How to establish a flow of customers on the exchange?

Question

Freelance

Hello.
I work with engines (mostly WordPress), adaptively layout, try to use pure JS for self-development, use SCSS, Gulp, periodically come across Git. For now, as a hobby, I study JS more deeply and at the same time React.
I can’t understand my mistake on the freelance exchange, because I can’t establish a stable flow of clients. Most clients are satisfied with my work, but they have small volumes. Is it possible with such knowledge to reach an income of at least $ 400-500 per month?

Answer 1

Freelancing is not enough to be a good techie. You must be good at everything. First of all, as a seller and project manager.

Answer 2

From my experience as a freelancer / client, I’ll say that it’s often in a drum (if the client is not a techie) what you will write on and what technologies you know, so you shouldn’t spend most of your conversation on stories about the coolness of technology. Just enough to mention. You should constantly engage in introspection, look at your promotional points/correspondence with clients and compare. A lot still depends on the quality of the language, if the client is "overseas".
Specify as many details as possible: when the client is active, when you contact, find out as much as possible about the project, give (you) a small brief at the end of the conversation, etc., but you should not bother. The main thing for the client is that his money does not just go away, so let him know that you are responsible and will cope with the task.
You can lie, but in moderation. Without this, it may seem difficult to take the first orders. But if you are not 70%+ sure that you will fulfill all the conditions, then do not lie.
The one who sells himself best wins the order.
P.S. Never try to take a small price. Never.

Answer 3

Focus on salesmanship, not technical knowledge. And aim at the transition to foreign exchanges.

Answer 4

I often work with freelancers. There were projects for 500 rubles and 150,000 rubles.
What I pay attention to first of all:
1. Reviews. Yes, many sin with fake reviews, do small work for a positive review, etc. But in any case, the presence of a sufficient number of positive comments affects the karma of the account and affects the choice of the customer. At a minimum, this is the ability to find a common language with people and negotiate.
2. Professional and transparent approach. I, as a customer, understand the approximate scope of work and have an idea of ​​the TOR, the time and resources spent. If a freelancer tells me that he will complete the project in 3 days and for a "bowl of soup", then I immediately get banned. The same thing, if the customer says "do it beautifully, money is not important" - you can immediately refuse it, this is 100% scam.
Or a freelancer tells me (without even seeing the TK), I will do it in a week and for such and such an amount. The question is, where do these numbers come from? I don’t want to be fed with “breakfasts” later, like I didn’t calculate the time, extend the deal, I still need additional costs, etc.
Therefore, the choice of the contractor falls on the one who shows a qualified approach, finds out all the details, technical requirements, expectations, etc. Serious orders - a serious approach.
3. Well, of course, calculate your strength. If you pull - take the project. Usually one big order entails the support of this project (and this is money on the subscriber) + word of mouth.

Answer 5

The key is a good portfolio + good reviews. I worked for upwork for 6 years (first at elance) and had a constant flow of orders - more than I can physically handle, so part of the work had to be outsourced. First you need to fill in reviews, even on small projects like installing a plugin for $10. Reviews and ratings are what clients always look at when choosing a freelancer. I have about 50 projects and a rating of 5.0 (not even 4.9) - I didn't even look for new projects. They sent me invitations, and I already chose - if I like the project, then I agreed :-)
Also, you can hire a sales manager who will constantly monitor exchanges, correspond with clients and look for work for you. However, he will have to give from 20% at best to 30%. Plus the exchange commission itself. Upwork has gone crazy lately and takes 20%, which is why I don't work there anymore (but I just have a different source of orders). But in terms of the number of projects, of course, any other exchange is not even close.
And yes, as it has already been said here, in no case do not dump. Do not try to take a client at a low price. So that later you do not end up in a situation where you have to literally work for food.

Answer 6

Observations have shown that shitty coders often have a good income on small projects.
No, the sites work relatively well. But they are made under a carbon copy.
Class names in the layout are not unique to the project and are incomprehensible. Elements are similar in all projects. Often traces of some extra code.
They try to ignore the requirements for adding unique elements.
In the VP Plugins are the same, they don't want to install new ones or they don't test them, a lot of extra "universal" code.
But they quickly make 3 projects when you have made only 1 high-quality clean personal code.
It is difficult for a coder to readjust to this. I couldn't. perfectionism, all things - this is not characteristic of salespeople, businessmen and managers.

Answer 7

well, if it doesn’t work on one, sit on 50 exchanges