Clients are often hesitant to hire first-time freelancers because they believe the service will be inferior to that provided by a seasoned professional. This is understandable for a variety of reasons.
What are some of the reasons why clients hesitate to work with a first-time freelancer?
1) Clients are afraid of not getting quality work done in time or not meeting the expectations
Clients frequently worry that a first-time freelancer will not produce high-quality content. This is because they are concerned that the freelancer may lack the necessary skills to produce high-quality content.
2) Clients are hesitant to hire first-time freelancers because they do not have the time to teach or provide freelancers feedback.
Clients are preoccupied with their day-to-day business operations, so they seek freelancers who already know and understand what needs to be done after receiving instructions. They don’t have time to fumble around or be bothered by teaching and guiding the freelancer to produce the desired results. Most of these clients deal with multiple freelancers, so keeping track of who needs to be taught and trained becomes an additional burden.
3) The process of hiring a new freelancer can be tedious and time-consuming.
With so many freelancers to choose from, the client may end up spending hours combing through the profiles of various freelancers to find the right one.
Clients will use a freelancer’s profile to hire them in this case. Hiring the freelancer will be a breeze if the freelancer’s profile includes tenure, a high satisfaction rating, positive feedback from previous clients, and an impressive verifiable portfolio.
This is not usually the case for first-time freelancers. Aside from the work history listed on their profile, there is no verifiable work to judge them on, which is why they are hesitant.
4) The client may find it difficult to trust a first-time freelancer that they do not know well enough.
The client may be hesitant to trust a first-time freelancer they do not know. They may not want to take the risk of hiring someone who is not qualified for the position. However, when a client hires seasoned freelancers, they will know what to expect from the freelancer and will be able to assign tasks more effectively.
5) Some clients have a specific need that a first-time freelancer might not be able to meet.
The client may request that something is designed or organized in a specific manner, with a particular format to follow. A first-time freelancer won’t be able to do it. As a result, hiring a tenured specialist for the given task would be advantageous to the client.
Given the previous, it’s understandable that clients are hesitant to hire new freelancers. What’s not known to clients is this fact: while a freelancer’s online profile may be new, most of them are seasoned professionals who lost their job when the pandemic struck.
What are the advantages of hiring a first-time freelancer?
A first-time freelancer is a reliable source of fresh ideas and innovation. They are not stuck in the same old mindset and will approach the job to learn rather than do it by following a template.
First-time freelancers are typically less expensive than experienced professionals. They have low overhead and have no clients yet, so they can be hired for less than someone who has been in the business for several years. And, because they don’t have clients, they can concentrate on the task at hand and complete it sooner than expected, which is an excellent opportunity to train the freelancer.
First-time freelancers are an ideal long-term service provider if given the opportunity, proper training and guidance, and open communication. They are adaptable, highly trainable, open-minded, and eager to learn and please. They will conform to the output mold desired by the client.
TIP for the new freelancer: One of the most critical aspects of your job as a freelancer looking for new clients is marketing. Networking is one of the most effective ways to market yourself. Networking can help you find new customers, meet potential partners, and get your name in front of more people in general. Networking is a great way to discover new clients and get referrals when you need them.
So, if you’re getting ignored or rejected on Upwork or Fiverr, reach out to your freelancer friends and former coworkers who might know of a client who needs one. Suppose you eventually find a client through any of the referrals, you and your new client will have two options: work outside of any online platforms and receive payment in full, or route the contract through a platform like Upwork or Fiverr. Why the second option? While receiving full payment directly from the client might sound very attractive, you need to think long-term. Your first client is an opportunity to get a five-star rating and positive feedback, which can jumpstart your career as a work-from-home freelancer. Decide wisely.
Gino Borlado 