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Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

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Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#31

Post by mooreds »

Who have you worked with in the past? That'd be my go to. Hopefully they are thrilled with your work.

Reach out and ask them: "do you know anyone who needs some help? We have some availability coming up." This lets them think about who in their network might need some extra hands (or if they themselves need help) without putting them on the spot.

Don't only ask your current contact at past clients, but also anyone you worked with. LinkedIn is your friend here.

You don't need a formal referral program, but it is much easier to work with someone you've worked with before rather than convince someone who doesn't know you that you can solve their problems.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#32

Post by Teichopsia »

Disclaimer: I have theoretical knowledge, not practical experience.

....And at the same time there isn't enough information to give a "proper" recommendation. i.e., how did you get your past customers? Who is your customer (persona)? Do you have a value proposition?

Since it sounds like you are pressed, ask your current client and your past clients for referrals. Be specific when asking (if he/she knows any friends, family, customers, etc). This will open up their mind to think of many possibilities.

If business is slow, what else can you offer to old customers and new customers?

Book recommendations: Gap selling Predictable prospecting Overdeliver Traction Understanding SEO

Choose one book and when you have outgrown that book, choose another.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#33

Post by SantiagoQ »

GianFabien wrote: post #2

I find my clients by networking and leveraging of successful completed projects. For example, if I just completed a project automating some aspect of a travel agency (yes they still exist). Then we contact all other travel agencies in our area and offer to solve the same problem for them or something similar. If the completed project is in the area of a common business area, e.g. follow-up for contract renewals, then…

Yes niching or narrowing down is usually the most effective way. For example I do 5-hour week consulting to pre-seed startups as a Fractional CTO. My value proposition is: I guide non-technical founders take their startups from pre-seed to seed and I focus on the Mexican market. In less than a year I'm already well established in the niche and I even go further by specializing in AI startups.

My job is usually building a team and mentoring more junior developers. Also, participate in product design, assuring what they try to build is feasible, cost effective and meets the goals.

Besides founders, me relevant network include family offices & angel investors, startup mentors & accelerators and college professors & junior developers.

If I wanted more work, I would offer developing personalized newsletters for seed startups charging a higher hourly rate. But I rather wait, and let some of my customers grow.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#34

Post by k__ »

cutler wrote: post #28
k__ wrote: post #20

I found my first clients in job boards. The next clients, I got by referal (friends/clients). Later, after blogging for some time, CEOs/VPs made me offers via email. But getting started and making good money only took a few months.

Which job boards and at what rate? Who was your blog aimed at?

Don't know anymore.

I simply searched a bit around on Google, browsed some random job boards I found and wrote a few emails.

My rate back then was 5000€ a month.

My blog is mostly development education. Frontend, mobile, APIs, cloud, DevOps, crypto, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#35

Post by ahartmetz »

Grimm1 wrote: post #16
ahartmetz wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Are you implying that clients only hire beginners on UpWork? Well, low quality work. Yes. But, unlike you, I have only internet hearsay as sources.

I wound up not taking it because I had something that at the time seemed easier for me, but I negotiated a $100/hr contract on UpWork just fine looking for some part time work to hold me over on something. This was in the Data Engineering space fwiw.

Good to hear. Note, I'm a freelancer as well, so my information is only incomplete about Upwork. I know the local (Germany) agencies with the usual rates, 75-100€/h for C++ work.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#36

Post by codegeek »

The best way is to let clients find YOU instead of the other way around. This is hard but not that hard. Optimal ways in that order:

1. You have an online presence (blog, youtube tutorials etc) and you have done quality content (which takes a little time but again not that hard if you focus). You will start getting inbound queries.

2. You cannot figure how or are too lazy to do #1. Your next bet is to join a marketplace where they do the marketing for you (well to an extent). Places like upwork and yes they are nt all a race to the bottom but you may have to start from it (again because you cannot figure out #1 above).You may have to do a few projects for cheap but once you build some reputation, you will start seeing progress. You can increase your rates slowly. And yes, people hire on upwork for $100/Hour as well but you gotta earn that.

3. You apply to jobs and reach out to people on your own. Mostly a crap shoot and the laziest way and hence the least effective way because there is a lot of noise in this step (everyone else is doing this).

As a client, I look for youtube tutorials on topics or just do google search. If I find someone that i like, I reach out to them directly. This got me to hire a Go Developer once where I aid him $10K plus for a project. But he writes and writes well. Explains concepts that I cared about. Heck, he even published a book. He didn't need to sell any further.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#37

Post by Irongirl1 »

I'm assuming you know all your numbers right?

If this were me, I think I'd start the marketplace you need to exist.

The work you do has a number and I'm guessing that it starts with Millions so your marketplace needs to reflect that in it's branding.

This reminds of something I read about Crew. I'll try and find the original story, but generally the founder was running out of money/customers etc and started a side project you may have heard of called: UnSplash.

So start the Marketplace you need. a place for customers looking for front end work upto $X or whatever. Then let Google do your prospecting. I mean use SEO etc.

Re: Ask HN: Where would you start looking for development clients?

#38

Post by JSeymourATL »

First, get clarity around what an ideal target client looks like for you.

Think in terms of industry/vertical/market, etc… The more detailed, the better.

Who is the likely “economic buyer” of your services—- Think about their titles/positions.

Now, jump on LinkedIn — sort for people. Drill in on the individual profiles that stand out as likely prospects.

Create a Top 10 list. That is to say prospective clients that look interesting, people/companies who you can likely help.

Reach out to them directly for a introductory/discovery conversation.

Go Get’em!

* If you feel you want more help on this, feel free to reach out. DM me.

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