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Ask DN: A good place to find freelance jobs?

9 years ago from , Designer

Where do you guys find your freelance work? I know there has to be a good job board to find freelance work somewhere but cant really find anything...

I have tried things like odesk and freelancer but I don't like them because the employers are just trying to get some cheap work done for a ridiculously small amount of money.

I have also looked at most of the invite only freelance sites but most of them aren't giving invitations at the moment...

I anyone know of somewhere then please let me know!

I have looked through a lot of DN articles and havent really found a good answer...

16 comments

  • Ivan BozicIvan Bozic, 9 years ago

    Have you had a look at Toptal (http://www.toptal.com/)? I used to land freelancing gigs there before. The authentication process is great (you go through several stages, from proficiency in English to coding a to-do app with full REST API), and the clients are great.

    3 points
  • Robert Williams, 9 years ago

    I think the question being asked is the wrong one.

    There's no one place to find freelance jobs. They're all over the web. They're in your inbox. They're in your phone. Potential high quality freelance gigs are everywhere.

    The better question is how do you land them?

    Most people online suggest indirect methods like "putting your name out there".

    I'd take the opposite approach. Contact a few people that need your services by reaching out directly with a short friendly email or phone call.

    You don't need that many leads to land consistent work.

    2 points
  • Tobin HarrisTobin Harris, 9 years ago

    There are 2 places to find jobs which are underrated.

    1. Look for work nearby

    If you're lucky enough to be in a location near other businesses, then they'll pay more for the convenience. Lots of people want to work with people they can meet. It's so they can gather around a table, see your face, sketch and draw pictures, point at things, and have you visit them in their office.

     2. Look for work via people you've met.

    When companies contact you because of a referral, they are willing to pay over the odds because of the small comforts that brings.

    It's comfortable for them because they know you're a functioning human that made a good impression with someone they probably already work with or know or like.

    This also means you need to network in some way. It means meeting other professionals face to face, making a connection, and possibly impressing them in some way so they remember you and mention you to other people they meet Then you get enquiries.

    I'm always surprised when someone I meet in a networking event who I barely know recommends me. Yet it happens more than you'd think.

    3. Niche online

    If you need to be 100% remote/online then I'd consider

    1. carving a niche for yourself and getting a few jobs on your portfolio for that niche. E.g. "I make amazing gambling sites, look at these 2 examples..."

    2. Then search full time employment job boards for companies looking for design skills in that area, and write to the hiring manager offering your services on a freelance basis. If you impress them they'll probably add you to their supplier list and might even hire you to plug the gap whilst waiting for the permanent person.

    1 point
  • Anton StenAnton Sten, 9 years ago

    Sign up for Workshop: http://letsworkshop.com

    If you're a designer, Folyo.me is great as well: http://www.folyo.me

    1 point
    • Ben RegaliBen Regali, 9 years ago

      workshop looks a bit … odd.

      0 points
      • Anton StenAnton Sten, 9 years ago

        It's basically a paid service and you get a daily email with leads from all of the major sites. It's a great time-saver.

        0 points
  • Account deleted 9 years ago

    How about AngelList?

    1 point
    • Will Hitchcock, 9 years ago

      I've generated TONS of great leads through AngelList. This has definitely been my best avenue for work in the last year or so. Most of the jobs have been longish-term (3 months+) with startups at various stages.

      0 points
      • Account deleted 9 years ago

        Exactly, a lot of the leads will offer a co-founder though, but every now and then one will check out.

        If that happens, though, you can always offer to build a cheap prototype of their product, to increase their chances of getting funding, they'll come back (some times months) later for a long-term role.

        0 points
      • Marcus H, almost 9 years ago

        Is this something work checking out for a newbie designer?, I've only had two paid jobs designing web UI's. At this point I'm happy to work for some equity as I realise I'm probably not there yet in terms of being good enough for an actual salaried role.

        https://www.behance.net/mshanda

        0 points
  • Andreas Ubbe Dall, 9 years ago

    If you aren't already, get on dribbble; A ton of work to get from there.

    0 points
  • John EmersonJohn Emerson, 9 years ago (edited 9 years ago )

    I've hired good freelance designers through http://designjobs.aiga.org

    And have found great freelance developers at https://gun.io

    0 points
  • Asko NõmmAsko Nõmm, 9 years ago

    I would be interested in this as well. Freelancing hasn't been going so well.

    0 points
    • Evan BrandEvan Brand, 9 years ago

      It seems so hard at first, doesn't it?

      0 points
      • Asko NõmmAsko Nõmm, 9 years ago

        Indeed it does. It's hard to find clients, and those who I have found haven't been exactly great ones hehe.

        0 points