Since I have personally started doing well as a freelancer, many asked me how can they enter this business. And many were wary to do this because, even if they are currently studying or already have a diploma, there’s still no portfolio for them. Landing that first client is difficult, especially when you haven’t had a previous one to showcase your work. Does this mean you can’t start?

1. You can do without a portfolio.

I have talked to some people who were able to land jobs even without a portfolio. It doesn’t happen too often though, so please don’t consider this an option. You can make a killer presentation and maybe offer a low price, to make up for this, but usually our clients want to see something. So, moving on to the next option:

2. Have an imaginary client

Many advise new freelancers to work for charities or other clients for free. It’s a viable way to build up some portfolio and it will also help you get used to managing a project and the client in the end, still some might not find such a charity or are not willing to work for anyone for free.

In this case, when you can’t find a client even for some free work, why not “invent” that client?

No, you don’t have to create an entire saga, with imaginary conversations and all the jazz, just think about a potential project. Let’s see: what about a law office? Or a dentist? Funeral home? The local soccer team?

Get an idea of a site (pick a niche that you would like to work on) and then start creating the project for it. Of course, I am talking here web design mainly, but you can think about a nice logo, maybe prepare some advertising banners, even few articles on that niche, very well written, so that you can enter the copywriting business.

Treat your “imaginary” project with respect and care and try to build up the best product for it. When the project is ready, you have something to showcase.

If you still don’t get any gigs and would like to spend some time to perfect those skills, pick another 2-3 topics and repeat the process. In short time your potential clients will see what you were able to achieve and let’s hope you’ll never have to do “imaginary” work anymore.

3. Build your own sites.

I have to admit that it never crossed my mind that I could create sites for others. Or, to be honest, it occurred to me when I already had 5 sites of my own.

My career started with a karate site. Just wanted to place some information there. Little by little I was working on the design, getting familiar with Photoshop, coding in tables and then div only etc. After 2 years of working on my own stuff (started other projects in other niches too), it became clear that 1. I do have some talent and 2. there are people willing to pay for my stuff.

Even now, some of my best creations are the ones I have done for myself. No, it doesn’t mean I don’t work hard for my clients, but I am more willing to try something ‘crazy’, then a client with a serious business. Take this forum as an example: I doubt my lawyer client or a realtor would let me go too crazy with their design. And I can’t blame them to be honest, it’s another industry in the end and not all their clients are that open minded.

So, working on your own stuff gives you complete freedom. You can experiment at will and reach your true potential. Not to mention that, having an established sites network gives you a better position in the industry (got many clients who were impressed with the Dojo Design network I run) and, let’s say it, MONEY. You can get advertising revenue that might not be too big, but it surely pays for some good hosting and the occasional ice-cream.

So, I’d like to conclude that, even if you are not yet in position to showcase a portfolio, it’s not the end of the world. Still, it’s a good idea to solve this problem, because it would allow you to present your skills in a better manner. Even if you can still win projects without anything to show-off, try to seek some charity work or, if you’re not into this, create few samples for “imaginary business”. Or, start few sites in some niches you’re passionate about and then gather all the info in a proper portfolio site. Those projects will grow your experience and provide a better position. Not to mention you might even earn some residual income from advertising.

What do you think? Is not having a portfolio the end of the world? How did you solve this problem, when you started freelancing?

I asked about the best options regarding freelance sites in the previous article. I would like to thank the people who advised me by commenting or email. My own experience with some of these sites will be shared in a future article. Now, let’s moan a bit about the crazy requests some “clients” have on such sites.

Few days ago I was reading an excellent freelance related article talking about the experienced writers frustration regarding the horrible pay some would get in such sites (elance, guru, RAC etc.)

We are talking about quality content experienced writers, people who master the words and can provide some amazing articles. I do read some of their work and it makes me wanna quit communication altogether since I really feel like a stupid monkey, if I compare my writing skills to theirs.

These people don’t work for 1 dollar an hour, as I don’t work for such low pay myself, even if in my country you might expect us to do this.

Their frustration came from seeing bids being won by people who’d write 3 books for 10 dollars. OK, it’s far fetched, but the prices some are willing to pay are absolutely an offence to any serious developer, being he/she a designer or a content creator.

I had 40+ bids on 2 freelance sites. Was able to get 2 jobs so far (one on each I am still working), with 10+ feedback and pleased customers. Extatic I might say since one of them is preparing some more work for me already. I did bid on “decent paying” jobs since, even if I am new there and in need of good initial feedback I won’t be a prostitute to do a 1000 USD work for 10.

Today, on RAC, there was a guy who wanted 3 .psd designs for a layout and had the maximum bid of 10 USD. I wanted to kick him. I wanted to smack his nose and teach him that creating 3 UNIQUE and beautiful layouts is not a 1 hour job. I do work extremely fast in Photoshop (I do have 7 years experience now) and can come up with a mockup design in few hours of inspired work, but even the best and fastest artist cannot work 3 different unique layouts in 1 hour. And 10 USD/hour I think is the MINIMUM any one should accept as payment.

And the cherry on the shit cake was: ‘I want unlimited changes on the designs, until I am pleased”. Of course, we’ll work for 2 weeks, until you’re pleased and then I will get 10 dollars for 100 hour work. And then I can throw my computer and go work on emptying trash cans in the city. I am sure those guys do get paid way better, not to mention they don’t kill their eyes as we do.

It’s not a singular case. The sites are filled with people who want huge projects to be worked on for dismal payment. I read some proposals and almost fell of my chair. Huge sites, with custom programming for 200 dollars? Let’s be serious.

In the end I think it comes to us to accept only good jobs with fair payment for our time. And the clients to learn that “cheap is not always better” and that sometimes it’s a better idea to pay a bit more for an amazing service. Not to mention that the top players in the design/content world don’t create sites similar to ebay for 10 dollars

Since I am self-employed right now (3 weeks ago the radio station I worked for closed) and have a lot of time on my hands, I was trying to see what more I can do as a designer/content creator.

So I started some accounts on some ‘top’ freelance sites. Right now I have a sour taste in my mouth.

elance.com – started the account some time ago, logged in (of course after losing the pass and username). Good thing I still use that email address. I was using the free option and selected some time ago the content creation category. Today I saw something cool in the design area and wanted to bid. Nope, can’t do this. I need to update my profile and after some hours already it’s not changed. The “premium” price for the upgrade is pretty decent, but everything moves TOO SLOW for me. I want to make changes and pay (if needed) or just see the changes right away, if I make them on the free account.

guru.com – FRUSTRATING. I have spent almost 2 hours tweaking my darn profile with all the info needed and when I wanted to see what’s for me to bid on, ONLY premium member solutions. It’s impossible for me to grasp how such a huge site can’t offer 1 lousy project for a regular user. All the paid options are VERY expensive, especially for a beginner account. I want to test and see some projects, do some work etc. Not pay 150 USD and then realize it’s useless to me. I have deleted my account. Nobody will pay me for those 2 wasted hours though.

getafreelancer.com – I think so far is the best one I am using. Can’t say I am desperatelly in love with it, but it seems to offer me a fair share of possible jobs and maybe I’ll be able to make some pocket money out of it. Should I be pleased, I might upgrade the account.

What other freelancer job sites whould you recommend? I am a designer/article writer, no programming experience though.

Should you have your own experiences in this, please do share them. I’d love knowing if you were pleased with these sites.