What Beginners are told
When you start freelancing, you will hear this advice again and again:
"Clients are everywhere."
It sounds motivating. It sounds hopeful.
But....
For beginners, it is terrible advice.
Because when you are new, you are still learning how this whole thing works.
And trying to look for clients everywhere can turn into chaos so fast.
You most likely forget:
where you applied
which platform you used
which client replied, if any
That's why instead of you moving forward, you'll just going backward because of the confusion.
Beginner Struggles
This is where the problem starts. Most beginners take that advice literally.
They hear it from gurus or people who already built their credibility online, so it sounds right. But those people are speaking from a very different stage, not the starting line.
And because you've heard it from experienced freelancers, you will do these:
apply everywhere with no clear plan
send random pitches without fully reading the job
apply even when you are not a good fit
keep changing your profile to please different clients
Then if nothing happens like:
No replies.
No feedback.
You'll just get frustrated and disappointed and probably you might want to quit.
But, honestly, you are not bad.
You just happen to listen to advice that is not appropriate for you, yet.
And because of this advice, you are tired and exhausted. Because you are scattered.
What actually happened to me and what did I do?
When I started freelancing online, I was not everywhere.
Actually, I almost follow that advice, but because I'm not brave enough to send a proposal everywhere online, and I've just started in freelancing before..I strictly focus myself on one freelance platform, and that is Upwork.
Upwork at that time was already popular for people who wanted to take the first step in the freelancing world.
Honestly, Upwork isn't perfect, but it solves most of the key challenges beginners face in freelancing, exactly what they need to build their freelance business. That's why I focus on it. Even now, I'm still actively freelancing on Upwork.
I'm not saying Upwork is the only freelance platform where you could go, there's actually a ton of platforms there like Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, Twine, etc...it's just that for me, Upwork is my go-to resource when it comes to finding clients and projects.
And Upwork..made things simpler.
Because it's easy to track my applications, understand what clients wanted, and slowly built my credibility in one place.
One thing that matters
When I started focusing my energy on this platform, I gradually realized how crucial a solid workflow is for freelancers—and that having a good system in place is essential.
From finding clients and sending proposals to completing projects, getting paid, and issuing invoices, everything revolves around an efficient system. Back then, I couldn't have managed it all on my own, and the freelance platform removed that headache for me.
Once you understand the importance of focusing on one platform, it opens your eyes to how the freelancing world truly works and how you need to prepare for every aspect of it.
That's why, when you're just starting out in freelancing, focus is everything.
Focus on one skill.
Focus on one platform.
Focus on one client.
Focus on finishing tasks.
Focus on getting paid.
It's all about staying focused and avoiding spreading yourself too thin in the pursuit of clients or projects.
Being "everywhere" doesn't mean you're truly accessible.
It also doesn't guarantee faster results.
Even experienced freelancers struggle when things change. For beginners, spreading yourself across multiple platforms only adds unnecessary pressure.
Takeaway: What to do differently this week?
Here's my key takeaway advice if you're a beginner in freelancing, or if you're starting with zero knowledge.
When you begin, choose one strongest skill to focus on. Just one for now, so you stay clear on what you're offering your target clients.
Next, pick one platform (Upwork, Fiverr, Twine, Freelancer.com, etc.) and commit to it.
Build a strong profile and portfolio there. If you lack real freelance experience, create mockup projects to showcase your skills effectively.
Apply intentionally: only to jobs where your skills genuinely solve the client's problem and that you know you can deliver.
Track every application. Even though the platform keeps records, maintain your own simple Excel sheet for better oversight.
Stop chasing clients across multiple platforms at once.
The clients are already inside the one you're using.
Your real task is learning how to reach them effectively on that platform.
Save the “clients are everywhere” mindset for later.
Right now, focus on building credibility in one place.
Slow progress is still real progress.
This approach helps you avoid burnout and overwhelm, especially when it feels like everyone online claims they landed clients overnight.
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Post to you soon 📩
Charmaine 🩷😊