Hey everyone! I'm a web developer with about 4.5 years of experience working with WordPress, WooCommerce, Laravel, and Vue3. I'm looking to start freelancing and I'm curious about the best way to find my first clients. I've read about a couple of methods, such as using freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, but I've heard they come with a lot of competition and can be tough to land gigs. I'm more interested in reaching out to local businesses in Europe, but I'm unsure how to approach this. What are the best ways to find clients in my local market? Should I send out emails offering free website audits? If so, how do I decide which companies to contact? I'm really grateful for any advice you can share!
2 Answers
Networking is key! Attend local conferences, join work groups, and even contribute to open-source projects in your field. In my experience, platforms like Upwork can be a waste of time due to overwhelming competition; you often have lower-skilled developers outbidding you. Instead, focus on building relationships in-person to find clients.
I actually call local businesses in my area and offer them a free website check. I prepare an analysis of their current site and follow up a few days later to see if they need help. It sounds simple, but it works really well!
That's a great idea! What does that website check typically include? Is it focused on SEO or something else?
Absolutely! Every quality client I've landed has been through personal connections or referrals.