4 ms·

I have a hard time breaking into the consulting/freelancing world. I really like the idea of working part-time during off hours for extra cash, but it's proven

by grardb 10y ago

I have a hard time breaking into the consulting/freelancing world. I really like the idea of working part-time during off hours for extra cash, but it's proven to be quite difficult for me. I think part of it is that I'm not loud enough, and I think it comes from being an introvert. I'm confident, I'm not shy, and I know I'm skilled enough to work on lots of stuff, but when it comes to marketing myself, networking, small talk with strangers, or anything else like that, I just have the hardest time. It also doesn't help that a lot of opportunities to meet potential clients are found in non-professional settings, and those events are usually centered around the consumption of alcohol in the presence of loud music. I cannot stand loud music and I don't drink alcohol, so the difficulties for me just seem insurmountable.

smnplk 10y ago
Have you tried any of the online freelance market places, like toptal, upwork, peopleperhour..etc ?
- grardb 10y ago
  I have, but with zero success. I've read awful things about Toptal and PeoplePerHour, so I didn't really go for them. Upwork seems to be filled with developers from various parts of Asia where the low cost of living allows them to bid way lower than what I would charge. The quality of work also seems pretty bad, from what I can tell (one-sentence descriptions, bad grammar, crazy low budgets, etc.). I've seen advice like, "If you charge high instead of trying to compete with low bidders, you'll be taken seriously," but then there's the issue of having 0 clients/reviews/ratings, which make it hard to command a high rate. I did have one client on Codementor.io! He didn't give me a review, though, even though we had three sessions and he seemed to be super happy with my help :/
  - gargarplex 10y ago
    I just wrote a book about this. I cover 15 channels for finding clients, and only a few of them involve in-person networking. Here's the website. https://www.breakingintoconsulting.com https://www.breakingintoconsulting.com We have a signup for a mailing list at the bottom of the page. If you sign up, you will get the chapter that explains the fifteen channels in-depth. And no, they aren't channels where you are forced to bid with super-low cost overseas labor. I think the chapters on closing deals could be especially helpful for you. If you're seriously super broke, just email me and I'll hook you up. But I am planning on raising the book's price in 2017.
  - spencerfry 10y ago
    What about packaging what you know and putting together an eBook or online course? A lot of freelancers and consultants are turning to that to make extra money and to build their reputation. Here's an example: https://courses.gorails.com/ https://courses.gorails.com/

by grardb 10y ago

smnplk 10y ago

Have you tried any of the online freelance market places, like toptal, upwork, peopleperhour..etc ?

grardb 10y ago
I have, but with zero success. I've read awful things about Toptal and PeoplePerHour, so I didn't really go for them. Upwork seems to be filled with developers from various parts of Asia where the low cost of living allows them to bid way lower than what I would charge. The quality of work also seems pretty bad, from what I can tell (one-sentence descriptions, bad grammar, crazy low budgets, etc.). I've seen advice like, "If you charge high instead of trying to compete with low bidders, you'll be taken seriously," but then there's the issue of having 0 clients/reviews/ratings, which make it hard to command a high rate. I did have one client on Codementor.io! He didn't give me a review, though, even though we had three sessions and he seemed to be super happy with my help :/
- gargarplex 10y ago
  I just wrote a book about this. I cover 15 channels for finding clients, and only a few of them involve in-person networking. Here's the website. https://www.breakingintoconsulting.com https://www.breakingintoconsulting.com We have a signup for a mailing list at the bottom of the page. If you sign up, you will get the chapter that explains the fifteen channels in-depth. And no, they aren't channels where you are forced to bid with super-low cost overseas labor. I think the chapters on closing deals could be especially helpful for you. If you're seriously super broke, just email me and I'll hook you up. But I am planning on raising the book's price in 2017.
- spencerfry 10y ago
  What about packaging what you know and putting together an eBook or online course? A lot of freelancers and consultants are turning to that to make extra money and to build their reputation. Here's an example: https://courses.gorails.com/ https://courses.gorails.com/