There’s never been a better time to get started as a freelancer—even if you want to start freelancing with no experience.
As conventional career paths continue to shift, demand for freelancers is skyrocketing.
Upwork’s Freelance Forward: 2023 report found that almost 2 in 5 American workers were freelancers, collectively contributing $1.27 trillion to the US economy in annual earnings in 2023.
Eager to join them but worried because you’ve got no experience?
No problem. Understanding how to find freelance writing jobs isn’t rocket science. It just takes some effort.
How to Land Your First Client When Freelancing with No Experience
Seriously considering how to become a freelance writer with no experience? Here’s what to do
For newcomers, finding a foothold among seasoned pros can feel like a pipedream.
Yet every successful freelancer had to start somewhere.
The truth is that you already have everything you need to get your first clients as a freelancer.
Even without a solid track record, you can still leverage your skills, passion, and determination to carve out your corner of the freelance world.
Here are five ways to get started from scratch when you’re a beginner freelancer and don’t have experience.
1. Tap your existing networks
The saying, ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know’, has never been more apt when it comes to finding your first (and next) freelance gig. This is by far one of the best ways to find freelance writing jobs for beginners.
Personal connections play a huge role in accessing freelance opportunities.
Think about how you found your last plumber, dog walker, caterer, or other service provider.
Chances are, you asked friends, family, and colleagues for word-of-mouth referrals first.
That’s because 92 percent of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over all other forms of advertising, according to a Nielsen Global Trust in Advertising report.
Tapping your existing network means you capitalize on inherent trust relationships established over time.
People you know will be eager to help you on your way.
And new clients are more likely to hire freelancers who they know – or who come recommended by someone they know.
2. Reach out to new contacts to determine how to become a freelance writer with no experience
Some science says that the number of stable social relationships we can maintain is around 150 people.
So stretching beyond your existing network can also help you get your first clients as a freelancer.
Broaden your horizons—by attending industry events, participating in workshops, webinars, and online courses, or joining and participating in professional associations.
Attending conferences is another way to build connections.
I attend The TravMedia Summit and International Media Marketplace (IMM) in Sydney every year.
The presentations, panels, and speed-networking sessions always offer useful information and insights.
But, as in every other industry, the real value of a conference lies in the serendipitous interactions that occur outside the formal agenda.
Chance encounters at social drinks, coffee breaks or formal dinners always tend to open doors to new opportunities—and might just help you land your first client.
3. Build a freelance portfolio
Imagine, for a moment, you’re getting married.
You and your betrothed want to capture every special moment.
Would you entrust the job to a wedding photographer without being able to view their work beforehand?
Other freelance roles are much the same, even if they’re not so visually oriented.
From graphic designers and social media managers to web developers and virtual assistants, all sorts of freelancers find that a portfolio is a powerful sales tool.
A portfolio establishes credibility by showcasing your skills and expertise to potential clients, letting them “try before they buy”.
Of course, your portfolio needs to be tailored to the work you do.
For example, a freelance voice-over artist I know posts recordings from her previous gigs on her Instagram page.
And before she had any gigs, she posted samples she’d recorded in her home studio.
This helped her get her first clients as a freelancer. You can do the same when you’re exploring how to freelance with no experience.
Write samples that your ideal client would want to see. Post them on your site, or even on LinkedIn.
4. Cultivate your digital presence
We all have a digital presence.
The question is whether it’s working in your favor.
The editor of one Australian travel publication says that when a new freelance writer comes knocking, the first thing he does is look at their social media profiles.
Is this person a keen traveler? What are their interests? How professional and polished are their posts? Are they consistent (meaning reliable)? How well do they communicate?
Freelancers in other fields can also use social media to bolster their personal brands.
Share valuable content to establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche. It’s one of the best ways to get started freelancing with no experience.
Post behind-the-scenes snippets to pique curiosity and increase the “know, like, trust” factor. You’ll probably find that this tip for how to become a freelance writer with no experience is fun to implement.
Provide “sneak peeks” of your latest products or services, or use social media to showcase your latest work.
Reveal some of your personality, your history, your journey.
You could conceivably land your first client as a freelancer by having a decision maker click on your profile and think, ‘Wow, this person is perfect for the project I have in mind.’
5. Write on spec to start freelance with no experience
Or do whatever type of freelance service you offer “on spec.” Writing “on spec” means crafting stories without any guarantee of publication or payment – unless a publisher or client opts to use it.
While not as common in other freelance fields, the same principle applies.
Do the work. Cross your fingers. Say a prayer.
The first story I ever sold was written on spec. (I didn’t know about pitching back then.)
Writing on spec is a strategy I still use sometimes to break into new publications – even three decades after starting out as a freelance writer.
Sinking time and effort into projects that might never see the light of day can be disappointing, frustrating and, when used as your standalone sales strategy, financially unsustainable.
But writing on spec is also necessary sometimes for a whole host of reasons.
Certain subjects just don’t translate to compelling pitches.
Imagine, for instance, if Joan Didion had tried to sell her much-admired In Bed by crafting a pitch about excruciating headaches.
Then there are those editors who, no matter how many clips you have, demand you submit the first article on spec.
Yes, there are people out there hell-bent on exploiting you.
You could always walk away.
But sometimes it’s worth taking the risk of a few (potentially) wasted hours to have the opportunity to demonstrate what you can really do.
And perhaps land your first client as a freelancer.
Kick-Start Your Freelance Career Today
The freelance landscape is ripe with opportunities, and the time to seize them is now. With conventional career paths evolving, freelancers are in high demand, contributing significantly to the economy. As this guide to starting freelance with no experience shows you, there are a lot of ways to land your first freelance job or secure a freelance writing job. Try one or all of them or find your own best practices.
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