Ask HN: Getting That First Client?

First thing, you need to completely change the way you are thinking about freelancing. In fact, never call yourself a freelancer. Freelancer seems to be a strange way to describe a business. Do you care if someone is a freelance lawyer? Freelance plumber? Probably no, you are looking for a business, a professional, not a freelancer. That's not to say that a freelancer isn't a professional, but there are much ways to present your image.

Next, none of those skills you mentioned matter.

Ultimately, the only skill which matters is the ability to sell. You do that by selling a story or experience (or whatever you want to call it) to the client. Once you land the client, then the story needs to continue to be as thrilling as it was when it drew the client to you in the first place.

Some people will tell you that it's all about providing value, that's true. It's a big part of it, but that in itself doesn't tell a good story. It's just like how the same joke can be gut busting funny or a total bomb depending on who is telling it. It's the same joke, but it comes alive with the story telling.

Someone who is good with selling, who can manage the client and can manage developers well could land projects all day long and have other people build them. This person wouldn't even need to know how to code.

The skills you mentioned are the sorts of things an employer is looking for, not the guy bankrolling the whole chain (the person who is paying to own the code.) However, this is an industry which tends to run on the small size. There are no Ford Motors of client application development work hiring thousands of developers and mopping up the competition. This isn't mass manufacturing. There are a lot of small shops out there looking for independent developers. You might be best off providing development services for these shops while you are learning the ropes. You can then move on to offering your services directly to the end client from there.

There is a big difference there. Both in how you sell your services and the models by which you can charge for your time. You can make more by being the person dividing the pie rather than being in line to receive a piece. But you have to start somewhere.

As others said. Network, network, network. Jump on Twitter and other social networks. Get your code on Github and share. The more people who know your name the more opportunities you get. The more surface area you lay out for luck to attach to, the more luck you will catch.

I could go on forever here. Look through Hacker news. This subject has been done so many times.

I am an iOS Freelance Developer, and this path is what got me my first client.

It seems like you are very aware of what you are capable of. It's great to be realistic, but also realize that you are now in the professional market like everyone else. Like the other posts say here, NETWORK.

Go to local meetups and present yourself as a real professional. Create business cards (BONUS: Make yours stand out from the rest). You will receive many business cards by going to these meetups. You can probably gauge what would make yours flashier.

Update your LinkedIn, Twitter, HackerNews, Blog, etc immediately with solid and presentable information. If you're unsure of how to do this professionally, check out other professionals' pages and emulate success.

Now, BUILD THAT PORTFOLIO. Even one side project is generally enough to show someone that you can do the work. Do you want to show off your skills, but you're not sure what to build? Take a popular site and build a small client for it.

This is one of the most exciting experiences you will ever go through. We hear about people building businesses all of the time, and it seems amazing. There is so much more passion - in my experience - when you are building yourself. Congratulations on taking this huge step!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any basic questions about the whole freelancing process. I'm happy to help in any way! (Email in profile)

I think it has to start with a really great portfolio. Perhaps even start blogging.

Pick a developmental niche and own it.

Do you want to develop MVP's for non-technical founders - can you cope with the indecision at the idea stage in exchange for quick turn around projects? If so, offer your services here, in the /r/sideproject & /r/entrepreneur subreddits.

Maybe you'd rather refactor existing technology to be faster, stronger & beautiful. Lots more planning & management but for bigger rewards & a better portfolio. Find sites that have flaws, technical issues & make a compelling case for hiring you by emailing them.

Perhaps you want to become known for beautiful sites for handmade crafters, farmers market vendors etc. Make some stunning advertising, flyers, postcards etc. Stay local, go to events and build your name. Pick a couple of vendors with beautiful products and offer to do their site to build your portfolio. Team up with a great photographer & make those sample sites shine. You will easily become known for what you do.

After you have your portfolio set - start raising those rates.

Remember, the types of jobs you accept, lead to other jobs of a similar type. By accepting jobs in niches you dislike, you're making it harder for yourself to enjoy your work and get to where you want to be.

Getting your first job from connections is indeed much easier. But as the other commenters mentioned, the ability to sell is crucial for a small business owner like yourself (someone else suggested not calling yourself the f-word :).

Here's my suggestion. Pick a local small business that you like, but that could use a better website or web app (something simple, like an appointment scheduler, etc.). More specifically, pick a business that you feel would grow tremendously if only they were more visible online. Pitch a new website for cheap, or even in exchange for goods or services. If they turn you down, don't take it personally, just brush it off and find another potential client.

Now for the good part: measure everything about the current state of their business, from visitors to revenue to ROI on advertising, etc. Build their website, then measure how much your solution improved their numbers.

Make a portfolio with this business as your case study and brag about those numbers. Rinse, repeat.

Don't forget the part about not taking it personally and brushing it off if you get turned down. Good luck.

I have started a bunch of companies, mostly in services. The very best way to get into freelancing is to get work from your current employer. This assumes they like your work, they are not mad at you for leaving, etc. But often they are happy to pay you less (in total) to maintain things you have created for them. It works for you because you get your start in freelancing, often at a higher hourly wage.

Just don't be fooled by that higher hourly wage. I left my first job out of school (we are talking 1983 here) to double my hourly rate from $12 to $24 as a contractor for CDC (old mainframe computer company). But the lag in cash flow was a killer. As a freelancer you have to invoice for your time and wait weeks to get paid.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to sell. To get your first freelance job try calling a bunch of people. Heck, call me! I am looking for help on several sites. LAMP stack plus WordPress stuff. I would LOVE to have a reliable, responsive, developer working on my stuff.