Freelance Foundations: How Top Freelancers Started and Got Their First Client.

Starting out as a freelancer can feel like an exhilarating yet daunting adventure. You're your own boss, setting your own hours, but the path to success isn't always clear.

How do you find your first clients?

What hurdles do you have to face?

In this series, we're revealing the early days of successful freelancers. They share the triumphs, setbacks, and moments that shaped their freelance journeys.

You'll discover how they landed their first big clients, navigated challenges, and ultimately built thriving careers.

Ready to be inspired?

Dive in, take notes, and let their stories fuel your own freelance ambitions.

And hey, we want to hear from you, too!

Share your experiences or questions in the comments below – let's build a community of empowered freelancers.

What was the biggest challenge you faced when starting your freelance career?

As a background, I started freelancing in 2015. A former officemate invited me to try writing for their website, and she will help me as one of their editors.

With her kindness and leadership, I earned 11k per month by writing 5 300-word articles daily at 100 pesos per article.

I was so amazed because I earned around 12k-15k from my previous jobs back then.

That 11k is around 4-5 hours of my day without commuting.

While I got the opportunity to start freelancing back in the day, it wasn’t yet a mainstream idea among Filipino career-oriented individuals; my problem was how to sustain it.

From 2015 to 2018, I worked in the office and freelanced simultaneously.

The challenge is I cannot break the 35k income and be overloaded with tasks as a freelance writer.

I also struggled to deal with not knowing what to do next because I was doing everything alone.

I was not aware of how to break that ceiling and how I could do better without sacrificing my sleep, mental health, and dream lifestyle.

Another struggle I faced was managing time effectively between my office job and freelancing gigs. Balancing deadlines from both ends often led to burnout, as I tried to maximize every hour of my day to meet client expectations and office responsibilities. 

I was like a hamster wheel, and finding time for personal development or upgrading my skills became challenging.

Additionally, I encountered difficulties in upgrading my freelancing career to the next level. 

As I handled everything solo, from client communication to article writing and editing, it became overwhelming to think about expanding my services or increasing my rates.

Without a clear strategy or guidance on how to grow, I felt stuck in a cycle of low-paying work and high effort.

Networking and finding mentorship were also a concern. 

In the freelancing community, especially when not fully mainstream, it can be tough to connect with peers who understand your challenges and can offer advice. 

The lack of a support network meant I often missed learning from others’ experiences and finding new opportunities that could have propelled my career forward.

I also struggled with finding opportunities because I was stuck on job boards. I don’t know how to get clients beyond job boards.

Likewise, it seems that I didn’t have the mindset of a business owner as a freelancer back then, so I was not proactive and strategic.

All I cared about was earning money, which limited my opportunities back then. I still have the employee mindset.

I feel so alone, with no one to trust or ask for support or guidance from because my family and friends have yet to learn about freelancing. 

While they support me in trying to earn from work-from-home opportunities, they cannot provide me with the insights I need to level up.

I knew back then that something was missing big in my freelancing journey.

The problem was I didn’t know where to ask for help.

I haven’t resonated with foreign content taught by foreign digital marketers back then.

I wanted to learn easily and enjoyably because I was already struggling in my career and personal life.

The more I found answers, the more I realized that finding a supportive community of like-minded freelancers was essential. 

I needed a group that understood the challenges of balancing freelancing with everyday life and could offer practical tips for managing time, improving productivity, and scaling up. 

It was clear that mentorship from those who had successfully experienced similar challenges could have made a difference.

In the meantime, I worked on developing my skills, learning the art of negotiation, and honing my ability to write compelling pitches for clients. 

I also explored ways to streamline my workflow to reduce burnout and make time for personal development. 

Despite feeling isolated and stuck at times, I was determined to find a path forward that would allow me to achieve my professional goals without sacrificing my well-being.

Eventually, I realized that shifting my mindset was a crucial first step.

Instead of fighting alone in my journey, I learned to ask for help until I found a Filipino online community with a mentor teaching copywriting.

This change of perspective helped me focus on identifying my unique strengths and developing a niche where I could stand out and offer specialized value to clients.

I'm grateful for those early lessons because they pushed me to grow and explore new possibilities.

I now see freelancing as a business opportunity, not just a side hustle. 

I’ve learned the importance of building a personal brand and creating meaningful client relationships that lead to long-term partnerships.

If I can return to myself in 2015, I wish I had learned to ask for help or support earlier.

Here are the lessons I can share:

• Invest in yourself

• Seek out a supportive network

• Overcome any obstacle with confidence

• Embrace the journey as a learning experience

• Trust your journey with patience, persistence, and a clear vision

What was the process that helped you land your first freelance client?

Although I had my first experience as a freelancer in 2015, I still don’t fully understand the importance of freelancing.

I might have qualified more as a remote employee in 2015, when I had my first freelance opportunity, earning 100 pesos per article. 

I had so many limitations.

I thought I could consider myself a true freelancer when I already had a new mindset of learning to ask for help back in Dec 2018.

I invested in a copywriting course with access to a mentor I can ask anytime.

I also have supportive colleagues who help me when I struggle with anything.

For a background, I was still in my last corporate job in 2019.

I studied copywriting during the weekend with my mentor’s course.

I make sure to grasp the lessons even in short hours rather than forcing myself to study long, but I cannot understand anything.

I also remind myself to enjoy, have fun, and make learning exciting.

That’s been my setup for three months. To stabilize my learning momentum, I said no to friends who invited me to travel or hang out on weekends.

During the 4th month, I started pitching to clients. In 3 weeks of pitching to clients, I have landed my first copywriting client.

Another bonus opportunity was when Sir Francis Kong replied to my cold email and invited me for a coffee meeting.

I asked him many questions during the 2 hours I had spent with him.

Meeting Sir Francis Kong was a turning point for me. 

His advice and the questions I asked during our meeting helped me better understand how to achieve my goals.

It was inspiring to receive guidance from someone with so much experience, and it made me even more confident in my journey.

This showed me how important it is to reach out to people, no matter how unlikely a response might seem. 

Often, opportunities are just an email away.

My first copywriting client found me in Online Jobs Ph.

I uniquely optimized my profile. Instead of the usual “About Me” profile telling things about myself, such as that I do this or that, I presented myself in a poem.

So, there are rhyming words to describe what I know and what I am aiming for as a copywriter.

One of my advantages, too, as a freelancer with no experience yet in copywriting, is I am always reminded by good people to “Tell the Truth and Try” rather than fake it till you make it.

Clients appreciate it so much when I tell them what I currently know, even though I didn't have any experience as a copywriter then. 

Being honest with clients about my lack of experience helped me more than expected.

It built trust and set a strong foundation from the start. 

My openness and eagerness to learn really resonated with clients who valued honesty over pretending to be something I'm not. 

This approach was crucial for landing my first client and building relationships that would grow as I gained more experience.

As my journey continued, I realized that keeping a learning mindset was key. 

After landing my first projects, I continued seeking feedback, learning new things, and adjusting my approach. 

Let me also mention that having a calculated move and logical risk-taking has become essential for me.

Before I resigned from my job, I earned six months of savings, an efficient laptop, and a new phone to help me go full-time on freelancing.

This allowed me to strategize and look ahead to the future instead of just saying, “Bahala na! Mag-resign na ako! May isang client naman na ako.”

This flexibility was crucial for handling the ups and downs of freelance work. 

I kept my energy and motivation high by staying positive and making learning enjoyable, which is essential for long-term success.

Looking back, saying no to weekend plans and focusing on learning were some of my best decisions. 

It let me concentrate deeply without burning out, balancing hard work with real rest. 

My dedication to learning paid off as I gained skills that helped me make smart decisions that matched my career goals and personal values.

True enough, even experts were beginners before. 

Being honest, trying hard, and always wanting to learn will help you stand out.

Keep moving forward and be yourself.

Your unique approach can be your biggest strength as a freelancer.

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How about you?

What’s your story?

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