I put a couple of words advertising my freelance status in my sig a couple of days ago and have only got 1 client from it. What would be the best ways to advertise my services?

Hi Jack,

Do you have a site that shows your portfolio? One of the things I look for when hiring a freelance contractor is to review their previous work to see if they have the sense & sytle I am looking for. If you add a link to your portfolio, this should give you more increase in interest for business looking to outsource.

Andy

Thanks for that .

Ive been trying to make on for ages but ive never really made a design i like for it but i will get it up quick now if it will increase my 'client count'.

Thannks again, Jack

Don't rush it. It woun't bring you any clients if they sense its rushed. It would bring you in more clients if you did it at a good pace.
Don't try to do it too quickly - People woun't like it.

I used to do custom software development and the majority of the work I received was from a product that I created and sold for $500 a pop. People would buy it and use it and either hire me to do custom enhancements or they would hire me to create additional products for them. All told, I geenrated an additional $75K of development work over the two years I sold the product.

I got tired of the software development bit after a while and sold the software to a friend and he has experienced similar efforts.

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So to me the best way is to get something GOOD out there that people can interact with. It doesn't have to be sold. It could be something like free web templates, a 10 page report on the 29 design steps to a class A website, etc.

Get whatever you create out there in front of people to let them experience you in a no-risk way so they can see the skills you bring to the table and use that as a leaping board to getting your paid freelance work.

I often post jobs on rent-a-coder, it may be worth building a profile on there.

As a buyer it's great as they escrow the funds and can resolve any disputes.

As a seller though, the competion is fierce and prices are often low.

Stand on your rooftop and scream...

Yeah don`t go jet set, be patient you ll get success. It ll take time but you will if you work hard.

I know what you mean. I have a portfolio link in my sig on a few forums but it hasn't got me any jobs. It's tough.

Originally Posted by Jack.

I put a couple of words advertising my freelance status in my sig a couple of days ago and have only got 1 client from it. What would be the best ways to advertise my services?

Well you can find may freelancing forums on web. Register over there as many requests are posted in the forums. Also make the best possible quote so that client will not go anywhere. Provide quality in your work and you will get many projects in future.

My Advice is just build stuff , Have some Idea ... build it and release it into the wild. Not only will this get you noticed this will also get you way more better paying work than running around Rent a Coder , Scriptlance etc.

You can also do OSS that also will get good clients ( who ask for custom modfications etc ) , also you can monetize your OSS thorough other methods.

I follow this way , because i dont wanna compete for project with others and i like to do what i like.

Personally, I get my clients this way (and in this order):

1. Repeat work from satisfied customers.
2. Forums / Blogs (people see my posts, like what I have to say, and decide to hire me).
3. Referrals from past customers.
4. Networking (referrals from colleagues and industry contacts when they hear of open gigs that usually aren't advertised)
5. Advertising my services outright if I have a slow week, cancelled project to fill time for, or something.

Ideally most of your clients will eventually find you via word of mouth. But in the meantime, there are a lot of ways to get clients.

Jack,

I've had a great deal of success by posting ultra targeted ads on Craigslist. THe idea is to describe your dream assignment, turn it into an ad and wait for the calls to come in. It won't open the flood gates but you'll get offers that are serious and interesting.

Good luck,
Dylan

First step is as others said to get a portfolio up. I have a real problem with this. The biggest problem IMO is that as designers we gain more and more skill as we go on. Every design we do is better than the one before. So every time I make a design for my portfolio I end up scrapping it. I would just pick something nice and use it. Even if you can do better, your design skill should be shown by the work actually listed in your profile. Anyone seriously considering hiring you should be looking at the work you have done, not just your portfolio.

I have heard of using rent-a-coder but I have seen some logos and such that I am unimpressed with. But this could be because, as someone else mentioned prices tend to be low there. Consider posting on some forums like this. Offer free or highly discounted design. Maybe you will design a site for a big time developer on here who launches several sites every month and will keep coming back for future projects.

Try to get work out there. Have a buddy in a band or a buddy with a business? Offer to make them a site and if they try to pay you, tell them it is on you, but that they could spread the word if they would like to help.

And one last tip as you are starting out, be honest and don't try to make yourself look more skilled than you are. Many of the developers I work with and know somewhat close, started as potential clients of mine. I now laugh at the designs I sent them at how awful they were, but I always just applogized they we couldn't work something out. As long as you do a good job, and people know you will not try to use someone else work, or rush things you should be fine.

Good luck to you. Maybe I will start designing again. I have been working on a portfolio site, but as you have, I keep changing my mind on the design.