How to Get Clients as a Freelancer (2025 Update)

Wondering how to get clients as a freelancer?

I have asked hundreds of freelancers “What is the biggest problem you face in your business?” The answer is almost always the same – FINDING CLIENTS! Honestly, that seems WAY harder when you’re looking for your very first one.

Breaking into an industry — even if it’s one you’re familiar — can give you serious imposter syndrome. But even if you’re new to freelancing, there are a few strategies you can implement to increase your chances of success.

Landing great clients is all about building solid relationships. Whether you’re looking for your first or 50th client, these ideas can help you find new clients.

How to Find Freelance Clients

1. Add a portfolio to your website

Every strategy in this post will seriously benefit from having a website.

Why you ask? Because having a website of your own:

• Gives clients something they can share when making a referral or talking about you
• Allows you to show off examples of your work to potential clients in a portfolio or a blog
• Lets you display your services with a contact form so people can easily get in touch with you

Most importantly, it makes you look more professional.

There are SO MANY unprofessional freelancers out there, and simply having a website can make you stand out.

2. Talk to your friends and family

Your grandma’s knitting circle probably doesn’t need a new website or social media strategy, but her friend Suzie might have a grandson who’s starting his own venture and DOES.

Most of us already have valuable connections that can lead to our next (or first) client!

I’m the first to admit I HATE doing this. I’m a quiet, introvert who prefers to keep my business activities separate from my personal life. But that’s a bad strategy.

It’s worth taking the time to write a thoughtful email explaining that you’re starting your own freelance business.

Tell you friends and familiy in clear (but short!) terms what you do and what kind of business or people you’re looking to help. Then simply ask them to pass along your information to anyone they know that might benefit from your services.

That’s it! Seriously, this can be a one-and-done strategy if you need it to be.

If you’re comfortable with it (but only IF) you can create an incentive for trying out your services with a friends or family discount. This can be a slippery slope to free work, so BEFORE You start it, make sure you have a contract ready and CLEAR terms.

3. Tap your existing network

Chances are, you’re not the only person you know with your own business. You might even have friends that work for companies looking to hire a freelancer. The truth is: you have no idea who in your circle might need your services!

I find that most new freelancers limit their network to people they see or talk to regularly. But I highly recommend you think bigger – classmates, old collegues, professors, teachers, past bosses…

You can find these people on LinkedIn (and Facebook!) and reach out to them to start a conversation. Of course, this is going to be easier if you’ve kept in touch a bit throughout the years. But it’s always worth a try.

If you’re not in regular touch, I recommend chatting a bit before you jump into the “know anyone with work for me” conversation.

Write an email or note asking what they’ve been up to and where they’re at in their career, and let them know about your new venture. You don’t want this to be a one-sided exchange. Be genuine and helpful, not pitchy or pushy.

4. Post on social media

When I started freelancing, I didn’t want to share anything about it on my personal accounts. I use Facebook for keeping in touch with friends back home and sharing funny memes, not for promoting myself.

BUT… this is a form of imposter syndrome.

You WANT to get over that if you’re going to make some serious cash as a freelancer.

Finally, I got over that fear. I made a post about how I had left my job to start my own thing. Of course I got a bunch of obligatory congratulatory comments and messages, and a few questions from people who wanted to do the same – but I ALSO got a client!

An old friend saw it and messaged me.

She had started her own business and was doing really well. We ended up working together and it turned out to be one of my biggest contracs. All because I got over myself and posted that I was looking for clients.

Long story short, it’s worth it.

5. Join Facebook groups

Another way to use social media to find clients is to join Facebook groups in your niche.

Facebook groups have gained popularity in the last few years and there are groups for every category you can think of. Look for a few in your niche and join to gain access to a network of people.

How to use Facebook groups to get clients:

1. Find groups in your niche. Hint: find one and your right sidebar will be full of related groups.
2. Spend a bit of time reading the group rules and looking at posts to get a feel for the group and its members.
3. Introduce yourself to the group, explaining who you are, what you do, and how you help. Don’t ask for anything at this point.
4. Answer questions. Be helpful. Build relationships. Don’t pitch or just post links to your hire me form.

It may take a while, but people will see your value, start to recognize your name, and view you as an expert in your field. You will soon become a go-to person in the group!

Depending on your industry, you might have luck finding your audience by using LinkedIn or Slack groups as well.

6. Go to networking events

I hate networking as much as the next person, but it’s part of being a professional.

It becomes VERY important when you become a business owner.  Because it’s one of the best ways to make instant connections in your community and get a chance to tell people what you do.

How to network like a boss (the condensed version):

1. Check out meetup.com to find events in your area. Look for professional networking events or events where people in your niche might hang out
2. Get prepared to answer the question “So, what do you do?” over and over and over again. Come up with a straight-forward, simple bio that says what you do and who you help. Leave out the buzzwords.
3. Start conversations. Don’t talk about yourself the whole time. Ask lots of questions, and be genuinely interested in the answers.
4. Ask them if they have a card so you can connect with them after the event.
5. Add everyone you met to LinkedIn and follow up with a ‘nice to meet you’ note within a few days of the event.

Not everyone you meet at these events is going to be your ideal client, but many can become referrals or great connections to have!

7. Look on freelance job boards

There are literally hundreds of job boards you can browse to find freelance gigs.

The trick to making these sites work for you is to be super selective when you’re browsing. Don’t just apply for anything!

Read through the posting with a fine-tooth comb, making note of things like:

• Contract length and type – is it a fixed rate project or an ongoing hourly rate?
• The client’s history and feedback score – have other freelancers had a good experience working with this client? This is specifically important on sites like UpWork, but you can also Google feedback for clients on other sites.
• The job description – is it clear what the client is looking for? can you fulfill the requirements? Don’t take jobs you aren’t qualified for, it really won’t end well.
• Payment terms – if the contract says anything about commissions or payouts after the job is done, move along. It’s too risky.
• Interview process – be sure that you will have a chance to speak with the client prior to starting any kind of work so that you can get a vibe for what they’re like

These sites can be a great way to find work quickly. Not every client that uses job boards is just looking for a cheap contractor, but it’s up to you to determine if the client is going to be worth your time or not. 

8. Cold email pitching

Cold emailing can feel awkward and scary, but it’s another one of those things that you just have to get over. Honestly, this is my favorite way to get new clients and I’ve had an opportunity to work with some cool companies because of it.

Make a list of potential clients and businesses in your niche (you can use Google and LinkedIn to find them). Then write a pitch template that presents you as an expert in your niche, and customize it for every email you send.

Specifically, you want to address the struggles and goals of the individual client. This takes some homework, but it’s worth it. Seriously, some of my highest paying clients have come from cold pitching.

9. Contact local agencies

For those of us that don’t necissarily want to work directly with clients, working through an agency can be a good option. You’re still able to earn your own terms, but you don’t have to work one-on-one with clients.

Many marketing, web and design agencies outsource some of their to freelancers and contractors. In addition to their in-house employees, they usually have a roster of freelancers and “subject matter experts” to call on.

I have done this in the past with a few content marketing agencies. Working with these agencies turned into repeat work, referrals, and ongoing contracts — all of which help to create consistent income. So I highly recommend this as a tactic, especially when you’re starting out with your freelancing career.

However, it is worth pointing out that you’ll likely make less money this way. Since the clients are the agency’s, you’ll be making a fraction of what they are. I don’t think this is unfair at all, but it is worth noting.

10. Partner with other freelancers or entrepreneurs

I know this seems like contradictory advice, but I swear it’s a great plan.

Another reason to join Facebook groups and attend networking events is to meet other freelancers and small business owners that can potentially refer clients to you.

Partnering up with others — especially those who have been at it a bit longer or have a longer client list — is a great way to get work. There are three ways to make this work:

1. Offer to subcontract: When they’re slammed with work or looking to outsource certain tasks, you can work for them.
2. Partner with someone who provides complimentary freelance services: Team up to offer a wider range of services than you can do on your own. For example, a copywriter and designer could team up to deliver all-in-one sales pages.
3. Create an affiliate or referral program: This is where you PAY a referrer a (small) percentage of a sale that they refer to you.

I’m a big fan of combining 2 and 3 into one strategy. I find that partnering with someone that has a complimentary service THEN providing them with an affiliate or referral deal provides great incentive to have them send you clients.

Whichever route you go, you’re both getting work, you’re utilizing two people’s networks, and the client gets an amazing finished product. It’s win win win.

11. Ask for recommendations

If you’ve done a bit of freelance work before, I recommend asking current clients for testimonials and/or recommendations. This can be an effective way to attract qualified clients.

Word of mouth is the MOST effective form of marketing.

Testimonials and recommendations provide social proof of your skills and expertisee.

I recommend you set this up automatically with a CRM tool like HoneyBook. You can set it up to send a questionnaire to go out once a project is done. Thank them for their business, and ask them if they’re willing to provide a testimonial or recommendation.

It’s essential to be polite and professional in the request, and provide guidance on what the client should include in their testimonial or recommendation. Note that clients might need a reminder or two to complete this and not everyone will (and that’s OK).

Once the testimonial or recommendation is received, you can display it on your website, social media profiles, or other marketing materials to attract new clients. Though make sure that this clear to your clients before-hand. 

Final thoughts: How to get your first clients as a freelancer

Finding the right prospective clients is going to be one of the first BIG challenges that you take on as a freelancer.

It’s a daunting task, and a lot of beginners do what they can to avoid this until they absolutely have to… but the sooner you get your first freelance client, the sooner you’ll start getting paid.

I’m not going to tell you that this is the easiest thing to do, but getting clients isn’t that hard.

What I mean is that if you’re willing to put in the work… REAL work, you can find clients. You don’t need to have anything special to get them except for a CLEAR idea of what you can offer your freelance clients.

You need to make their life easier, and you need to be able to communicate HOW you’re going to do that before they hire you.

How to find clients as a freelancer FAQs

Read this far? Here’s what I think you should check out next:

• How To Create A Freelance Marketing Plan To Get More Clients
• The Freelance Client Gift Guide
• How To Get Freelance Clients With Your Website