Finding freelance work online as a beginner can seem daunting. Where do you start? How do you stand out from the competition? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your freelance business, this guide covers everything you need to know. From creating an attractive profile to bidding strategically on jobs to wowing clients with your portfolio, we’ve got you covered.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to find great freelance clients across top online platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and more.

Why Find Clients Online?

Before we dive in, let’s look at some of the key benefits of finding freelance clients online:

• Access to More Opportunities: Online freelance platforms give you access to way more clients than you could reach locally. Websites like Upwork have millions of clients posting new jobs daily across every industry imaginable.
• Work from Anywhere: One of the best parts of freelancing online is having geographic flexibility. As long as you have an internet connection, you can work from anywhere and access clients around the world.
• Build Your Reputation: Completing online projects and getting great client reviews helps you quickly build up your reputation. This makes it easier to raise your rates and win more rewarding projects.
• Steady Income: With so many clients looking to hire online, you can keep a steady stream of freelance work rather than dealing with unpredictable local client projects. This makes it easier to earn a consistent living.

Clearly, finding clients online opens up way more income potential than trying to source local clients alone. Now let’s get into the step-by-step process for freelance success online.

Step 1: Pick Your Niche

The very first step is to identify your niche. With so many skilled freelancers out there, having niche expertise gives you an advantage when pitching for jobs in your field.

Narrow down your freelance niche by identifying:

• Your Skills and Experience: What are you best at? What skills have you developed over at least 3-5 years? Play to your strengths rather than trying to be a jack-of-all-trades.
• Subjects that Interest You: You’ll produce way better work focusing on subjects you’re genuinely passionate about and want to learn more of. This passion also comes through when pitching clients.
• In-Demand Skills: Make sure there is client demand for the skills you want to offer. Research which niches are growing on top freelance sites to validate your choice.

Some examples of popular freelance niches include:

• Content Writing
• Graphic Design
• Web/App Development
• Video Production
• Copywriting
• Virtual Assistance

Whatever you choose, laser focus your profile around providing specialized services in your niche. This helps you command higher rates once you’ve built up expertise.

Step 2: Create Your Freelance Profile

Once you’ve picked your niche, it’s time to create your freelancer profile. This is basically your resume on steroids – make it shine!

Your profile needs to convince potential clients to hire you over the competition in just seconds. Include all key details like:

Complete Contact Info

Add your full name, email, physical address, and phone number so clients can easily contact you (you can hide certain fields like your address from public view).

Headshot

Add a clear, high-quality photo of your smiling face. This helps build trust and likability which makes clients more likely to hire you.

Service Offerings

Be very specific about every service you provide within your niche along with price points for key deliverables. Common extras to call out are revision rounds, rush orders, and dedicated support.

Past Work Samples

One of the most important parts of your profile! Include screenshots and examples that highlight your top-notch work for previous happy clients.

Skills & Expertise

List out your specialized skills, years of experience, certifications and credentials that qualify you to provide services within your niche.

Client Testimonials

Having glowing testimonials gives you immense credibility. Gather feedback from happy clients and showcase it prominently.

About Me

Briefly share your backstory and what motivates you as a freelancer. Sprinkling in personality helps connect better with potential clients.

Treat your profile like a living document – keep iterating to perfect it over time as you gain more experience and client feedback.

Step 3: Choose the Best Freelance Websites

With your polished profile ready to go, it’s time to select the best freelance websites to find clients in your niche. Each site tends to attract a different clientele:

Upwork

Businesses posting steady freelance writing, design, dev and more projects. Lots of competition but high client volume.

Fiverr

Buyers looking for quick niche gigs. Great for freelancers offering fixed services. Chance to upsell buyers on extras.

Freelancer

Draws more technical projects like programming and engineering. Also has writing and design opportunities.

Guru

Focuses on more complex and higher budget freelance projects. Quality over quantity of clients.

People Per Hour

Features a good mix of small and mid-sized businesses posting jobs. Good response times.

SimplyHired

Job board aggregating listings from many sites. Allows broad and niche searches.

We recommend signing up for 2-3 sites that best match your niche at first. Spread yourself too thin across 10 platforms from day one and you won’t be applying for jobs effectively.

Once you’ve built up strong client ratings and feedback on a site, you can keep expanding across additional platforms.

Step 4: Build Your Portfolio

Before actively applying for gigs, take the time to craft an eye-catching online portfolio. Treat this as an expanded visual showcase of your skills and best work.

Your portfolio should demonstrate why you deserve to work with premium clients on interesting projects.

What all should you include?

• About Section: Share your backstory, skills, services, and what makes you the best fit for their projects.
• Project Samples: Feature plenty of case study style examples that highlight your process and results delivered for past clients.
• Client Logos & Testimonials: Social proof like recognizable logos and video testimonials can instill confidence in potential new clients.
• Contact Info: Make it easy for impressed clients to get in touch by listing contact details.

Use a visually impressive portfolio site builder like Squarespace, Wix or Dribbble instead of hosting a basic PDF. This leaves prospects with a memorable first impression.

Make sure to link your portfolio site prominently on your freelancer profiles and proposal applications. It acts like a showroom for your best work in one place.

Step 5: Perfect Your Profile SEO

Time to optimize your freelancer profiles to get found more easily by clients searching relevant keywords.

Start by doing keyword research around the services you offer using Google’s Keyword Planner and keywordtool.io to see monthly search volumes.

Then work the highest volume and most relevant keywords naturally into key profile fields:

Headline: Summarize your services and expertise in your profile headline, like “Copywriter Specializing in Landing Pages”.

Overview: Share a bit more detail around what you do here. Use related keywords around services offered.

Skills & Expertise: Detail every specific relevant skillset here using associated search phrases.

Portfolio descriptions: Sprinkle in keyword references where relevant here as well.

This SEO optimization helps you rank higher when clients search for pros offering specific skills related to their project needs.

Step 6: Set Competitive Rates

One of the most challenging parts of attracting those first clients is figuring out what to charge. Price too high or low and you risk missing out on projects.

So how do you set competitive freelance rates as a beginner?

Start by researching the hourly or project fee range that peers with similar skills and portfolios charge within your niche. Look at both median and top performer rates.

Average these comparable rates and use this as a baseline. Offer discounts upfront until you build up your portfolio, then raise rates over time.

Some additional pointers for pricing projects:

• Charge higher rates for niche or technical skills.
• Factor in level of effort and complexity of projects.
• Offer tiered packages for budget buyers vs premium services.
• Clearly callout what’s included at each price point.

Over time you can start commanding premium rates from top clients happy to pay more for exceptional work. But be reasonable when first starting out.

Which brings us to…

Step 7: Apply to Entry-Level Jobs

At last, it’s finally time to start actively applying to projects! But tread carefully rather than going for high budget gigs right away.

Build up your experience and client feedback through entry-level jobs first. You can gradually level up project size and complexity as your portfolio and ratings grow.

What kinds of starter jobs should you target?

• Smaller Budget Gigs: Think $100 to $500 for mini defined scope projects.
• Test the Process: Can be unpaid tests or samples as long as time spent is minimal.
• Straightforward Requests: Avoid super complex jobs – save those for later.
• Newer Clients: Often more willing to take a chance on new freelancers compared to established buyers.

Resist offering massive discounts as a rookie freelancer. Price too low can actually reduce your chances of winning projects.

Instead politely ask for the opportunity to prove yourself on limited scope jobs. Then overdeliver value through exceptional work.

This helps quickly build up those all important client ratings and positive feedback comments.

Step 8: Craft Compelling Proposals

You’ve found promising entry-level gigs targeted to new freelancers. Now you need to write standout proposals to win them over the competition.

With so many pros applying to the same projects, what helps a beginner proposal stand out?

Proof Why You’re a Fit

Elaborate on why your specific skills and background make you a great match for what they need delivered based on the job post.

Share Your Excitement

Enthusiasm can be contagious! Part of the pitch is getting the client excited to work with you specifically.

Propose Clear Deliverables

Lay out exactly what final materials you would provide along with delivery timelines to instill confidence you understand scope.

Reassure on Quality

Address any concerns upfront – sharing your commitment to excellence through real examples is compelling.

Price Transparently

Call out your rates clearly. Offer limited time intro discounts if it helps secure your first clients.

Finally, keep proposals tight rather than overly salesy essays. Share just enough info to demonstrate you’re qualified and eager for the work.

Step 9: Overdeliver Value

You’ve made it past the hardest part – actually landing those first few clients as a beginner! Don’t get complacent though.

Overdeliver value by:

• Meeting or beating all project deadlines
• Communicating progress clearly
• Seeking regular feedback to refine direction
• Handing off impeccably polished deliverables
• Proactively addressing any areas the client is less than 100% thrilled with

Under promise and over deliver to impress beyond their expectations. This earns you stellar feedback – the key to unlocking more rewarding work.

Take the extra time to ensure clients are truly wowed by the quality of service. This helps justify raising your rates sooner as your reputation grows.

Step 10: Gradually Level-Up Gigs

Rinse and repeat steps 7-9. But now that you’re armed with happy client testimonials, you become qualified to take on increasingly advanced, better compensated projects.

Actively start bidding for:

• Longer multi-phase engagements
• Larger budget contracts
• More narrowly specialized requests only you can confidently fulfill
• Direct invitations to apply from past satisfied clients

Set your sights on graduating from mainly transactional piecemeal projects to bigger long-term client partnerships.

Nurture relationships with regular clients and their networks. Make it a priority to fully understand their business needs so you can add growing value over time.

This helps secure recurring work along with those critical referrals to new clients that cuts down the time you need to spend applying cold.

Key Takeaways: Finding Freelance Clients Online

Here are the 10 essential steps to finding great freelance clients online as a beginner:

1. Pick Your Niche: Play to your strengths rather than being a generalist.
2. Create Your Profile: Make an impressive online resume that sells your specialized services.
3. Choose Freelance Platforms: Sign up for sites best matching your niche like Upwork and Fiverr.
4. Build Your Portfolio: Create a visually stunning showcase of past work.
5. Optimize With SEO: Use keywords clients search for.
6. Price Competitively: Research industry rate ranges as a baseline.
7. Apply To Entry-Level Jobs: Build experience through smaller budget gigs first.
8. Craft Compelling Proposals: Share why you’re the best fit for what they need delivered.
9. Overdeliver Value: Wow clients by exceeding expectations to earn great testimonials.
10. Level-Up Gigs: Use happy client feedback to qualify for more advanced, lucrative projects.

Finding those first few clients takes consistent effort. But armed with this guide, you now have a proven roadmap to freelance success online!

Top Freelance Websites Compared

Site	Pros	Cons
Upwork	High client volume across niches. Feedback helps lock in future work.	Very competitive especially for new freelancers. 20% fees until $500 earned per client.
Fiverr	Buyers looking for specific small gigs. Fast way to start building portfolio.	Need to create set packages vs fully custom orders. Buyer quality varies more.
Freelancer	Technical and complex projects across IT, programming etc.	More fluctuations in project pipeline. Less nurturing of long term client relationships.
Guru	Higher value clients and contracts. Low fees at 8.95% commissions.	Harder to stand out as beginner without extensive portfolio.
People Per Hour	Good community of talented freelancers in niche areas.	Mixed client feedback on responsiveness for time sensitive projects.
SimplyHired	Massive aggregator listing freelance jobs across top sites.	Not a marketplace site itself so can’t directly apply for jobs through it.

FAQ: Getting Freelance Clients Online

What is the easiest way to get freelance clients online?

The easiest way to get started is by signing up for popular freelance websites like Upwork and Fiverr. Create an amazing profile highlighting your skills, experience, portfolio and testimonials. Then apply to a high volume of entry-level jobs focused on simpler requests from first-time clients. Use intro rates and overdeliver on quality to quickly build up your reviews.

How much should I charge as a beginner freelancer?

Research the typical hourly or project rates more established peers with similar skillsets charge within your niche. Take the median range as a baseline but offer 10-20% discounts initially while you build up your portfolio. Deliver outstanding value and quickly increase your rates over 3-6 months.

Where can I find freelance writing jobs online?

Great sites to find freelance writing gigs include Contena, Scripted, Skyword and ClearVoice. All have abundant writing projects from blog posts to whitepapers and marketing materials. Just focus your writer profile on your specific niches to get matched more effectively. Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer also have writing opportunities but with far more general competition.

What makes a good freelance web developer portfolio?

The most impressive developer portfolios highlight real-world examples of custom web and mobile apps you’ve coded for past happy clients. Showcase your end-to-end process from discussing client requirements to designing solutions to coding demos. Share code samples on Github, summaries of challenges overcome and reviews from clients praising your delivery and communication skills.

How do I succeed as a freelance designer?

Freelance designers succeed by: 1) Picking a design specialty like logo creation, branding guides, magazine layouts, packaging etc rather than generalizing 2) Curating an eye-catching portfolio demonstrating their unique style and relevant tools 3) Being great communicators, eagerly gathering client inputs to create designs that meet expectations 4) Staying on top of trends popular with target clientele and tailoring their services accordingly. Building long-term client partnerships is also key.