Does the thought of a regular job make you cringe? Would you like to avoid seeing a boss every day while making money from the comfort of your own home? Then working online is your best bet.
Unfortunately, getting online gigs and jobs can be quite competitive. And if you have no experience, getting your foot in the door can be a bit harder than a person with a complete portfolio or profile.
Does this mean you should abandon your dreams of doing online work and stacking cash from your couch? Not at all. It just means you’ll have to get creative when it comes to getting work.
Luckily, you won’t have to brainstorm too much, as this article is about to do most of the work for you.
Ways to Get Online Work When Nobody Knows You
Some online workers and freelancers have reached guru status. At this point in the game, so many people know them that they have to turn down job opportunities due to a lack of time.
If this makes you feel intimidated, don’t be. Did these gurus start at the top? No, they started at the bottom just like you are.
You can get there too. But here’s what you’ll have to do to get that significant first gig.
1. Think of all your relevant experience.
Let’s say you want to be a freelance writer and get paid to write articles or emails for Internet clients. Your main problem is that you’ve never gotten an online gig before, and you have no examples of existing online work.
Does this mean you’re doomed? No, because you’ve probably written something in the past for school or as a hobby.
Use any relevant experience you can to boost your profile and authority in whatever arena you’re looking to enter. Even if it’s not 100 percent tied to the job in question, it shows clients that you have the ability.
When pitching yourself, tell them that you haven’t done work in their specific field, but you can do it as long as they give you detailed directions.
2. Offer them a tryout.
When nobody knows you, and you lack a portfolio or resume, you’ll have to be aggressive. Unlike the gurus, you probably won’t have people coming to you. Instead, you’ll have to go after them.
When applying for an online gig or job, you should be able to see what task is required. Tell the client you’ll perform some variation of that task for free as a tryout. If they like what they see, they can officially hire and pay you for your services.
3. Get that ever-important first testimonial.
A testimonial is crucial to getting more work. And your first testimonial is what you’ll need to get over the inexperience hump.
If a client turns down your tryout offer, tell them you’ll do the work for free in exchange for a testimonial.
Tell them that you’re first starting, and not to be alarmed or skeptical. You’re only offering a free service because you’re building a business, and this first testimonial is what you need to get going.
They’ll probably understand where you’re coming from, and should your work be good enough, you’ll get that much-needed testimonial.
Once you have it, ask that free client for referrals. As long as you did a good job, they’ll likely be happy to do so.
You can boost the incentive to give you referrals even more. Offer a discount on your future rates to that client if they help to expand your network.
As referrals start flowing in, you’ll start getting more work. And if you get to the point that you’re too busy to accept every referral, increase your price.
By requesting more money, you’ll boost your bank account and reputation. Don’t be shy about doing it either, as many clients will gladly pay more if they think they’re getting quality in return.
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