How did you start?

Hello,

How did you start with the freelancing? Did something change?

I think the best way to find job is to promote yourself and your services. The best way to do that is to have a personal website.

I tried to become a freelencer but nobody hired me because I had no feedback, reviews etc...

Have you tried on fiverr?

Jack.

Fiver? LOLOLOLOLOLOL.
Don't bother.

Avisual, do you still have your day job? In your intro you mentioned having some type of job with a design capacity. Freelancing comes after you have proven you have the experience to do the work and have developed some kind of reputation for providing results. If you have not had the clients where you can point to a successful project that brought in some measurable return on investment for them, all you have is a bunch of pretty pictures. People don't hire for pretty pictures. They hire designers for results.

Freelancing develops with time and experience. Not from a one year 'intensive' design course and a short stint in the real world.

Approach your problem the way you would for a client who came to you for a marketing package.
Would you tell them to sell their wares for $5?
Would you tell them to go to craiglist to dig up potential clientele?
Would you tell them to send spam emails and hand out business cards?
Would you tell them to build a website with cheesy and often empty words of praise?

What would you suggest to a client who came to YOU?
For if you have no ideas on how to market yourself, you don't have enough experience to be freelancing yet.
Sorry.

It's always like that until you get a few good, steady clients with regular work. Without those steady clients, freelancing often alternates between having nothing to do with no income and having to turn down work because too much comes in all at once. You'll hand out business cards for six months with no response, then right as you're thinking it's been wasted effort, three or four of those people will call you needing something that week. It's stressful.

I agree with everything that PrintDriver said.

You have to sell yourself, your experience and knowledge. To do so you need to know who your customers are and where they are. Honestly, I would forget trying online - too much competition. If your potential customers are other businesses, look into joining the chamber and go to networking events. Or send a mailing and follow it up with phone calls. Ask your current customers for referrals.

It's not easy, but once you get established, it gets easier. I find most of my customers now by word of mouth.

Good luck!

Janet

I have clients and word of mouth is getting around, I was looking for possible ways to speed up the process and find new clients.

Thank you everyone for your constructive criticism and your input. You have given me a lot to think about.

There are a number of freelance sites out there, like e-lance, where people can bid for work. You just need to check around.

It is very true that you will need to marketing yourself, but of course that can be the trick right? Here is a bit of basic info that I hope might help get you started in the right direction.

For people new in a service industry I always recommend they start close to home. First, make sure your online presence is clean and professional, and have a print and digital portfolio. Next, make a list of your services and how they can help a business. After all, you need to be able to tell people exactly what you are offering and they will want to know what it would cost. You will want to know who your competition is and what they offer so that you can address those same issues. Make a nicely designed flyer or rack card that talks about the value you offer and how it benefits the client.

Then put on your best suit and hit the pavement in the nearest town. Visit small businesses and talk to the decision makes or owners. Ask them about their needs and challenges, then offer some input on how your service can help them overcome those challenges and meet their business goals. Make sure you leave them with a business card so that they can contact you and be sure to keep a record of every business you visit and what their response was; this information will be valuable in guiding future efforts.

Finally, check for local non profit organization where you can do some pro bono work. Doing something free for a good cause is a great way to contribute to your community while building a network and creating some relationships that might lead to paid work.

Best of luck!

I agree with <b>, as a freelancer one can get no work for a while and then right away swing to the other extreme right away, meaning having too much work, so much that you have to turn some down. It can be stressful but it can also be interesting and fun with the right attitude.

Also, it's always recommended to stay productive even while work is not coming in. On those days one can make a portfolio piece, or work on getting new skills, or even just market oneself online or in your community. Personally, there's always something to do you just have to keep staying productive.