How to Outshine Your Competitors on Freelance Platforms

I’d be lying if I said that you can easily win projects on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Freelancing is surely rewarding as you’re your own boss, and you can make a successful career out of it. But it’s a fact that most freelance niches have become saturated with fierce competition.

So, does this mean we shouldn’t opt for freelancing as a career? Absolutely not! 

Freelancing can still offer great rewards, but what I suggest is to change your approach to outshine the competition. And, how exactly can you do that? With some of these tried and tested tips that I’ve been implementing over the past few years. 

So, let’s get started.

1. Prioritize Your Clients Over Everything

How do you feel when a business or a brand makes you feel special? You keep going back to it, right?

Well, it’s the same case in freelancing. Most freelancers don’t prioritize their clients and rarely try to develop a bond with them. They don’t offer anything extra to make their client happy or make them wait for a response.

You should understand that having a great relationship with your clients goes a long way in the freelancing world. You want them to keep coming back to you. And only when you prioritize your client over everything, would they prioritize you over other freelancers.

One way you can do this is to always be available for them.

As a freelancer, I’ve installed apps for the freelance platforms I use on my smartphone. On working days, I tend to keep my trusty MacBook open and connected to my ever-reliable Spectrum Internet. This way, I always answer my clients' queries in a heartbeat and make them feel important.

Also, when you go the extra mile for your clients, the chances of you getting referred to other clients by them increase.

1. Never Stop Learning

You’ve mastered one skill and started offering freelance services. Great! But what about the other guy who’s also offering the same services, but also possesses something that clients might ask for?

Most freelancers believe that they don’t need to learn new skills, simply because the ones they already have I enough. Well, the world and technology are constantly changing, and so are the clients’ needs.

And to keep up with them, you must keep growing and adding new skills to your repertoire. Without this, a client may never choose you over another freelancer who is more versatile and knows more things than you.

1. Create an Impressive Portfolio

A comprehensive portfolio reflects who you are as a professional. And for clients, it’s very important, since they use it to determine whether you’re the right person for the job.

Your portfolio should be impeccable and contain every minor and major project you’ve ever worked on. You must also add brief details about the projects so your clients know what and how you managed to get the job done.

Also, if you’re writing proposals to get clients’ projects, understand their needs first. Try to explore and add something unique to your proposal, or offer an unconventional, but effective way to solve their problem.

This approach will surely help you stand out from the rest of the competition and help you get noticed.

1. Never Aggressively Upsell Your Clients

I don’t believe upselling your clients is a bad idea. 

However, I won’t recommend upselling your services when you cannot add value to their work. You may even successfully upsell some of your clients in such situations. But most of them might know about such tactics, and believe me, you will fail to leave a good impression in their minds.

I recommend that you be honest with your clients, as they will appreciate it. If they really need additional services, logically explain it to them and let them decide. Also, to build a good rapport with them, you can offer additional services for a discounted price.

This way, it’ll be easier to gain your clients’ trust and build a lasting relationship with them.

1. Always Ask For Feedback and Take Follow-Ups

I once thought that my work as a freelancer ended as soon as I delivered the work, but I was wrong. To stay competitive and to ensure your clients keep coming back to you, it’s important to take follow-ups.

Once you deliver the work, wait for a few days and then reach out to your client again. Not to upsell, but to ask them if they face any problems with your work. This will surely help you create a good image, and your clients will realize that you actually care about them.

Also, always ask your clients for feedback. Ask them if they find you helpful or if there’s something you should work on. This is another way to make your clients feel that they’re important to you.

To conclude, I will say again that freelance platforms have become competitive and it’s not easy to find consistent work anymore. However, these tips have significantly helped me find projects. More importantly, I believe these tips are the primary reason why my clients continue to come back to me.

So, if you’re working in a cut-throat niche on any freelance platform, implement these tips and see the results for yourself.