"How I find clients without job boards"

Tips from a freelancer who earns over $400k annually.

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Diana Kelly Levey
February 19, 2025

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A few years ago, I hosted a webinar with freelancer Tim Noetzel, founder of the coaching business FreelanceGPS, and a full-stack product designer. He's steadily earning over $400,000 a year as a freelancer and was willing to share some ways he finds freelance clients:

Here’s what he suggests when you’re looking to find high-value clients:

🧨 Know who your ideal clients are: Create this "ideal client” in your mind or on paper and chase them, specifically. They should understand your value and want your expertise. For Noetzel, he looks for companies that have between five and 50 employees in the tech startup space.

🧨 Be protective with your marketing efforts in competitive spaces: When evaluating marketing channels for your freelance business, consider two key factors: competition level and effort required. Picture them as an XY grid that looks at competition and effort required, Noetzel suggests.

>Competition Level – Some channels are oversaturated, making it harder to stand out. For example, Upwork is accessible to everyone, which means high competition, lower close rates, and downward pressure on pricing. Social media, while a legitimate way to find clients, presents a similar challenge—you’re not just competing with other freelancers but with brands, influencers, and marketers all vying for attention.

> Effort Required – Every marketing channel demands a mix of time, money, and ongoing effort. Some, like Fiverr, require frequent proposals and continuous bidding, while others, like LinkedIn networking, demand consistent engagement and content creation. That doesn’t mean these shouldn’t be part of your freelance marketing plan but it means you should watch the clock when you focus your efforts on these platforms.

The key is finding a balance—choosing channels where you can stand out (referrals) without exhausting your resources.

🧨 Don’t fear the phone call: Noetzel recommends getting on a few discovery phone calls with clients each month when you’re actively looking for freelance work or are a beginner freelancer. It’s a great way to work on your sales techniques and become someone a potential client knows better and trusts.

You might want to download my Client Intake Questionnaire first to ensure you and the client are on the same page before carving out time in your calendar.

🧨 Look to industry Slack Channels: Search industry association Slack channels for job opportunities and referral work. Noetzel recommends some UX designer slack channels.

Thanks for being a reader.

Diana

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Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Marketing Guide

✅ WHY your business needs a mix of marketing efforts and what you should be doing each week.

✅ How to create a personalized freelance marketing plan that works for your freelance business.


✅ Easy-to-follow strategies for freelancers and freelance writers to find better clients through LinkedIn, email marketing, social media, and online research.


✅ A proven system that helps keep marketing consistent (even when you’re swamped with client work).

Why This Works

This isn’t just theory. These are the exact steps I’ve used to consistently earn over $100,000 a year while working part-time hours.

It’s simple: If you’re consistent with your marketing, you’ll never have to wonder where your next freelance job is coming from.

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