but it also creates proof of previous experience on your profile. Thus creating a reputation and attracting future clients without needing to appear desperate.

I think that is all I can share for now from my experiences.

I hope that this is helpful for you. If it did, comment CORN 🌽 in the comment section!

If you have any others questions please let me know, or which topic you would like to know next. I am here happy to help.