Who could be my first freelance design clients?

Freelance design is a great way to earn money, but it can be really intimidating. You don’t know where to start and what types of clients you should approach first. So let me save you some time and tell you all about my own journey into freelance design, including how I landed my first clients!

If you have a close friend or family member who needs a website, they may be willing to pay you for it. It's important to note that your friend or family member may be more forgiving of mistakes than professional clients. This can help you get started on projects without worrying about them being too expensive or difficult to finish.

If this is the case, then I recommend that you do some work for free before charging them anything more than $50 (or even $100). This will give both parties some experience working together and make sure everyone understands what their expectations are going into each project together so there are no surprises when it comes time for payment!

If you don’t have professional contacts, it’s time to start making some. First, think about your network. Who are people that know other designers? What do they do? Where do they live and work?

Once you have a list of potential leads, reach out to them directly via LinkedIn or email and ask if they know anyone who needs a designer. You can also use social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook groups to find more people who might be interested in working with someone new in their industry as well!

• You already know what they need.

• You have a relationship with them.

• They can refer you to other clients or friends who might need your services as well.

• You can ask for testimonials from previous clients who have worked with you before, and then use those testimonials as part of your marketing strategy (e.g., creating an online portfolio).

The main reason why I recommend this strategy is that it gives you the chance to work on new projects without having to start from scratch every time, which means more income per hour spent working!

If you have any clients who have worked with you in the past, it’s a great place to start. These are people that know your work and what you can do, so they may be able to refer others who need their services.

If possible, try contacting them via email or social media before reaching out directly through LinkedIn or Facebook messages asking for references.

• Coworkers

• Referrals from friends and family members

• Word of mouth referrals from satisfied clients who have used your services in the past or will be using them in the future.

• Neighbors are a great source of business.

• They may want something small or inexpensive, like a flyer for their neighborhood, or they may have bigger ideas that require some professional help.

• You can create a flyer to hand out to neighbors asking them if they would be interested in getting some design work done for their home. Then, you can also offer to help with small tasks around the house like painting or cleaning up after guests. Or perhaps someone needs new photos taken of their home and wants some expert advice on what kind of photos would best fit into their environment? Maybe there's an upcoming event at which you'd love someone else's company while creating some great content? Whatever it is that fits within the scope of your skillset—if there's any way possible for YOU (the freelancer) do something interesting AND bring MORE income into YOUR life then DO IT!

If you've been freelancing for a while, it's likely that your first clients will come from your personal network. Friends and family members who need design work are often more than willing to pay for an expert at hand. Likewise, people with whom you've worked in the past can also be excellent clients for this reason—they know how much time and effort goes into each project, so they're likely not going to be as demanding as someone new who doesn't understand what needs to happen before they're satisfied with their finished product.

On top of this, there are plenty of other potential sources as well: Your professional contacts may have access or desire some kind of branding or marketing material; existing clients might want updates on their website; neighbors might request brochures when they see something else going up nearby (think: local businesses).

If you’re considering freelancing and want to start building your portfolio slowly but surely, I hope these tips will help you get started. For anyone who is just starting out, knowing who your first clients might be can be a huge help in setting up that business relationship and growing as an independent contractor.