I used to find a lot of work through Upwork.
Not anymore.
I barely go to that site anymore simply because it’s not what it used to be.
The platform has gotten more competitive, more expensive to use effectively, and increasingly tilted toward clients who want the cheapest option available. For every good client on there, there are ten more who want a 2,000-word article for five dollars and consider that a fair deal.
You deserve better than that.
And the good news is… better exists. You just have to know where to look.
Here’s where Filipino freelancers are actually finding solid clients right now.
This is the one most Filipino freelancers sleep on, and I think it’s a big mistake.
LinkedIn is where the clients with actual budgets live.
Marketing managers, content directors, startup founders, small business owners who understand the value of good writing.
They’re all there, posting about their work, their industry, their problems, and quietly wondering where they’re going to find someone to help them with their content.
Your job is to show up before they start searching.
The way you do that is by being visible and credible on the platform before you need anything from it. Post about your work. Share your process. Write about something you learned from a recent project. Engage genuinely with posts from people in industries you want to write for.
Then, when you reach out to someone directly, you’re not a cold stranger. You’re someone they’ve seen around.
Expect a direct message that’s usually very short and specific.
These people are usually those that have noticed something about your content, or your relevant background, and these are the clients that would love to explore if you’re a fit.
That’s it.
Optimize your profile while you’re at it. A clear headline that says what you do and who you help. Provide a short summary written like a human being, and not a job application.
And last but not the least, include some samples of your best work either linked or uploaded directly.
LinkedIn is a long game. But in my opinion it pays off better than Upwork.
Referrals
This is quietly the most powerful client source available to any freelancer, and it costs nothing except doing good work.
Every satisfied client you have right now is a potential introduction to three more. Most of them just need to be asked.
Just don’t be pushy
Try making a simple, genuine note after a project wraps well: “If you know anyone who could use help with similar work, I’d love an introduction.”
That’s it.
People refer freelancers they trust to people they trust.
Which means a referred client comes in already predisposed to work well with you. They’ve been told you’re good. They’re not shopping around. They’re not trying to negotiate you down to a rate that makes the project not worth taking.
Build the habit of asking.
And when someone does refer you, deliver work that makes them look smart for doing it.
My current workplace, ZyWave is a result of a referral by a former workmate from 12 years ago. He remembered my work ethics and recommended me. And I got in and I’m still working for ZyWave to this day.
Send Out Cold Emails
Sending out cold emails has a bad reputation because most people do it badly.
The typical cold email is about the sender.
“Hello, here’s my background, here’s my portfolio, here’s what I can do, please hire me.”
That email usually gets deleted in four seconds because the person on the other end has no reason to care about any of that yet.
A cold email that works is about the recipient.
So don’t just send a cold email willy nilly.
Take a look at their website. Read their blog.
Chances are, you’ll notice something specific.
Maybe their last three posts haven’t been published in two months. Maybe their About page reads like it was written in 2015. Maybe their newsletter sounds nothing like the way their founder talks on social media.
You’re not reaching out because you need work.
You’re reaching out because you noticed something and you think you can help.
- Make it short.
- Specific.
- Easy to respond to.
- Provide one clear call to action at the end, something like a fifteen-minute call, not a full proposal nobody asked for.
The volume game doesn’t work here.
Twenty carefully written, genuinely personalized emails will outperform two hundred generic blasts every single time.
Join Specific Niche Facebook Groups and Online Communities
This sounds low-tech and it kind of is.
But it works.
There are Facebook groups for almost every industry and business type you can think of.
E-commerce groups, real estate groups, coaching and consulting groups, digital marketing communities. These are places where business owners gather to ask questions, share problems, and occasionally post that they’re looking for a writer or content person.
The strategy here is participation first, visibility second.
- Show up and be genuinely helpful.
- Answer questions.
- Share what you know.
- Don’t make a pitch every other post.
Just be the person in the group who clearly knows what they’re talking about when writing and content come up. When someone posts that they need help, you’re already someone they recognize.
Subreddits like r/forhire, r/copywriting, and niche industry subreddits work similarly for writers targeting international clients.
Post on Content Platforms That Attract Inbound Clients
Writing publicly is one of the most underrated client acquisition strategies there is.
A well-written LinkedIn article, a Substack newsletter, even a consistently updated blog like this one… these work for you while you’re doing other things.
A potential client searches for something, finds something you wrote, decides you know what you’re talking about, and reaches out.
That’s inbound. And inbound clients are almost always easier to work with than outbound ones because they came to you already convinced.
You don’t need a massive audience for this to work. You just need the right people to find the right piece at the right time.
That happens more than you’d think when you write consistently about things your ideal clients actually care about.
The common thread across all of this is the same.
- Be visible.
- Be specific.
- Be genuinely useful before you ask for anything.
Clients are out there.
Good ones, with real budgets, who understand the value of good writing. They’re just not all in the same place waiting to be found.
Go where they already are.
Show up consistently.
The work will follow.
And if you’re interested to know what type of content I can write, here are other blogs I consistently write for and the industries they’re a part of.
Biyernes – tech-related, mostly features cars but I’ve included the odd smart home or two. Plus of course, laptops and cellphones.
ChipCanonigo – more of a personal blog where I talk about anything and everything that’s interesting to me which include food, farming, and family life.
HayopETC – hey, I love animals and pets like every other person on this planet, so I dedicated one blog to animals and pets.
Jectra – since our family business is medical-related, I decided to make a blog that explores that industry as well
MusikaWabad – music-related with product reviews and gig schedules in and around the metro.
