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Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

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Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#11

Here are my main tips: Pick a niche. This is key. You may be the best programmer in the world, but people won't know whom to pick. You might be the best game programmer, but there are many others. However, if you pitch yourself as the expert in getting html games to perform smoothly with poor connectivity, then people with that problem know exactly whom to pick. For this to be effective: Don't pick too broad a niche.…

Any tips on how to find your market average?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#12
Hey friend!

Congrats on your experience, journey, and step into the 'unknown.'

My father always said, work hard son. When you work hard, and are active and intentional, results will occur.

Upwork for me took a 6-12 months to develop into something that was generating leads for ME. In other words, people were inquiring me for work versus applying.

With that said, I am active on Github, my site is template based Jekyll and consistent with my niche in Web/Tech, I have a nice looking portfolio (play up those BIG NAMES).

ALSO: Work with a recruiter and get ALL of the feedback on how you interview, and integrate all that into your pitch. For example, they rewrote my 'resume' which is now a portfolio and CV.

ALSO: Be on the active hunt for employment. Being hungry AND being challenged will sharpen your blade even more and when you pitch your customers you will be that much better off.

ALSO: Someone to talk to in a similar job because teaching is learning in reverse.

ALSO: Volunteer your skills, again more challenge, more experience, more resume.

You pretty much have to (((PROVE))) to people that you are the hardest working best choice. And you are. But you have like 5-seconds and then some to 'prove' that.

Good luck friend!!!!

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#13
post #4

y, you're going to have problems getting viable projects on Upwork. The best projects with reasonable pay will come from your own network, people you know. So focus on networking following up with old contacts/making new ones. Reach out to the game dev community, get in contact with podcasts, write articles, get involved with the community.

I don't agree here. Upwork is one way to manifest that network.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#14

Here are my main tips: Pick a niche. This is key. You may be the best programmer in the world, but people won't know whom to pick. You might be the best game programmer, but there are many others. However, if you pitch yourself as the expert in getting html games to perform smoothly with poor connectivity, then people with that problem know exactly whom to pick. For this to be effective: Don't pick too broad a niche.…

+1 to not underpricing yourself. At the lower prices, you will get a lot of low quality clients. If the problem is big enough, they're willing to pay.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#15
post #11

Here are my main tips: Pick a niche. This is key. You may be the best programmer in the world, but people won't know whom to pick. You might be the best game programmer, but there are many others. However, if you pitch yourself as the expert in getting html games to perform smoothly with poor connectivity, then people with that problem know exactly whom to pick. For this to be effective: Don't pick too broad a niche.…

Any tips on how to find your market average?

Global rates for software developers are roughly about $25-$100 an hour. $100/hour is more for people with specialist experience in the US time zone. There are people willing to go cheaper than $25/hour, but you'll be a blur among people who are willing to work fo $4/hour.

But usually there are local rates as well based on your country. These are somewhat pegged to the international rates past a certain level of quality. These can be lower than international rates.

Sometimes you can squeeze an even higher price out of a local contract because you'd add the benefit of more strongly understanding the problem, better communication in terms of time zone, language, and face to face interaction. Plus there's some security in meeting a person face to face.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#17

When starting from scratch: post on Freelancer Seeking Freelance every month. You'll reach a groove once 120% of your referrals are word of mouth. The pendulum flips quickly between looking for clients and then getting a good rep. for doing good work and the clients flowing to you. Good work is hard to find. With that said, don't negotiate for the highest rate possible at the start. Getting a good rep. will get you b…

Does Freelancer seeking Freelancer actually work to find high paying contracts?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#18
post #8

I've been freelancing remotely as a front-end web developer for over 3 years now. Here's my advice: 1. Get off of Upwork, now. You're only getting into a bidding war with low-priced overseas developers. 2. Instead, search remote job boards, Twitter, Facebook Groups, and LinkedIn for freelance remote contracts related to your field. 3. Find the client's email and send them your portfolio directly. Following this strat…

Does this actually work?

Where do you find Remote jobs on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to acquire more freelancing projects/clients?

#19
As already said, pick a niche, and make sure you're known for it. Generate content in that area, you're a game designer, so blog about the issues you've faced, how you've overcome hurdles. If blogging isn't for you, create a podcast, just create content in whatever medium you're most passionate about and do something that makes you a thought leader in that space.

When someone is searching for a solution to an existing problem they face and you can demonstrate how you've solved it, and many more in that domain you're immediately valuable.

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