10 Most Common Questions Beginner Freelancers Ask After They Start (Part 1)
Hi! It’s Charmaine again.
To anyone who doesn’t know me yet, I’m a freelancer mom, a digital creator, and also someone who builds Notion systems for freelancers.
So, as I’ve said in my previous blogs, beginner freelancers have so many questions in their heads that they want answers immediately.
In this blog post, I will try to answer some questions simply and clearly.
How Do I Find My First Client?
There are a lot of places online where you can find clients and where some of them hang out.
a) Freelance Platforms – platforms have already built-in audiences, and the audience there consists of your clients.
b) Facebook Communities – there are groups or pages on Facebook where they are actually looking for freelancers that they need for their business. Just be very careful and always be vigilant.
c) Social Media Platforms – Instagram, Threads, Reddit, and yes, Facebook again. Try to do research and filter out your views; you might find them.
d) Niche Freelance Platforms – yes, there are platforms like that. For writing, there’s AWAI, ProBlogger, BloggingPro, and some agencies on LinkedIn that are looking for freelance writers. For designers, there’s Dribbble, Behance, Canva, etc. Do some deep-dive research.
e) Newsletters – another way to find job leads or clients is through newsletters. SolidGigs, The Daily Lead, All About Freelance Writing, etc., will send you emails directly to your inbox with leads that will help you find work from home or clients.
What Should I Charge As A Beginner?
In this part, I will try to explain it simply for now so you won’t get confused.
Calculation Sample:
(Baseline + Target Monthly Income) / Hours = Rate
This is just for generic computation that I hope would help you.
And as you grow, you will need to account for taxes and your non-billable time.
Non-Billable Time most likely includes your time spent on marketing, admin tasks, and learning.
What Services Should I Offer?
Services that you can offer will most likely depend on your skills, or should I say your strongest skill.
Possible skills that you are currently using at your work or in your daily routine can provide solutions to your target client’s problems.
For example:
If you are good at designing, narrow it down to find your niche and the services under that.
You can offer services like these:
- Graphic Design
- Logo Design
- Website Design
Know your strongest skill, narrow it down to find your niche, and you’ll find the service where you are comfortable offering.
How Do I Make A Strong Proposal?
As a beginner, your focus is to get your first client, and to get your first client, you need to have a strong proposal.
But honestly, a proper proposal is what you need: genuine and personalised.
To write a proper proposal, try to do this:
- Be transparent; it’s okay if you mention that you are a beginner in online freelancing; however, match it up with your skills and expertise.
- Mention the tools that you are familiar with, capable of, or knowledgeable about. Include resources and platforms that you are aware of and very familiar with.
- State your availability, communication method, and clear payment method.
How Do I Communicate With Clients?
So, there are two things to consider when communicating with clients.
A) Medium: How You Connect
- Email: Use this for formal records.
- Real-time communications: Some clients prefer calls or messaging through Messenger, Zoom, Slack, or Teams. Just be clear about your availability.
B) The Substance: How You Speak
- Active listening: Be attentive and focused. After a client explains, paraphrase it to confirm the details.
- Be clear and transparent: Be honest about the situation and the solution. Do not make excuses.
- Mirroring the tone: Pay attention to the client’s style. If the client is formal and concise, keep your emails professional and short. If the client uses emojis and casual language, you can mirror that approach once you have built rapport.
✨ GOLDEN RULE ✨
The simple rule for a beginner is this:
Clients expect you to be clear about expectations, updates, and deliverables.
These are just the first five questions, and already there’s a lot to take in. The good news is that every freelancer you admire once stood exactly where you are noq, figuring it out once step at a time.
Part 2 covers the next five questions, including how to spot red flag clients, build a portfolio from scratch, and know the tax side of things. It goes up soon, so keep an eye out.
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