PART 1: How a SHY Internet Nerd became a Successful Freelancer working only 4 hours a day on Upwork
There are three major elements needed to become a Successful Freelancer. In this series, I’ll take you deep “behind the scenes” of I started as a Freelancer and got high quality international projects, and show you how you can build your own – whether you are just starting out or already one
DISCLAMAIR: Before I share with you my experience. I want to respect your time by coming clean about what and when you can achieve good results.
What I’m about to share with you won’t help you get clients quickly and become a successful freelancer overnight. It’s not easy.
Because success requires consistent practice and effort. So if you are thinking that you will get clients in just 1 day then sorry to disappoint you, it will not. But if you consistently practice it daily for 30 days then you can get atleast 1 client
This is the question that my client asked from me before we start to work together.
When I started my journey as a Freelancer it was not always like this.
I struggled for 2 years to make decent money online.
You name it and I had tried everything - Affiliate marketing, Lead Generation, Email Marketing, SEO, Website Development and what not.
But none was working in my favour.
As a last resort.
I decided to try my luck in Freelancing also.
I made an account on Freelancing websites like Upwork, Freelancer, Guru etc with my main focus on Upwork because it is the most trustworthy website and I had the opportunity to work with international clients who can pay well..
But before I start applying for jobs on Upwork.
I studied all the successful freelancers.. What they were doing, how they structured their profile, how often they bid.
And to my surprise I found one element common in all the successful Freelancers.
I modeled it and started bidding on projects.
And within one month I got one project for which I charged $15/hour and it required me to work for 10 hours a week.
That was around $150 per week (Decent amount if you are single and a bachelor living in India)
I then tried the same technique on other projects also and my profile soon started getting traction and I was getting new projects every month.
Even clients were inviting me to apply on their projects.
This was the first time I was getting real results with Freelancing and I am currently making $2000 to $4000 every month.
My Total Income in the month of August & September 2020
The system is simple and can allow you to live the life you want as a Freelancer.
You probably already have some skills in mind that you’d be interested in freelancing about but aren’t sure if you can find work in this area. Here's the exact strategy to choose a high paying skill.
"Setting Goals is the First Step in turning the Invisible into the Visible "- Tony Robbins
Imagine yourself as a typical office-going employee.
You probably have monthly, quarterly and yearly targets set for you. If you achieve them, you know you have a good chance at that appraisal. If you don’t, you know you will be held accountable by your immediate supervisor.
Pretty straightforward, right?
Now, as a freelancer, you are the one who has to do all of the above.
You have to set your own targets, keep yourself accountable and find ways to stay motivated.
Because, let’s face it: Nobody is interested in your personal performance, except you.
If I charge atleast $15/hour then $1000 divided by $15.
It comes out that I need to work 66.6 hours in a month.
Or 16 hours a week
And if I work 5 days a week I only need to work 3.2 hours a day!!
That’s pretty good.
Most companies won’t pay even half of that even if you work 8 hours a day for them.
Point is.. this is not about convincing you to work only 3 hours a day while freelancing.
I’m simply using this goal setting exercise to show you what’s possible and how setting goals can get you there.
This is how you win big.
After setting my goals, the next step is to choose a skill for freelancing.
How to Choose High Income Freelancing Skills?
One great thing about being a freelancer is the freedom, and that means you’re free to choose a new skill at any time.
So don’t get too caught up in this process.
The important thing is to take steps in whatever direction so you can get a sense of where you want to go.
You probably already have some skills in mind that you’d be interested in freelancing about but aren’t sure if you can find work in this area.
Some skills do have a lot more work than others.
If you do Facebook Ads, there’s probably less work out there compared to SEO.
But to get a better idea of the market for your writing niche, browse job board of website like Upwork, fiverr, freelancer.
There are many job boards out there to browse. See if what you want to specialize in has any job postings.
If you’re starting fresh, this could be a good opportunity to pick a skill you want to enter but may not have experience in.
You may not know anything about website development right now, but what if you spent 4 hours a day studying it for the next 6 months?
Think long term.
You can get to a place where you can demand high rates if you put in the work to study a topic and create a portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.
Here’s an exercise to help you decide some possible niches.
Open a blank notepad or writing app and copy and paste this in:
On what skill I can Freelance or work about for HOURS AT A TIME and get paid to do that”
Read it, and then start typing the skills that come to your head.
Don’t think about it, just type.
Then start reading and researching the industry.
Get a better idea of what kind of jobs people are putting out and see if you would be interested in doing those jobs.
When I finalised some skills then I started applying for jobs by sending proposals.
But this isn’t just any old proposal.
Every client that has ever read it liked it.
Now that we have finalised some skills to do freelancing. It's time to get some clients by sending proposals which client can't say no to. Here's how we do this...
If you’ve never reached out to anyone before you’re probably nervous and very unsure if you’re wasting your time.
Here’s the thing — if you want freelance work, you have to send proposals, there’s no way around it.
Think of sending proposals to get a gig like walking to a destination.
You have to shower, put on clothes, and walk out the door (overcoming inertia)
Then you have to take steps and walk to your destination (each step is like a proposal).
You won’t reach your destination without taking those steps.
Just like you won’t get a job without sending many proposals.
Each step you take is “worthless” but without the accumulated effort of the many steps you took, you won’t reach your destination.
Many of the proposals you send will be like those worthless steps you took that feel inconsequential. But without the accumulated effort of many proposals, you won’t get a gig.
It’s that simple.
Traveling to a destination might take 1000 steps. Landing a gig might take 100 proposals.
But it’s the accumulated effort that counts.
Here’s a TIP: Give yourself a reward for every proposal you send. That thing you want to distract yourself with? Send one proposal and then indulge. The next proposal you send will be easier because you got over the initial hump.
Set a system. 10 proposals a day and then you can feel good about your productivity for the day and relax.
But remember, only apply for jobs that you can do or fit with your offering. Don’t waste your time or your client’s time by applying for a job you can’t do.
Now that you know to get any freelance job you have to send proposals, it’s time you learn how to send a proposal.
There is a formula that you can follow for most proposals.
This is a skill that’s related to copywriting and persuasion but if you follow a formula you’ll still be able to find results.
The formula involves these parts:
Read the entire job post.
Move on if the job isn’t a right fit for you.
Reference the task they’re asking about.
Tell them this is a good fit for you because…
Provide examples of work you’ve done related to the job.
End with a closing point and a call to action.
Here is a Sample Proposal:
Hey there! (or use their name if you can find it)
Just read your job posting, it looks like you’re looking for a writer who can create content for your Python coding blog.
This sounds like a perfect fit for me. I’ve been coding in Python for 3 years and have written many articles about it.
Here are some examples of my work:
(link to article) — an article about creating a Django server that reached the frontpage of r/python, has 5000+ views, and 300+ claps on Medium.
(link to ebook) — an ebook I wrote for Apple about variable names in Python.
(link to article) — a tutorial about how to create animations in Python.
I’d love to talk more about the job you need help with.
Are you available for a quick call to chat about your project?
Thanks,
Your name
This isn’t the only possible proposal available, but this proposal framework worked for me.
In the above screenshot you can see how my prospects reply to my proposals.
I responded to the message, continued the conversation.
And Deal Done!!!
Like playing the piano, basketball, storytelling, essay writing, you have to learn the rules before you can break them.
Research proposal writing. Practice. Send many proposals. Take this formula and apply it to your own offering.
Once you’re comfortable with this process, you can break the rules and start playing around.
Many of my recent proposals I’ve gotten replies from are from proposals where I played around a bit.
Practice the formula and the skill of sending proposals.
Once you’re experienced and have sent off 100s of proposals, you’ll be able to play around with them.
And if your proposal gets accepted.
You need to know how to respond to clients otherwise they will hire another freelancer.
Ready to learn How to convert clients once they accept your proposal?
Learn The Process on How to Convert a Prospect to Customer
Once you start sending proposals consistently, you'll start getting responses from potential clients. But converting those conversations to sales is not easy. In this final part you will learn how to convert prospects to clients
I'm going to tie things up now…
… then give you the opportunity to join my little tribe. But more about that on that later.
First let’s recap on how to get your first gig as a Freelancer
Set Income Goals.
Finalise high income skills.
Find platforms and locations where jobs are posted.
Learn about how to send a proposal.
Start sending proposals.
Move the conversation forward when the client responds.
Do the work, get paid.
It wasn’t skill that helped me find and respond to their objectives and keep the conversation going.
I’m awful at it.
My closing used to go like this:
CLIENT - “I need to think about it”
ME - “Okay no problem. Thanks for your time today!”
I actually thought they needed to think about it.
But after studying hours of videos on sales, and reading dozens of books, I realised that was all wrong.
They rarely need to think about it.
It’s an excuse. An objection.
Then for each one, I wrote a response..
.. With a little help from all the books and videos I’d studied.
It worked. Really well.
I use the same script, the same “objection handlers”, and the same proposal – every time.
And over 82% of people that receive a proposal from me, end up becoming a client.
I’ve kept this a secret for over a year while I’ve scaled my Freelance business.
But as my focus has been switching to my marketing agency…
A few months ago, I decided to reveal it all.
Because now I want to help more people with these strategies.
That’s why I’ve put together a FREE 7 Part Email Series to walk you through this.
But it takes time to learn.
Knowing your skill isn’t enough. You need to understand sales.
That’s what you’ll learn in this FREE Training Series.
I’m confident you’ll get a lot of value from this.
Cheers
There are three major elements needed to become a Successful Freelancer. In this series, I’ll take you deep “behind the scenes” of I started as a Freelancer and got high quality international projects, and show you how you can build your own – whether you are just starting out or already one
DISCLAMAIR: Before I share with you my experience. I want to respect your time by coming clean about what and when you can achieve good results.
What I’m about to share with you won’t help you get clients quickly and become a successful freelancer overnight. It’s not easy.
Because success requires consistent practice and effort. So if you are thinking that you will get clients in just 1 day then sorry to disappoint you, it will not. But if you consistently practice it daily for 30 days then you can get atleast 1 client
This is the question that my client asked from me before we start to work together.
When I started my journey as a Freelancer it was not always like this.
I struggled for 2 years to make decent money online.
You name it and I had tried everything - Affiliate marketing, Lead Generation, Email Marketing, SEO, Website Development and what not.
But none was working in my favour.
As a last resort.
I decided to try my luck in Freelancing also.
I made an account on Freelancing websites like Upwork, Freelancer, Guru etc with my main focus on Upwork because it is the most trustworthy website and I had the opportunity to work with international clients who can pay well..
But before I start applying for jobs on Upwork.
I studied all the successful freelancers.. What they were doing, how they structured their profile, how often they bid.
And to my surprise I found one element common in all the successful Freelancers.
I modeled it and started bidding on projects.
And within one month I got one project for which I charged $15/hour and it required me to work for 10 hours a week.
That was around $150 per week (Decent amount if you are single and a bachelor living in India)
I then tried the same technique on other projects also and my profile soon started getting traction and I was getting new projects every month.
Even clients were inviting me to apply on their projects.
This was the first time I was getting real results with Freelancing and I am currently making $2000 to $4000 every month.
My Total Income in the month of August & September 2020
The system is simple and can allow you to live the life you want as a Freelancer.
You probably already have some skills in mind that you’d be interested in freelancing about but aren’t sure if you can find work in this area. Here's the exact strategy to choose a high paying skill.
"Setting Goals is the First Step in turning the Invisible into the Visible "- Tony Robbins
Imagine yourself as a typical office-going employee.
You probably have monthly, quarterly and yearly targets set for you. If you achieve them, you know you have a good chance at that appraisal. If you don’t, you know you will be held accountable by your immediate supervisor.
Pretty straightforward, right?
Now, as a freelancer, you are the one who has to do all of the above.
You have to set your own targets, keep yourself accountable and find ways to stay motivated.
Because, let’s face it: Nobody is interested in your personal performance, except you.
If I charge atleast $15/hour then $1000 divided by $15.
It comes out that I need to work 66.6 hours in a month.
Or 16 hours a week
And if I work 5 days a week I only need to work 3.2 hours a day!!
That’s pretty good.
Most companies won’t pay even half of that even if you work 8 hours a day for them.
Point is.. this is not about convincing you to work only 3 hours a day while freelancing.
I’m simply using this goal setting exercise to show you what’s possible and how setting goals can get you there.
This is how you win big.
After setting my goals, the next step is to choose a skill for freelancing.
How to Choose High Income Freelancing Skills?
One great thing about being a freelancer is the freedom, and that means you’re free to choose a new skill at any time.
So don’t get too caught up in this process.
The important thing is to take steps in whatever direction so you can get a sense of where you want to go.
You probably already have some skills in mind that you’d be interested in freelancing about but aren’t sure if you can find work in this area.
Some skills do have a lot more work than others.
If you do Facebook Ads, there’s probably less work out there compared to SEO.
But to get a better idea of the market for your writing niche, browse job board of website like Upwork, fiverr, freelancer.
There are many job boards out there to browse. See if what you want to specialize in has any job postings.
If you’re starting fresh, this could be a good opportunity to pick a skill you want to enter but may not have experience in.
You may not know anything about website development right now, but what if you spent 4 hours a day studying it for the next 6 months?
Think long term.
You can get to a place where you can demand high rates if you put in the work to study a topic and create a portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.
Here’s an exercise to help you decide some possible niches.
Open a blank notepad or writing app and copy and paste this in:
On what skill I can Freelance or work about for HOURS AT A TIME and get paid to do that”
Read it, and then start typing the skills that come to your head.
Don’t think about it, just type.
Then start reading and researching the industry.
Get a better idea of what kind of jobs people are putting out and see if you would be interested in doing those jobs.
When I finalised some skills then I started applying for jobs by sending proposals.
But this isn’t just any old proposal.
Every client that has ever read it liked it.
Now that we have finalised some skills to do freelancing. It's time to get some clients by sending proposals which client can't say no to. Here's how we do this...
If you’ve never reached out to anyone before you’re probably nervous and very unsure if you’re wasting your time.
Here’s the thing — if you want freelance work, you have to send proposals, there’s no way around it.
Think of sending proposals to get a gig like walking to a destination.
You have to shower, put on clothes, and walk out the door (overcoming inertia)
Then you have to take steps and walk to your destination (each step is like a proposal).
You won’t reach your destination without taking those steps.
Just like you won’t get a job without sending many proposals.
Each step you take is “worthless” but without the accumulated effort of the many steps you took, you won’t reach your destination.
Many of the proposals you send will be like those worthless steps you took that feel inconsequential. But without the accumulated effort of many proposals, you won’t get a gig.
It’s that simple.
Traveling to a destination might take 1000 steps. Landing a gig might take 100 proposals.
But it’s the accumulated effort that counts.
Here’s a TIP: Give yourself a reward for every proposal you send. That thing you want to distract yourself with? Send one proposal and then indulge. The next proposal you send will be easier because you got over the initial hump.
Set a system. 10 proposals a day and then you can feel good about your productivity for the day and relax.
But remember, only apply for jobs that you can do or fit with your offering. Don’t waste your time or your client’s time by applying for a job you can’t do.
Now that you know to get any freelance job you have to send proposals, it’s time you learn how to send a proposal.
There is a formula that you can follow for most proposals.
This is a skill that’s related to copywriting and persuasion but if you follow a formula you’ll still be able to find results.
The formula involves these parts:
Read the entire job post.
Move on if the job isn’t a right fit for you.
Reference the task they’re asking about.
Tell them this is a good fit for you because…
Provide examples of work you’ve done related to the job.
End with a closing point and a call to action.
Here is a Sample Proposal:
Hey there! (or use their name if you can find it)
Just read your job posting, it looks like you’re looking for a writer who can create content for your Python coding blog.
This sounds like a perfect fit for me. I’ve been coding in Python for 3 years and have written many articles about it.
Here are some examples of my work:
(link to article) — an article about creating a Django server that reached the frontpage of r/python, has 5000+ views, and 300+ claps on Medium.
(link to ebook) — an ebook I wrote for Apple about variable names in Python.
(link to article) — a tutorial about how to create animations in Python.
I’d love to talk more about the job you need help with.
Are you available for a quick call to chat about your project?
Thanks,
Your name
This isn’t the only possible proposal available, but this proposal framework worked for me.
In the above screenshot you can see how my prospects reply to my proposals.
I responded to the message, continued the conversation.
And Deal Done!!!
Like playing the piano, basketball, storytelling, essay writing, you have to learn the rules before you can break them.
Research proposal writing. Practice. Send many proposals. Take this formula and apply it to your own offering.
Once you’re comfortable with this process, you can break the rules and start playing around.
Many of my recent proposals I’ve gotten replies from are from proposals where I played around a bit.
Practice the formula and the skill of sending proposals.
Once you’re experienced and have sent off 100s of proposals, you’ll be able to play around with them.
And if your proposal gets accepted.
You need to know how to respond to clients otherwise they will hire another freelancer.
Ready to learn How to convert clients once they accept your proposal?
Learn The Process on How to Convert a Prospect to Customer
Once you start sending proposals consistently, you'll start getting responses from potential clients. But converting those conversations to sales is not easy. In this final part you will learn how to convert prospects to clients
I'm going to tie things up now…
… then give you the opportunity to join my little tribe. But more about that on that later.
First let’s recap on how to get your first gig as a Freelancer
Set Income Goals.
Finalise high income skills.
Find platforms and locations where jobs are posted.
Learn about how to send a proposal.
Start sending proposals.
Move the conversation forward when the client responds.
Do the work, get paid.
It wasn’t skill that helped me find and respond to their objectives and keep the conversation going.
I’m awful at it.
My closing used to go like this:
CLIENT - “I need to think about it”
ME - “Okay no problem. Thanks for your time today!”
I actually thought they needed to think about it.
But after studying hours of videos on sales, and reading dozens of books, I realised that was all wrong.
They rarely need to think about it.
It’s an excuse. An objection.
Then for each one, I wrote a response..
.. With a little help from all the books and videos I’d studied.
It worked. Really well.
I use the same script, the same “objection handlers”, and the same proposal – every time.
And over 82% of people that receive a proposal from me, end up becoming a client.
I’ve kept this a secret for over a year while I’ve scaled my Freelance business.
But as my focus has been switching to my marketing agency…
A few months ago, I decided to reveal it all.
Because now I want to help more people with these strategies.
That’s why I’ve put together a FREE 7 Part Email Series to walk you through this.
But it takes time to learn.
Knowing your skill isn’t enough. You need to understand sales.
That’s what you’ll learn in this FREE Training Series.
I’m confident you’ll get a lot of value from this.
Cheers
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