Episode Overview
Ever wonder how some freelancers land big-ticket clients while others struggle to get responses?
Imagine setting up your Upwork profile in just half a day and scoring a $27,100 project just weeks later. Sounds unreal, right? That’s exactly what happened to Carolyn. In this episode, she breaks down the key moves that helped her attract premium clients—without years of trial and error.
Carolyn shares how she went from working with high-street brands in the UK and navigating the job market in Hong Kong to building a thriving freelance career in knitwear design. We dive into her approach to pricing projects, crafting pitches that actually get responses, and the simple tweaks she made to her Upwork profile to stand out in a sea of freelancers. Plus, she spills some insider tips on using Illustrator for knitwear design and how she landed repeat work with top clients.
If you’re looking to boost your freelance income, attract high-quality clients, and learn real-world strategies from someone who’s been there, hit play now!
Episode Highlights
Introduction to Carolyn’s Success
- Heidi introduces Carolyn and her achievement of landing a $27100 project shortly after starting her freelance business on Upwork. They discuss how Carolyn set up her profile and her strategy for turning pitches into ongoing contracts.
Carolyn’s Journey to the $27100 Client
- Carolyn talks about spending a half-day creating her Upwork profile and portfolio. She mentions getting an immediate small job and receiving the consultation booking that led to her substantial project. She also details the job interview-like consultation process and securing the project.
Profile Building on Upwork
- Carolyn explains what she includes in her Upwork profile, highlighting her headline, “knitwear designer and technical expert,” and her extensive experience. She emphasizes the importance of detailing her skills and background and mentions the kinds of projects in her portfolio.
Handling Different Types of Projects
- Carolyn recounts different projects she worked on, including menswear projects and a European accessories project, positioning herself for various types of knitwear design work.
Upwork Pitch Strategy
- Carolyn gives insights into her successful pitch strategies, including addressing specific questions from clients in pitches and providing valuable information upfront. She details how she personalized pitches with relevant project experiences.
Pricing Strategy
- Carolyn talks about her pricing journey on Upwork, starting at $55 an hour and later increasing to $65. She explains considerations such as Upwork’s percentage cut and shared her experience with ongoing projects and the platform’s pay rise options.
Garnering Worldwide Clients
- Carolyn elaborates on her international clientele, mentioning clients from North America, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan, demonstrating Upwork’s global reach.
Transition to Freelancing
- Carolyn shares her story of transitioning to freelancing after being made redundant and the challenges of the job market in Hong Kong. She discusses discovering Heidi’s resources and enrolling in her course for freelancing and portfolio advice.
First Big Project Details
- Carolyn discusses the process and success of her first major $27100 project, including creating a proposal based on client consultations and navigating project-based pricing versus hourly wages.
Learning from Early Mistakes
- Reflecting on her first Upwork project, Carolyn details the pricing mistakes she made and how she adjusted her Quick Pack pricing. She emphasizes learning to manage project nuances and effective client communication.
Final Reflections and Nerdy Knitting Insights
- Carolyn’s final thoughts include what she wishes people would ask her about freelancing, specifically the technical aspects of creating knit stitches in Illustrator.
Key Questions and Responses
1. How did Carolyn secure a $27100 project on Upwork?
- Carolyn created her Upwork profile after hearing about it from Heidi. She spent half a day setting up her portfolio and tweaking her profile. Initially, she received a small job but about six weeks later, she got a consultation call which turned into the big $27100 project. The client, who needed a knitwear designer, was impressed with Carolyn’s past work and portfolio which matched her brand perfectly.
2. What did Carolyn include in her Upwork profile to attract clients?
- Carolyn’s headline is “knitwear designer and technical expert,” reflecting her 20 years of experience in Hong Kong with different aspects of knitwear design and quality assurance. She included detailed descriptions of her skills and background, as well as a portfolio with mood boards, yarn sourcing, sketch development, and tech pack pages. She also focused on showcasing her previous work with clear and easy-to-understand presentations.
3. How does Carolyn approach bidding and proposals?
- Carolyn addresses specific questions and needs mentioned in job descriptions. She often provides valuable information upfront in her pitches to demonstrate her expertise. For example, she answered a client’s questions about yarn types and knitting techniques and provided relevant examples from her past work to show she was capable of handling their project.
4. How did Carolyn determine her pricing on Upwork?
- Initially nervous about overpricing or underdelivering, Carolyn started with an hourly rate of $55, taking into account Upwork’s service fee. She later increased her rate to $65. She also utilizes Upwork’s feature for automatic pay raises on long-term projects, ensuring her compensation increases over time.
5. How did Carolyn manage her first significant project effectively?
- Carolyn calculated the project’s scope by estimating the time required for each stage, including design, tech packs, and revisions. She used detailed specifications to manage expectations and time effectively. Her prior experience and understanding of the client’s requirements helped ensure accurate project pricing and delivery.
6. Why did Carolyn decide to start freelancing?
- Carolyn was made redundant in April 2024 and found the job market challenging. With extensive industry experience but limited freelance experience, and after receiving positive recommendations about Heidi’s resources, she decided to start freelancing. Heidi’s courses and Upwork proved to be valuable platforms in setting up her freelance business quickly.
7. Lessons learned from initial freelancing mistakes and adjustments made?
- In her first tech pack project, Carolyn underestimated the complexity and time required, which led to reevaluating and adjusting her pricing structures. She now offers different tiers for tech packs based on complexity. She also improved her project scoping and communication to better manage client expectations and project timelines.
About Carolyn:
After studying Fashion Knitwear Design at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, Carolyn moved to Hong Kong for a one-year graduate trainee placement. More than 20 years later, she is still there. Initially, she worked for a small, family-owned knitwear manufacturer that supplied the UK and EU markets. Later, she transitioned to a large corporate sourcing office, just before the pandemic. In April 2024, Carolyn was made redundant but quickly adapted. She started FAST in May and began freelancing in July, securing her first project that same month.
Her expertise lies in knitwear, with extensive experience in women’s and men’s wear, as well as some experience in children’s wear. Ultimately, Carolyn chose to focus on womenswear as her niche.
Connect with Carolyn:
Email her at carolyn.chandler@gmail.com
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