I recently finished learning automation workflows and built a few test projects like automated email responses and a basic bot. The technical stuff was really enjoyable to work with.
The challenge now is connecting with actual paying customers. Online tutorials make client acquisition seem straightforward, but I’m worried about creating solutions that nobody actually wants or needs.
For experienced automation freelancers:
What approach worked for getting your initial customers?
Do you research market demand before developing solutions?
What tips would you give someone new to this field?
Any insights would be helpful, even basic suggestions!
Been there a couple years back. I wasted time building fancy solutions nobody wanted - total mistake. Things changed when I started asking former colleagues what was driving them crazy at work. One guy mentioned spending hours on data entry, so I automated that for him. Made $800 on my first real project. Most businesses don’t even realize automation can fix their headaches. I picked specific industries and hit networking events to find the same problems popping up everywhere. Started small to build credibility, then moved to bigger projects once people trusted my work.
Start hitting up small businesses nearby. Most are drowning in busy work but have no clue automation’s even a thing. I walked into a real estate office and showed them automated lead follow-ups - got $300 and a solid testimonial out of it. Business owner Facebook groups are gold too. They’re constantly complaining about doing everything manually.
Your first paying gig will probably come from someone you already know. I started by casually mentioning my automation skills to friends and family. My neighbor’s accounting firm was manually reconciling invoices every week - I built them a simple solution and charged $500 for three days of work. Word spread from there. Here’s what I learned: small business owners constantly complain about repetitive tasks, but they think it’s ‘just part of the job’ instead of something they can fix. Once you start hearing those complaints as opportunities, they’re everywhere. Prove your value with one solid case study rather than confusing people with technical features they don’t care about.