How to prove yourself as a new freelancer
How can you build your reputation and prove yourself as trustworthy - even with little to no experience? Here are some of the most common challenges new freelancers face and how to overcome them.
You want to start freelancing, but you’ve got hardly any experience. You look around and see so many young people killing it already and wonder how the hell they got there. You’re wondering how to get clients when you have no experience. Do you wonder how you are going to complete? Don’t be discouraged, we all have to start somewhere. Let’s breakdown four of the barriers new freelancers face when starting out and how to overcome them.
Problem: I don’t have much work experience.
Solution: Focus on what you have done.
While you might be an aspiring freelance copywriter or graphic designer, in reality, you’re in the trust-building game. You need to do whatever you can to demonstrate that you are trustworthy and capable of doing what you say you’ll do.
Do you have a past manager (from an internship or part-time job) who can give you a written testimonial? Did you do a job for a friend who can say something about the results or quality? Look around for any professional proof you can. This will help you increase trust from prospective clients.
Never underestimate your fresh perspective either, just because someone has been in the game for a while, it doesn’t always mean they are a delight to deal with. But you can be.
Problem: I have nothing to show yet.
Solution: Build a project portfolio or personal profile.
Think about what you love doing and what you aspire to be known for. Write it down. Now start an Instagram page or a basic website and talk about anything related to that topic. Even if you’ve never had a client yet, you have a unique voice. Start adding it to the conversation.
If you have never had a client yet, dream up some projects in an industry you would love to work in and start creating. Brief yourself as if you were a client (think about what the client’s goals might be and who their target customer is) then start creating! Of course, this will be different depending on your skill set, but whatever you choose, it will give you some experience on developing your process and responding to a client brief (even if it is a fake one).
One graphic designer I know designs a mood board a month based on an imaginary client brief. It is a chance for her to showcase her skills to industries she would love to work with while exploring her own inner interests.
Problem: There are others better than me.
Solution: Put the blinkers on.
Let’s be real. There are ALWAYS going to be people ahead of you. We are all on a unique journey. Don’t compare your day 1 self to someone else's day 542. You will get there, you just need to take small steps. If the comparison is bringing you down rather than inspiring you to take action, then give yourself a break from social media or stop unfollowing accounts that give you these feelings of comparison. Remember they had a day 1 too.
Problem: I don’t know where to find clients.
Solution: Get savvy with existing networks.
A great strategy when starting out is to ask around. Ask your friends, your family, a past boss - anyone who will give you a shot. When you find that first client, treat them professionally and go the extra mile to deliver.
This means you get to develop the business side of things as you go (which is a huge part of working for yourself). This includes processes like quoting, briefing and getting feedback. You want to build trust and offer an exceptional experience, especially because you’re new to freelancing. Jump on a video call instead of a phone call or email, check in regularly, meet your timelines, listen to them, stay curious.
There are other places to find your first clients. Facebook groups are a good start and you can consider an online platform like Fivver or Upwork to find your first client, but be prepared to compete with people more experienced than you. If you don’t win bids, don’t let that get you down.
Conclusion
You can start freelancing without experience. The key is to prove yourself as trustworthy, focus on what you do want to become and take action. You may have little to no experience, but you can get clients if you are smart. Once you’ve for them, focus on making it a great experience so you can get a glowing testimonial and perhaps even a recommendation to another client that could work with you. These actions could be the start of a beautiful freelancing career.
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