How to Get Freelance Web & App Development Work?

There are 1.57 billion freelancers globally of the 3.38 billion engaged in work globally. The gender gap is also not very big when it comes to freelancing. In fact, female freelancers earn 84% of men’s earnings. So freelancing is an evergreen profession, one that shows no signs of losing popularity with both men and women.

Given the proliferation of the Internet and with 6.5 billion smartphone users worldwide, freelance web and app development work is very much in demand. So, this is one area that IT freelancers should probably try to concentrate more on. And with rising cybersecurity concerns, a lot of web and app development is expected to happen in this area.

As a freelancer, are there things you can do to stay ahead of the competition and leave luck out of the equation? Here are 11 things you can do to get the freelance web and app development work you have always wanted.

1. Decide which area of work you want to focus on

When we speak of web and app development, it’s like an ocean out there. What is it that you want to do? What are your interests and goals? What are you best at? What do you value most? Once you have decided this, you can then find the niche or the area you will be best at. This could be something like, do you want to work in cybersecurity, gaming or GIS? It is always better to find a niche rather than putting yourself out there as a generic web and app developer.

2. Build your knowledge

Once you have decided what you want to do, it is time to build your knowledge. How well do you know the subject? How good are you with design patterns and data structures? Can you understand algorithms? Which language and framework do you want to use, and do you already have some knowledge about it? Give yourself the time it needs to get good at what you would be working in. If you have work experience pertaining to the same, then that is indeed good news.

3. Build an online portfolio

To establish value, you need to stand out from other developers. A portfolio showcases your skills and expertise. Your portfolio should include examples of your work, such as web applications, websites, and code snippets. Once you have a portfolio ready, you must then upload it onto the right websites such as Crevado or Behance. There are portfolio websites that let you host content that is suitable for a particular kind of work. You can also add a link to your portfolio in your resume or even have a separate document for it.

4. Have a client brief ready

Keep the client brief simple but detailed enough to understand all aspects of the software development work ahead before you start on it. Request information regarding the company, the kind of users who would be using it and their demographic data. What are the functional requirements of the software? What are the technical requirements of the software? What tech stacks do they prefer? Are there any non-functional requirements? What is the software development timeline like? These are some of the questions you need to ask in your client brief. 

5. Use freelance web developer marketplaces

You can find freelance web developer marketplaces that will help connect you with the clients who match your requirements. Two very popular websites that help connect freelancers with clients looking for work are Fiverr and Upwork and of course freelancer.com. But these are not specifically only for IT freelancers but all freelancer across disciplines ranging from sales to marketing to IT or even interior design.

6. Use tech talent networks to find the right companies

Sometimes you cannot find the right companies in a marketplace, or rather what if there was a guarantee. An example of such a website, which is tailormade for IT freelancer recruitment, is Gighees. We have dedicated recruitment teams that connect companies with freelancers across technologies. Web and app development are two popular categories on these websites.

7. Browse online job boards

Job boards such as LinkedIn offer a central place where you can find people actively hiring for web or app development positions. Most job boards allow freelancers to search with filters like ‘Remote’ for job type. And then the description would have also probably mentioned if it is for freelancers or not. You can also check other details like the salary and work hours, if mentioned, before you apply for the role.

8. Contribute to tech blogs and forums

Contributing to tech blogs and forums keeps you in the game, makes you a name in the digital space. This kind of personal branding can help you grow a reputation in your area of work. If you are into cybersecurity and you frequently talk about techniques in ethical hacking, detection of malicious code etc., there is a good chance you would have a good following on these websites and with just a link on popular social media websites to your work, you can soon have many followers. Some of them could be a future client or a contact who could help you connect with a future client.

9. Stay updated on the latest tech and news

Always read and stay aware of the latest trends. Just as you are contributing to growing an audience in your space, learn from other creators in your space too. There is always something to learn. And by learning and doing new things, you expand your horizons, and you find new opportunities and keep getting better at what you are doing – web and app development.

10. Ask for referrals

A referral is one of the fastest ways to get web and app development leads. You can ask friends and family or even colleagues for referrals. When they recommend you for a role, especially if they are established experts in the same domain, then you have an irrefutable way of getting in, nobody can ignore.

11. Network with potential clients and other freelancers

Attend conventions, seminars or webinars where you can meet potential clients and discuss their needs and opportunities or use cases they may have overlooked. Other than such potential clients, you can also network with other professionals from your domain who may be working freelance and learn from them how to use opportunities and grow in your domain.

Closing Words

Freelancing is a lucrative career, and IT will always be there because every sector would want to operate with a certain degree of autonomy or control in its processes. This makes IT freelancing a much sought-after career. But it is not easy to break through the noise, gain the client’s notice and make use of the right opportunities to grow.

To achieve this, you not only need a process as we have mentioned in this article but the grit and determination to keep going against all odds. It’s not always rain and sunshine as a freelancer, you may have to deal with a drought of opportunities as well. In such cases, you must fall back on websites you can trust and who honor their word. Have you created a profile on Gighees already? Create one today, if you have not already.