Are you a new freelancer struggling to find your first client? This is the article you need. Choosing the right platform to start not only helps you land your first project quickly, but also saves you months of trial and error. According to data from Upwork, over 50% of successful freelancers report that they got their first client through a suitable intermediary platform right in the first week.
As a digital partner accompanying hundreds of SMEs in Vietnam, DPS.MEDIA understands clearly: every successful campaign starts with choosing the right “gateway” to reach clients.. For freelancers, the “gateway” is the platform – where you have the opportunity to be seen, evaluated, and trusted enough to get your first job.
Below are 5 “pioneering” platforms that every new freelancer should try – not only because of their popularity, but also because they are suitable for those starting from scratch. We select based on effectiveness and the ability to convert into real contracts, based on consulting and tracking hundreds of freelancer profiles in the DPS.MEDIA community.
- Upwork – Where global clients gather and the best freelancer protection system
Upwork is the world's largest freelancer platform with annual revenue of over $3.5 billion from job transactions. If you write a clear service description and know how to send a smart proposal, the chance to get your first job within 7–14 days is completely feasible.
- Fiverr – For those who know how to “package” themselves
Fiverr allows you to create pre-set service “packages”, which is very suitable for beginners because you don’t have to constantly hunt for jobs. DPS recommends using Fiverr if you can present your service attractively with a competitive starting price – an extremely effective strategy to unlock your first order.
- Facebook Group – A free goldmine that few people utilize properly
Many Vietnamese freelancers have gotten their first clients from groups like Freelance Jobs, Content Sharing, or Vietnam Marketing Community. However, the key lies in how you introduce yourself – share value, don’t rush to sell.
- linkedin – Don’t underestimate it if you work in a highly specialized field or B2B
LinkedIn isn’t as popular as Facebook among Vietnamese freelancers, but it has high-quality clients and makes it easy to build personal credibility. DPS suggests you invest in building your profile, sharing small case studies – a way to build trust without having to apply for traditional jobs.
- TopCV Freelancer – A platform dedicated to the Vietnamese market
As one of the few local platforms, TopCV Freelancer connects freelancers with Vietnamese SME businesses – the group that needs the most flexible services.. With the advantage of using data from existing CV profiles, newcomers can easily access and quickly get their first trial jobs.
Choosing the right platform helps you save at least 70% of the time and effort compared to searching aimlessly. DPS.MEDIA recommends: choose 1–2 platforms and optimize them well, instead of spreading yourself thin across many places without standing out on any platform.. The first client is not just a project, it’s the starting point for a sustainable freelancer career.
Understanding the real needs of new freelancers on the journey to finding their first client
Invisible fear: No one will hire me?
The starting point is always the toughest part for any freelancer. According to research by Freelancers Union (2023), over 60% of newcomers admit they don’t know where to “knock” first to find clients. From DPS.MEDIA’s real-world experience running campaigns for startup freelancer groups, we found the reason isn’t necessarily a lack of ability, but rather not clearly understanding your own “target client”.
Beginners often only focus on improving their skills or portfolio, forgetting that the key point is self-positioning in a specific market. The first clients usually come not because you are the best – but because you solve a clear problem for a specific audience. That’s when the concept of “Value proposition” from the Canvas model needs to be applied: Where are you different? What benefits do you offer that competitors don’t?
Step by step shaping: The journey needs direction
Instead of sending your CV everywhere, DPS.MEDIA suggests applying the “Lean Startup” principle – small but selective experiments. Start with 3 main axes:
- Industry: The field you understand well or have experience in (e.g.: UI design for educational apps)
- Target clients: Who will be the decision maker to hire you?
- Access channel: Which platform does your target customer “live” on?
We once coached a freelancer doing animation, who previously had no clients at all. After repositioning the target market as real estate startups needing short intro videos on TikTok, they quickly landed their first order through Behance combined with LinkedIn.Keyword: choose the right timing, personalized content, and suitable channel.
| Core needs | Suggested strategy |
|---|---|
| Lack of clients | Focus on one small market and build deep connections |
| High competition | Develop a solution-oriented personal profile instead of just listing “skills” |
| Lack of positioning | Build an Empathy Map model to deeply understand customers |
The journey to find your first customer is a problem between marketing mindset and the skill of selling yourself.. And from the perspective of a unit implementing Digital strategy for over 50 SMEs in Vietnam, DPS.MEDIA believes that every new freelancer can succeed if they clearly understand who they are serving – and why those people need you.
Leveraging the power of the Upwork platform to build your profile and reach international clients
Setting up a professional profile to build initial trust
On Upwork, your profile is not just a simple CV – it is the only window through which millions of global clients see you. According to Harvard Business Review, clients on Upwork usually spend less than 10 seconds deciding whether to open and view a freelancer's detailed profile or not. This further emphasizes the importance of investing in every detail: from profile picture, job title to a clear personal description that highlights your strengths.
- Use professional yet approachable language
- Include personal projects, even self-initiated ones if you don’t have official jobs yet
- Insert relevant keywords to increase visibility when clients search
Smart pricing strategies and writing proposals that address the client's “pain points”
New freelancers often fear fierce price competition – but in reality, according to data from Payoneer’s Freelancer Income survey 2022, international clients prioritize quality, professionalism, and communication skills through proposals rather than just cheap prices. DPS.MEDIA suggests a step-by-step strategy:
| Stage | Pricing strategy | Proposal strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 first jobs | Lower price than the market ~20% | Emphasize skills, clear work process |
| After the first 3 positive reviews | Adjust price to approach the average | Propose specific solutions for the client's problem |
For example, a client of DPS.MEDIA – a UX design freelancer in Da Nang – used this method to get shortlisted for 7 out of 10 applications sent in the first month, achieving a 70% conversion rate, far exceeding the average 10-15% on Upwork. The difference? The proposal clearly stated 03 common user experience issues and suggested improvements right in the introduction.
Fiverr and the art of positioning unique services in a highly competitive market
Shaping personal value like a specialized photography product
At DPS.MEDIA, we once supported a graphic design freelancer to switch to Fiverr and create a “Gig” called “Logo design using a combination of manual techniques and AI”.It was the blend of traditional skills and new technology that quickly helped this service stand out. According to research from Harvard Business Review (2021), modern consumers highly value distinctive features and personal storytelling in service products – two factors that a new freelancer can leverage to avoid being “lost” among thousands of similar gigs on the platform.
Below are the key points when shaping personalized services on Fiverr:
- Name the gig using solution language – for example: “I will design a CV to help you stand out among 1,000 applicants”.
- Add personal branding to the service – add a personal touch to the description: previous profession, startup story, design philosophy…
- Use real or professionally simulated images – the gig's main image determines over 70% of click-through rate (according to CXL Institute).
Niche strategy based on customer behavior insights
Fiverr is essentially a super-niche marketplace where each freelancer can create a separate “storefront” with clear identity. A strategy often used by DPS.MEDIA is to leverage fall gap between actual demand and standardized service model.
| Service niche | Customer insight | How to stand out in positioning |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok video translation | Online sellers need internationalized content quickly | “I translate super fast with language that fits social media culture” |
| Personal podcast editing | Salespeople, coaches making their own podcasts who don’t know how to handle audio | “Cut, clean and highlight your podcast’s personality within 24h” |
| UX/UI style CV | Design students need a CV that shows their style | “A CV is not just for reading – it’s for experiencing” |
Advice from branding experts April Dunford (Positioning, 2019) applies to every market: “A service attached to a specific problem will become a solution – instead of just an option on a list.”
Unlocking the potential of Freelancer.com and how to optimize opportunities from small projects
Leveraging small projects to build a strong profile on Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is not just a place for “veteran” freelancers – it’s actually an extremely ideal environment for newcomers to hone their skills, expand their job portfolio through small projects worth from a few dozen to a few hundred USD. According to Payoneer’s research (2023), new freelancers often face barriers due to profile credibility. Taking on small projects helps newcomers build a work history and accumulate positive reviews, thereby improving search ranking on the platform.
Optimization strategy: Choose the right niche – right client – right timing
Instead of targeting the entire broad market, freelancers should identify themselves as “Solution-Based Freelancers” – specializing in solving specific problems such as designing event banners, writing Shopee product descriptions, or conducting swift SEO audits for landing pages. From DPS.MEDIA’s implementation experience, startup and SME clients often prioritize flexible freelancers who respond quickly and complete small, high-quality tasks.
- Set attractive but not dirt-cheap pricing – for example, use an “entry pricing” model of 15-20 USD for simple tasks
- Use personalized bid proposals – show clear understanding of requirements and deliver value beyond expectations
- Leverage timezone differences to send jobs at the right time for the target region (e.g., US, Australia…)
Case Study: Vietnamese freelancer achieves 23 orders in just 90 days
A freelancer supported by DPS.MEDIA optimized their Freelancer profile as a “Portfolio of small projects for Vietnamese SMEs” and focused on applying for mini jobs in vertical industries. Within 3 months, they completed 23 projects, mostly logo design and commercial photo editing. The highlight of the strategy is:
| Factors | Applied Strategy |
|---|---|
| Select project | Small APIs, banners, CV editing, SEO content audit |
| Completion time | Always under 48 hours |
| Communication | Respond within 2 hours, according to client’s timezone |
| Work attitude | Proactively propose solutions, bonus extra ideas |
DPS.MEDIA’s perspective is: Vietnamese freelancers can absolutely take control of building their personal brand on Freelancer.com through small projects. This is a launchpad to penetrate higher-demand markets that are also willing to pay for real value.
How to use LinkedIn as a powerful personal branding channel for freelancers
Optimizing your profile to create a personal brand impression
LinkedIn research shows that a fully completed profile gets 40 times more views than an unoptimized profile. For new freelancers, this is not just an opportunity – it’s the key. Your LinkedIn profile is your “personal landing page”, and it needs to be designed just like a marketing landing page: professional profile picture, cover photo conveying brand personality, and the “Headline” concise yet sufficient to lead viewers deeper.
DPS.MEDIA often encourages freelancers to build the description (“About”) section following the StoryBrandmodel: start from the customer's problem, then mention the solution you provide as a trustworthy guide. Attaching documents, portfolios, and regularly posting valuable content are also ways to demonstrate sustainable competence on this professional channel.
Strategic networking and leveraging algorithms
LinkedIn is not just a platform, it's a specialized algorithm-driven environment. The more accurately you interact – liking industry-related posts, making smart comments on colleagues“ or experts” posts – the easier it is to appear in the feeds of potential decision-makers. The initial connection list should start with:
- Friends you studied or worked with in the same field
- Specialized community groups – for example: Vietnam Freelancers Hub
- HR/Managers at small and medium agencies
You can apply the suggested posting times from the report SproutSocial 2023 – for example: Tuesday to Thursday, between 8–10 AM – to increase organic reach. DPS.MEDIA once ran a branding campaign for a Vietnamese UX designer in Australia: In just 2 months of consistently posting quality content, profile reach increased by 368%, resulting in the first five-figure contract.
Illustration: Personal branding checklist on LinkedIn
| Category | Goal |
|---|---|
| Specialized headline | Showcase your skills and the value you bring immediately |
| Clear profile & cover photos | Create a professional, consistent impression with your industry |
| About section structured by StoryBrand | Connect emotionally with potential clients |
| Link & engage with industry groups | Expand your recognition in the professional community |
| Share valuable content regularly | Build your personal brand through content |
Facebook Groups and professional communities – where freelancers can find their first clients
Joining the right groups – opening doors to quality connections
After more than 5 years tracking customer conversion behavior from a digital perspective, DPS.MEDIA has observed Facebook Groups prioritize connections like “acquaintances introducing strangers”.”. This is extremely valuable for new freelancers – those who lack market credibility. A typical example is the Facebook group “Vietnam Freelance Jobs”, where hundreds of businesses post freelance job openings every week and prioritize those who are “inbox introduced” by other members.
Building credibility through interaction instead of spammy marketing
Community behavior studies (such as by Pew Research Center 2023) indicate that trust within Facebook groups yields a positive response rate three times higher than personal ads. Therefore, freelancers should interact properly, instead of just posting sales pitches.
- Regularly help others with your professional knowledge
- Share your own case studies or useful content, weekly
- Send a personal message with proof of skills when you see a suitable opportunity
Example: a designer in Ho Chi Minh City once shared free mockups in the group “Vietnam Design & Marketing”, after 2 weeks was invited to work on 5 projects from 3 former group members without needing much self-introduction.
Compare the effectiveness between different types of community groups for freelancers
| Group type | Outstanding features | Opportunity level (★ 1-5) |
|---|---|---|
| Career resource sharing group | Professional content, rarely posts direct job openings | ★★★☆☆ |
| Freelance job group | Constant project briefs, high chance for responses | ★★★★★ |
| Industry networking group | Suitable for the long term, used to build relationships | ★★★★★ |
DPS.MEDIA's perspective: Facebook Groups are not just a place to “find jobs”, but more importantly, a place for freelancers to build their personal brand through trust from the community.The first client may come unexpectedly if you are remembered as a positive and kind contributor in that network.
Secrets to retaining clients and developing your freelancer career from the very first projects
Make a strong impression from the first collaboration
The key to retaining long-term clients does not lie in competitive pricing but in professionalism and value commitment. According to research from Harvard Business Review (2022), 82% of clients tend to reuse freelancers if the first collaboration delivers an experience beyond expectations. At DPS.MEDIA, we recommend freelancers focus on factors such as:
- Clear working process: from receiving the brief to delivering the product, a specific timeline framework is needed.
- Proactive communication: respond quickly, provide regular progress updates to reassure clients.
- Post-project service: commitment to revisions and support after delivery is a big plus that brings clients back.
transform a contract into a long-term relationship
Once you have completed the first project, don’t let the relationship end with just a thank you. A smart freelancer knows how to seize the opportunity to turn a contract into a lasting relationship. At DPS.MEDIA, we witnessed a typical case: Nguyen Huu T.– a graphic design freelancer – after finishing a logo for a coffee shop in Da Nang, proposed an additional combo of brand identity design and online communication consulting. As a result, he became the brand’s regular communications partner for 14 consecutive months, with total revenue 12 times the value of the first contract.
The key lies in:
- Identifying opportunities for arising needs from client insights
- Proactively proposing higher-value solutions – not waiting for the client to ask
- Inspiring development – you are not just a freelancer, you are a strategic partner
Tools and working styles that help increase client retention rates
| Tool | Usage | Target Audience Detailed |
|---|---|---|
| Trello/Notion | Efficient progress management | Multi-phase marketing content project |
| Canva Pro | Quick professional design | Create media publications for SMEs |
| Calendly | Automatic meeting scheduling | Working with international clients |
Advice from DPS.MEDIA: A freelancer's success does not come from the number of clients, but from strong relationships that can generate recurring profits. Don’t hesitate to learn additional skills beyond your expertise – including communication, negotiation, or customer care skills.
Sharing from DPS.MEDIA
Starting a freelance career can be a challenging journey, but it is also full of opportunities if you choose the right platform to reach your first clients. Each listed platform offers its own advantages and characteristics, suitable for different skills and personal goals. The important thing is that you need to continuously experiment, optimize your personal profile, as well as practice communication skills and professional work habits to build lasting credibility.
At DPS.MEDIA, we believe that an effective client acquisition strategy is not only about choosing the right channel, but also about truly understanding your target client profile and building a strong personal brand. For freelancers aiming for long-term growth, investing in marketing mindset, personal content building skills and client relationship management will be decisive factors..
If you feel interested, explore more related topics such as how to optimize your freelancer profile to increase reach rate, or personal branding strategies for freelancers in the digital age. DPS.MEDIA is always ready to accompany freelancers and Vietnamese SMEs on the journey of strategic orientation and comprehensive digital marketing capacity development.
Have you used any platform to find your first client yet? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below, or join the discussion to learn and connect with the ever-growing freelancer community.
