Securing freelance work is all about the numbers. In fact, think of it in terms of sales. The more avenues you use, higher the chances are of getting freelance work. In other words, it’s not about luck, it’s about probability. As you can see, oDesk states that it takes on average 45 bids before a new freelancer secures their first project. There are approximately 10.3 million freelancers in the U.S. Because hundreds of avenues exist, you must use all avenues, such as freelance websites, Craigslist, and Social Media sites to name a few.

A great place for new freelancers to start bidding for work is on freelance websites, such as oDesk, Elance, Ajeva, and Freelancer. Although there are many websites that cater to freelancers, these are the most popular and have the most work. A word of caution however: You will want to follow the training videos in order on each site to maximize your profile and bid on work correctly. Remember, your reputation is at stake.