I had wasted three years of my life in finding a freelance client

[khadush]

It was 2018 when I heard about website design and how can we make money by designing websites.

So, I spent one year learning it, and when the time arrived to earn some money by freelancing, I got the block because I could not find anyone who needed a website.

Maybe I don't have good networking, or I am from India, where people are not so techy.

Then the real struggle started because I started to chase the extensive shiny course which could help me land my freelance client. So, In finding the client, I tried out content marketing, cold email, revamping of website, hiring a copywriter to write persuasive words, branding even done positioning, but nothing worked for me.

Doing all these has wasted three years of my life!
Recently, I learned that client doesn't need a website at all.

They need a solution. Why am I saying this?
Because the agency where I am working as a website designer is only one year old, they don't have blogs on their website, no sales team and guess when they don't even have a proper website.

But, they have the projects of tops Indian companies; seeing these things made me realise that clients don't need a website.

They need results, and we can offer our service in my case (website design) to achieve that result.

 

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[tarunchaudhary]

It was 2018 when I heard about website design and how can we make money by designing websites.

So, I spent one year learning it, and when the time arrived to earn some money by freelancing, I got the block because I could not find anyone who needed a website.

Maybe I don't have good networking, or I am from India, where people are not so techy.

Then the real struggle started because I started to chase the extensive shiny course which could help me land my freelance client. So, In finding the client, I tried out content marketing, cold email, revamping of website, hiring a copywriter to write persuasive words, branding even done positioning, but nothing worked for me.

Doing all these has wasted three years of my life!
Recently, I learned that client doesn't need a website at all.

They need a solution. Why am I saying this?
Because the agency where I am working as a website designer is only one year old, they don't have blogs on their website, no sales team and guess when they don't even have a proper website.

But, they have the projects of tops Indian companies; seeing these things made me realise that clients don't need a website.

They need results, and we can offer our service in my case (website design) to achieve that result.

So what's next for you?

 

[ZF Lee]

This is why it can be a good idea to start the freelancing journey using channels where there are already READY BUYERS.
Folks who have to pay up first for every job post.

See @Lex DeVille 's threads on Upwork.

Sure, such places are competitive. But the benefits of an active marketplace is that you can see
what works for the good freelancers...client reviews from the job posts...plenty of intel.

For finding clients-- I'd recommend mastering one method first before you have more leeway and resources
to try out more independent ones.

So you can build some traction on Upwork or others first-- and once you are booked with some retainers,
you can try back the cold email thing.

 

[khadush]

So what's next for you?

Now, I am learning about marketing!

I recently learned that rather than offering your solution directly, know the client's problem first, then offer your solution.

To know the client's problem, you must find them and talk to them about their problems!

You must be a specialist in one field, so you start focusing on the problem.

Try to focus on the measurable problem, e.g., doing logo design for cookie shops is not profitable compared to doing a logo for a cyber security company whose yearly revenue is 100K and wants to increase it more!

 

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[khadush]

This is why it can be a good idea to start the freelancing journey using channels where there are already READY BUYERS.
Folks who have to pay up first for every job post.

See @Lex DeVille 's threads on Upwork.

Sure, such places are competitive. But the benefits of an active marketplace is that you can see
what works for the good freelancers...client reviews from the job posts...plenty of intel.

For finding clients-- I'd recommend mastering one method first before you have more leeway and resources
to try out more independent ones.

So you can build some traction on Upwork or others first-- and once you are booked with some retainers,
you can try back the cold email thing.

I already tried Upwork in it worked for me, but the income is not consistent because it's hard to win the proposal!
So, my earning is only $300

 

[tarunchaudhary]

Now, I am learning about marketing!

I recently learned that rather than offering your solution directly, know the client's problem first, then offer your solution.

To know the client's problem, you must find them and talk to them about their problems!

You must be a specialist in one field, so you start focusing on the problem.

Try to focus on the measurable problem, e.g., doing logo design for cookie shops is not profitable compared to doing a logo for a cyber security company whose yearly revenue is 100K and wants to increase it more!

I have recently started to learn Web Design and your post did raise some concerns for me. But then again, you can always identify the problems and face them head on. Web Designing can be profitable when you understand your client's business and its needs. That's what I learned from Fox (another forum member) and his book.

 

[ZF Lee]

I already tried Upwork in it worked for me, but the income is not consistent because it's hard to win the proposal!
So, my earning is only $300

Try thinking about clients who keep needing work done even after the first round.
One-off projects shouldn't be your only aim.

That way you can just win a few jobs....but the clients keep coming back to you.

For websites-- there are a load of other things they may need help for such as the eComm cart sequence, email design, maybe even SEO...

This goes down to filtering out great clients who have shown they are willing to pay good dollars...they outline the requirements of their job far more clearly than the majority...and have some decent reviews from other freelancers.
Sales is a filtering process.

These few months seems rather brisk with invites popping in from client types I would never imagine I'd write for (I do copywriting). I had the feeling with the recent corporate layoff waves...the folks are hiring contractors for cheaper on places like Upwork?

 

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