How to make 500k a year as a freelancers
Feb 24, 2024So, you’re in the freelancing or agency game, and you’re chasing that dream of raking in $500,000 a year. There’s a trick to bagging more deals, and it’s all about timing your follow-ups like a pro.
Why Did They Ghost Me?
Ever had a potential client just vanish into thin air after you thought things were going well? It’s happened to the best of us. Most of the time, they’re just swamped and forgot to hit you back. It used to bug me a lot, especially after I put in weeks trying to gel with their team.
Here’s What I Figured Out: Chill and Wait
I landed one of my biggest gigs ever because I decided not to sweat it after getting ghosted. I did everything by the book: chatted up the CTO on Slack, aced my interviews, and even got the team nodding along to my ideas. But then—poof!—nothing.
Here’s How It Went Down
- Made a buddy inside the company (yeah, the CTO was my guy).
- Found the perfect time to pitch (they were looking for someone like me).
- Wowed their socks off (everyone loved my ideas and the work I showed).
And then… crickets. I waited for over three months before I pinged them again, catching them up on what’s new with me and that I’m still up for grabs. Boom! Got a reply the same day, and we picked up right where we left off.
That gig turned into a 1.5-year adventure, netting me around $400k. It was the jackpot that helped me scale my one-man show into something bigger. I juggled a few smaller projects on the side and easily hit the $500k/year mark. Plus, the app we built together was a hit, and I’m still tight with the CTO and the crew.
The Game Plan
So, what’s the takeaway here?
- Don’t sweat the small stuff: Getting ghosted? It happens. Use it as a cue to step back and wait for the right moment to reach out again.
- Always be cool about feedback: Good or bad, it’s gold. It helps you tweak your game.
- Timing is everything: Sometimes, doing nothing is doing something. Give it time, then hit them up again when you’ve got something new to share.
Real Talk
Following up after getting ghosted and being patient turned one of my biggest letdowns into a major win. It showed me that sometimes, the best move is to just hang tight and wait for the perfect moment to make your move.
Key Tips for Freelancers and Agency Owners:
- Keep at it: A no today could be a yes tomorrow. Don’t give up on leads too quickly.
- Wait for it: Good things come to those who wait (and then follow up).
- It’s all about who you know: Making friends inside a potential client’s company can make all the difference.
Wrapping Up
VSo, there you have it. Making your freelancing or agency business hit that $500,000 mark isn’t just about non-stop hustling; it’s also about playing it smart with your follow-ups and knowing when to push and when to pause. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be on your way to landing those big deals that can really change the game for you.
I learned many things on the way to making $500k/y, things that every developer turned agency founder should know and have in the their tool belt.
It took me a long time to realize that being good at selling is really just having the thick skin to repeatedly try new ways to become a more likeable person, while being repeatedly told no.
I spent hundreds of hours over 3 months, 120 interviews, and a decade and half of my agency and software development experience to create the Practical guide to building a $500K/Year Solo Dev Agency playbook.
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