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So you’ve strengthened your portfolio, you’ve got the essential tools that we’ve pointed out to you, and now you’re ready to get new clients and projects. But there’s the hard part - where do you find them? How do you get those high profile projects that you drool over? Well, here’s a few ways that have worked for me and my colleagues in the past.Facebook Marketplace

Believe it or not, the Facebook Marketplace is booming. I posted an ad immediately after the marketplace went up with a description of my expertise and a link to my portfolio. I tried to be as honest and upfront and made sure that the client knew that I handled every project efficiently and carefully. This ad gave me about 35 leads, with 6 or so solid projects (2 of them high profile) and 2 possible job recruitments (1 from Viget Labs).

Tip: Your ad is your first impression. Would you show up to an interview in jeans and a T-shirt? Or, would you rather show up in a power suit? The same concept applies. Make sure your ad is professional, honest, and straight forward. Typos and bad structure will kill you in the long run.

Craigslist

Believe it or not, Craigslist works! Craigslist has landed me 2 projects with only 5 leads! That means that the people on Craigslist mean business. They aren’t going to contact you and waste your time unless they are genuinely interested. The posts are free, and you get tons of exposure.

Tip: Same rules apply as the Facebook ad. Your Craigslist posting is all you have to communicate wiht your potential clients. I have a prepared ad that I post every couple of weeks. I get a few replies per post. I’ve been using Craigslist for a couple weeks now and I’m definitely going to continue.

Jobster & LinkedIn

Jobster and LinkedIn are two great resources for job opportunities and networking. I’ve been able to network with a lot of important people and owners of local design firms. I’ve established a connection so that in the future if I’m looking for a job, my resume won’t be so alias. I’ve also received quite a few phone calls from interested firms who wanted to recruit me into freelance pools, which is the next thing I’ll be talking about.

Tip: Design your resume to suit the industry you’re looking for. If you’re going to be applying to a design or marketing firm, don’t gear your resume as if you were applying to a college or a restaurant. Make sure the one you have available for download is neat, professional, and enticing. You will also need a professional photo of yourself to post as your profile picture.

Forums, Communities, and Contests

If you aren’t a regular member of a forum or a community, I’d suggest you start doing so immediately. Networking on message boards is one of the easiest and satisfying methods. You get to make friends with like-minded colleagues, allowing you to find partners, potential outsource leads, and clients. Communities such as Sitepoint have an active contest market. High profile contests are posted everyday. Not only are you in the run for thousands of dollars in prizes, but you get to show off your work ethics and the way you treat your clients and handle feedback and revisions.

Tip: Handle these contests as if they really were your projects. Many of them have really comprehensive design specs that will point you in the right direction. Posting quality products not only increase your odds of winning, but will have an impact on the other people on the forum. I’m talking about hundreds of webmasters, business owners, and corporate firms looking for talented artists.

Find Local Design firms!

Search job postings and ads for local design firms or freelance pools. This is one method that I’ve used to land me high profile jobs. Signing up with a freelance pool gives you exposure to corporations around the world. How about getting a print job from Verizon and seeing it printed nation wide? How about working on the next website for National Geographic? These are all possibilities when you sign up with a freelance pool. You’ll be assigned an agent who will handle your portfolio and aim to get you jobs. I am currently listed with Engine Performance in Baltimore, Maryland and the decision to sign up with a pool was one of the best I’ve made. I can charge whatever rates I want, and I let my agent find jobs for me. Magic.

Tip: Don’t be frustrated if you don’t get accepted at first. Continue to build the strength of your portfolio and keep looking for positions and pools. They will most likely take you, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be guaranteed projects. Just continue to keep in touch with your agent and make sure that they know you’re really interested in getting started. Freelance Pools are plenty, so if you don’t find them from a simple Google search, keep looking because their around.

Be Confident!

Don’t be afraid to respond to a project offer on forums or job postings. What is a matter of 10 minutes writing a quick cover letter and submitting your resume and portfolio (both of which you should have prepared)? Many times freelancers are intimidated by job requirements or the client’s reputation. Don’t be scared! Submit your information, and let them decide whether or not you’re capable of doing the job. Don’t you think it’s worth the risk to submit your information for a chance at a great salary and a start at a career? Or how about establishing yourself with the corporate world?

Tip: Remember to present yourself as professional as possible. Although you should have confidence in the jobs that you apply to, that doesn’t mean go around and submit your information to everyone. Take time in your cover letters, and make sure you’re applying to jobs that you are genuinely interested in and feel that you’re the best for. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Try some of these tips, if not all of them, out and let us know how it goes in the forums. I’d love to hear your feedback on the article and the advice I’ve given. I’m always open to opinions and would really like to know what you thought.

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