When I first got into copywriting, I had no contacts in the industry. Even though I’d done a few freelance jobs for friends and family, most of them weren’t serious about marketing or advertising.
All my knowledge of the industry came from blogs and online courses, but all the tips I read said that “Networking” was vital to getting freelance work as a freelancer. At that time, I felt like networking was impossible I didn’t know anyone who could help me get my foot in the door.
When you’re starting out as a freelancer, it can be hard to find new clients. It’s even harder if you don’t have any connections in your industry. But it’s not impossible. When it comes to finding work as a freelancer, there are things you can do even if you don’t have any connections at all.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Building a network and connections is essential for freelancers seeking job opportunities without direct connections. |
| 2. Utilize online platforms like Upwork or FlexJobs to find freelance gigs even if you don’t personally know the client. |
| 3. Crafting a persuasive and personalized freelancing proposal can increase your chances of getting hired. |
| 4. Showcase your skills and expertise through a strong online presence, including a well-optimized freelance profile. |
| 5. Consider collaborating with non-profit organizations or offering your services to friends and family to gain initial experience. |
| 6. Building trust and credibility with potential clients is crucial, especially if you’re new to freelancing. |
| 7. Negotiate fair rates by researching industry standards and emphasizing the value you bring to the table. |
| 8. Marketing yourself strategically through social media, blogging, and networking can help you gain visibility and clients. |
| 9. Focus on continuous learning and improvement to stay competitive and thrive as a freelancer. |
Always Keep Your Portfolio Up To Date
To get the job, you will need to present your work in a way that shows you are capable of doing the job. This means that your portfolio needs to be up-to-date and relevant to the position you are applying for.
You also need to make sure it’s easy for anyone who is looking at it (including potential clients) to find what they’re looking for. Your portfolio should include all of your best work as well as any additional information like links and contact information.
Upwork’s Connect is a powerful tool for freelancers seeking new opportunities. By understanding everything you need to know about Upwork’s Connect, you can make the most of this feature and enhance your chances of landing your dream freelance job.
Save Emails With ‘best’ In The Title
You need to keep your portfolio up to date. This means that you’re sending out work samples and cover letters, and responding to every email that comes in with a polite “thank you.”
When someone asks if they can see your portfolio, ask them if they have time now or if they’d like to schedule an appointment later. If they say yes, then send them a link immediately (while also writing down their name).
If someone doesn’t have time right now but would like the opportunity to see something from your portfolio, ask them what type of thing(s) they might be interested in seeing.
Then send that person one specific piece of work (or several related pieces). And don’t forget – when someone asks for something specific from your portfolio, try not only sending it as a PDF document but also attaching any relevant links as well!
Get On A Podcast, Interview, Or Online Event
When you’re looking to get your foot in the door at a new company, it’s always best to start by reaching out directly and pitching yourself. You can do that by emailing the person or people who are running the show and letting them know you’d like to be interviewed on their podcast or online event.
If possible, try and use an email address that matches your name (e.g., if your name is Kate Smith then use kate@katesmith.com). This will help ensure there are no miscommunications about who has reached out and also make it easier for the person receiving emails from potential guests/interviewees.
The next thing you want to do before submitting a pitch is checked out their website most of them will have instructions on how they prefer submissions sent over with links included (if not just send it in as an attachment).
If all else fails just shoot them an email asking how they prefer pitches sent over so that way if anything goes wrong they’ll know exactly what happened!
Crafting a compelling freelancing proposal is essential for impressing potential clients. Learn the art of persuasive proposal writing by exploring what a freelancing proposal entails and how you can create winning proposals that set you apart in the freelance market.
Show Up To In-Person Events
- Introduce yourself to people and ask questions.
- Get to know people, ask for help, ask for advice, ask for a job and/or referrals (and so on).
You can’t just show up somewhere that has tons of talented freelancers without being prepared to work hard and make a great impression but the payoff will be worth it!
Connect With Someone Who Knows Somebody
You can also connect with people who know people. You may have heard this phrase before, and, likely, you’ve also used it yourself when trying to get a job or find an apartment.
It’s not just some catchy phrase it’s the best way to connect with someone who knows somebody who knows somebody else and so on until you finally get what you want.
Let’s say there is an open position at your favorite company and they don’t seem to be hiring anyone new. Instead of submitting a resume, try reaching out directly through email or LinkedIn:
“Hi, Patrice from Marketing! I’m interested in joining your team!” You can also reach out as someone else: “Hi Patrice from Marketing. My friend John recommended that I reach out.”
If possible mention something about how John knew something about her or her work experience that makes it clear why he thinks she would be interested in hearing from him/you (e.g., “John worked with Patrice back when she was still at Google”).
Comment On Related Blogs Without Any Strings Attached
Commenting on blogs that are related to your niche is a great way to get noticed by the blog’s author. Make sure you don’t spam the blog with dozens of comments, though no one likes that!
If you’re not sure if a blog is related enough to your niche, I’d recommend reading some of their posts before commenting. A good rule of thumb is: if it seems like this person wrote an article about something you’d write about yourself, then feel free to drop them a line in the comment section!
Post Relevant Content In Relevant Facebook Groups Without Being A Jerk (Or Like/Commenting On Other People’s Posts)
Share your content. You should share your content in the room, whether it’s a blog post, an article, or a video you’ve made. If someone is looking for something and can’t find it on your site, you’re making them (and yourself) look bad by not sharing the content that would help them out.
Don’t be afraid to disagree with someone when they don’t agree with your point of view. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean they are wrong or stupid! It just means they have different opinions than you do which are perfectly fine and there may even be some value in their perspective worth considering as well.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions; others will appreciate being able to help rather than feel like they are being bombarded by mindless self-promotion from strangers who keep asking them questions
But never take their time to learn anything about the person they’re trying so desperately (and unsuccessfully) at connecting with online instead of offline where relationships thrive.
Don’t be afraid of getting into heated discussions if necessary – sometimes these discussions can lead us down new paths people haven’t explored before which brings new ideas into our lives and ultimately leads us closer to achieving our goals in life.
As a freelancer, expanding your workload while maintaining client satisfaction can be challenging. Discover 15 tips for expanding your freelance work without losing clients to strike a perfect balance and grow your freelance career to new heights.
If You Give Good Value, People Will Want To Buy From You Eventually… Even If It’s Not Today
People will buy from you if they know that you’re the best at what you do and that no one else can do it as well.
It doesn’t matter how many times someone says “no” or how many rejections you get, if you give good value, people will want to buy from you eventually.
They won’t be able to resist your offering for very long because the more valuable something is, the more people want it!
Don’t Be An Asshole (People Will Remember)
You should also try to be a nice person. If you’re polite, people will remember you and want to help you out.
Email someone nice first, then ask for their advice or help. This is the best way to get started freelancing because most people are happy to help out when they can. And even if they aren’t in the position to hire you right now, they may connect you with someone who is hiring (which could lead to more jobs).
It doesn’t matter how great your resume is – if the potential client doesn’t like how you act and treat them, chances are slim that they’ll hire you for an interview or even reply at all!
Be respectful with everyone always no matter what – there’s always going to be one rude person somewhere downline on any given day but do whatever possible not let it affect your mood/actions towards others.
Because those around us all have different personalities yet similar experiences so we all deserve respect from one another regardless of race gender age etcetera; Treat others how we want to treat ourselves!
Email Someone Nice First, Then Ask For Their Advice Or Help
The first step is to email someone who will help you.
Emailing someone nice first and asking for their advice or help is a great way to get started. It’s also less scary than asking directly for the job you want, even if it’s only part-time or contract work.
Asking for advice can lead to connections that help much more than just getting the gig itself, but at least in my experience, it does not hurt your chances of getting the job you want when you do ask directly for it later on in your career.
The email should be short and sweet, explaining why you’re contacting them (e.g., “I’m looking into doing X type of work as a freelancer” or “I read something online that said Y might happen next year”). You don’t need an introduction you know each other already.
Make sure they know why they’d be interested in talking with you further before sending out any emails at all though; this means having some ideas about what kinds of jobs might interest them before reaching out.”
Have you ever considered taking the leap and transitioning from a full-time job to freelancing? Gain valuable insights from someone who did just that in their career journey. Explore why I quit my full-time job to start freelancing and how it changed their professional and personal life.
Wait For The Right Time (Then Reach Out)
Don’t be too pushy. Don’t be too eager to get a response. You want to have your first contact with them be as natural as possible, otherwise, they’ll get the wrong idea and you’ll come across as desperate or needy.
It’s OK if they don’t respond right away; that’s why we’re setting up a follow-up plan! Remember, this is a relationship you won’t win friends by being too pushy on the first day at work (or in any other scenario).
Similarly, don’t be too eager to help out where you don’t need to! If someone contacts you asking for advice or recommendations on how best to use their new camera lens/new microphone/new graphics tablet/etc., don’t just give them everything they ask for without thinking about it first.
Instead, take time to evaluate whether or not they need these things before giving them advice on buying anything else (which could cost more money). Avoid offering any unnecessary advice unless someone asks specifically.
Don’t Ask For Free Advice Through Twitter Or Email (Use Google / Quora)
I’m a big fan of Twitter and I use it to network and get advice, but if you want to be helpful, don’t ask for free advice through Twitter. If you want some help, don’t offer your services for free in the hopes that someone will hire you.
I know this sounds like common sense, but when I first started freelancing I was constantly getting asked by strangers for free advice via Twitter or email. This is because many people think that if they give away their knowledge then others will reciprocate with work opportunities or referrals (or at least exposure).
The problem with this approach is that most people don’t feel obligated to return the favor in any meaningful way and even worse, many will take advantage of your generosity and never pay back their debt!
Don’t Be Overly Salesy – Be Helpful First And Most Important
I’m not going to say I never tried to be overly salesy, but the truth is that you should always try to be helpful first and most important.
It doesn’t matter if you are trying to sell yourself as a freelancer or a product. The same rules apply. People want to buy from people they like, trust and feel comfortable with. If you come off as pushy or too salesy it will turn them off and they won’t take your offer seriously even if it might be good for them.
Offer Something For Free & Then Follow-Up Later
Giving something for free is a great way to get your foot in the door. This could be anything from providing a value-added service, like how I provided website maintenance, or even just doing some research for someone. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that can provide value without expecting anything in return.
After you deliver the service or product they requested and they’ve had time to digest it, wait a few days before following up again with an offer of some kind of service or product that might interest them (a different one than what you offered initially).
If they’re not interested in what you’re offering at this point, then let them know if there’s any other kind of work that would fit into their needs better for future projects, and thank them for their time!
Freelancing may not be an easy path, but it can lead to immense personal and professional growth. Embrace the challenges and reap the rewards by understanding why freelancing is hard and why you should do it anyway. Let this motivation inspire you to pursue your freelancing career with passion and determination.
Final Thoughts
If you want to nail your first freelance writing job, you will have to analyze the market and see what companies need. You can apply to any company by cold pitching them, but make sure you are getting a lot of experience with it before applying for a freelance writing job.
All in all, freelancing is a great way to make money while also doing something you love. But it takes work and persistence. And it can be a bit of trial and error before you find a good fit for you.
My advice would be to try your hardest, but don’t give up if something doesn’t work out. You have to take the bad with the good, and that’s just part of freelancing life!
Further Reading
Landing Your First Client as a Freelancer with No Experience: Discover practical tips and strategies to secure your first client and kickstart your freelance career, even without prior experience.
How to Start Freelancing with No Experience: This comprehensive guide walks you through the steps of entering the freelance world without any prior experience, providing valuable insights and resources.
No Clips, No Problem: Succeeding in Freelancing: Uncover effective ways to thrive in freelancing, even if you lack a portfolio of clips or samples. Learn how to showcase your skills and win clients over with confidence.
People Also Ask
How Do I Get Paid?
First, you should ask for the person’s Bitcoin address, which is a string of letters and numbers. Then, you can use an online service like Coinbase or BitPay to buy Bitcoin with your credit card or bank account. Once you have the Bitcoin, you can send it to the freelancer’s address!
Are There Any Risks Involved In Making Payments This Way?
Yes. For example, if someone stole your credit card information or hacked into your bank account, they could use it to buy Bitcoins on your behalf and send them to someone else’s address which would mean that they’d get your money instead of you.
You should always use strong passwords and two-factor authentication when signing in on any website that uses a password system since they make it harder for hackers to access your information.
What Should I Do If I Want To Apply For A Job But I Don’t Know What My Rate Should Be?
If you find yourself in this situation, check out our pricing page where we have some recommended rates based on experience level and location (we also have some tips on how to negotiate).
Why Is It Better To Work With A Person You Know?
It’s great when you can find someone who is a good fit for your business, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. If you don’t have the time or budget to find someone who fits your company culture, hiring a freelancer you don’t know might be the best option for your business.
What If I Don’t Trust Them?
It’s always a good idea to get references from past clients before hiring someone new, but if you still feel uncomfortable about taking on a freelance project with no personal connection, there are ways to protect yourself from fraud or theft in this case.
For example, consider asking for some kind of deposit before starting work (if feasible). This will give both parties more assurance that the job will be completed as promised and that payment will be made once it’s done.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.