From Zero to Top 1%: My Freelancing Journey and How You Can Start Yours

I started my freelancing journey in 2021, and by the end of 2023, I was among the top 1% of freelancers in India. Freelancing has given me the freedom to experiment and grow on my own terms.

Let me break down how you can start your freelancing journey, step by step.

1. Create Your Portfolio

If you're a web developer, your first priority should be creating your portfolio. It's much easier to find your first clients through your own contacts than online.

Key Steps:

• Reach out to everyone you know and build websites for them
• Accept whatever budget they have initially
• Focus on getting 2–3 real projects under your belt
• Avoid subdomain websites - people don't trust them

Pro Tip: People don't trust subdomain websites; you'll need 2–3 real projects under your belt before you can land bigger ones.

2. Find Your First Customers

Register yourself on 2–3 major freelancing platforms. Yes, there's a lot of competition, but who cares? Your goal is simply to increase your surface area of luck and land those first few clients.

Popular Platforms:

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Freelancer
• Toptal (for advanced developers)

3. Optimize Your Profile

Take care of these essential elements:

Profile Basics:

• Get a decent headshot profile picture - Professional appearance matters
• Study the top 10 profiles in your domain and write your title and description accordingly
• Target keywords with low competition and low to medium traffic initially

Why Target Low-Medium Traffic?

Because there's no such thing as high traffic with low competition. In the beginning, you need to become a big fish in a small pond, not a small fish in a big one. Position yourself as the most professional freelancer among just 10 profiles, not thousands.

4. Keyword Research Strategy

Keyword research on these platforms isn't that hard:

Steps:

1. Type a keyword and see how many profiles show up
2. Search at least 10–15 keywords
3. Build your profile around the ones with:
   • Least competition
   • Low to medium traffic
4. Don't get greedy in the beginning

5. Craft Your Description and Title

Research Process:

• Filter out 10 mid-level profiles
• Study their titles and descriptions
• Don't just copy/paste - "stealing the right way is a skill"
• Take the best parts from each
• Keep your profile focused on 1–2 services, not everything

Key Rule: Your main pitch should stick to just 1–2 services, not everything.

6. Leverage Other Channels

Social Media Strategy:

• Twitter: Stay active and engage with potential clients
• Discord: One of the best places to find potential clients
• Instagram: Reach out directly to businesses that need your services
  • Example: If someone is posting reels about cakes but doesn't have a website, send them a message

My Personal Story

Honestly, finding your first customer isn't that hard. If you follow all the above points and ask for humble rates initially, you'll definitely get a client in the first 20-30 days.

The Competition Myth

Many people think there's so much competition in freelancing, but that's not true from one perspective. I realized this when I started hiring freelancers to delegate projects.

The Reality:

• Most people really don't care about quality
• You'll have to chase them with dozens of messages for updates
• They rarely meet deadlines
• Poor communication is the norm

The Success Formula: Under-Promise and Over-Deliver

This is the essence of retaining customers:

Key Practices:

• Deliver before time - Always beat your deadlines
• Reply on time - I replied to 90%+ of queries within an hour throughout my freelancing journey
• Do extra work - Don't just add hourly rate for 1-2 hour tasks
• Build relationships - Focus on long-term client retention

The Numbers That Matter:

In 2024, 50% of my revenue was from old clients. This shows the power of relationship building.

Scaling Your Rates

If you can consistently deliver good work and build strong relationships, people won't hesitate to pay you.

Rate Increase Strategy:

• Existing clients: Increase rates every 5–6 months
• New clients: Once you have 10–15 projects, raise prices with every new project
• Market dynamics: It's simple demand and supply

The Power of Transparency

Transparency is the key to maintaining good relationships.

Think about it: You don't get frustrated with an Amazon order because it's late - you get frustrated because you were expecting it early.

Best Practices:

• If facing delays, be transparent
• Keep people updated about everything
• Set realistic expectations from the start

Timeline and Expectations

Reality Check:

• You won't start making money from day one
• It usually takes at least 8–9 months to reach a decent level
• But you will start making some money from the 1st month if you follow the above steps

Patience is Key: Don't expect overnight success, but consistent effort will pay off.

Final Advice

Skip the Expensive Courses: Don't waste your money on courses by every random instructor. They'll teach you the same stuff - there's no secret sauce.

The Real Secret: Consistency, professionalism, and genuine care for your clients' success.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with your network - easier than cold outreach
2. Be a big fish in a small pond - target low competition keywords
3. Under-promise and over-deliver - this builds lasting relationships
4. Transparency is everything - keep clients informed
5. Focus on retention - old clients are your best source of revenue
6. Be patient - success takes 8-9 months but starts in month 1

Remember, freelancing isn't just about finding clients - it's about building a sustainable business based on trust, quality, and consistent delivery. Focus on these fundamentals, and you'll be well on your way to joining the top tier of freelancers.

Good luck with your freelancing journey! 🚀