How did you land your first client? We all have our stories on how we found clients (or how clients found us). Most seasoned freelancers have anecdotes to share – from meeting them through a common friend, a connection on LinkedIn, from a freelancing meet-up event, or that serendipitous event that led to the first contract.
My personal story came as a fruit of hard work on building own brand for three years. After I built Freelance Blend and forged my way as a podcaster, my dream client found me. The road to being a valuable freelancer working for an equally high-quality client was not easy, but it is all worth it. The efforts I put into making my own brand worked because it is the biggest proof of the kind of work and value that I could bring to any potential client.
This week’s FB 136 episode will be a little different than the usual. I am happy to share with you the FB live session with Jason Dulay of Work From Home Roadmap. In FBP 125, I interviewed Jason about how freelancing can enable you to live a life of travel as a digital nomad. Ten episodes later, the tables have turned. This time, I’m on the left side of the screen, answering questions instead of asking them. I am honored to be a guest in Jason’s session where we talked about my own freelancing journey.
Join Jason and I as we both share insights on getting clients who pay for value, what motivates most freelancers, and tips on finding a client acquisition process that works for you.
Key Highlights
Listen in as we dish out our tips and principles on acquiring clients, beating burnout, and client communications.
- My journey in the financial services industry and how I found myself as a freelancer
- Most influential things that paved the way for freelancing
- Top reason why I (and most freelancers) do not immediately leave their jobs
- What you need to have before finally calling it quits with your job
- My dreams before I went to freelancing
- How I landed my first client
- The difference between skill and value
- How your personal websites and podcasts can help increase your value
- Tips on finding a client acquisition process that works for you
- Confidence as a key factor to success
Quotes
On confidence:
“You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to be a couple of steps ahead.”
On charging more for quality work:
“Understand the problem and make them realize that you are the solution to that problem.”
Finding your own process:
“Most successful freelancers have a process.”
“Experiment. There is no one way to do it. There are many ways to do it. Find a process that works for you.”
The best proof of your work:
“My best client is myself.”
Links and Resources:
- For more tips and tricks for freelancers, subscribe to Freelance Blend TV
- Get Jason’s FREE Course: How You can Work from Home
- Join Jason’s course for VAs: Virtual Assistant Bootcamp
“Get gigs in the newest marketplace for freelancers — goLance — and earn more when you refer your friends >>> www.freelanceblend.com/golance.”
Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.
I will make your life easier by handing you more than 30 of the latest and greatest applications, software and websites that I, and even some of the most amazing freelancers, use on a day-to-day basis to become a more productive freedom entrepreneur.
