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Freelancing
Professional Advice
How to get your first client or project as a new freelancer or graduate. Power tip: you can do this at any time, even if you have a full time job or are still in school.
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1. Have 3-5 pieces of work that demonstrate your core competency. The narrower the focus the easier it is to get work.
2. Don’t make anyone guess what you do. Be clear about this.
2. Don’t make anyone guess what you do. Be clear about this.
4. For example Don’t say, “I’m an artist”. Say, “I paint dramatic portraits of pets in Baroque costumes.”
5. Don’t say, “I’m a CG artist.” Say, “I create photo real renderings of gaming laptops.”
6. Don’t say, “I’m a photographer.” Say, “I shoot portraits of vintage Porsches.”
5. Don’t say, “I’m a CG artist.” Say, “I create photo real renderings of gaming laptops.”
6. Don’t say, “I’m a photographer.” Say, “I shoot portraits of vintage Porsches.”
7. Don’t say, “I’m a writer.” Say, “I write high converting emails for SAAS companies.”
8. Why? One is hard to visualize. The other is easy.
• Broad, abstract = confusing, unclear, unpredictable
• Narrow, specific = clear & expected outcomes
8. Why? One is hard to visualize. The other is easy.
• Broad, abstract = confusing, unclear, unpredictable
• Narrow, specific = clear & expected outcomes
9. Clients have limited imaginations.
10. Close the imagination gap.
11. Unclear = high risk = low price
12. Clear = low risk = high price
13. Clients don’t pick the best option. They pick the least risky option.
10. Close the imagination gap.
11. Unclear = high risk = low price
12. Clear = low risk = high price
13. Clients don’t pick the best option. They pick the least risky option.
14. How do I know?
15. When was the last time you paid more to take on more risk?
16. You buy car, home, life insurance to reduce risk. The more expensive the insurance, the better coverage you get, the lower the deductible.
15. When was the last time you paid more to take on more risk?
16. You buy car, home, life insurance to reduce risk. The more expensive the insurance, the better coverage you get, the lower the deductible.
17. Spend time/money/effort in presenting your work in the best possible way. It’s worth it.
18. Beautiful, well lit, photos, mockups in context make a difference. It tells a story.
19. When presented in context, w/ lighting and art direction, images appear to be more premium.
18. Beautiful, well lit, photos, mockups in context make a difference. It tells a story.
19. When presented in context, w/ lighting and art direction, images appear to be more premium.
20. A logo on white looks less substantial than on a building, plane, or delivery truck
21. A bag of premium coffee beans looks richer, more full bodied and aromatic in a coffee shop or at a roasting facility than on a white cyclorama.
21. A bag of premium coffee beans looks richer, more full bodied and aromatic in a coffee shop or at a roasting facility than on a white cyclorama.
22. Be honest when looking at your work. If you can’t confidently and objectively say that your work meets this criteria, go back to step 1.
23. Work on your work, until your work gets you work.
23. Work on your work, until your work gets you work.
24. You’d be surprised as to how much you can accomplish by doing focused work over a few weekends.
25. Put your work on a website. It doesn’t need to be complicated, but it needs to be clear.
25. Put your work on a website. It doesn’t need to be complicated, but it needs to be clear.
26. Lead with your best work. Make the photos big. Add some tastefully typeset project details.
27. Include things like: Project name, Client, 1-2 sentence description, objective, any key insight or KPIs. If it’s student or speculative work, omit client and KPIs.
27. Include things like: Project name, Client, 1-2 sentence description, objective, any key insight or KPIs. If it’s student or speculative work, omit client and KPIs.
28. Make a list of family and friends who might need what you do, or knows someone who might.
29. Meet with them.
30. In order of preference: face to face, over the phone or Zoom, email/text, social media.
29. Meet with them.
30. In order of preference: face to face, over the phone or Zoom, email/text, social media.
31. Tell them you’ve just completed a few projects and are looking for a new client who needs X (the specific thing you do).
32. Alternatively, you could say, “I’m just starting out and looking for an opportunity and can be flexible with budget. Who might you know that needs this?” You are basically saying, I’m new and affordable, so I will reduce the risk you take.
33. Meet/Call/Message any contacts.
34. If you have an interested party during this process, you‘ll have to know how to respond to the question of “how much?”
35. Respond with: “I will work within the budget you have. Let’s determine if this is a good fit first.”
34. If you have an interested party during this process, you‘ll have to know how to respond to the question of “how much?”
35. Respond with: “I will work within the budget you have. Let’s determine if this is a good fit first.”
36. Ask short, clarifying questions to narrow what the client wants, and by when.
37. If you don’t have a clear picture in your mind, ask more questions.
38. Confirm by playing back and summarizing. If you think you’re clear, ask “Is that correct?”
37. If you don’t have a clear picture in your mind, ask more questions.
38. Confirm by playing back and summarizing. If you think you’re clear, ask “Is that correct?”
39. Example: "Based on what we talked about, you are looking for X, by Z date. You have approximately $XX to spend. Is that correct?”
40. Add, “Do you have any questions for me? Are you comfortable moving forward?”
40. Add, “Do you have any questions for me? Are you comfortable moving forward?”
41. If not, address any questions. Be patient and clear. Remember, they’re new at this too.
42. Use plain, everyday language. Leave the art school speak in the classroom. You’re not impressing anyone. However, you might be alienating your client if you do.
42. Use plain, everyday language. Leave the art school speak in the classroom. You’re not impressing anyone. However, you might be alienating your client if you do.
43. Land the client. Be sure to get 50% up front before you start.
44. No commitment. No start.
45. Once you receive payment, go on Twitter and tell everyone that you did this. Tag @theChrisDo.
46. Send me 10% of your project if you are feeling generous.
44. No commitment. No start.
45. Once you receive payment, go on Twitter and tell everyone that you did this. Tag @theChrisDo.
46. Send me 10% of your project if you are feeling generous.
47. If the prospect isn’t ready to decide, ask if it’s okay to follow up in 1 week?
48. Put a reminder in your calendar.
49. Make a new event in your calendar for: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months to follow up.
48. Put a reminder in your calendar.
49. Make a new event in your calendar for: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months to follow up.
50. Life is about timing. Sometimes, you just catch people at the wrong moment.
51. Don’t give up, but don’t SPAM people either.
52. You don't like it when others do, so don’t do it.
51. Don’t give up, but don’t SPAM people either.
52. You don't like it when others do, so don’t do it.
53. Be thoughtful. Say, “I was following up on our conversation and wonder if anything has changed on your end, or if you need any more information from me?”
54. Should you come across any relevant news, information relating to what you learned on the first client call, send them an excerpt. Say something like “I saw this in my feed today and it reminded me of you. Thought you’d get some value.”
Send this back to the client. No need to ask for anything. If the client wants to reach out, they will.
55. Before you give up, send one last email. Say, “I don’t want to bother you. Just wondering if you’re giving up on this project.” If you don’t get a response, stop.
56. Repeat this process with every lead you get.
56. Repeat this process with every lead you get.
57. Once a week, post one piece of your work on platforms like: Linkedin, Instagram, Behance, Dribbble, Pinterest and Twitter.
58. If possible make the content educational. Behind the scenes, process, sketches, unfinished ideas, techniques, etc… work well.
58. If possible make the content educational. Behind the scenes, process, sketches, unfinished ideas, techniques, etc… work well.
59. If you can tell a story, do it.
60. Add a few relevant hashtags.
61. Ask an open ended question to start a conversation. This helps with getting other people to see your post.
60. Add a few relevant hashtags.
61. Ask an open ended question to start a conversation. This helps with getting other people to see your post.
62. You can add a call to action.
Example: If you would like to learn how I did this, how this can help your business, or need help with a project, comment “Keyword” below.
63. Follow up with anyone who does via DM
Helpful? Share & follow @theChrisDo
→ End
Example: If you would like to learn how I did this, how this can help your business, or need help with a project, comment “Keyword” below.
63. Follow up with anyone who does via DM
Helpful? Share & follow @theChrisDo
→ End
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