As a freelance developer, you can earn more than you would in a full-time job. You also have the freedom to be your own boss and enjoy flexible work times and many more perks. But it’s a bad idea to quit your job and strike out on your own if you don’t yet have a stable client base. And to build that client list, you first need to get noticed.

Build your portfolio website

One thing a client looks for in a potential freelancer is whether you’ll be able to deliver. If you’re new to freelancing, there’s a 90% chance you’ll lose out on projects to a more experienced freelancer. After all, clients are spending a lot of money on their projects, and they want every penny to count.

Occasionally, though, a prospective client doesn’t just choose the most experience freelancer, but instead spends the time to review the profiles of other freelancers who offered to work at a lower rate. Good portfolios use a simple design and show off the best work you have done. If you have worked on some big projects at your daily job, put up some screen shots and a description of the project. Don’t brag too much–just be clear and to the point.

Your first customer may be in your contact list

Yes, many of your friends or their relative's business may require a software or a website for easing their business.Reach out to them ,show them your skills, tell them how you can solve problems they face . some example solutions you can develop include

=>Marketing website

=>Accounting software

=>Landing page for business

=>Mobile app for their business

=>Ecommerce

Websites for freelancing

There are many freelancing websites online the best ones are:

Freelancer

Find & hire top freelancers, web developers & designers inexpensively. World's largest marketplace of 46m. Getting started is free

Upwork

Find & apply for freelance jobs on Upwork - the world's largest online workplace where savvy businesses hire freelancers & remote teams.

Toptal

Toptal enables start-ups, businesses, and organizations to hire freelancers from a growing network of top talent in the world. Find quality talent to work full-time

Spread the word and market yourself

Marketing plays an important role when it comes to landing projects. You need to make yourself known in places where you are likely to find potential clients. You can meet clients both online and offline, and you should have a strategy for both. When meeting a potential client in person, maintain a casual and friendly tone. A potential client is more likely to hire you if you can connect with him or her personally, so avoid being overly formal

Contribute to opensource projects

Look for projects that are relatively young but seem to be gaining popularity. Newer projects have fewer lines of code and less complexity than more mature projects. Once you’ve selected a project, look through the project’s issues list, then pick a small bug and try to fix it. Or start a project of your own. Create a hobby project or utility and open source it on GitHub. If it appeals to other developers, they’ll request new features or updates, and now your project is growing.

These are some best tips that could help you get your first client

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