Stay away from platforms like Fiverr, unless you offer something you can churn out quick and easy. The people buying on these are looking for a deal. Keep doing what you're doing if it doesn't take much time, but you'll want to follow bullet point #5 below.
(Everything I'm about to say is for freelance platforms and your website.)
Don't listen to anyone saying to give work for free or deep discounts — this is a surefire way to shoot yourself in the foot.
When people see you offering something free/cheap, they think of your services as low-quality. This is a good way to turn away business, and hold yourself back from becoming a profitable business.
If you're new to a platform, bid
slightly under budget and tell them you're looking for reputation and willing to go above-and-beyond to make sure the project is a success.
With bullet points 1 & 2 below, I can consistently bid twice as much as others (often over budget), with >30% win rate among 15+ bidders. If I don't land the gig the first time, they usually come back and have me fix the problems of the cheaper worker. I don't even give a portfolio — they know I can deliver, because I communicate value.
- Pick a niche, and go all in, becoming an expert in said niche.
- Charge based on value you bring — once you work out how to communicate that value, you will land jobs left and right.
- Posting informative content on social media and your website is a great path to becoming an expert, and communicating value of your work. "I increased conversions by X% with these 3 simple tweaks, here's how..."
- Use social media and organic traffic to establish your own website, cutting out the middleman.
- Don't stick with one platform. You want to consistently bid on projects across multiple platforms to ensure success.
- Always keep contact and make friends to get repeat customers, making the best of your efforts. A quick "How's ____ going with your website?" two weeks after a job can lead to extra work.
