Looking for Freelancing Tips and Tricks as a New Freelancer?
In this post, I’ll share some freelancing tips and tricks that I personally tried when I was just starting out. There were a few things I missed in the beginning, which made it take me six months to land my first clients. I believe these were common mistakes that many beginners make when starting their freelancing journey.
This post is especially for beginners who are just getting started and looking for practical tips and tricks to grow faster. The insights I share here are equally important, and if you follow all the steps carefully, you’ll greatly increase your chances of getting hired.
1. Choose a Niche You’re Confident In
Never choose a niche just because it seems high-paying or easy. You should always pick a niche that you’re skilled in and genuinely enjoy doing. Even if it’s a low-paying niche at first, if it aligns with your interests, you’ll have a much higher chance of thriving in the long run.
If you’re not sure which skill or niche to start with in freelancing, you can refer to this helpful article by Wethos: How to Find Your Freelancing Niche.
Can I Learn a Skill Within a Month?
Yes, you absolutely can. If you’re just starting out and want to learn a skill in a short period of time—like within a month—there are plenty of beginner-friendly options. Skills such as video editing, article writing, and social media management can be learned quickly and help you kickstart your freelancing journey.
If you’d like to explore more, check out our detailed blog on Skills You Can Learn in a Few Days.
2. Showcase Your Previous Work to Clients
When you receive your first message from a client, you’ll notice that one of the first things they ask for is your portfolio. You should always have a portfolio ready — even if it only includes the projects you worked on while learning.
Many beginners skip this step when starting out in freelancing. Then, when a client asks to see their portfolio, they’re unprepared and end up missing valuable opportunities that might have taken months to arrive.
So, make sure your portfolio website is ready and showcases your best skills and work samples. Even if it’s a simple website built using WordPress or another no-code tool, having a professional portfolio is essential.
When I started freelancing, I heard from a freelancer on YouTube that having a portfolio is important — but I ignored that advice. Because of that mistake, it took me an extra two months to receive another message from a client.
3. Avoid Being Greedy in Bidding
Don’t place bids just because a client has a high budget. This is one of the biggest reasons many freelancers fail to land projects. Beginners often start competing with experienced freelancers who have higher reputations by bidding on projects meant for experts. As a result, their bids end up at the bottom of the list and are never even seen by clients.
If you’re a beginner, always start small and keep your rates reasonable until you build a solid reputation. Once you’ve gained some experience and have a few satisfied clients, you can gradually increase your charges project by project.
4. Your Communication Matters
When I first started freelancing, I used to communicate with clients the same way I spoke naturally with others, without any professional tone or structure. Since I had no prior experience, I didn’t realize how important communication actually was. Over the years, I’ve learned that one of the most valuable freelancing tips and tricks is mastering how you communicate with clients.
There were several times when a client had a fixed budget, but through good communication and negotiation, I was able to get them to increase it. It’s all about how you talk and present yourself.
Let’s take an example:
Suppose a client says, “I have a budget of $100 for this project.” Here’s how you can respond.
Suppose a client says, “I have a budget of $100 for this project.” Here’s how you can respond.
Good Reply vs Bad Reply
Bad Reply: “I can’t do it for $100. My rate is $150.”
Good Reply: “I always aim to make sure clients get real value for what they spend. If there’s any flexibility in your budget, I can promise a result that looks and performs far better than a $100 job. Would that be possible?”
5. Check the Client Reviews Also
Over the years, I’ve noticed that clients with no reviews often don’t award their projects to anyone. On the other hand, clients with a solid reputation are much more likely to hire freelancers. This may be because clients without reviews are unsure or not confident enough to award their first project on the platform.
Since most freelance platforms don’t charge a fee for posting projects, many new clients post a job but never actually hire anyone.
I’m not saying that clients without reviews will never award a project — but the chances are quite low. And if you’re a beginner, your odds are even smaller. So it’s better to avoid such projects in the early stages of your freelancing journey.
6. Have Long-Term Client Relationships
When you get a client, try to turn that connection into a long-term relationship by earning their trust. Sometimes, clients might ask you to take on projects with a lower budget — and that’s okay in the beginning if it helps you build trust and credibility. Doing so can improve your repeat hire rate and open the door to many more opportunities in the future.
When I was in the early stage of freelancing, I completed a project for a client for just $60. He was so impressed with my work that he offered me multiple projects afterward — and even today, I still work with him. That’s why maintaining long-term client relationships is so important.
Conclusion
These are 6 tips and tricks you can try to kickstart your freelancing journey. Of course, there are many more strategies out there, but the ones I’ve shared are based on my personal experience and previous posts. For more insights and in-depth guidance on freelancing, feel free to explore our blog page.