Welcome to My Freelancing Journey: From Hunger to Success

As a freelancer, my journey began with a series of challenging and rewarding gigs. This journey has been filled with both successes and failures, but it has shaped the person and the professional I am today. Let's explore my early days as a freelancer and the lessons learned.

First Freelance Gigs

My first few gigs were received through word of mouth. Unlike online platforms, these were actual people who knew about my services through their social networks. This way, if something went wrong, they would have a person to hold responsible. Initially, I reached out to all my friends and family to spread the word. I managed to get 2-3 gigs in this manner.

When I went online, I published my first official gig on Fiverr but faced a cold response. I had only 13 impressions in a week and no conversions. This made me realize that the platform was overcrowded, and I needed to be more strategic. I spent three days carefully crafting my gig, changing it daily based on feedback. Even now, Fiverr doesn't work well for me. However, platforms like PeoplePerHour justify freelancing options, and I would recommend them to others.

From PR to Fiverr

My professional journey took an interesting turn when I worked as a PR strategist for an F100 firm. A colleague asked me to provide strategic guidance to a customer of ours. This led to an offer for freelance PR assistance. A year later, I left the F100 firm to become a full-time PR consultant. I hung a shingle and have been my own employer since 1985.

Some friends have asked me about my first freelance job. Being selected as the first customer at your shop and succeeding in your first sale is indeed a boost. My first freelance job was a similar experience. When I was starting, I mostly wrote about astrology. I signed up for Elance and bid on astrology jobs until I got one. This was a niche, and I had a substantial body of work from my astrology blog to use as samples. This is why I advise other freelancers to set up a blog to showcase their work.

SEO Services and Custom Software

One of my current gigs on Fiverr is SEO services. After earning a Level One badge for my services, I have started offering Web Development services as well. Reflecting on my early days, it's important to note that my very first gig was quite different. This happened before the web. I recall the dry spell of finding small-scale custom software development projects, with most requirements being wish-lists from the client. After a while, I found someone looking for a contractor to create a custom termcap entry for a specific Wyse terminal. The client provided technical specifications, and I crafted the termcap entry based on reference books. I received payment via snail mail, and the project earned me a substantial amount.

Conclusion: My journey as a freelancer has been both challenging and rewarding. From starting with astrology to SEO and then custom software, each step has taught me valuable lessons. If you have any other questions or need further details, feel free to reach out.