I Stopped Chasing Clients: My Secrets to Attracting Premium Projects.
I didn’t become a freelancer to spend my days hunched over a laptop, endlessly refreshing my inbox, or grinding through yet another low-ball bid on Upwork.
But I became a freelancer for the freedom. I wanted the autonomy it promises. I wanted to get paid my worth.
But why does it often feel like I am in a never-ending hustle?
Are you trapped in a cycle of sending endless proposals into the void?
Why compete on price, feeling like just another commodity in a crowded marketplace?
Obviously, I don’t think this has anything to do with your skill. You have solid portfolios. And your passion is so real.
But the problem is certainly positioning.
What is Positioning?
It is presenting yourself as an expert, not just a pair of hands for hire. If you don’t, you’ll remain stuck on the hamster wheel, constantly having to chase after clients.
I know this because I was there. I was the freelancer who believed that if I just delivered great work, the clients would magically appear. They didn’t. I was the freelancer who thought lowering my rates would help me compete. It didn’t; it just attracted worse clients.
The breaking point came when I realized I was running a service business, not an authority business. And the difference between the two is everything.
If you run a service business, you compete on price and availability. But if you run an authority business, you compete on insight and results. You get to choose your projects.
As Kai Davis, a strategist for freelancers and consultants, emphasizes:
“The sooner you specialize and find your unique positioning, the sooner more possibilities open up. Your positioning is the spot you occupy in your market. When you own that space, people want you for you, not just for what you offer.”
My shift came when I told myself:
“Stop chasing and start building.”
I took the knowledge I used behind the scenes for my clients and packaged it into a single, powerful asset: a short, hyper-focused ebook that solved one specific problem for my ideal client.
The result was almost instantaneous. The dynamic flipped. Instead of me pitching them, clients were reaching out to me, referencing my book, and starting conversations by saying, “I read your guide and immediately knew you were the person we needed to talk to.”
I didn’t change my skills. I changed my proof.
And the best part? It didn’t take me months. It took me one focused hour.
My Authority Blueprint: How It Works
This isn’t about writing a magnum opus. It’s about strategically repackaging what I already know into a credential that does the marketing for me.
Here’s the three-part framework I use:
#1. Extract My Battle-Tested Knowledge
My expertise isn’t some abstract theory; it’s the sum of my solved client problems. This blueprint helps me to mine my past projects for my most valuable insights.
For example, my ebook topic could be on a pain point I consistently see people struggling with. No new research needed — just a structured way to download what’s already in my head.
#2. I Structure It for Maximum Impact
Overwhelm is the enemy of execution. I don’t stare at a blank page. I use a proven, freelancer-specific template to turn my knowledge into a compelling argument. I am talking about a simple, powerful structure like:
- The Problem: Ideal client’s pain point.
- The Why: Brief explanation of why it’s holding them back.
- The 3-Step Solution: I outline my proven process.
- My Call to Action: Invitation to work with me.
#3. Launch and Leverage
This is where the magic happens; my ebook isn’t a static document. It’s my business development manager. I use it as:
- A Lead Magnet: Swap my generic “Hire Me” page for a “Download My Free Guide” page.
- A Proposal Power-Up: Include a link to my book in proposals to instantly elevate my perceived value.
- A Trust Accelerator: I send it to potential clients before the discovery call. They’ll arrive already sold on my expertise.
“But Can an Hour Really Change Anything?”
This is the most common objection, and it’s valid. We’re conditioned to believe that value is tied to time spent.
But consider this: a master sommelier doesn’t need 100 hours to identify a great wine; they’ve honed their skill to do it in seconds. My blueprint isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about cutting through the noise.
“Positioning is a force multiplier,” says Kai Davis.
“It lets you have more impact with less effort. When you’re clear about who you help and how, clients find you more easily — and are willing to pay your value.”
My system helps me get things done by focusing on what’s most important. I don’t let the need for perfection or the habit of putting things off get in my way.
The Proof Is in the Premium Projects
This isn’t theory. A freelance UX designer I mentor used this exact blueprint to create a short guide:
5 UX Mistakes That Are Killing Your App’s Conversion Rate.
She didn’t hide it behind a lead form. She sent it directly to two startups she wanted to work with.
The result? Both replied within hours. One signed a contract at her new, higher “authority rate” the following week.
Her comment?
“It was the easiest sale I’ve ever made. The book did all the talking.”
She stopped being a designer for hire. She became the conversion expert they needed.
Stop Chasing Clients. Build Your Authority
The market isn’t crowded if you can prove your expertise before the first conversation. It’s only crowded for those who can’t.
You have a choice to make. You can continue to trade time for money, competing in a race to the bottom.
Or you can invest a single hour to build an asset that will position you as an authority, attract clients who value your work, and finally build the freelance practice you originally set out to create.
The first step is to stop chasing. The next step is to start building.
If you’re ready to make that shift, the entire step-by-step process, including the exact templates and workbook , is laid out in my ebook:
The 1-Hour Authority Ebook Blueprint.
It’s a proven system for freelancers to package their expertise and command premium rates.
Thanks for reading.
Related Posts
