Tips on how to get clients as a freelancer? (programming.dev)

submitted 9 months ago by sirdorius@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev

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I'm considering doing some freelance work as a backend dev. I have around 8 years of experience as a full time employee, but I'm not entirely sure how to get the ball rolling as a freelancer.

What are some good platforms to find clients? The only one I know of is searching job postings on LinkedIn.

Are platforms like Upwork and Fiverr good? I've heard that they're a bit of a rat race, and honestly looking at Fiverr ads it does seem that way.

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[-] jeff@programming.dev 12 points 9 months ago

Getting started is always the hardest part. Once you've done some good work you can start relying more on word of mouth and charge more.

I would recommend doing some small jobs on Fiverr or Upwork. Contracting isn't for everyone, nor is running a small business. Fiverr and Upwork will be pretty disconnected from your local contacts so if you mess up or decide it's not for you then it's easier to leave.

Ultimately it's networking, instead of rolling your eyes when an acquaintance has an app idea you can offer to help.

[-] Decide@programming.dev 7 points 9 months ago

Question: How long does it take to get the proverbial ball rolling on Upwork? I used it for a month and spent $200+ and wasn't able to get any work.

[-] oldfart@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago

I started by getting shitty jobs like $10/hour that were not enough to sustain myself but good for building work experience and some nice comments in my profile. I can't remember paying anything to Upwork but they were less agressive back then.

In about two months I got regular paying jobs.

this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2023

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