Helllooo!

Are you drinking enough water? No??

Drink (some water) and come back, please :)

Now that we are hydrated, Let’s answer some of the questions about freelancing, clients, rates, and more!

Did you have doubts like these when you started? How did you deal with them?

Yes, I had huge doubts about myself. 

I was working full-time and was fed up with the handholding. I won’t go into detail here, but if you like, you can read my first-ever newsletter.

Anyway, one day, I just quit (April 18th), with no explanations, no notice period, and no salary for the month. I gave myself 2 months (May and June) to find 1 client and prove to myself that I could freelance.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• I live with my parents, so I don’t have to worry about rent or bills. This made the decision easier.
  

• I have super supportive parents. When I told them, my mom, being a mom, was worried, but she eventually understood. (You can read the conversation here.)
  

• I didn’t want to burden my parents, so I gave myself 2 months. If things didn’t work out, I planned to return to full-time work.

Even with a solid portfolio of 3 years, I still had doubts about finding clients and getting paid.

But I realized it’s about how much you want it. I couldn’t stay in the company for another day, so I decided to quit.

The only question you need to ask yourself is: do you want it enough?

How did you get your first client?

My first client came through outreach. A content marketing agency founder was looking for a writer and asked interested people to DM him. 

Before this, I had applied to many full-time roles thinking I could convince them to hire a freelancer instead. It didn’t work.

So, I tried something different. I sent the founder a message with the subject line: “Why you should NOT work with me.” It was bold, but I wanted to stand out from the 100s of messages he received—and it worked! He replied.

I sent my portfolio, we had a call, and I did a paid assignment. On May 30th, I received my first official order. 

Initially, I quoted 2 rupees per word for blog posts, but after some negotiation, we agreed on 1.5 rupees. I didn’t want to return to full-time work, so I took the opportunity. 

Luckily, in mid-June, another friend reached out for help with their client accounts. By the end of June, I had enough clients and confidence to continue freelancing full-time.

How do I start freelancing?

Freelancing isn’t something that you decide one day, “Chalo freelancing karte hain.” 

First, you need to identify a skill you’re going to offer as a service—writing, designing, consulting, copywriting, social media management, anything. 

Be good at that skill, not just average. With AI becoming common, you need to stand out and be exceptional at your craft.

You should have a clear voice and proof of your work. 

Build a portfolio with self-initiated projects or tasks you’ve completed in your job. I built my initial portfolio with assignments I had submitted for content writing jobs. You can do something similar, or create and share a personal blog (if you’re a writer).

Next, start pitching to clients. If you're working full-time, take small steps (working after office hours) to build a portfolio and transition into freelancing gradually. 

It took me 3 years of learning, building my website and portfolio, and implementing for my website to look how it looks right now.

It doesn’t happen overnight, but take the first step today.

How do I set my rates?

As a content writer, I can guide you on industry standards. 

If you're in another field, connect with experts in your department. 

For writers with 2 years of experience, the minimum should be 2 rupees per word. For newbie writers the rates start as low as ₹0.30 per word which is way too low, in my opinion.

When I started with my first client, I quoted 2 rupees. He negotiated back with ₹1.25. But I had set a hard stop at 1.50, so I said no. He eventually agreed.

After working with the client for 3 months, I have raised my rates.

If you’re just starting, don’t hesitate to work at a lower rate (or even for free) to build a portfolio. Once you have experience and regular clients, gradually increase your rates until you’re satisfied with the number.

At 3.5 years of experience, I most I am charging is ₹3 per word. I am also figuring this out, and I’ll keep updating my numbers to you :)

Where to get clients from?

LinkedIn has been crucial for me. Although I quit my job in April, I have been active on LinkedIn since March. My first consistent posts were in May, where I shared my experiences and learnings.

At first, I offered every skill I knew, but it wasn’t very effective. After a chat with Shivani, I focused on just one service - SEO Blog Writing.

In July and August, I focused on sharing my experiences, my blog writing process, and tips and hacks. I got 8 inbound clients for various services for the month.

I also use LinkedIn’s search bar, typing “hiring freelance writers” and sorting by recent posts.

After sending around 20 emails, I got responses from 3 and closed 2 paid assignments.

For inbound clients, build your presence on LinkedIn (which is gradual and takes time), for quicker results use the search bar to find those actively hiring. 

But remember, you need a solid portfolio to back it up.

Let’s recap quickly.

• Do you want it enough? Yes? Good.

• Now, identify a skill and hone it.

• Build a portfolio.

• Meanwhile also figure out a minimum rate at which you can work.

• Gradually also start building your brand either on LinkedIn or Instagram.

• Reach out to clients who are actively seeking freelancers.

• Figure out a way to stand out in your messaging. Personalizations and Contradictions work great.

It takes a lot of grit, and never give up attitude to get started. Once you get that acceleration, the only way is forward.

That’s all for now.

I didn’t want this to be too long so I kept it as straightforward and honest as I could.

If you want me to elaborate on a particular topic or task, or have any other questions, let me know.

See you next Friday!

Love,
Nikita