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Contrary to popular belief, I think many freelance clients are not at all concerned with finding the "best" freelancer for their gig.
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Finding the "best" freelancer usually means:
laboring over a job description
paying for a public posting
weeding through a hundred resumes
reviewing a ton of portfolios
holding multiple interviews
and generally going through a time-consuming process.
laboring over a job description
paying for a public posting
weeding through a hundred resumes
reviewing a ton of portfolios
holding multiple interviews
and generally going through a time-consuming process.
Frankly, most clients just don't have time for that.
In fact, I think a lot of clients are very happy to have a freelancer who is “good enough” for the gig.
It doesn't have to be the ABSOLUTELY PERFECT PERSON.
What's perhaps more important is someone who is easy to find.
In fact, I think a lot of clients are very happy to have a freelancer who is “good enough” for the gig.
It doesn't have to be the ABSOLUTELY PERFECT PERSON.
What's perhaps more important is someone who is easy to find.
A client wants someone "good enough" right now rather than someone "perfect" in 8 months.
The freelancer who gets the gig is the one who's easy to find and hire NOW.
Someone:
with a personal connection
or who has been referred
or who has worked with the client before.
The freelancer who gets the gig is the one who's easy to find and hire NOW.
Someone:
with a personal connection
or who has been referred
or who has worked with the client before.
With that in mind, where is a freelancer's time best spent?
I think it's:
Meeting people
Maintaining relationships
Becoming known in your niche
And not:
Reworking your website
Obsessing over samples
Pouring your heart into job listings that already have a ton of applicants
I think it's:
Meeting people
Maintaining relationships
Becoming known in your niche
And not:
Reworking your website
Obsessing over samples
Pouring your heart into job listings that already have a ton of applicants
With this mindset, the freelancer takes the initiative.
You reach out to people and companies that interest YOU.
You develop connections that align with YOUR goals.
Instead of waiting to see what's "available," then chasing the same opportunities as thousands of others.
You reach out to people and companies that interest YOU.
You develop connections that align with YOUR goals.
Instead of waiting to see what's "available," then chasing the same opportunities as thousands of others.
That's how you become a go-to freelancer.
That's when you hear about the gigs that are never advertised.
When clients reach out to you, instead of the other way around.
(And when your pay increases.)
You don't have to be the "best."
It's better to be "known."
That's when you hear about the gigs that are never advertised.
When clients reach out to you, instead of the other way around.
(And when your pay increases.)
You don't have to be the "best."
It's better to be "known."
Sure, you still have to do a good job. A GREAT job, even!
But when I see awesome freelancers struggling to land a gig, I want them to know it's not necessarily a lack of talent, skill, expertise, experience, samples.
It's that another freelancer (probably) had a connection.
But when I see awesome freelancers struggling to land a gig, I want them to know it's not necessarily a lack of talent, skill, expertise, experience, samples.
It's that another freelancer (probably) had a connection.
