I know that question is sort of like where's your favorite fishing hole. Hi, all -- I've been a freelancer for about a year and a half now, and for the first time, things are slow. I guess I'm on the famine side of the feast-famine freelancer cycle. Two questions: 1. Are there e-learning groups (besides Articulate of course) that have helped you generate leads/work? 2. How much of your work comes through cold calling? (I have an aversion to cold calling, but will pull up the big boy panties if need be.) I'm guessing that your work comes from a little bit of everywhere (traffic to your site, repeat business and referrals from clients, cold calling, etc), but I don't really know that till I ask. Thank you in advance for your time and input. --Daniel

Always a great topic, Daniel. We had a similar thread last year: http://community.articulate.com/forums/p/908/3243.aspx I've heard from several folks that their Screenrs helped get them gigs while others have received offers after sharing templates and other freebies in the community. A lot of work can be found from established vendors and boutique studios--companies who specialize in e-learning design and development. Getting into their contractor pool is one way to bring in steady work.

Hey Daniel, I'll echo the others here. I just finished my 90th day as a full-time freelancer. The biggest thing I've learned thus far is having a full project plate pretty much eliminates business development. To answer your first question, this community is by far the best I've associated with in terms of networking and leads. My participation here is not to get leads but to help others and share tips. Occasionally I'll get a ping either directly or as a referral. As for your second question, I don't cold call and don't anticipate ever needing to, nor wanting to. Couple tips that helped me over the past couple years to be able to go out on my own: 1. Follow Bruce's points about your site. Get some visibility. Even if you don't have a portfolio ready, at a minimum have a blog where you can share ideas, tips, etc. to show readers what you can do. 2. Follow other industry blogs, communities, groups and participate in those conversations and comment on articles. 3. Take small projects to get used to managing your time. Don't worry about money at this point. Your goal is to show you're a trusted contractor to your client. THAT will bring you return business and referrals. One of my first ever clients is still with me for two years now. 4. If you can, attend one or two of the big annual conferences. The sessions themselves are fabulous, but the face-to-face networking is invaluable. 5. Set some goals. Max # hours you can work a week. Manage 1, 2 or more projects at once? Learn a new skill. 6. Finally, be patient. It's about your passion for the craft and producing quality outputs. Your work will speak for itself. Crush it!

hello daniel, I think a good idea is to join some elearning groups on linkedin. beside tips and tricks there are some business opportunities. launch a search and join them!

Daniel - I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary as a freelancer, and all my work comes from referrals - so network, network, network is my advice. I find that the online stuff typically supports or validates your track history, but may provide leads for you. Instead of cold calling, I`d be more strategic than that and figure out if you have any connection to an organization and get a warm intro instead. Kind of like "six degrees of separation". The ups and downs are a pretty natural part of freelancing and while it can be stressful, you have to know it's there and plan/prepare for it. Use the downtime to create a business development strategy, otherwise you might get a bit panicky and take anything that comes your way, which may end up being the wrong thing. Best of luck.

David: Thanks for the link to last year's discussion and the sharing idea. And, of course, for all your help on this forum and youtube (e.g., Audacity tutorials). Mindmapping tutorial was very helpful. Holly: Thanks for reminding me that this "downtime," which is actually nice to have -- I mean when you're slammed you can't really read about ID or learn new skills -- is the time to develop strategies for new biz. Congratulations on the five-year mark. That's cool. Hope we cross paths again. --Daniel

Freelancers -- where do you find most of your work?

PhilMayor
Super Hero
11 years ago

Jay Yearley said:

Thanks Adele. That helps. Very nice, someone has created a search site just for these Articulate forums!

Looking at the Whois it is an articulate site
JohnScarano1
Community Member
11 years ago

I used to have a lot of luck just posting on Craigslist and the work came to me. Once the economy tanked, Craigslist was less reliable. More recently, I've had luck with cold calling.

it definitely helps having an online profile. An UPDATED online portfolio.

LinkedIn has recently helped as well.
JonathonMiller
Community Member
11 years ago

John Scarano said:

I used to have a lot of luck just posting on Craigslist and the work came to me. Once the economy tanked, Craigslist was less reliable. More recently, I've had luck with cold calling.

it definitely helps having an online profile. An UPDATED online portfolio.

LinkedIn has recently helped as well.

Any specific groups on LinkedIn?
NalinDubey
Community Member
11 years ago
In India the Freelancing scene is pretty bad these days. :-( Freelancer carry very little value and respect. Money at the end comes out to be very low and yet not guaranteed.
Creating a course on a subject that a learner needs and selling the content in a planned and strategic manner is the way to go.
RachelBarnum
Community Member
11 years ago
I'll chime in as someone who isn't a freelancer, but who is constantly looking FOR freelancers. Right now I look primarily on LinkedIn and user boards such as this one. Occasionally, probably in frustration, I will randomly Google but that has never panned out.

We also have a job page that lists contract positions.
NancyWoinoski
Super Hero
11 years ago
When I was first starting out I used a lead generation company to cold call targeted companies. Their only objective was to get me a meeting and then I had to do the rest to land the client.

This was not a full time thing - I would use them to run a month long campaign once or twice a year. It cost a bit of money but was worth it because I landed some really big companies this way. I think it helped that I was operating under my company name and not as an individual freelancer, and that I had a good portfolio.
NalinDubey
Community Member
11 years ago
@Nancy: I also agree. Presenting yourself as a company is much better rather than presenting as an individual freelancer.
smithjohnson-f7
Community Member
7 years ago
LinkedIn is the best source for me!
YogeshVerma-149
Community Member
4 years ago
This is a good question at this time because this time so many employees are struggling with their job securities. I think if you are in IT industry then chance may be increase to find a work.

software development
IdeaUsher
Community Member
2 years ago
Freelancers have various options to find work and grow their client base. Some of the most common ways include:

Freelance job boards: Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr offer a platform for freelancers to find job opportunities posted by clients. These job boards cater to a wide range of industries, making it easy for freelancers to find work that aligns with their skills and experience.

Social media: Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be effective for finding freelance work. Freelancers can showcase their portfolio, connect with potential clients, and join groups or communities relevant to their field.

Networking: Building a strong network of contacts can lead to regular freelance work. Freelancers can attend events, join professional organizations, and collaborate with other freelancers to expand their network and find new opportunities.

Referrals: Word-of-mouth referrals can be a powerful tool for freelancers to find new work. Satisfied clients can refer their friends and colleagues to the freelancer, leading to new opportunities and a growing client base.

Personal website: Having a personal website is a great way to showcase a freelancer's portfolio and services. Freelancers can use their website to attract new clients and promote their brand.

In conclusion, freelancers have several options to find work, including job boards, social media, networking, referrals, and a personal website or even app development.

Freelancers can also explore a combination of these methods to build a robust client base and secure regular work. It's important for freelancers to be proactive in seeking out new opportunities and continually expanding their network.