How to Start Freelancing with Zero Clients or Experience

TL;DR

To start freelancing with no clients or experience, define your services based on your skills and create a simple portfolio showcasing at least two projects. Use online platforms and communities to make your portfolio discoverable, and focus on creating value through advice or side projects to build trust and attract clients.

Transcript

this is what I would do if I'm starting out as a freelancer with zero clients and zero experience I'll start by specifying my offering I'm going to first list out my skills based on my skills I will list down the services that I would offer for each service I will write down a list of deliverables let me give you an example skills UI ux design work... Read More

Key Insights

• 🐕‍🦺 Specifying your offering and identifying your skills and services is crucial for starting as a freelancer.
• 🤑 Building a simple portfolio with at least two projects, even fictional ones, is essential to showcase your work to potential clients.
• ❓ Showcasing your portfolio online can be done through various options, such as websites, templates, and platforms like Figma and Behance.
• 💆 Getting discovered by potential clients involves being present where they are and providing value through platforms, communities, referrals, SEO, events, and paid advertising.
• 🏛️ Creating value for others, such as offering free advice or building side projects, can help build trust and attract clients.
• 📽️ Managing clients and projects effectively is important for success as a freelancer.
• 💁 Creating an all-in-one workspace, like a Notion workspace, can help with client management, tracking progress, and organizing important information.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do I start as a freelancer with no clients or experience?

Start by specifying your offering, listing your skills, and identifying the services you can offer based on those skills. Prepare a simple portfolio and showcase your work online to gain credibility.

Q: How can I create a portfolio without real-world projects?

Even if you have zero real-world projects to show, you can pick a product, identify design problems, and come up with solutions. Treat these solutions as client projects and showcase them in your portfolio.

Q: Where should I showcase my portfolio as a freelancer?

You can showcase your portfolio on a simple website, using template platforms like Webflow, or through links on platforms like Figma, Notion, or Behance. Choose the option you are most familiar with.

Q: How can I get discovered by potential clients as a freelancer?

Be where your potential clients are and provide value. This can include freelance platforms, referrals, private freelance communities, reaching out to past co-workers or companies, improving SEO, attending events, or trying paid advertising.

Key Insights:

• Specifying your offering and identifying your skills and services is crucial for starting as a freelancer.
• Building a simple portfolio with at least two projects, even fictional ones, is essential to showcase your work to potential clients.
• Showcasing your portfolio online can be done through various options, such as websites, templates, and platforms like Figma and Behance.
• Getting discovered by potential clients involves being present where they are and providing value through platforms, communities, referrals, SEO, events, and paid advertising.
• Creating value for others, such as offering free advice or building side projects, can help build trust and attract clients.
• Managing clients and projects effectively is important for success as a freelancer.
• Creating an all-in-one workspace, like a Notion workspace, can help with client management, tracking progress, and organizing important information.
• Continuous improvement, getting good at what you do, and repeating the process of getting discovered are key to finding clients as a freelancer.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Specify your offering by listing out your skills and identifying the services you can offer based on your skill set.

• Prepare a simple portfolio with at least two projects to showcase your work, even if you have zero real-world projects.

• Showcase your portfolio online through options like a simple website, template, Figma link, Notion page, or Behance profile.