Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#1

Post by eatonphil » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

I am a full-time software developer looking for extra income. I spend a lot of time "cold-emailing" local businesses and messaging other companies who are actually looking for applicants. The result is always the same: "we are not looking for freelancers/contractors right now".

I have also used freelance sites before (unsuccessfully) like ODesk and Elance, and I have really hated how they work. It seems like all freelancing on those sites is a price war. I am confident about my skill-set and I'm not worried about not being able to deliver, but the way bidding is organized on these sites feels really demeaning.

So ultimately, my question for HN is how do YOU find or establish new freelance/sub-contracting/contracting gigs? Should I just deal with my annoyance at ODesk/Elance or are there methods I'm missing? Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#2

Post by USNetizen » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:49 PM UTC

Network, network, network. Referrals are the prime driver of business for many, if not most, freelancers. When you get a client and have done good work, ask them "what three other people do you know who could use my services?"...things like that. Don't be afraid to ask for it. Get out of the home office and attend events and conferences. Start meeting people and ASK for their business. Don't be shy about it.

Also, don't expect much from cold emails. It's way too impersonal. Telephone calls are only slightly better, but in-person events are by far the best. Your goal should be to MEET as many people in-person as possible.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#3

Post by alexjeffrey » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:50 PM UTC

in my experience, if you can grab a couple of not-too-underpriced gigs on a freelancing website (my preference is PeoplePerHour as it's less price-war-y) and can get a few regular clients from that, they'll be more happy to pay a reasonable fee for a reliable and familiar developer. Bear in mind that there are a LOT of unreliable and flaky developers on these sites so once you've proven your value to someone they'll be more likely to pay higher rates to retain you.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#4

Post by gargarplex » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:51 PM UTC

What kind of software do you build? How much do you charge? Are you willing to work on legacy code bases?

As a hiring manager, I currently have an availability to hire a freelancer. I just need someone responsible, mature and professional who's willing to roll up their sleeves and go from "receiving requirements" to shipping and thoroughly testing.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#5

Post by jules » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:51 PM UTC

Referrals, and some gigs found me after I wrote some technical articles. I have not done any cold calling and I have not used any freelancer sites. If you're good then it's a bad idea to participate in a lemons market. It's much better to start from a position where you don't have to convince your client that you are capable of delivering value.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#6

Post by FigBug » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:54 PM UTC

I've been contracting for 4 years. I have received 1 job via my website. The rest have been through contacts, primarily through people I previously worked for when I was a full time employee. I've got a few through people I know from cycling. Cycling is apparently the new golf. http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/04/business-net...

I find events and conferences to not be much use, unless they are very specific to your industry.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#7

Post by jqm » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:55 PM UTC

Don't contract as a contractor to businesses that are programming themselves. Build things for businesses that will be the end user. Most of these types of businesses have less of a notion of how to go about getting tools that will help their business in the first place and it can be a hard sell unless they have an immediate need. Sometimes you have to really learn about the specifics of how the business functions and this can be a pain. But once you build a few small accounting apps that export to CSV or inventory management tools specific to the business...stuff of that nature, you have a good point to take off from and examples to show. You do have to deliver though... a finished product, not just code. But I stay pretty busy like this.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#8

Post by scrollaway » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:56 PM UTC

I've used Peopleperhour.com to build my career. It has a good community and isn't a "php-farm" like the other freelance sites (though it has been going downhill a bit lately). I still would highly recommend it but you will need a good profile before you start getting jobs. Though, once I did have a good profile, potential clients kept inviting me to bid to all sorts of jobs, so it's not hard to get good income out of it once you get started.

I don't use it much anymore since I found a full-time job, but it kept me in great shape for almost four years.

Below is an affiliate link if you're OK with it.

https://www.peopleperhour.com/site/register?rfrd=145291.1

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#9

Post by hashtag » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

Check your local contracting agencies

Re: Ask HN: How do you find freelance/contract gigs?

#10

Post by godzillabrennus » Sun, Jan 18, 2015, 7:05 PM UTC

Talk to small recruitment/staffing companies in your area to drum up some clients. Best part is they do the collections and handle the sales. You just set the rate.