Hi guys! Today I’m excited to share another post from my pal Jesse, the part time stage hypnotist and full time hustler. He’s been fine tuning his side hustling and has some great tips to help you maximize your time by being picky about who you work with.

 

            Hello readers. I’m Jesse Gernigin. You might remember me from my last article Side Hustle Steroids. If you haven’t read it go back and check it out. It’s filled with great, actionable advice to increase your side hustle earnings.

Since then I have sharpened my writing to focus on one thing. I teach online entrepreneurs how to get their first client. Why? I believe that increasing options to earning is the easiest path to wealth. Here is a great article on the mindset of earning more.

Getting Clients Is Easy

The biggest worry freelancers have is getting clients. What if I told you it is easy to get as many clients as you want? Getting clients is not hard. Every day millions of dollars of work are posted by companies who need freelancers. I’m going to share with you how to target, approach and set conditions to get as many clients as you want.

Why Use a System?

You need to use a system to get clients. When you have a system for getting clients you save yourself time. You save yourself time targeting the right clients, giving them the right information and setting the right conditions for your project.

I’m going to share the three steps in my system that guarantee me a constant flow of work.

1. Target: Choosing the right clients saves you time and effort.
2. Action: Research your clients needs then offer solutions to those needs.
3. Conditions: Setting the conditions of a contract both protects you and communicates to the client you are a professional.

Step 1: Targeting

Freelancers commit the cardinal error of wasting time. Time is a freelancers’ most valuable resource.Targeting the right clients saves you time and increases your chances for connecting with decision makers.

How To Create an Awesome Client Profile

I score awesome clients by using a mental checklist. When I need more work I look for clients that fit my awesome client profile. What is an awesome client profile? An awesome client profile is a collection of traits you look for in hiring clients. The things you should look for are positive social triggers.

Social Triggers of Awesome Clients

Every awesome client checklist will have different things. A writer will look for different social triggers than a video editor will. However the core triggers we look for are the same. Does your client have a good social presence? Does your client have reviews from other freelancers? Does your client have examples of work they’ve done previously?

If your client has a good presence, communicates with the public clearly and has precisely defined parameters of what they do then you know you are working with an awesome client.

Step 2: Action 

Once you have identified an awesome client, either through marketing, Fiverr, Upwork, etc, you research what they need. Understanding what a client wants is the fastest way to getting work. When you know what a client wants you can offer them solutions.

Client Pitching Secret from Copywriting Pros

When I understand the core need of a project I can pitch clients correctly. For instance if a client says he wants a writer to create amazing blog pieces they don’t want the content for the article they really want the content to generate opt-ins. If your client says they want amazing instagram photos they don’t care about the artistic value of your piece, they really want ‘likes’.

I just finished a white paper report for a portable power electric cable and wire company. It was dense. Inside the data I made one point over and over, ‘This client knows the market and can serve your needs’. The client claimed they wanted to appear as an authority. When I drilled down I found out it wasn’t authority they were interested in, it was leads.

Figure out what a client wants and sell them a solution. A dog walker isn’t selling a healthy exercise alternative for a dog, they are selling a client free time. A writer isn’t selling content they are selling opt-ins, copywriting, shares that get uplinked. Know what your client wants and sell it to them.

Step 3: Conditions

Awesome clients have standards. When you land your first awesome client you will set conditions for your work. Good clients respect good conditions. I repeat, awesome clients want freelancers that understand and respect the value they bring to a market.

When setting conditions for a contract don’t be afraid to request favorable conditions. Don’t take this as permission to make ridiculous demands and be hard to work with. Good conditions make you easier to work with and protect you to.

For example I had a student in my Side Hustler’s Insider List who landed a client (using this method by the way). The client wanted some digital design done. The client requested that my student allow for revisions until the client was happy. My student freaked! She was afraid the client was going to take advantage of her and work her into the ground.

I told her to allow for unlimited revisions, pending her original per hour charge. I told her to give the client one revision included in the cost and then to charge per hour for every revision after the first (barring any monumental errors on her parts). I told her to charge for all communications, work and time spent on the project. She was hesitant but finally did this. Guess what, the client agreed to it!

Want to Take the Plunge but Need more Information?

          You want to take the next step but aren’t sure what to do? Well, Mel wrote a great article with 114 different side hustles. Check it out.

Already know what you want to do but are stuck? As a thank you to Mel for publishing this article I have opened up my Side Hustler’s Insider List for free! If you are interested in receiving weekly tips, tricks and tactics I am using to get clients and make money then click here.

Jesse Gernigin is head author at Live Gold Rich where he runs an online community devoted to getting clients and making money. To take advantage of his free offer to join his Side Hustler’s Insider List Click Here

P.S. You can buy the t-shirt in the picture on top here… personally, I’d be a little too picky to wear that ;o)