If you’re new to freelancing, you may feel so desperate for clients that you’d almost work for anybody.

But today’s post is all about having to be picky with your clients.

Yes, it may be hard to swallow, but you shouldn’t work with anybody who’s willing to hire you. It may seem counter-intuitive but trust me, you don’t want to attract just anybody.

One of the first things a newbie freelancer should do is figure out who your ideal client is. Is your ideal client male or female? How old is he/she? What industry is he/she in? Does he/she have children? Married? Annual income? Hobbies? Social media user?

I can imagine you thinking, “Are you kidding me?” But, no, I’m serious. You need to create a profile of your target client. Even give him/her a name. It could be based on a person you know, or a composite of several people. Make your target client so concrete in your mind that you can imagine him/her sitting beside you, having a latte (or tea, or whatever it is he/she drinks – yes, what’s his/her favorite beverage?).

You don’t have to go out and conduct a complicated and expensive market research to “create” your target client’s profile. Use your imagination.

But you do have to do some amount of research to find out what your target clients look for in terms of outsourcing work (I’m switching to plural “clients” now because the “he/she” is driving me nuts). What skills are they looking for? Where do they look for freelancers? How much do they usually pay? Who decides about hiring freelancers?

Now take what you know (or think you know) about your ideal clients to go out and find them. Use it to screen potential clients.

By working with your ideal clients:

• you are likely to get paid the rates you believe are fair
• they’re more likely to be happy with your work (and spread the word to others who are like them)
• you’ll stand out from your competition and be seen as the perfect fit for them

Choosing clients is an important aspect of succeeding in getting freelance work from bidding sites, such as Elance. You increase your chances of winning the bid if you pick projects posted by somebody who is close to your ideal client. Why? Because you know them so well – you have coffee with them, remember? So when you submit your bid, create a proposal, send an Email… with every piece of communication you send them, you’ll bond better. They’ll like you and hire you. Yes, even if you’re not the lowest bidder.

Forget about possible clients who just don’t fit your ideal client or aren’t even close; just don’t waste your time with them.

Choosing clients is like choosing a spouse. If you pick the right person, it’s like heaven on earth. But if you pick the wrong person, it’s hell.

How do you choose your clients? Do share by posting a comment below. Thank you!

photo credit: NightRPStar