12 Best Tips to Getting Hired as A Freelancer

You work hard on your projects, you get positive feedback from clients, but the phone hasn't rung with that next client wanting to hire you. What gives?

Working for yourself isn't always glamorous—some days you're working harder than ever to complete contracts and other days it's like pulling teeth to find a client.

You also have to deal with inconsistent payments and clients who want changes every two seconds, while your favorite clients don't seem to have enough work for you to do.

It's these inconsistencies that make freelancing both exciting and frustrating. You can land a big contract all of a sudden or experience days where you feel like you're wasting your time. The goal is finding stability—being able to weather any storm with ease—but first, you need to get through those tough first few years and make a name for yourself.

Let's get started! Here are 12 tips to help you get hired as a freelancer:

1. Make connections before you need them

This tip is simple but probably the most important one on this list—network! They say it only takes one good connection to land your dream job, and they're right. You never know when someone will call with an opportunity that's perfect for you.

Be active on LinkedIn and make sure your profile is completely filled out. You'll be surprised by how many people visit your profile and even reach out for jobs.

2. Get a good portfolio together

The first step to landing any job, freelance or not, is having the right skillset. If you're not confident in your skills, nobody else will be either. Start by creating a portfolio that you can share with potential employers and clients.

You can build your portfolio right here on Vocal, on Medium, LinkedIn, or your own portfolio blog site to showcase your skills.

3. Customize your work for each client

One of the most important qualities to have as a freelancer is being versatile. You need to be able to adapt quickly in order to meet client needs. When you're constantly providing new solutions to the problems clients face, it's easier for your name to stand out.

4. Be proactive when it comes to following up with leads

It's easy to get discouraged in this industry since you never really know what kind of work is going to be available next month or even next week. The best thing you can do is follow up with leads as soon as they come in.

As long as you're not intrusive, you can reach out to lead a lead 3-5 times and ask them if they want to work with you.

5. Network with local businesses

Who is your target market locally? It's important to think about this since you want to focus on serving those clients.

By reaching out to local businesses you can build a reputation for yourself in your market. You can network with local businesses via networking events or by offering your services.

6. Be helpful

When you meet new people, what's the first thing they ask? How can I help you? You should always be asking that question of everyone you meet—not just clients and leads! Being able to recommend someone is just as valuable as getting a recommendation.

7. Pitch to the right people

One mistake new freelancers do is to approach random people to pitch their services. However, like any business, a freelancer should spend a lot of time finding qualified leads.

First, what do I mean by qualified leads? They have a need for your services, they want to work with a freelancer, and they have the budget.

Second, how can you find the right leads? Set up a Google search for companies in your area and make a list of the ones you think could be a good fit. Then, reach out to them with a customized pitch based on your research.

8. Make connections at industry events

Going to industry events is a great way to meet new people who can help boost your business. As you network, you want to start building a family tree of contacts so it's easy for people to recommend you in the future.

9. Be patient

Depending on your location and expertise, landing clients may not be easy at first. It all comes down to being patient until you reach that point where it just starts coming naturally. Don't get discouraged if it seems difficult—just focus on being great at what you do.

8. Be a trusted adviser

Your clients are going to come to you with problems that they aren't able to solve on their own. It's up to you as a freelancer to be proactive about finding solutions instead of just presenting a list of your services.

Reframe your services and interactions as if you're a consultant rather than a freelancer who's going to do a single job and disappear.

While there are many people who want exactly that, there are other business owners who will appreciate a freelancer who takes a more serious role.

10. Keep learning

The best way to stand out is with a solid body of work, and the only way you're going to continue building that is by constantly learning new things .

There's a lot more that goes into landing clients as a freelancer than many people think, but if you're willing to put in the work, it can pay off big time.

Read books, do online courses, and keep building your skills to improve your abilities and charge higher prices.

11. Don't undersell and undercharge your services

This is probably the most common mistake people make when starting out as freelancers. They want to lower their rates in order to gain more clients, but this isn't sustainable if you want to be successful long-term.

If you need to build your reputation by working for less, then do what you must. But at some point, you need to consciously raise your prices.

While you may lose a few clients, you'll be doing less work for the same (or more) money from clients who are willing to pay.

And also, people respect freelancers who charge a good rate. It tells them that you know what you're doing and provide good quality service.

12. You must know your worth

Your self-worth can go a long way in determining how many opportunities come your way.

If you're not confident in your abilities, then potential clients won't be either—and they'll search for someone who is.

As long as you have the skills and can create results, you should feel confident in what you can do.

Conclusion

Let's do a quick review of everything we've covered in this guide:

Your client isn't going to come knocking at your door—you have to go get them. It takes more than just being good at what you do to land clients. Networking is crucial for finding leads and staying connected with others in your industry.

It's important to build relationships with clients so you can get referrals and recommendations. Be proactive instead of reactive—offer customized solutions, not just a list of services you offer.

Constantly learning new things is crucial for growth and success as a freelancer. Don't undercharge for your services —it will only hurt you in the long run.

There you have it! Follow these tips and you'll be on your way to getting more clients as a freelancer.