Career advice
How to get your first freelance client from Pakistan
The first client is the hardest. Here is the approach that works when you have no reviews and no portfolio.
Everyone tells you to build a portfolio, but nobody tells you what to put in it before anyone has hired you. Start with three pieces of speculative work for real local businesses. Not mockups for imaginary brands: pick a bakery, a clinic and a clothing brand in your city, and fix something specific about their online presence.
Make the work specific
A redesign nobody asked for gets ignored. A one-page teardown that shows a business is losing enquiries because their WhatsApp link is broken gets replies.
Price the first three jobs to win
Your first three clients are buying a bet on you, not your rate card. Price them to be an easy yes, deliver more than you promised, and ask for a review the day you finish.
Then raise your price
Once you have three reviews, raise your rate by half. The clients who say no at the new price were never going to be good clients.
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