How to get consistent clients
Knowing how to successfully deliver work is an entirely different skillset from knowing how to get people to buy from you consistently. Without this separate client-acquisition skill, freelancers are left constantly wondering if they will have enough work next month to manage their expenses comfortably.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1landing occasional contracts through direct outreachDid this help you?
- 2relying on past experience and delivery skills to close leads as they comeDid this help you?
- 3experimenting with outbound methods, content creation, referrals, and partnershipsDid this help you?
- 4trying to adjust positioning, niches, and service offersDid this help you?
- 5juggling college, a part-time job, and freelance work simultaneouslyDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I've landed quite a few contracts, so I know I can sell the work and deliver it. But I haven't figured out how to make getting those contracts consistent. And honestly, it's starting to get to me.”source ↗
“knowing you can deliver isn't the same thing as knowing how to consistently get people to buy from you. It's an entirely different skillset I wished I had developed sooner.”source ↗
“I want to wake up six months from now and not have that little voice in my head asking whether I'm going to have enough work next month.”source ↗
“My dad is retiring today and honestly I'm a bit stressed about what comes next because his income is going to stop and the expenses at home are quite a lot”source ↗
“Right now I have 2 local SEO clients and 1 regular SEO client but the income isn't enough to manage everything comfortably”source ↗
“I'm honestly confused about what to do next should I focus more on getting SEO clients try finding international clients or do something else alongside my job and college”source ↗
“If anyone here started freelancing at a young age or has been in a similar situation how did you get your first few consistent clients”source ↗
“I haven't figured out how to make getting those contracts consistent.”source ↗
“knowing you can deliver isn't the same thing as knowing how to consistently get people to buy from you.”source ↗
“not have that little voice in my head asking whether I'm going to have enough work next month.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to hit reseller revenue quotas before getting clients
- 6Why do people love my product but not buy?
- 12How do you keep track of clients, projects, deadlines, and follow-ups?
- 3How to decline a bad referral from a good client
- 2How to pitch clients without doing unpaid work
- 2How to structure commission for lead generation contractors