How Novice Freelancers Can Stand Out Among the Rest

As a freelancer, I believe that major platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have become highly saturated. 

It wasn’t like that when I started freelancing a decade ago. However, the massive earning potential and the chance to be your own boss have been the major attractions for most people to become freelancers.

Anyway, I still believe that newcomers can easily get clients, but they have to be smart about it. Traditional freelance approaches rarely work anymore, and you have to cover an extra mile to stand out and attract clients.

In this article, I’ll explain my recipe for becoming a successful freelancer. And, if you’re starting your freelance journey, read on, because these tips will help you, for sure. 

So, let’s start!

Prioritize Your Clients Over Everything

One of the common yet significant mistakes that most newbies make is that they don’t prioritize the client’s needs. My experience tells me that when you make your clients feel important, they stick with you for a long time.

Now, you might be wondering how you can prioritize clients and make them feel important, right? Well, it’s easier than you think. You can start by not making them wait. 

For instance, every time a potential client reaches out to me, I reply to them instantly. Though replying to my clients on the go was a hurdle a few years ago, I’ve resolved it now. 

Even if I’m outside, I make sure that my smartphone stays connected to hotspot zones that come with Spectrum Internet plans, the provider for my home internet connection, so that as soon as I receive a client query, I can answer it and don’t make them wait.

Honestly, it doesn’t seem much, but most clients notice how you treat them, and it goes a long way.

Always Offer Something Extra

Technically, you should focus on meeting deadlines and offering quality work to clients. But, with hundreds of freelancers doing the exact same thing, you won’t stand out, right?

So, how can you be different than the rest of the people promising the same services and quality?

To start, you can offer something extra to your clients. For instance, you can offer multiple rounds of revisions or add a small service for free. The goal is to convert your client into a recurring one.

Having said that, I’d like to highlight one grave mistake that most new freelancers make. Don’t try to upsell your services when you clearly know that the client doesn’t need them. Most clients are crystal clear about their requirements. And, when you try to upsell your services, it might not leave a good impression.

So, unless you’ve a solid argument about how a client needs something extra, never try to upsell them.

Cover Your Niche Comprehensively

One of the best things about freelancing is that you don’t have to be a jack of all trades. You just need to ensure that you stay one step ahead by staying updated on new skills and services in your niche.

In my initial days as a freelance technical writer, I encountered a few clients who required related services, which I didn’t know about. And that is when I realized how important it is to stay updated and expand my services to cater to more clients.

Also, with so many online platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, Udemy, etc, offering courses, finding and learning new skills shouldn’t be a problem. Additionally, most platforms also offer e-certificates, which you can post on your freelance profile to establish your expertise in a certain skill.

See also: Why Florida Businesses Need Strong Legal Guidance Early?

Be a Networking Freak

Whether you’re a freelancer or a businessman, networking always helps. 

Speaking from experience, one of the most successful marketing strategies for any freelancer is through word of mouth. It happens when people close to you, such as friends and family, know about your services. Or, former or current clients, satisfied with your services, recommend you to others.

Here, I would recommend attending webinars, seminars, and nearby freelance or business events. There, you can find a lot of people offering or seeking services as you do. 

Also, besides a great learning opportunity about trends, you can assess different services related to your industry that you should be focusing on.

Let Your Portfolio Speak for Yourself

Naturally, most clients want an expert and experienced freelancer for their projects. Also, with so many seasoned freelancers available, why should they prefer a newbie like you over them?

Honestly, it’s difficult, but not impossible. If you’ve previously worked on some projects on any freelance platform, list them down and explain how you managed to nail them.

However, if you’re starting from scratch, you might need to volunteer to gain experience and projects to showcase in your portfolio. You can also create and complete personal projects with complex requirements.

Anyway, my point is to create a stunning and flawless portfolio that effectively explains your work quality.

To sum up, yes, freelancing has become a bit difficult than it was a few years ago. 

However, only if you’re smart about hunting clients can you easily excel and have a successful career as a freelancer.

So, these are some tried and tested tips that I follow to attract new clients. And, while they work for me, keep in mind that I’ve been implementing them for a long time now. So, stay determined and consistent in your efforts, even if these tips take a little time to show results.