You're Hired: How To Find (And Land) Freelance Jobs Online

By:

Brandi Day

You’re Hired: How to Find (And Land) Freelance Jobs Online

The work-from-home self-sufficient freelancer life isn’t a myth. Here’s how you can start yours.

Freelancers: Wondering where all the good freelance jobs online are hiding?

If so, you need to know a few things:

There's life outside of Upwork.
You don't have to take clients with basement-level budgets to turn a profit.
No, decent freelance work online isn't just a myth. And if it feels like it is, we know why...

...you're looking in the wrong places. And you might need a stronger pitch that helps you stand out from the crowd in such an unforgettable way, they have to give you the job.

Ready to make this year your strongest, most profitable year yet? Read on and dig into real strategies from freelancers who've "been there" and who are now making five- and six-figure annual salaries with complete WFH freedom.

The Reality Check: Why Most People Fail at Finding Freelance Work Online

Finding freelance work online feels impossible—especially when you're on job sites that are a constant race to the bottom. The unfortunate reality is that this is where there is a large group of clients—prompting many to just sign on and make all the same mistakes as the next freelancer.

If you've found yourself doing that, hear us: it's not your fault, and it's not even bad. Nobody teaches this stuff in school, and who knows—you might even get a solid lead from opening up your profile.

However, this isn't the most sustainable or profitable way to fill your pipeline. Before we can dig into what is, we have to take a look at other pitfalls that freelancers often fall into along the way.

Some of the most common include:

The spray-and-pray method. Sending the same copy-paste proposal (usually made from chatGPT to save some time) is not the way to win a job. Clients want tailored support, intentional effort, and obvious care from their first interaction with you—so that proposal style is a non-starter.

Thinking "just sign up for Upwork" is a strategy. Can you tell we aren't a huge fan of the freelancing-site-only mentality? Simply going and existing on Upwork isn't a strategy—it's just one avenue that MAY turn you over some clients, depending on how you nurture your position in their (very sensitive) algorithm.

Staying in a "seeker" strategy. People looking for a traditional 9-5 tend to ask the question: "What can you offer me as an employer or source of income?" While they're right for doing this, you're taking charge of your schedule and effectively functioning as a sole proprietor—so you have to act more like a problem-solver. This means that you ask "How can I fix your pain points for you?"

We're only covering these traps for awareness. If you've fallen into one or all of them, don't sweat it. Managing freelance jobs online takes practice.

Our goal is to help you shortcut the learning curve.

Where to Actually Find Freelance Jobs Online (That Aren't Scams)

Let's talk platforms—and by platforms, we mean everything, from the "good," the "weird," and the "please don't fall for that."

The Usual Suspects: Upwork's got volume, but it's competitive and not entirely freelancer-friendly. (Think: Fees, client preference when it comes down to customer service disputes and constantly-changing guideposts). Fiverr's easier to start but harder to scale. While there may still be value in joining one or both of these platforms, many freelancers go above and beyond—maintaining their profile but keeping plenty of other avenues connected to their pipeline.
(Honestly? We can't blame them.)

The UNusual Suspects: LinkedIn is helpful for freelancers, too. Log in, post your services, and comment thoughtfully on dream client profiles and opportunities. Foster connections and grow your network. Or, follow some service- and niche-related hashtags on X and Instagram. Reddit can also be a goldmine for freelance work, especially if you look at subreddits like r/digitalnomad.

Oh, and lastly? Don't sleep on direct outreach. All you have to do is find dream companies you'd love to work with and... ask if they need help. The worst they can say is "no."

The Art of Landing Freelance Gigs: Proposals That Win

If your proposals aren't converting, we need to tell you something: Proposals aren't cover letters. They're sales pitches. Very few freelancers know the difference—but that difference stands between you and the very large, deep pool of high-paying and consistent clients.

Here's how to start building your quality freelance proposal:

Do your homework first. Research whatever you can. Read old press releases. Check out their socials and their website. Then, summarize pain points and needs. This'll give you a solid starting point for your proposal, and will help inform your next steps together if they sign on.
Personalize your proposal to each client. One specific detail about their business beats three paragraphs of fluff from chatGPT or some other system.
Know when to walk away. If they want "the full project scope" before paying anything, they refuse to meet in the middle on price, or are generally difficult—it may be best to leave them behind.

Takeaway

There you have it. We just showed you how the most successful freelancers find clients and land them using five-star proven proposal templates and some helpful mindset shifts.

Now? It's your move. Pick just one platform to conquer this week and pour into. You'll come back to it again next week. The whole point of this exercise is to help you get really, really good at finding clients without spreading yourself too thin. (After all, you have a business to run!)

Once you do that, it's time to write proposals that don't make people cringe. The best way to do that is with a video resume. While everyone else is sending walls of text, you could be showcasing who YOU are and putting a face to a name...all while putting yourself above and beyond the competition.

(Sounds like a win-win to us).