Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 78 posts

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#61

Post by anovikov »

codegeek wrote: post #48
ErrantX wrote: post #37

I've been freelancing for ~4 years, "properly" for the last 2. This is what I have found works... Your very best clients will come from personal recommendations. Avoid close friends recommending you; one of my first clients was recommended by a close friend, and you feel an obligation to both the client and the friend. Not fun - especially when you make a cock up and the friend calls you to say they are a bit let dow…

"Find work, don't let it find you" Why not let it find you as well ? If you have experience and the right skillset, you will usually be found more often than you finding work yourself. I usually get good gigs in my industry by getting found a lot more than finding.

I agree to this. All of out-of-the-blue invitations to do something proved to be a scam, one or the other sort of - most plainly visible, but others more painful. So i never reply for job offers i get unexpectedly from people i don't know, and i never work for anyone writing to me in Russian.

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#62

Post by ghempton »

tptacek wrote: post #21

Don't use the freelancing sites. They're a race to the bottom.

I don't think that is necessarily true. Majority of freelancing sites are geared towards overseas outsourcing and portray the value proposition to companies of adding money to their bottom line. This naturally makes it hard for US based developers to make market rate on these sites.

Shameless self-promotion: I am a co-founder of grouptalent.com which is geared towards high-end freelance developers and rates generally trend toward market.

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#64

Post by RileyJames »

We've just launched a startup in Australia called Dragonfly (http://dragonflylist.com) which focuses on connecting talented local designers and developers with freelance work at creative, digital and ad agencies.

The plan is the launch into the US in the next few months (SF, LA & NY initially).

There are some key differences between our platform and recruitment & outsourcing

1. Transparency: There is no middle man on the platform. Agencies can search all the freelancers on the platform and contact them directly (phone & email is available on every profile).

2. No Rates!! - There are no rates shown on the platform. All rate are negotiated directly between the freelancer and the agency. Freelancers rates fluctuate on factors such as agency size, contract length, project type and general happiness working with the agency. It also means no one on the platform competes on price, but rather skill & ability.

3. High Quality: All freelancers on the platform are vetted before they get access (likewise the agencies are vetted as well). We verify that freelancers have 3 - 5 years experience in their field and have worked with agencies before. This keeps the quality high and maintains that skill & ability is the focus rather than price.

4. Local: The platform is focused no local freelancers. This is what agencies are looking for, and it allows freelancers to leverage their key competitive advantage over foreign workers... they are LOCAL!

Keen to hear feedback, and if you're looking for local freelance work sign up. We will get in contact with you when we roll out in your area. Our platform is focused on playing to the advantages of local freelancers.

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#65

Post by RileyJames »

ianterrell wrote: post #7

If you're doing web or mobile development or anything that is contracted out regularly, I highly recommend you make relationships with the creative/development agencies in your area. My experience is that the decent ones always have more leads than they can execute on at any given time, which leads to two scenarios: 1) They want to grow, lack full development strength, and will subcontract you to work under their nam…

We've found creative/digital agencies are a great source of work for freelancers.

In Australia at least agencies pay very well, they are billing to the client at a high rate, so the freelancer rates are easy to accomodate for.

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#66

Post by savagecat »

ErrantX wrote: post #37

I've been freelancing for ~4 years, "properly" for the last 2. This is what I have found works... Your very best clients will come from personal recommendations. Avoid close friends recommending you; one of my first clients was recommended by a close friend, and you feel an obligation to both the client and the friend. Not fun - especially when you make a cock up and the friend calls you to say they are a bit let dow…

Great reply- thank you.

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#67

Post by lesterbuck »

The Ruby Freelancers podcast covers a large swath of language independent freelancing knowledge: http://rubyfreelancers.com/

They highly recommend two books for freelancers, "Get Clients Now!" by CJ Hayden, and "Book Yourself Solid" by Michael Port. The Hayden book, in particular, might be viewed as agile marketing, so developers can feel right at home.

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#68

Post by jameswyse »

RileyJames wrote: post #64

We've just launched a startup in Australia called Dragonfly ( http://dragonflylist.com ) which focuses on connecting talented local designers and developers with freelance work at creative, digital and ad agencies. The plan is the launch into the US in the next few months (SF, LA & NY initially). There are some key differences between our platform and recruitment & outsourcing 1. Transparency: There is no middle man…

This looks like a great idea, it's not often I find sites like this based in Australia. I've signed up, though my personal website isn't online (Funnily enough I've been too busy with client work to work on my own site)

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#69

Post by mechanical_fish »

MrFoof wrote: post #12

Are you simply freelancing (one-man body shop) or consulting? The former is a short-term employee, the other involves "paying for a solution to a problem". Both are done for cost savings, but with a bit more up-front work to get in the door, the second tends to get you paid better. I've actually taken this route as of a few months ago, and the best advice is to share your new plans with people you've worked with in t…

I'm not the guy who networks at all

Oh dear, Facebook and LinkedIn have done the same thing to the word network that FB did to the word friend.

You definitely network. Whereas on LinkedIn we merely "network".

Re: Ask HN: How does an experienced freelancer get work?

#70

Post by MrFoof »

mechanical_fish wrote: post #69
MrFoof wrote: post #12

Are you simply freelancing (one-man body shop) or consulting? The former is a short-term employee, the other involves "paying for a solution to a problem". Both are done for cost savings, but with a bit more up-front work to get in the door, the second tends to get you paid better. I've actually taken this route as of a few months ago, and the best advice is to share your new plans with people you've worked with in t…

I'm not the guy who networks at all Oh dear, Facebook and LinkedIn have done the same thing to the word network that FB did to the word friend . You definitely network. Whereas on LinkedIn we merely "network".

No, I really don't network.

The lunches et al weren't initiated by myself. Someone has a problem, my phone rings, they suggest lunch, and I figure it's a good excuse to get some fish and chips. I don't think I've gone out of my way to reach out to someone for career purposes in nearly a decade.

Post reply on HN