How do you typically find clients?
I primarily find clients through my own personal and professional networks, but I also look for small projects on sites like Craigslist. I also find clients through being active in support forums and by staying current on my blog and writing tutorials, articles, etc.
What method is most successful? least successful?
Asking current clients for recommendations has by far proven the most successful way of getting new business. Who better to promote you than someone you've already done work for?
Another great way to find work is by utilizing a recruiter. Get your resume on Dice.com and Monster and search for contract jobs. While a contract job isn't exactly "freelance", it IS a short-term, typically well-paying project.
You can spend a lot of time (which is money when you freelance) searching through classified sites like Craigslist and various other job sites, and all that work can return very little results.
Tips and Tricks
- Put your resume on Dice and Monster: IT recruiters are always looking for candidates for contract positions they need to fill.
- Maintain an active blog: Portfolios are great and all, but people and companies are looking for more than just design these days. They want a designer who also knows development, so show off your knowledge by writing articles, tutorials, etc.
- Get involved in forums: I'm active in the About.com forums and the WP.org forums and have had a few people contact me through them for projects.
- Don't limit yourself to only online marketing
