How to Land your First Client in Online Jobs PH

The first client is the hardest to get.

I've struggled with it for eight grueling months. I've made every mistake you could think of. I now have a steady job as a freelance writer.

Today, I'll give you my tips on how to get your first client in Online Jobs PH.

Why Online Jobs PH?

In the Philippines, Online Jobs PH is hands-down the best beginner-friendly online platform to look for long-term clients. Other platforms are full of one-off projects, strict time trackers and scammers, making uncertainty your daily reality.

Contrary to popular belief, Online Jobs PH is actually an American site specifically designed to hire Filipino VAs. Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Workweek is the reason why "outsourcing" became a norm for US businesses. (Many freelancers take the 4-Hour Workweek as their freelance bible. I don't.)

They love getting Filipino VAs because we are excellent English communicators and have very high-quality work ethics.

Online Jobs PH is the only platform I use today to look for clients after trying others. It's the only one that keeps working for me; hence, this is the only one I'll always recommend. (Note: I'm not affiliated in Online Jobs in anyway. You can always use other platforms and see if it works for you.)

All of the things below are distilled to their core—only the things that worked. In other words, I'm taking you on a shortcut to your first client. Are you ready? Let's dive in.

How to Land your First Client: A Step-by Step Guide

To get your first client with Online Jobs PH, you must have the following:

• The Freelancer's Mindset;
• An aesthetic portfolio of works;
• A strong Online Jobs PH profile;
• A detailed LinkedIn profile;
• Your real-world resume (yes, it's still important); and
• A winning cover letter.

Let us go through them one by one. You can jump to the sections by clicking the link above if you're in a hurry. And I have some bonus tips for you at the end of this post.

1. The Freelancer's Mindset.

If you read my blogs, you always see a pattern: I always start with mindsets. This way, you won't just know how to do it; you'll also know "why" you do it.

The freelancer's mindset is this:

Freelancing is not an employment thing; it's an entrepreneurial thing.

Yes, you read that right. If you're looking for a typical "job," you'll be disappointed in Online Jobs PH. Why?

• Pay is always delayed. I assure you, it always is. Only a few days though. This is why remote work has a reputation in the Philippines as "not stable."
• Your "employer" is not your "boss." He/She is your "client." Those are two completely different terms.
• Who is the boss, then? It's "you." You are your own boss. They don't "hire" you. They "avail" your expertise. And you get to work with the people you only want to work with.
• Pay, then, is not your "salary." It's called your "income." As a freelancer, you are not an employee; you are a business owner. Business owners offer two things: products and services. As a freelancer, we offer our "services."
• Like normal businesses and restaurants, there will be "lean and peak seasons." It's normal for clients to not afford you and drop you off just in time for your essential bills. This is where it gets tricky, but there are ways to deal with lean seasons, as well as how to ride the peak projects seasons.

In simple terms, "entrepreneur" means "business owner." And if you're tired of being an employee and want to start being a businessman, freelancing is your first step.

2. An Aesthetic Portfolio of Works.

As a creative professional, it's hard to have a job that you dream of doing.

But, in the freelancing world, it's not about how to get a job. It's all about what you can offer as a creative.

It's not about resumes anymore. It's about portfolios.

A portfolio is a place to showcase your best work. It's like your online business card. Here's mine.

I haven't had a portfolio in eight months. Until Gabs, a good friend of mine, pointed out that portfolios are essential for freelance work (here's his portfolio).

The moment I made a portfolio, in just 4 weeks, I got 3 client offers overnight. Check that: those aren’t interviews; those are offers. An actual client offer with payment terms.

The key is to create a visually appealing and professional-looking portfolio of your creative work. And as you further your career, keep adding them to your professional portfolio.

To start making one, here's a step-by-step guide:

• Go to Carrd.co. Sign up for an account, and go over the templates. Click "Demo" on each template, then once you've picked your design, click "Use Template."
• Personalize it. I used Gabs as my peg and template. Be creative and professional.
• You can also watch this Carrd tutorial for basic portfolio creation and this Carrd website tutorial for more in-depth creation.
• Make sure to use links to your published works, and GDrive links for the unpublished. Markdown works with the Text box on Carrd, and to make links on text boxes, just follow the format: [Link text]{any valid url}.
• Don't forget the Contact section at the bottom so clients can reach you. Place all labeled buttons and link them to your profiles. Effective ones are your Email, Resume, LinkedIn profile, Online Jobs PH Profile, and other messaging apps you have like Skype, Telegram, or Whatsapp.
• Voila! You now have your portfolio/online business Carrd that you can share anywhere.

A personal website is an even stronger portfolio since running a website requires purchasing a domain name, and paying an annual fee. If you have your own website, use a page dedicated for your portfolio. Here's mine.

3. A Strong Online Jobs PH Profile.

Your Online Jobs PH profile will be your online resume. Make it as complete as possible. Here's mine.

Here are some helpful hints for creating a strong Online Jobs PH profile. (It's best to open my Online Jobs PH Profile on a new tab so you can follow through.)

• Make sure your ID Proof is 99 by providing all Gov't ID's and linking your Facebook profile. You'll be able to get more work with your ID Proof maxed out.
• Be verified and have Timeproof checked.
• Expected Salary: Keep it within $500/month at first, especially if you have no experience yet. Remember, Americans are outsourcing to save money, and you are looking for part-time rates to feel things out. The higher the rate, the harder the job. If you don't have the expertise yet to back it up, stick to the rate of $350-450 per month. But don't go below $350! Those are low-paying clients. You can always bump your rates higher once you get the hang of it.
• Availability: Keep it within $4-5/hour at first, especially if you have no experience yet. FYI, the American minimum wage is $8 per hour. They want to save money through outsourcing, and you are looking for part-time rates to feel things out. The higher the rate, the harder the job. But don't go below $3/hour! Those are low-paying clients. You can always bump your rates higher once your portfolio grows.
• Experience Overview. State what you offer in one sentence only. Then, link your portfolio. The goal is to let them see your entire work in one place asap. Once they are lured in, Online Jobs PH Profile will cease to matter.
• Tests. Take all three! Take the IQ tests, DISC, and English mastery tests, and paste the result into your portfolio.
• Skill Summary. Don't use more than 150 words. Make every word count. Offer your experience in one paragraph. On the next one, state what you can offer to your client's business. Then make a one-liner confident pitch stating (for example), "I would love to work with you. Feel free to contact me."

Remember this: Clients don't care about you or how "great" you were in the past. They only care about themselves. So make sure you use the second person (you, your, your business, etc.), focusing on what you can give them now and how you can help their business grow today.

Clients don't care about you. They only care about themselves. Focus on what you can give them now.

They are focused on the results, not your eloquence. On a global scale, you are virtually unknown. Hence, you will be hired based on your results and your work. So be confident in what you can offer.

Similarly, if you feel inferior or unworthy of offering your services, the truth still stands. They don't care about you or your "ugly" past track record. On the global scale, virtually, it doesn't matter. You can always start anew. You will always be hired based on your current performance and work.

• Worker Skills. Don't 5-star everything! Choose only the work you are confident to offer. Employers want specific needs, and you want to offer your specific strengths only. Choose a few that you do very well. I suggest limiting your skills to five: two 5-star skills and three 4-star skills.

4. A Detailed LinkedIn Profile.

LinkedIn is the Facebook of freelancers and creative professionals. You'll be surprised at how many professionals around the world reach you through your LinkedIn profile. Here's mine.

Just make sure it is updated the same way you update your real-world resume. Americans examine your LinkedIn profile to determine whether you are a real person based on the networks you have there.

Having your profile updated with your latest projects makes you a real person to them. And don't forget to link this one in your portfolio!

5. Your Real-World Resume.

Keep your real-world resume updated and linked to your portfolio! Your real-world experience will demonstrate your people skills and professionalism. Here's mine.

Most Americans prefer VAs with real-world experience to ensure that they understand how to deal with coworkers and bosses. And freelancing becomes a conscious decision to give up something in the real world in exchange for the freedom of remote work.

That courage is a good indicator that you are responsible for your own career. Hence, there are more chances of landing a good client.

6. A Winning Cover Letter.

Now, the highlight. The pitch. The make-or-break. The cover letter.

In the freelance world, the fewer words, the better. Why? You let your work do the talking. As Andreas Javert said,

Let your work speak louder than their opinions.

For 8 months, I have used the same generic cover letters I used in the corporate world. No response.

Then I stumbled across a great freelance resource. It's Nikki B's vlogs. I watched her tips on how to make cover letters, and as soon as I followed them, in just a week, around 7 out of my 10 pitches received a reply. It's that effective.

If you click the "Apply Job" button on a job posting, this will appear:

Here is my pitch template/cover letter in Online Jobs PH:

Subject:
Hi <first name>, I am the <writer> you are looking for!

Message:
Hi <first name>, I am Jeroel, an experienced freelance content writer, and I am interested to be your <job description> for your <website/brand>.

I have compiled all my writing portfolio and essential details here: https://jeroelmportfolio.carrd.co/

<add any detail here that the client specifically states in the application>

I would love to connect with you and see how we can work together. You can reach me at my contact details below and let me know when's the best time for you to have a quick chat.

Warm regards,

Jeroel Maranan
Email: jeroelmaranan@gmail.com

That is the exact cover letter I use that keeps on working. So, why does this work?

• The use of First Names. It instantly shows the skill of Attention to Detail. Why? Because the first name of the job posting is very hard to find. Here's how you can find it:

It's tiny, and once you click on the job posting, it won't show up anywhere. So, before clicking on the job posting, take note of the first name.

What I do is always Cmd+Click or "Click to Open in New Tab" all the job postings so I can refer back to the first name. The same goes when I click the "Apply To This Job" button.

• It's all about the client. It's all about "hey, you're looking for someone? I can help you with that!" It's coming from a point of helping, not desperation, or bragging about how "great" you are.
• Using the details of their posting. Copy-pasting applications word for word is a no-no. They can sense it. But if it's tailor-fit to the client, they will see you took the time to read what they are looking for. And you've got exactly what they need.

• Using the portfolio front and center. It tells your client that you take great pride in your work and that you let your work do the talking for you. Now, that's unparalleled confidence right there! No fluff! You're hired!
• The closing statement. It's the confidence that "Hey, I'm not afraid to talk to you. Let me know when you would want to have a quick chat." You're not applying, you're collaborating. And that's how business partnerships are formed.
• It's concise. Fewer words mean more confidence. And it shows that you respect your client's time.

With all of that experience and knowledge combined, as I keep using that cover letter, I keep receiving responses, even when I do not need them. That's how effective it is.

Some Bonus Tips

After applying all of these tips, it still took me two months to close a client deal. However, once I had my first client, the second and third came much more easily.

If you don't have experience, here are some more tips to make sure you get your first client as fast as possible.

• Send out 10 pitches per day.

There's no workaround for it. Fill out the maximum of 10 Online Jobs PH applications in the first hour of your day. I did that for two months.

So, to land my client deal, I think I've sent out over 600 applications. That's 599 rejections. Until you've sent that many, you have no right to say that my tips above don't work.

Sending 10 pitches a day is easier than you think when it becomes a routine.

• Until there's no client offer, keep sending pitches.

Interviews are not an assurance of a job. I've done almost a hundred interviews across those 600 applications. And the ones I've landed don't even have them.

Don't wait for their response. Stop sending only when they email you about the actual offer, the pay, the terms of the work, and the onboarding instructions, and check if the terms fit your needs. Then, all you need to say is yes.

• The Trial Tasks are your main key to success.

If the client gives you a trial task, take it! Most of them are paid. That will make or break your application, so do your all-time best!

Trial tasks are your time to shine. At this point, your past doesn't matter. It's all about your work, and your work alone.

Your work will determine if you are fit for the job or if you like the work environment.

And even if you don't get the job, keep your trial task and add it to your portfolio! Your effort will not be wasted regardless. It's a win-win situation!

As you do more trial tasks, your portfolio also grows with you. Take note of all the software they used and add it to your repertoire. Isn't that amazing?

Even if you don't get the job, keep your trial work and add it to your portfolio.

• During interviews, show clients that you have a growth mindset.

A growth mindset simply means that anything can be learned. And the best way to show that is by using a single word: "not yet."

If they ask you, "Do you know how to use this software?" Don't say, "No, I don't." Instead, say, "Not yet." I always see clients smile when I say that.

Those two words say that you are willing to learn and humble enough to be taught new things. And you'll see that they are very willing to teach us everything we need to know for the job.

Other interview hacks include:
- "I've been a part-time <position you offer> since <the year you start doing it for yourself as a hobby>, and now I've decided to do it full time." It makes you more experienced in the eyes of your clients.
- "I moved to remote work to prioritize my health and well-being over the daily stress and the city commute." It shows your values and courage to stand up to what you value.
- If they ask you a software or app that is foreign to you, just say "I have heard of it, but I haven't use it myself yet."

• Be confident in using first names. And don't use "kindly."

Learn the social ethics of the United States. It's very different from what we are used to. Address CEOs by their first names even when speaking with them. Why? Because they hire you as a business partner for a specific task: the service you offer. Mr. or Ms. is offensive to them; it makes them look old (according to my client, haha!).

And using the word "kindly" is an offensive word overseas. It implies that they are not kind, so you want them to respond "kindly." I learned this the hard way. Instead, simply use the word "please."

• Always use the term "Part-Time Long-Term, Flexible" work when asked.

Part-time work means 4 hours a day, 20 hours a week. The workload is not that heavy, so you can enjoy life.

"Long-term" means you are not looking for short-term or one-off projects. You are in this for the long term, with the possibility of full-time rates.

Flexible means you are not on a fixed graveyard schedule. That's why I love writing. The majority of the writing work is time-flexible. You'll still work 20 hours per week, but you're free to take time off when you have important events to attend.

• Focus on small wins.

This is why I told you to stick to $350-500/month or $4–5/hr rates in the beginning. Clients will expect more from you if you go above that. The workload will be heavier, and you might be burned out.

On the other hand, anything lower than $350 per month or $3 per hour is not paying well and does a disservice to our expertise.

Focus on the small wins, and then it'll help you get the big wins later.

• Maintain a one-month buffer.

Like regular businesses, our income is solely dependent on customers and clients payments. To combat delayed payments, always maintain a one-month buffer equal to your total monthly pay.

Delayed payments usually happens because of international remittance delay. Since the money is coming from US, payment platforms like Wise and Paypal needs 3 business days to process our client's payments and reflect it on our bank accounts. And if the pay happens to fall on a weekend– we have to wait until the next Monday (and count 3 business days from there!)

Multiple clients also act as your buffer. If one client fails to pay on time, most likely the other two won't. A table needs all four legs to be stable; A one-legged table will always wobble. In this way, your freelance career will be much more "stable."

A table needs all four legs to be stable; A one-legged table will always wobble.

It's Time For You To Work From Home

I've shared everything that worked for me in my journey as a full-time freelancer working from home. At the end of the day, we all want to experience the richness and fullness this world has to offer.

We don't want to miss important family events. We want to travel the world. We want to meet people of all races. And working remotely is the most feasible way for you to take hold of this dream.

When I received my first dollar without leaving home, I cried. Gone are the days of the 3-hour daily commute, the jam-packed buses, and the missed reunions and birthdays of friends and families. No more demoralizing shouts from unforgiving bosses or gossiping co-workers.

Finally, I am appreciated and paid for the work I've done and the work I love to do.

It's now time to enjoy life the way it should be.

And have time to do your creative passion.

It's time for you to work from home.

And it all starts with that first client.