I genuinely cannot find any clients as a programmer
- Thread starter Seekehr
- Start date
- Apr 27, 2016
- 6,340
- 2,537
Try Fiverr, Reddit, linkedin.
fiverr and linkedin are so useless bro
iazeemsays
Junior Member
- Apr 5, 2026
- 109
- 40
Build an authority on your skill on Linkedin, Produce informational content & present yourself as an authority on Linkedin, X, Reddit & other platforms. It will take time but it will worth it.
- May 17, 2018
- 934
- 1,317
What exactly are you advertising? For example, 'programmer for hire' gets far less interest than 'I can help lower costs by improving your systems'.
- Mar 20, 2026
- 113
- 18
What is your product, or are you simply a freelancer looking for work?
- May 29, 2025
- 212
- 62
If you already have a niche, focus more on outbound networking and showing proof of work. Try LinkedIn, Reddit niche communities, X/Twitter, IndieHackers, cold outreach to small businesses, and posting short case studies or demos. Most clients come from visibility and trust, not just freelance platforms alone
- Feb 28, 2019
- 7,421
- 7,853
It's difficult to find clients no matter what you do. Forget about beginners, even the experienced programmers are finding it difficult to find clients. It's better to work on your own apps or SaaS instead of searching for clients.
- Jul 7, 2017
- 340
- 81
Try building some useful SaaS based system and do good marketing you won't need to find clients your platform will get you enough money
AI automation bots for platforms like Insta, Discord, Whatsapp, etc
LinkedIn and Reddit are so useless but I am trying X and this forum, and discord. Telegram is useless too I have 0 channels joined
Simply looking for work
Making a SaaS isnt as easy lmao
- May 17, 2018
- 934
- 1,317
Your leads aren't tech savvy, they're going to see "AI" and hear "dumb chatbot". AI is only the tool, you need to sell the product. "After-hours response system", "appointment booking confirmation", etc.
I have this message I send to clients:
Hey, I’m an AI automation specialist helping businesses automate customer communication, lead follow-ups, appointment booking, and sales workflows across WhatsApp, Instagram, Discord, and Telegram.
I build systems that reply to customers instantly, qualify leads automatically, book appointments, and reduce manual work so businesses can focus on growth instead of repetitive tasks.
I’ve worked on AI-powered chatbots, automated follow-up systems, CRM integrations, and multi-platform messaging solutions for agencies and online businesses to help improve response times, increase conversions, and streamline operations.
- May 17, 2018
- 934
- 1,317
That's where you're losing people. "AI automation" is becoming a meaningless buzzword to many business owners. I'd focus on something more results-oriented.
"We help businesses reduce missed leads and respond to customers faster through automated messaging and follow-up systems. We build systems that handle customer inquiries, follow up with prospects, and book appointments across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Discord. This leads to faster response times, fewer missed opportunities, and less repetitive admin work, without adding staff."
- Oct 9, 2013
- 3,471
- 14,452
And then when you build them, you have to find customers ;-)
That's just moving the problem down the line.
You have to learn sales/marketing, whether you want to run your own business or get a job.
- Feb 28, 2019
- 7,421
- 7,853
That's true. You need to either find opportunities or learn to promote stuff. There are shortcuts like surrogate marketing but most people want foolproof systems. There are many utility mobile apps that only have ads or paid versions. Programmers can make free versions for portfolio.
Earlier people used to make apps, software, animation, short films, websites, etc. only because it's something they love. Even now the tools like openclaw were made as personal projects. But most of us want to monetize before we start working. That's the reason most of us are failing. Maybe the inner voice keeps saying not to work for free on anything as our skills are worth millions. But in reality, there are thousands of people with same skills. We won't have a chance unless we standout from the crowd.
- Oct 9, 2013
- 3,471
- 14,452
Because 90% of skills won't make you much money.
There's a very specific set that will, and when people like me talk about skilling-up, we aren't talking about learning a 2nd language or how to write code.
The specific skills you need are marketing and sales.
Learn those and anything you do will print cash.
luisnieto1520
Newbie
- Aug 5, 2025
- 34
- 6
Building your own apps or SaaS can be a solid way to go, but it's not a client-finding problem solution, it's just a different set of challenges. What I've seen is that having a clear, results-driven pitch can make a huge difference in landing clients, and that means focusing on the benefits of your service, like reduced missed leads and faster response times, rather than just touting "AI automation". Repositioning your messaging to be more about the outcomes you can deliver can help you stand out and resonate with potential clients. It's about showcasing how your automated messaging and follow-up systems can help businesses grow, and that's what gets people interested. Creating value is key, whether you're selling a service or a product, and that's what you should be leading with.