How to Get International Clients as a Freelancer

Wondering how to get international clients as a freelancer? Expanding your freelance business beyond borders can open doors to new and exciting projects. It can also be a great way to broaden your perspective, enhance your skills, and potentially increase your income. 

However, finding international clients can be challenging if you’re a freelance newbie or only have experience working with local clients. Today, we’ll share some insights on finding international clients. We’ll explore:

• The benefits of working with international clients
• Tips for finding international clients, such as creating an online presence and navigating international payments

By the end of the post, you’ll be aware of the potential hurdles of working with international clients and be better equipped to circumvent them.

What Are the Benefits of Working with International Clients?

Why work with international clients? While working with local clients might be more straightforward, working with international clients can offer the following benefits:

1. Broader market reach: Targeting international clients means you can tap into a massive market that isn’t confined to your local area. This increases your potential client base significantly.
   
2. Wider range of opportunities: A broader market reach means you have a greater chance of finding work that matches your skills, experience, interests, and salary expectations. You may also have access to specialized niches that aren’t available in your own location.
   
3. Potential for higher income: In some cases, international clients might have larger budgets and pay more than local clients, for instance, if you live in a country with a lower income level, but work with clients from a country with a stronger currency.
   
4. Stronger portfolio: A diverse, international portfolio can make you more attractive to potential clients. Working with individuals from various backgrounds demonstrates your versatility and that you are up to date with industry trends and working practices outside of your immediate vicinity. This can help you stand out in a competitive freelance market.
   
5. Expanded professional network: Working with international clients can help you grow your network. In turn, this can lead to more recommendations, referrals, and connection opportunities.

How to Get International Clients

Here are a few things to consider if you want to land international clients. 

1. Create an Online Presence

If you want to reach international clients, a robust online presence is a must. There are several ways to build an online presence.

Firstly, you should create a professional website to showcase your best work and make it easy for potential clients to contact you. There are many website and blog building platforms (such as Wix and Squarespace) that make the process easy – and many of them offer free plans. The main goal is to ensure that your website is easy to navigate and that it clearly highlights your skills and experience. If you have any relevant experience working internationally, make sure to highlight it. 

Next, create profiles on popular freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr. International customers often consult these platforms for services. Much like your website, your profile should include a professional bio and headshot, and examples of your best work. You may also want to sign up for freelancing platforms tailored to your industry or niche, for instance, Contena for freelance copywriters or Dribbble for freelance designers. 

Finally, don’t overlook social media! 67% of the world’s population uses social media, so platforms like X, LinkedIn, and Instagram can help you attract and connect with clients worldwide. Get into a routine of regularly posting useful content that shows off your expertise and helps would-be clients get to know you. For example, you could share:

• Glimpses behind the scenes of your day-to-day work
• Short, engaging videos discussing your thoughts and insights on specific topics
• Testimonials from previous clients
• Tips and tricks for freelancers in your industry or niche 
• Brief captions with links to more in-depth blog posts or articles

And don’t forget to like, comment, and share other people’s content too!

Using social media is also a great way to develop your personal and professional branding. Just make sure you are consistent across your website, social media platforms, and any other platforms you use. 

2. Consider Investing in a VPN

Some freelancing platforms are geo-restricted, meaning they can only be accessed by users in certain countries. You can bypass these restrictions by investing in a virtual private network (VPN), which disguises the location of your local server, making it appear as if it were located in another country. Examples of popular VPNs include NordVPN and Surfshark. Once you have your VPN set up, you can access websites with opportunities in locations that might otherwise be hidden from you. 

3. Tailor Pricing to Suit Different Countries

Working with international clients means taking into account different pricing norms and currencies. We suggest researching the typical rates for your industry or niche in the target region and adjusting your rates accordingly. 

Ideally, you should charge in a stable currency such as USD, EUR, or GBP to reduce the impact of local currency and exchange rate fluctuations. However, be mindful of how your rates transfer into the local currency. What seems affordable for you may not seem affordable to your client. Don’t underprice your services, but don’t be unrealistic either!

4. Navigate International Payments

Many freelancers obtain payment by requesting direct bank transfers using platforms like PayPal, Stripe, and Payoneer. Unfortunately, direct bank transfers often incur hefty transaction fees and may have a poor exchange rate – meaning you end up earning less than you expected for your work. 

Therefore, we recommend setting up a multi-currency account to streamline payments from international clients. With Wise, for example, you can receive payments in 40+ different currencies (many of which incur no additional fees). 

5. Overcome Language Barriers

Language barriers can put some freelancers off working with international clients. Nonetheless, according to PayPal, 58% of US-based freelancers work with foreign clients. If you’re worried about the language barrier, consider: 

• Learning a few key phrases in relevant languages (e.g., by using language learning apps like Busuu or Duolingo). Being able to use greetings and common phrases will help you build rapport with your clients.
• Investing in a translation service. As well as helping you communicate with clients directly, these services can often assist you with other tasks like producing language-specific web pages or onboarding documents.
• Tailoring your onboarding process for clients who don’t speak your native language. Using easy-to-understand language that is free from jargon will help make your message clear.

6. Circumnavigate Time Zone Hurdles

A wave of phone calls, texts, and emails during sleeping hours makes time zone differences a hindrance for many freelancers. However, you can work with international clients in different time zones – without interrupted sleep – by establishing client boundaries from the beginning. Let’s say you live in Madrid and have a client in Chicago. As there is a seven-hour time difference, you will likely be getting ready for bed while the client is working. It is best to set expectations around response times and meeting availability. Clarify the hours you are unavailable and ask your clients about theirs. We recommend using scheduling automation software like Calendly, which allows your clients to schedule appointments based on your availability. You can set your availability in your time zone or the client’s.

Becoming A Freelancer

To learn more about building a successful freelance career, consider our comprehensive course, Becoming A Freelancer. It’s the ultimate guide to setting up a freelancing business from scratch! You’ll learn how to set up your ideal freelance business, find prospective clients, and so much more. We offer free lessons for this course. 

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