People always ask me how they can succeed at freelancing when others have more experience.
So I wrote down 50 ways to do it.
You can use many of these right now, regardless of where you’re at.
Some are so easy, it’s almost funny.
You can probably implement 20 of them today with zero effort. And they will add up to huge advantages.
- Be friendlier.
- Learn a new skill. (Like this one.)
- Write better proposals.
- Be more helpful.
- Read about your industry every week (or every day).
- Become an idea machine.
- Be more generous.
- Learn to negotiate better.
- Share your knowledge with clients.
- Use a better picture of yourself online.
- Connect and collaborate with other freelancers.
- Find a mentor.
- Learn skills that compliment your existing skill(s).
- Show clients where they can improve their business.
- Make your Upwork profile better.
- Beef up an existing skill.
- Create a talent stack for yourself.
- Build up your portfolio (quickly and easily).
- Get testimonials from previous clients.
- Get testimonials from coworkers or even friends.
- Discover hidden ways to make money freelancing.
- Become friends with your clients.
- Make a simple-but-cool website. (Mine took minutes to make using Wix.)
- Proactively update clients on projects.
- Learn how to nail an interview.
- Connect with successful freelancers online.
- Get clients with my Crystal Ball Technique. (It’s not just for copywriters.)
- Learn how to make a project run smoothly.
- Compliment clients.
- Get inspired by others. (Like Oleg.)
- Show enthusiasm.
- Don’t let your background hold you back.
- Turn clients into repeat clients.
- Learn the secrets of charging more.
- Write a guest post for a credible website. (Like this.)
- Collaborate with other freelancers.
- Refer clients to other freelancers in exchange for a finder’s fee.
- Avoid proposal-killing phrases.
- Offer a finder’s fee to other freelancers in exchange for referrals.
- Give clients useful suggestions.
- Boost credibility by going on a podcast.
- Thank your clients for the opportunity to work with them.
- Give clients pain relief.
- Thank your clients when they send you a payment.
- Tell clients you’re excited to work with them.
- Steal like an artist.
- Write a case study about a customer you helped (like this, this, and this).
- Interview an expert in your field and show it to clients.
- Write a guest post for an “authority” site. (Like this, this, or this.)
- Be a better listener.
Now you have two choices.
You can say, “Oh, number-X is too advanced, I can’t do that.”
Or you can pick 10-20 of the easiest ones for you to do right now, and start to create a real advantage for yourself.
Now I’d love to hear from you…
Did any of these surprise you?
Are there any you’re going to try first?
Do you have any you’d like to add to the list?
Do you have any questions about any of them?
Or do you have any stories about competing against people with more experience?
Leave a comment and let me know — I’ll do my best to respond to as many as possible.
(Flickr Creative Commons image via Jeremy Stoutamyer)
Danny, can you give an example or two of #29? Thanks.
Danny, I don’t know how you’re doing it but I must be honest with you, you’re doing great. I’ve really learnt a lot in few days of reading your messages.
Hi Danny, Talk about a great list post! You have some gems in here. One challenge, I think, for readers, is to get past the overwhelming number of suggestions. So, just for fun, I popped this list into a spreadsheet and started filtering on keywords. The process also revealed some natural “grouping” insights. The idea is to pick an area to improve and focus on the suggestions relevant to that area. Here is a list. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive (some overlap occurs.) clients (15): 9, 14, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29, 33, 37, 40, 42, 44, 45, 48… Read more »
Mitch your clients must love you. They are very lucky. Thanks for continuing to read and comment it’s always great to hear from you…
Thanks Danny– your posts are always super down to earth and helpful!
Thank you Chelsea, really appreciate your stopping by to comment.
This is a great list! I found the talent stack idea especially interesting. But I am wondering about #22–become friends with your clients. I recognize the benefits of that but to what extent do you mean it? How do you define “friends” or friendship when a business relationship is involved?
I don’t overthink it, just whatever happens naturally. I don’t have a solid definition of friendship just that many of my clients have become friends and I love it.
Thanks! Great info and resource(s) to handle my concerns; which seem much less important now.
That’s the idea — “Don’t sweat the small stuff (and it’s all small stuff)”
These are really great examples Danny. Always encouraging to read your posts… they’re relevant to areas even outside Upwork and give me that extra push or reminder I need sometimes! I have to say, despite trying all your advice over the past few months, I’ve had very little luck on Upwork, and they just recently hid my profile since I haven’t earned anything (which I think is a really unfair practice). I know you say there’s no competition… but there really is, especially if you have no feedback or hours on your profile. I’m just gonna keep hustling and hope… Read more »
Hi Nate, Even my profile was recently made private by upwork, and now they are asking for to buy a paid membership or get jobs. The problem is i have been applying for jobs but getting none. Tips mentioned by Danny are great and proved helpful in getting the initial reaction from the client but the discussion never went to the final job. There is a ton of competition on upwork, and not just with bad freelancers but there are plenty of great freelancers which flock to a job immediately and drive the price down. I don’t know where the… Read more »
Thanks Nate, I am happy to hear you found these helpful. I know they’ve helped me a ton and continue to help me today.
Nate, It’s very easy to get out the ‘zero point’ . Just ask a friend or someone you trust to hire you in Upwork to perform a simple work (with a 200, 300 budget, or more if you want). Give them the exact words, services and skills you want them to write in their job post and get hired After finishing the job, give them some ideias or the exact words for a powerful, persuasive testimonial and a 5 star feedback When you finish everything, get paid and receive the feedback, you will not be a starter anymore and will… Read more »