As of 2026, there are two proven ways to start freelancing, and most freelancers rely on either one of them—or a combination of both. The first is working through established freelancing platforms, and the second is reaching out to potential clients directly through cold emailing.
In this guide, I’ll break down both approaches in detail and share practical tips for each. You’ll learn how to choose the right path as a beginner, what mistakes to avoid early on, and how to approach freelancing in a way that actually leads to results.
I’ve personally worked using both freelancing platforms and cold emailing, so the insights shared here are based on real experience—not theory. I’ll walk you through what matters most when you’re just getting started, and what can save you months of trial and error.
We’ll start by exploring freelancing via established platforms, followed by a detailed look at how cold emailing works for beginners.
A. Freelancing via Platforms
In this section, I’ll share practical tips for freelancing through established platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour. These platforms are where most beginners start—and for good reason.
Many freelancers focus their initial efforts on these platforms because they provide verifiable proof of work. Every completed project adds to your profile in the form of reviews, ratings, and work history, creating a public track record that clients can trust and that cannot be easily manipulated.
For beginners, this built-in credibility can make freelancing platforms a reliable way to land your first projects and understand how the market actually works.
1. Pick a Niche (Don’t Try to Do Everything)
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make on freelancing platforms is listing too many unrelated skills on a single profile. Setting clear boundaries by focusing on a specific niche immediately improves how clients perceive you.
The reason isn’t just that it’s hard to be experienced in multiple fields. In reality, clients prefer working with specialists, not generalists. When a client compares profiles, they are far more likely to trust someone who clearly positions themselves as an expert in one domain rather than someone who claims to do everything.
With the rise of AI tools, many freelancers now add as many skills as possible to their profiles, hoping it will increase opportunities. In most cases, this actually harms your profile. A scattered skill list makes your positioning unclear and reduces client confidence. Successful freelancers tend to stay focused within a niche instead of constantly jumping between unrelated areas.
Pro Tip
If you genuinely want to work in multiple niches, use separate profiles where the platform allows it. For example, platforms like Upwork let you create specialized profiles for different skill sets and choose the appropriate one while bidding.
Never mix unrelated services into a single profile unless they are closely connected. Clear positioning almost always beats “I can do everything.”
If you’re unsure which skill or niche to focus on, you can check out this detailed guide on in-demand options: Freelancing Skills to Learn in 2026.
2. Never Bid Before Completing Your Profile
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is sending bids or proposals with an incomplete profile. As of 2026, this is something you should completely avoid.
Before applying to any project, make sure your profile is fully completed. This includes a clear professional title, a well-written bio, relevant skills, and at least a few portfolio items that reflect the service you’re offering.
Clients may still hire new freelancers, but they rarely trust profiles that look unfinished. An incomplete profile signals low effort and uncertainty, even if your skills are strong. On the other hand, a complete and focused profile instantly improves your credibility and increases your chances of getting responses.
Treat your profile as your sales page—no client wants to buy from a page that looks half-done.
3. Don’t Sound Like AI in Your Freelance Bids
In 2026, most freelancers use AI tools to write proposals — and clients know it.
The problem isn’t using AI.
The problem is sounding generic.
Clients can instantly spot copy-paste or mass-generated bids. When a proposal feels templated, robotic, or disconnected from the actual job post, it gets ignored — no matter how strong your skills are.
If you use AI the wrong way, you blend into spam.
If you use AI the right way, you save time and stand out.
The key is personalization.
AI works best when it’s guided by:
- Your real skills and experience
- Your niche and past projects
- The client’s exact job requirements
Instead of sending generic proposals, use AI to customize each bid — address the client’s pain points, reference their project details, and explain why you’re a strong fit.
This is where AI becomes an advantage instead of a disadvantage.
For example, AI-powered tools that combine:
- Your profile information
- Your previous work
- The job description
can generate personalized, human-sounding bids in one go — without repeating the same template everywhere. Some tools can also attach relevant projects automatically, making proposals more credible and context-aware.
Bottom line:
Using AI won’t hurt your freelancing career in 2026.
Sounding like everyone else will.
4. Always Keep Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio should always be ready and up to date before you start applying to projects. Clients consistently prefer freelancers who can show relevant past work, especially work that closely matches what they are hiring for.
This becomes even more important when you’re new to a freelancing platform and don’t yet have reviews or completed projects there. In such cases, your portfolio acts as your primary trust signal. It helps clients see that, even if you’re new to the platform, you’ve already worked on similar projects elsewhere.
Instead of telling clients what you can do, use your portfolio to prove what you’ve already done. Showing similar projects significantly increases your chances of getting replies and shortlists.
Even a small but focused portfolio is far better than having none at all.
5. Don’t Reject Projects Out of Fear
As a beginner, it’s normal to feel nervous—especially when a client offers a project or asks for something you haven’t done in the exact same way before. Many new freelancers panic, doubt themselves, and unintentionally push the client away by sounding unsure or trying to avoid the project altogether.
This often backfires. When clients sense hesitation or lack of confidence, they usually move on to someone else, even if your skills are a good fit.
Here’s the key distinction:
If the project falls within your niche or closely related expertise, don’t say no just because it feels new or slightly challenging. New tasks often look complex at first, but that’s a normal part of growth. Most freelancers improve by saying yes to opportunities that stretch them slightly, not by avoiding them.
Confidence matters. You don’t need to know everything upfront—you need to be capable, honest, and willing to figure things out.
Growth in freelancing usually starts right outside your comfort zone, not far beyond it.
Important Clarification
This doesn’t mean accepting work that’s completely outside your skill set or unethical. Say yes to relevant opportunities, not random ones.
6. Late Replies Often Cost You the Project
On freelancing platforms, response time matters a lot. Unlike social media or cold emailing, even a delay of a few hours can cost you an opportunity. Clients usually message multiple freelancers at once, and the first responsive and confident replies often get shortlisted.
When a client feels you’re slow to respond, they don’t wait—they simply move on to someone else. With so many freelancers competing for the same project, speed becomes a competitive advantage.
Making it a habit to reply quickly can significantly increase your win rate, even if your profile is new. Fast responses signal professionalism, reliability, and genuine interest in the project.
7. Accept Multiple Projects—But Communicate Clearly
When you start getting multiple project offers, don’t automatically reject one just because you’re already working on another. Many beginners turn down opportunities too quickly out of fear of being “busy,” and later find themselves without any work lined up.
Instead, communicate openly with both clients. If timelines overlap, discuss realistic deadlines and see if they’re comfortable with adjusted delivery dates. In many cases, clients are flexible—as long as expectations are clear from the beginning.
This approach helps you avoid gaps between projects and maintain a steady workflow. Saying yes with proper communication is often better than saying no and having no work once your current project ends.
Important Note
Only take on multiple projects if you’re confident you can deliver quality work on time. Overcommitting without communication can damage trust.
B. Cold Emailing
Cold emailing works very differently from freelancing platforms. Instead of waiting for clients to post a requirement and compete with dozens of freelancers, you proactively reach out to businesses and explain how your service can solve a specific problem or improve their results.
In simple terms, the direction is reversed. On platforms, clients tell you what they need. With cold emailing, you show them what they’re missing and how your work can positively impact their business.
Another key difference is budget. With freelancing platforms, clients often compare multiple freelancers and choose based on price, reviews, or rankings. In cold emailing, there’s usually less direct competition, and you’re often the one introducing the solution. Because of this, businesses are more open to paying for value rather than choosing the cheapest option.
From my experience, cold emailing projects often come with significantly higher budgets—sometimes 2–3× better than platform-based projects, especially for beginners who don’t yet have strong platform authority.
That said, cold emailing requires a different mindset and approach, which we’ll break down step by step.
1. Hit the Pain Point
Cold emails work best when you focus on a specific business problem, not a generic pitch. Brands don’t respond to “I offer services”—they respond to clear value.
For example:
Your business currently ranks third in your local category. I can help improve that by fixing specific gaps.
I noticed your site loads slowly on mobile—fixing this could reduce bounce rate.
This won’t guarantee a project, but it increases your conversion rate significantly. Cold emailing is a numbers game—expect around 80–100 personalized emails to land a client when starting out.
Be patient, stay consistent, and keep your outreach clean and relevant, not aggressive.
2. Don’t Email Aggressively—Keep It Gentle
When beginners start cold emailing, they often focus on sending as many emails as possible. This usually hurts conversion rates because the emails miss what the client actually needs.
Instead, send fewer but well-thought-out emails. Follow the pain-point approach from the first tip and keep your message clear, relevant, and respectful—not pushy.
Also, maintain a simple tracking system for:
- who you contacted
- when you emailed
- what you pitched
This helps you stay organized and avoids repeating mistakes or forgetting follow-ups.
3. Don’t Quote Yourself Too Early
When a brand responds to your cold email, avoid quoting a price immediately. Instead, ask about their budget and expectations for the task. This gives you context and prevents underpricing your work.
If they insist on a number, don’t lock yourself into a fixed price right away. Let them know you’re open to discussing the scope first and can finalize pricing after understanding the requirements better.
This approach keeps the conversation open and positions you as a professional, not someone rushing to sell.
4. Target Less-Explored Markets
Avoid targeting the same markets everyone else goes after. When thousands of freelancers focus on regions like the US or UK, competition becomes intense and response rates drop.
Instead, look for less-explored but growing markets—for example, regions like the UAE—where businesses still need services but receive far fewer outreach emails. Lower competition often means better response rates and easier conversations.
Being strategic about where you outreach can matter as much as how you pitch.
5. Manage Your Earnings and Milestones Properly
Always break projects into clear milestones and track your work with clients carefully. This includes managing things like your total earnings, monthly income, active clients, and highest-paying projects.
Freelancing platforms handle most of this automatically, but when you work through cold emailing, you need to manage it yourself. Staying organized helps you avoid payment issues and gives you a clear view of your growth as a freelancer.
You can use simple tools like Excel or Google Sheets to track everything. If you prefer a more streamlined approach, you can also use our Earnings Manager tool to keep things organized in one place.
Conclusion
Freelancing can feel overwhelming at the beginning, but the right approach can save you months of trial and error. The tips shared in this guide are based on real experience and are meant to help beginners build a strong foundation—whether you choose freelancing platforms, cold emailing, or a mix of both.
If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with others who are getting started and leave a comment if you have any questions. You can also explore more freelancing-related guides on our blog to continue learning and improving.
