Top Trick for Getting New Clients as a Freelancer

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.

Full guide: https://www.crondose.com/2016/07/lear...

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