DO THIS and Clients will start coming to you!

READ TIME - 2 minutes 17 seconds

May 10, 2023

Welcome to the Freelancer's Survival Guide: How to Score Clients and Avoid the Hunger Games!

Hey, this is Ali Solanki🍉In this newsletter, I will give you the inside scoop on getting clients as a freelancer, based on my experience.

Remember when we asked you guys about your biggest challenge in the world of freelancing? Well, it turns out that getting clients was a recurring theme in our poll. No surprises there, right? Don't worry, we've got your back with this newsletter!

Before that, introducing the Guide to Freelancing Course: the watermelon of all courses! This course is jam-packed with insider tips and tricks on how to land clients, build your brand, and make a bank as a freelancer.

So, what are you waiting for? Don't be a noob in the freelance world. Join my crew of freelancing soldiers, and let's conquer the freelance universe together! 🚀

🍉 Guide to Freelancing Course: courses.alisolanki.com/s/store

And now, onto our regularly scheduled programming: How to get clients as a freelancer.

Finding Your Freelancing Expertise and the Power of "WHY" 🤔

Getting clients as a freelancer is easier said than done. You can't just put up a website and hope people will magically find you. It takes effort, strategy, and a little bit of luck to get the ball rolling.

First, let me take you to my childhood, Once I was at a Chroma store with my mom, and I saw a Samsung tab. It was all the rage at the time, and I really wanted one. I even got to play around with it and felt like it was meant to be mine.

But, my mom couldn't buy it for me due to financial issues. The tab was worth 20,000 rupees, and at the time, I was only getting 2 rupees per day as my pocket money. I did the math and figured it would take me around 10,000 days to save up for it.

That's a lot of days! Nonetheless, I continued to do odd jobs around the house and at events to make some extra money. And with every penny I saved, I got one step closer to owning that shiny Samsung tab.

But let me tell you, I was determined to learn how to make money like a pro. I searched on Google like a curious little kid, "HOW TO EARN MONEY?" and as I dug deeper into my research, I realized that I needed to master a skill to make some serious cash.

So, I figured I could sit in front of a computer all day and work, and that's when I started learning app development.

And guess who my first client was? MY MOM! She needed an app for her business, and who better to trust than her own son? Of course, I charged her some cash for it, but I made a deal that I would get a percentage of the earnings from the app. I felt privileged to have my first client be my own mom, but now let's talk about how you can get clients as a freelancer!

But before we dive in, let me wrap up my story with a valuable lesson - understanding your expertise and WHY you're freelancing in the first place. Once you've got that figured out, then we can move on to the juicy stuff.

Alright, let's get real for a minute here. Before we move forward in this newsletter, I’m giving you a chance to grab a pen and paper and jot down your field of expertise and your WHY.

And let's be honest, your WHY is probably MONEY, am I right? 💰 I mean, who doesn't love some extra cash in their pocket?

Social Media: More Than Memes and Cat Videos 🤣

But wait my friend, there's more to freelancing than just making a quick buck. Sure, you can do it as a part-time gig to supplement your income, but why not use it as an opportunity to upskill yourself, learn new things, connect with people, and explore what's happening around the world?

Don't be one of those people who stick to one skill for their entire life. Trust me, that's a snooze-fest, and you deserve better!

OKAY OKAY, moving on to the next point😅 Showcase your work on social media

Well, have you ever considered social media? It's not just for scrolling mindlessly through memes, you know.

I started by sharing my daily adventures on LinkedIn and making videos for YouTube. No need to focus on a specific niche or anything fancy, just start posting whatever you did that was productive that day. And don't forget to upskill yourself regularly, folks.

Believe it or not, posting on social media has actually helped me build my credibility so much that clients come to me for projects now. It's true! I'm not just making this stuff up.

Now, the best part? I get to pick and choose the projects that are best for me and my growth. No more scrambling for whatever scraps I can get. Social media has truly changed the game for freelancers like us.

It can be more beneficial than having a portfolio website (No one is searching you by your name 😅) But, if you still want a portfolio website, I've got you covered with a link to my video on how to create one quickly and easily:

Networking: The Six Degrees of Separation Theory 🤝🏻

Let's talk networking, baby! 💼 You've probably heard a million times that building connections are the key to getting clients. But, let me tell you, I'm gonna give you a different spin on this.

Remember the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game? Well, replace Kevin Bacon with your potential clients, and you have the six degrees of separation theory. Basically, anyone in the world can be connected to anyone else through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries. Crazy, huh? 🌎

So, your goal should be to tap into those second-degree connections, because that's where the real magic happens. If someone likes your work, they'll recommend you to their connections, and before you know it, you're swimming in referrals! 🤑

Here's a little secret: you can even ask your clients to refer you to others and offer them a discount as a thank you. Boom! Now you're getting clients from your clients. 🙌

My point is, don't underestimate the power of networking. Start growing your second-degree connections and watch your client base expand. 🚀

So you're thinking, how the heck do I network with people? Easy peasy, my friend. First off, there are tons of events and workshops happening all over the place related to your interests. Just go there, attend, and start making connections. Don't be shy, learn what people want and figure out how you can help them.

And let me tell you, meeting people in person is much more impactful than trying to network online. Sure, you can slide into someone's DMs, but nothing beats the power of a good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.

Pro-tip: always have your calendly link ready, so if someone wants to chat with you for longer, they have the option to schedule it. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on any potential opportunities!

Keeping Clients Addicted: Promise the Universe, Not the Cheap Thrills 🏃🏻‍♂️

So, you've landed some clients. Congrats! But how do you keep them coming back for more? Easy peasy, watermelon juicy. Just make them addicted to your service. Promise them the world and give them the universe, but never make it seem cheap. One is nice, but the other is way more useful.

And here's a little pro tip for ya: make them lazy. Do all of their work at once, so they don't even think about going to another freelancer. They'll be like clay in your hands! And don't forget to milk that turnover cost for all it's worth.