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Ask HN: In 2025, How Are You Finding Jobs Outside of LinkedIn as a Freelancer?

• deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
• gregjor 2y ago
  I have never used LinkedIn for finding freelance work. Canceled my account several years ago. I don't know any other freelancers using LinkedIn either. I don't doubt that some people use it, or try to. Word of mouth and referrals work best. Even cold-calling has worked fairly good for me -- not to businesses but to IT consultancies and web design/development agencies that already have customers. I have found gigs through some competent recruiters I trust. For the last decade I have worked through an agency that does the marketing and sales, along with the legal and accounting stuff. They represent me so I can focus on billable time. A few years ago I got a freelance gig through my agency, and the customer had heard about me and the agency from another customer I had done work for. We had a phone call to introduce each other, during which the customer asked me for my "socials." When I told him I don't use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. (and if I did wouldn't use them in a professional context), he said "How do you get customers?" I had to laugh, I asked him how he had heard about me.
  • toxaco 2y ago
    I can see how word of mouth and referrals work well, especially when you’re established. And having an agency handle the business side sounds like a dream (less admin, more billable hours). But I am wondering, how do you deal with slow periods? Do you just rely on past clients and your agency, or do you ever have to go out and actively hunt for work? I get that social media isn’t for everyone, but I’ve seen some freelancers use LinkedIn like a passive marketing tool—kind of like a digital business card. Have you ever felt like you’re missing out on opportunities by not having that presence, or does it never really come up? I am asking as that question "how come you don't use linkedin" comes up every time haha. By the way, thank you for replying!
    • gregjor 2y ago
      I know this sounds like boasting, but I have never had a slow period. I have had to turn down gigs because I don't have time. From my start as a freelancer I cultivated long-term relationships with customers who would give me a steady flow of work. Some of them put me on retainer, so they would have me ready to work when they needed something. A lot of businesses don't want to try to find a programmer or system admin under time pressure, or slog through Upwork or Fiverr. They want someone who will answer their calls and emails and deal with business needs without friction or onboarding, and without weeks of proposals, contracts, and email back-and-forth. I set out to establish trust and worked to understand the customer's business and IT infrastructure so I could jump on their needs immediately. I keep the friction and freelancer cosplay to a minimum. Those customers referred me to other businesses, and before too long I had plenty of work and a reasonably stable income. When I decided to travel full-time, and then move abroad permanently, I worried about getting work with US companies, so I signed on with an agency. And then I cultivated long-term relationships with those customers. I know other freelancers who do the same thing. Building long-term relationships seems like basic good business. But I see people new to freelancing make some mistakes that lead them to churn constantly with customers, and fail to build relationships. I think that happens when freelancers think of themselves, and present themselves, as only providing specific technical expertise, on their terms. Customers need their business problems addressed -- the technology usually makes little or no difference to them. No business ever needs 2,000 more lines of JavaScript code in a week, but that roughly describes what a lot of freelancers sell. The number one complaint I hear from prospects and customers: the last freelancer or dev shop stopped communicating, or took days or weeks to answer emails and return phone calls. Simply doing that better -- treating the customer with respect and care -- puts you in the top few percent of freelancers. I have some articles about freelancing on my site typicalprogrammer.com. Free, no ads, affiliate links, popups, or nonsense. Disclaimer: 10X Management represents me, but the opinions I express here and on my web site come from me, and should not get construed as endorsed by or reflecting the views of 10X Management.