I met Emily Seuss on the Small Business Bonfire network. I asked her if she would write a guest post on how she started her freelance career, and I welcome her to Websites for Small Biz as my first non-technical guest blogger. You can visit her posts on the Small Business Bonfire blog or learn more on her own website www.emilyseuss.com.

If you’re considering becoming a freelance professional—a freelance writer, designer or virtual assistant—you probably already know that finding your first client can be hard.

I started dabbling in the freelance realm about 8 years ago. Although in the early years I only picked up clients sporadically, I have built a stable side business from my freelance writing endeavors. Having learned a thing or two in that time, I thought I’d offer new freelancers a few tips for landing that first gig.

Tip #1: Offer Your Help to Someone in Need

My very first freelance gig was for a blogger named Charlie. I was just out of high school, and he was looking to turn his blog into a book through self-publishing. I read his posts daily because, despite their many grammatical flaws and typos, they were erratic and entertaining.

One day Charlie lamented on his blog that the self-publisher he contacted wouldn’t take his money. The rep flat-out told Charlie that the book was not suitable for publishing. (Kudos to that guy for not ripping off someone with a dream just because he could, by the way.) That same day I left a comment on Charlie’s blog saying that I’d copyedit the document for him. In exchange, he offered to give me a free copy of his memoir and give me published credit in the book.

I never got the book from him. Charlie was kind of flighty. However, he did stay true to his word and give me credit for copyediting Rant of the Mad Man. I bought the book for myself on Amazon and had a fantastic credential for my resume.

Tip #2: Stop Being So Terrified of Craigslist

More recently, when I decided to truly dedicate myself to building a freelance career, I found a client on Craigslist. She was a writer herself with an abundance of jobs and a knack for subcontracting. I built a pretty massive portfolio, got paid weekly, and got to pick her brain about my own projects and the business in general.

The lesson here for you is: Be cautious when responding to online ads, but don’t become completely immobilized by fear. You could be missing out on some fantastic opportunities.

Tip #3: Create a Website

Your website doesn’t have to be massive and elaborate, but you need to establish your online presence. From the moment I launched my website at www.emilysuess.com, new clients seeking me out.

Businesses with websites are perceived as more legitimate, and they’re just easier for potential clients to find. Include important contact information, a few good keyword search phrases and a portfolio, and you can spend less time begging for work and more time actually working.

As you pick up each new client, you will begin to develop a sixth sense. You’ll know when people are leading you on or trying to get something for nothing, and you’ll be able to cut those ties before you have invested too much time.

But you’ll also learn to spot the gold mines. You’ll get a feeling about certain clients, at once recognizing their integrity and the value they add to your business simply by being one of your clients. Treat them well! After you find a great freelance client, work to strengthen a great long-term relationship. That’s how successful freelance businesses are made.

Emily Suess is a freelance writer in Indianapolis and the author of Suess’s Pieces. If you have specific questions for her about freelance writing, you can send her a mention or direct message on Twitter.