This week I have been working on different ways to approach potential clients. I have only started testing this idea yesterday but the conversations seem to be going a bit better. While it is usually recommended to get paid first and then do the work, when you are first starting out it may be better to do the work first and get paid after. I will explain why in this post.
The one thing that freelancers must have to get clients is trust. Unless you are an elite level salesperson, it is very hard to gain trust unless you have proof of work. This is especially true because business owners tend to be very protective of their work and rightfully so. If you ask for money upfront with no proof of work, the potential client will likely be thinking these things.
"What if I send the money and this person disappears?"
"What if they aren't good and I can't get a refund?"
Would you send some random person money who emails you or calls you on the phone but doesn't offer examples of clients they have helped? I hope not.
This is why when you are first trying to get your initial clients, it is best to tell them that you will do all the work up front. Since I am doing web design, I will tell the client that they don't have to pay me until after the work is done. If I finish the site and you like it, you'll pay X amount of dollars and I will set up your site and domain. If not, you don't have to pay me and all that I ask for is to allow me to put the site in my portfolio. This is a win win situation for both of us because the client isn't obligated to pay me anything and at the very least I get to put another site on my portfolio and best case scenario I get a new client to work with.
Now, there is a disclaimer. As you grow and gain more trust within your network, it is best to get paid first so you don't waste your time. You will now have the ability to do this effectively because clients are reaching out to you who already trust you and your work.
