[Misc] Freelancers, how do you find work?

[Muzzy]

Your field of expertise is different to mine, but I have rarely found that Linked In works for that. It’s more of a networking ‘cock waving’ media site in my opinion. Most of my customers are repeat business, and new work comes by way of word of mouth.
When I need new business, I use Facebook groups to advertise (on days that the groups allow advertising) to push out my services.
My website brings in some one off work as well.
I don’t get a lot through Google, my own Facebook page or Instagram either.
Reputation and a few good online reviews goes a long way to advertising when I get calls for quotes.
This is for high quality lawn care, so I’m not sure my industry would be relevant to yours in all fairness, but I also do like pizza if that helps

 

[Weststander]

From my experience SEO is a bit of a mixed bag. I used it in my company to get to the top of sponsored searches, but the main keywords we used were also used by competitors and this pushed the price for these words through the roof. As charges were calculated on pay per click the monthly budget was often used up before the end of the month and we’d drop right down the sponsored links. In the end I didn’t believe that it was cost effective and stopped using it. Personally, I now tend to ignore sponsored links when searching for goods and/or services as I know that these companies are spending fortunes to get to no 1 but it doesn’t necessarily reflect quality. If you believe that being no 1 in searches will generate the additional income to cover the costs, I guess it’ll be for you.

In answer to the OP’s question, I’m not sure how competing SEO consultants sell themselves as it’s the keyword charges that get you to no 1

I instinctively ALWAYS ignore sponsored search results. Looking at the results below that.

 

[Justice]

I built a loyal customer base using Ad words for a good few years. Ad words wasn’t enough income for greedy google and now you can’t achieve top three without also paying for google guaranteed why they wanted to involve themselves with 100’s of small claims against builders etc is beyond me. Their practise with successful google my business companies is nothing short of blackmail. I used to be top of my area with loads of five star reviews which was removed as apparently after many years I was breaching guidelines. They won’t tell you what guidelines you are breaking which makes it even more suspect. They then want you to pay for google guaranteed and apparently this will solve all outstanding issues. Hate them.

 

[Normal Rob]

My niche is SEO and content writing

Do you specialise in an area? If so, what?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

My niche is SEO and content writing, usually in Swedish but sometimes in English.

I find work through Upwork (sort of a freelance portal) and in Swedish SEO groups and find enough clients to get by, but would like to work a tad bit more and I'm a bit curious how people do it.
I have no problems producing results that always make my clients happy (or at least they think it is good enough) but the whole "find new clients" thing really isn't my strong sides and I often keep ones who pay poorly because I can't bother the hassle of chasing... but might have to change that approach as my costs of living (rent, food, cigarettes, drugs, booze) are steadily increasing.

I've been thinking about using Linkedin to find work, is that a good idea? I've had a Linkedin account for years but never really used the site.

Well, get a f***ing proper JOB!

Seriously....I am on Linked in and have got nothing off it. All my extracurricular employment (I have a steady salaried job) has come from putting myself about a bit and acquiring a reputation (in a couple of niche areas).

I'm sorry to tell you that if you prefer to be in doors at home, this may limit your scope. Ironically I love skulking at home and my opportunities have come only because needs must forced me into London, and overseas when I was younger. Never again (albeit, that said, I have probably got to go to Canada and Australia this year in order to keep a pot boiling. I f***ing hate it. I love being at home).

I hope others can offer you more modern advice. And best of luck with it

So maynu edits - my typig is shite

 

[bhafc99]

I do freelance writing as a side hustle, but it’s always for personal contacts built up over years. IMHO that’s the only way. I can’t imagine that LinkedIn and so on are any use, you’ll just be one of thousands of people chasing crumbs.

 

[Weststander]

Linkedin in my experience is teeming with desperate recruiters. After seeing your chosen field, sending you first name terms emails or messages. They must spend entire days trawling Linkedin for accountants, graphic designers, architects, project managers, solicitors.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I would say prices are up (here at least) like 30% since my pizza glory days two-three years ago while quality is worse (obvious that a lot are using cheaper cheeses etc.)

Terrible stuff. People need pizza. I need pizza. But I barely eat it once a month these days.

Blimey times are hard….pizza once a week for me…but then always one that is on ’offer’..paying no more than this time last year

 

[Swansman]

Do you specialise in an area? If so, what?

Can't say I do really - at least nothing that people usually want me to write. I just specialise in getting results. Among the more common subject, travel is perhaps the one where I add an additional layer of quality compared to what is expected.

Over the last month I've been writing about training, diet and losing weight, despite having been to the gym maybe two times in my life. Still, for the time being I'm at the top of the search results for "lose weight" in Swedish, which is pretty much as competitive as it gets.

Can't be picky though - I'll take most jobs, though avoid the really high brow ones (like legal stuff and finance) when I work in English. But would probably do even that if the client had a Surfer SEO account, since that makes everything so much easier.

Once in the odd while I get gigs that just fits me like a glove. Last year I wrote a couple of player profiles for "TimeVault Soccer" which is some kind of UK-developed card game with footballers. Mission was to write about the player in a humorous and nerdy way and I pretty much would have done it for free. Another gig was to write about "things people don't know about Sweden" and that was also fantastic; could dive into Mussolinis buddy Ivan Eklind who was in charge of the 1934 World Cup final, the fascinating story about the American-Swedish goalkeeper Julian Hjulius who played for US in the same tournament, and this thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Latvian_meteorite_hoax

But usually, like most SEO and content writers, I just get on with it. It is rare that anyone wants flair or truly interesting content - they just want people to find them and buy shit and I'm very good at making it happen.

 

[Seagull58]

Do you have a website (with SEO built-in), with customer references?
When I was selling enterprise business software and supply chain software I invariably led with good customer references.

 

[DJ NOBO]

I would say prices are up (here at least) like 30% since my pizza glory days two-three years ago while quality is worse (obvious that a lot are using cheaper cheeses etc.)

Terrible stuff. People need pizza. I need pizza. But I barely eat it once a month these days.

Pizza is always on offer here, and the quality is pretty good.

Can't say I do really - at least nothing that people usually want me to write. I just specialise in getting results. Among the more common subject, travel is perhaps the one where I add an additional layer of quality compared to what is expected.

Over the last month I've been writing about training, diet and losing weight, despite having been to the gym maybe two times in my life. Still, for the time being I'm at the top of the search results for "lose weight" in Swedish, which is pretty much as competitive as it gets.

Can't be picky though - I'll take most jobs, though avoid the really high brow ones (like legal stuff and finance) when I work in English. But would probably do even that if the client had a Surfer SEO account, since that makes everything so much easier.

Once in the odd while I get gigs that just fits me like a glove. Last year I wrote a couple of player profiles for "TimeVault Soccer" which is some kind of UK-developed card game with footballers. Mission was to write about the player in a humorous and nerdy way and I pretty much would have done it for free. Another gig was to write about "things people don't know about Sweden" and that was also fantastic; could dive into Mussolinis buddy Ivan Eklind who was in charge of the 1934 World Cup final, the fascinating story about the American-Swedish goalkeeper Julian Hjulius who played for US in the same tournament, and this thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Latvian_meteorite_hoax

But usually, like most SEO and content writers, I just get on with it. It is rare that anyone wants flair or truly interesting content - they just want people to find them and buy shit and I'm very good at making it happen.

Is there not a niche football reporter for you ? Covering Northern Europe football for uk publications? Have you approached the uk dailies? You’ve got the knowledge.

 

[Weststander]

Pizza is always on offer here, and the quality is pretty good.

Is there not a niche football reporter for you ? Covering Northern Europe football for uk publications? Have you approached the uk dailies? You’ve got the knowledge.

That crossed my mind too.

Or promoting the Albion online in Scandinavia.

All that’s needed is a squeaky clean digital footprint

 

[DJ NOBO]

That crossed my mind too.

Or promoting the Albion online in Scandinavia.

All that’s needed is a squeaky clean digital footprint

Back to the drawing board it is then

 

[nickjhs]

I often keep ones who pay poorly because I can't bother the hassle of chasing... but might have to change that approach as my costs of living

Here is the root cause of your problem. Firstly if you build you business around clients who pay well and on time you can concentrate on doing a really good job because you need fewer clients to make a good living. Unfortunately the only way you are going to change this is by bothering about chasing for work. The good news is that good clients who respect your work will be happy to refer you on, and referrals are easy pickings as they already have an idea of what you charge and are prepared to pay it due to your reputation. I built my business by literally knocking on doors, this probably isn't acceptable in this day and age so I guess it will be the professional hook up sites. One thing I always do with new clients is ask them for the referral. IE if they are happy with my work and they know of anyone who could use me would they please refer me to them. After the initial door knocking start up this is how I have grown my business, spending nothing other than signwriting on advertising relying on nothing else than word of mouth.

 

[Eric the meek]

Pizza is always on offer here, and the quality is pretty good.

Is there not a niche football reporter for you ? Covering Northern Europe football for uk publications? Have you approached the uk dailies? You’ve got the knowledge.

From what I've read, he could cover the whole of Europe, but if he feels he needs to focus, then yes, he could provide a northern European focus. A Scandinavian version of Tim Vickery. This need not be in place of the SEO of course. There's no reason why he couldn't do both.

 

[Pondicherry]

Over the last month I've been writing about training, diet and losing weight, despite having been to the gym maybe two times in my life.

So you are adept at writing convincingly about things you know little about?

 

[Eric the meek]

A slight antidote to all the negativity around LinkedIn. I once posted on my LinkedIn account that I was available for contract IT testing work. As a direct result of that, I landed a contract at Lloyd's Bank and was there for nearly three years. Don't dismiss LinkedIn.

 

[jackcgull]

I was recently quoted £100 an hour for someone to do seo. And he said that was a cheap rate for reasons. Is that really the going rate?

 

[Swansman]

I was recently quoted £100 an hour for someone to do seo. And he said that was a cheap rate for reasons. Is that really the going rate?

Yes sounds about right, give or take a little. I'd say it is on the more expensive side but not by a big margin.

But you should discuss and agree on what is expected in terms of output for the money you pay, makes it easier for both writer and client. IYou can also find someone on a per word basis, gives you more control and will often be a bit cheaper. Currently Google does love a bit of wordshitting so there's no real disadvantage to it as long as the quality is fine.

 

[Happy Exile]

Well, get a f***ing proper JOB!

Seriously....I am on Linked in and have got nothing off it. All my extracurricular employment (I have a steady salaried job) has come from putting myself about a bit and acquiring a reputation (in a couple of niche areas).

I'm sorry to tell you that if you prefer to be in doors at home, this may limit your scope. Ironically I love skulking at home and my opportunities have come only because needs must forced me into London, and overseas when I was younger. Never again (albeit, that said, I have probably got to go to Canada and Australia this year in order to keep a pot boiling. I f***ing hate it. I love being at home).

I hope others can offer you more modern advice. And best of luck with it

So maynu edits - my typig is shite

My experience is a bit of this but also some stuff off LinkedIn. The challenge with the latter is how many people want you to do stuff for free to "boost your profile". Like HWT I've got a reputation (small in my case) in a niche area - I talk at conferences, I've written a book, I'm on podcasts occasionally - all of which began from focusing on working relationships more than anything else and for now at least is coming steadily alongside my full time job.

Is there a niche you can find within SEO (I don't know much about it) that you can become known for? Is there a market for training others in how to do it? Is there some behavioural or attitudinal thing SEO people have a negative reputation for that you can get a reputation as the opposite of?