Questions tagged [attracting-clients]

For questions about strategies or advice on how to attract potential clients.

Attracting new clients is usually one of the hardest jobs a new freelancer has to take care of. With this tag, ask some questions about methods for obtaining new clients, marketing of getting new clients, or even advertising.

145 questions
34
votes
8 answers

Best approach to finding clients in your own city?

I am working as a Software Engineer, but I want to add to my pay by freelancing. What is the best way to find clients in my own city? I am open to doing small projects (like for schools or small businesses), but how do I ask them if they want any…
zzzzz
  • 2,193
  • 3
  • 16
  • 11
14
votes
7 answers

How to approach local shops to offer them my service?

In my city there are many shops that don’t have a website. I’d love to explain why they should have one and offer my service to them. However, I’m unsure how to approach them. If I’m a regular customer, it’s no big deal. But I don’t visit most of…
unor
  • 1,491
  • 12
  • 29
12
votes
5 answers

Struggling to find work

I've been freelancing since June 2013 and haven't been able to find work in all that time. I'm very short on funds so I'm sticking to free online classifieds but I haven't had so much as a nibble from any of my ads. I've got a facebook page and…
Ortund
  • 221
  • 1
  • 5
9
votes
3 answers

Get freelance contracts and not only hired contracts

I have trouble to get contracts as a freelancer. In every case it ends up with the company wanting to hire me and not rent me as a freelancer. The main argument is something like "this is an extreme important role for our company and we want this…
Mr Zach
  • 202
  • 1
  • 6
7
votes
7 answers

Is it ok to communicate with client only through email?

I am new to freelancing world and now try to find some projects to work with. I am not a native English speaker, so I just wonder is it possible to "talk" with client about project details only through mail?
Gerry
  • 121
  • 1
  • 3
5
votes
4 answers

What to do with regular work disrupted by a sudden, unexpected offer

I do some small-scale freelance work in addition to working a 9-6 job. I have a couple of clients who regularly commission work from me, and who trust me to get stuff done on time because I've never, ever missed a deadline. I have just this moment…
Bob Tway
  • 255
  • 1
  • 6
5
votes
1 answer

How to determine switching to regular job after no contracts for a while?

I have posted numerous questions about my work being very slow (here here and here), and now it seems like work has dried up or died. The reason I say "died" is because for months, I haven't been contacted by any client; I've sent hundreds of…
localhost
  • 679
  • 6
  • 14
5
votes
2 answers

I'm an Extreme Programming (XP) Agile Coach. Does it make sense to apply to companies looking for Scrum Masters?

I can generalize this question to, "I'm knowledgeable in this methodology that is relatively rare in the market, yet respected (to those that have heard of it). Does it make sense to reach out to companies that are looking for experts in a different…
ConsultingNewb
  • 385
  • 1
  • 7
4
votes
1 answer

How to legally cold mail prospective clients under the EU opt-in law

Can any freelancers out there tell us about being legally prosecuted for sending (single but unsolicited) emails to prospective clients (in the EU)? In the EU of course there is the 'opt-in' law on unsolicited emails. (A recipient must opt in…
user24862
4
votes
3 answers

I am leaving work to go freelance - can I contact my employer's clients once I leave?

The title pretty much says it all: I am working for Company A and am now leaving. Their clients, Client A, B, C and D all really like the work I do and have personally commented to me about how useful and well done it is. When I leave, is there…
SnookerFan
  • 453
  • 2
  • 15
4
votes
1 answer

How to execute a proper (and effective) introduction? I'm not yet on the proposal

Making a good first impression is important. As a stranger from your target client, what are the good points to include in your introduction and what are the bad ones to avoid? Are there indirect and direct approaches on building a connection that…
mak diose
  • 113
  • 4
4
votes
1 answer

Possible for agronomist to do remote freelancing?

I know that 90% of us are freelancing in fields where freelancing is easy, like programming, design, technical support, etc. Does anyone know or can direct me in a way that an agronomist find work as a freelancer? I am trying to help a friend of…
Peter MV
  • 14,379
  • 1
  • 34
  • 67
3
votes
3 answers

Why participating in open source helps freelancing?

I read lots of posts here that suggest participating in open source project, I just wonder how does this help to improve freelancing?
Gerry
  • 121
  • 1
  • 3
3
votes
1 answer

Working Leads/Prospects

I am doing some cold calling and I had some interest with a few prospects. I sent them some of my previous work and have yet to hear back from them. Mind you, it's only been a couple days. I want to call them and thought about our previous…
matt6frey
  • 186
  • 6
2
votes
1 answer

Services to find very large project?

Is it realistic to think that there are services where you can find large projects of over $500k? They are of course for teams of 10+, not for individuals or small teams. So far, all projects I saw on freelancing sites or via personal connections…
Peter MV
  • 14,379
  • 1
  • 34
  • 67
1
2