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Ask HN: How do you find clients?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#31

Post by sidmitra »

luckystrike wrote: post #30
sidmitra wrote: post #11

Here's what i did to build http://www.cloudshuffle.com from a single dev(me) to a team of over 6 devs(+ a designer) in various countries. Also, from building social network clones(for $200) to building proper webapps for well known startups and companies like Compete, Hubspot. * Sign up for all freelancer Marketplaces: Elance, Odesk, Guru, Freelancer, RentACoder. * Sign up for RSS feeds for jobs(full time/freelance)…

> from a single dev(me) to a team of over 6 devs(+ a designer) in various countries Good going, Sid. How long did it take you to reach this stage? I have recently started looking out for freelance work, and since I don't much else to show apart from my startup, it has been fairly tough to get high paying clients. I still haven't signed up on the sites like Elance etc, but looks like might have to bite the bullet soon…

Started freelancing proper around Dec 2009.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#33

Post by iamben »

tzaman wrote: post #14
sidmitra wrote: post #11

Here's what i did to build http://www.cloudshuffle.com from a single dev(me) to a team of over 6 devs(+ a designer) in various countries. Also, from building social network clones(for $200) to building proper webapps for well known startups and companies like Compete, Hubspot. * Sign up for all freelancer Marketplaces: Elance, Odesk, Guru, Freelancer, RentACoder. * Sign up for RSS feeds for jobs(full time/freelance)…

When bidding, you don't need to go below everyone else - I go above every single time, and also explain to potential clients why I'm the best choice (top quality, deliver on time). Of course you need some kind of portfolio to back up your statements. And deliver the promised quality. This approach also has a beneficial side-effect. Cheap clients deny the bid. Usually these clients turn out to be the most demanding on…

This is fantastic advice.

The first time I freelanced I was so paranoid about getting work I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money. I'd also add bits on to 'sweeten the deal' - "I'll also do X and X and X!" etc.

It just ended up depressing me. I'd be working harder than my friends (in their 'real' jobs) for far less cash, with far less respect from the clients.

Now I'll just set a fair price and stick to it. Decent clients seem to respect you for doing it (and understand you have your own overheads) and there's a much more business like approach to the job (unlike the cheaper clients, who I completely agree, end up the most demanding).

Also, feeling much happier and more valued doing the work makes me want to put in much more of an effort.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#34

Post by pud »

A hack that worked for me when I was freelancing, was to put my resume on various job boards as if I were looking for full-time employment.

When companies called me to set up interviews, I said (on the phone) "Turns out I decided I'm going to freelance. What was the project you wanted to interview me for? Perhaps I can help with that, as a freelancer."

I got a lot of business that way and it pretty much started my career.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#35

Post by pud »

consultutah wrote: post #28

Word of mouth is the absolute best way to get clients bar none. That's how we get 90% of our work for http://consultutah.com Of the rest, 9% is from ads places in local newspapers and 1% from random web traffic. Getting started is the hardest part to getting good word of mouth referrals. You need to talk to everyone about your business. Tell your friends about your freelance work. Go to job fairs and talk with prospe…

This is good advice. Make sure all of your friends and parents' friends and everyone else in your life knows what you do. Chances are, one of them knows someone who needs you.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#36

Post by luckystrike »

sidmitra wrote: post #31
luckystrike wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> from a single dev(me) to a team of over 6 devs(+ a designer) in various countries Good going, Sid. How long did it take you to reach this stage? I have recently started looking out for freelance work, and since I don't much else to show apart from my startup, it has been fairly tough to get high paying clients. I still haven't signed up on the sites like Elance etc, but looks like might have to bite the bullet soon…

Started freelancing proper around Dec 2009.

Thanks. And wish you even more success in the coming times!

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#37

Post by sidmitra »

iamben wrote: post #33
tzaman wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When bidding, you don't need to go below everyone else - I go above every single time, and also explain to potential clients why I'm the best choice (top quality, deliver on time). Of course you need some kind of portfolio to back up your statements. And deliver the promised quality. This approach also has a beneficial side-effect. Cheap clients deny the bid. Usually these clients turn out to be the most demanding on…

This is fantastic advice. The first time I freelanced I was so paranoid about getting work I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money. I'd also add bits on to 'sweeten the deal' - "I'll also do X and X and X!" etc. It just ended up depressing me. I'd be working harder than my friends (in their 'real' jobs) for far less cash, with far less respect from the clients. Now I'll just set a fair price…

>I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money.

I think you might have stuck longer to the lower rate + spec work. The idea is to start low and ramp up very very quickly. Infact initially you should try to double your rates, and adjust(A/B test!) your rate according to response rate.

Also i think rate is not a static thing. It depends on how much work is on your plate, or how less. It also depends on the market. So when tomorrow a lot of these startups go belly up and billion dollar valuations runs dry, so might your work. You will have to adapt accordingly.

If you don't have enough work at a particular rate, there's no harm in claiming a lower rate as a few test data points. You can always bill some hours you might not bill on the higher rate. For eg. sometimes i leave off some of the research hours when i'm billing a higher rate, but i bill them when i bid a lower one for whatever reason.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#38

Post by tzaman »

marquis wrote: post #22
tzaman wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When bidding, you don't need to go below everyone else - I go above every single time, and also explain to potential clients why I'm the best choice (top quality, deliver on time). Of course you need some kind of portfolio to back up your statements. And deliver the promised quality. This approach also has a beneficial side-effect. Cheap clients deny the bid. Usually these clients turn out to be the most demanding on…

Does anyone ever game the system by posting with 2 accounts: one with a really high bid and a lower one, to help the customer 'pick you'? I'm not freelancing nor have ever used these sites, but I'm curious how above-board they are.

Not really, I usually bid on TYPO3 jobs (I'm a certified integrator), and alongside with me, there's usually 15 ridiculously low bids, most submitted by Indian project managers. And they go as low as 10% of my hourly rate or price.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#39

Post by czczcz »

tzaman wrote: post #14
sidmitra wrote: post #11

Here's what i did to build http://www.cloudshuffle.com from a single dev(me) to a team of over 6 devs(+ a designer) in various countries. Also, from building social network clones(for $200) to building proper webapps for well known startups and companies like Compete, Hubspot. * Sign up for all freelancer Marketplaces: Elance, Odesk, Guru, Freelancer, RentACoder. * Sign up for RSS feeds for jobs(full time/freelance)…

When bidding, you don't need to go below everyone else - I go above every single time, and also explain to potential clients why I'm the best choice (top quality, deliver on time). Of course you need some kind of portfolio to back up your statements. And deliver the promised quality. This approach also has a beneficial side-effect. Cheap clients deny the bid. Usually these clients turn out to be the most demanding on…

I agree 100% with this. I always bid what I am willing to do a job for and explain my approach and level of attention to detail. FWIW I have been hired by many overseas firms that were looking for someone that could just get the job done correctly not just the cheapest provider.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find clients?

#40

Post by iamben »

sidmitra wrote: post #37
iamben wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is fantastic advice. The first time I freelanced I was so paranoid about getting work I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money. I'd also add bits on to 'sweeten the deal' - "I'll also do X and X and X!" etc. It just ended up depressing me. I'd be working harder than my friends (in their 'real' jobs) for far less cash, with far less respect from the clients. Now I'll just set a fair price…

>I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money. I think you might have stuck longer to the lower rate + spec work. The idea is to start low and ramp up very very quickly. Infact initially you should try to double your rates, and adjust(A/B test!) your rate according to response rate. Also i think rate is not a static thing. It depends on how much work is on your plate, or how less. It also depends…

Yes, you're absolutely right!

I guess at the time I was worried about what people might say if I asked for too much - or what would happen if I didn't get any work. It's dreadfully hard to rid yourself of that mindset.

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