establishing freelance client base?
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- spifflink
Is there anyone here that actually supports themselves on just freelance work? How do you do it? I am looking to establish a client base, but I live in an area that isn't exactly conducive to this kind of profession. i looked around and found a few sites like guru.com and stuff like it, but you have to pay to use it. seems sketchy. anyone use those types of services to get work? share your precious secrets! :O
- taragee0
get some biz cards and network sonny
- Rand0
sassy
- version30
i work hard, charge more than you'd expect, and don't blow my load every time i get a healthy check
trust me young grasshopper, in every city there's more work than you can do yourself.
the question is are you humble enough to go find it?
- mayo0
i just went freelance fulltime this year, but lord knows I couldn't do it without my husband's income as well. Mainly because his check is steady and mine come in when they come in. Reno isn't really a design mecca either, but I lucked out with the manufacturing industry. With catalogs, spec sheets, packaging, etc. It's been fairly steady, supplemented with smaller jobs here and there.
- spifflink0
well i have buckled down and down and tried to get a lot of jobs here, but the only responsive people so far have been bands. bands in the first place are cheap because no one ever has money in a band, and they are always flaky even when there is a contract involved. i have had several nonpaying band clients. and where i live, there a culture of being 'value-oriented' (aka cheap cheap cheap) and the bands are that much worse here because of it. its so frustrating. what about those job sites i mentioned, does anyone use those at all? i wouldnt really rely on them if i ended up going for it, but just to get some work to fill in the gaps.
- ETM0
Enter response:You typically can't just go "cold turkey" freelance if you don't have some experience and a plan. It's best to work in the industry first to learn the in and outs and establish your name as well as some connections to both vendors and clients.
What's your experience? I see you don't have a website in your profile. Do you have examples of your work?
The best way to get clients is through word of mouth. That means you have to be good at what you do and allow time for it to happen. Try working a part-time job to have some steadier income while you work on your client base. Talk to people you know, but don't fall into the "do it for free and I'll promote you" type deals.
- Soler0
maybe try aquent, creative circle- they are more established companies