How to Land Your First Freelance Gig on Insta Freelance – Fast!
By Career counseling

Starting your freelancing journey can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re competing with experienced professionals. But here’s the good news — landing your first freelance gig on Insta Freelance is absolutely doable, and in many cases, faster than you think. With the right strategy, compelling profile, and smart outreach, you could land your first project in days — not weeks.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get hired quickly and confidently on Insta Freelance.

✅ Step 1: Create a Professional and Optimized Profile

Think of your profile as your freelance resume and sales page rolled into one. Clients make decisions fast, so you need to grab their attention with a clean, complete, and compelling profile.

🔹 Key Tips:

  • Profile Photo: Use a professional-looking headshot with good lighting. Smile — it builds trust!
  • Title/Headline: Be specific. Instead of “Freelancer,” say “SEO Content Writer | Blog Posts | Website Copywriting.”
  • Overview/About Section: Highlight your skills, your value proposition, and how you can help the client. Keep it concise, friendly, and confident.
  • Skills & Expertise Tags: Choose relevant skills based on your niche. These help your profile show up in search results.
  • Portfolio Samples: Even if you’re new, include work samples. If you have no client work yet, create mock samples or passion projects.

Example:

“Hi, I’m Priya, a content writer with a knack for turning ideas into high-performing blog posts and web pages. I’ve helped startups boost website traffic by up to 3x with SEO-optimized content. Let me help your brand grow with words that work!”

✅ Step 2: Choose the Right Category and Nich

While Insta Freelance offers a broad range of job categories — from design and development to writing, marketing, virtual assistance, and more — your chances of landing a gig improve when you specialize.

🔹 Choose a niche that:

  • Matches your strongest skills
  • Has consistent demand on the platform
  • Aligns with your long-term goals

Pro Tip: Niching down doesn’t limit you — it helps you stand out. Instead of “graphic designer,” go for “social media graphic designer for e-commerce brands.”

✅ Step 3: Start Bidding Smartly (Don’t Just Apply to Everything)

One of the biggest mistakes new freelancers make is applying to every job they see. It wastes time and often leads to burnout. Instead, apply strategically to gigs that match your skills and budget expectations.

🔹 How to identify the right job:

  • Clear project description
  • Reasonable budget
  • Client with a verified profile or past reviews
  • Deadlines you can realistically meet

When applying, don’t use copy-paste proposals. Customize each one.

Winning Proposal Template:

Hi [Client Name],

I saw your project for [brief summary], and I’d love to help you achieve [their goal]. With [x years] of experience in [your service], I’ve completed similar projects like [example].

Here’s how I can help:
✔ [Benefit 1]
✔ [Benefit 2]
✔ [Unique value]

I’m available to start right away and can deliver results within [timeline].

Let’s chat!

Best,  
[Your Name]

✅ Step 4: Set Competitive, Not Cheap, Pricing

When you’re new, it’s tempting to set rock-bottom prices. But this can undermine your value and attract low-quality clients. Instead, aim for competitive pricing that reflects your worth while still being attractive to first-time clients.

🔹 Consider:

  • Your skill level
  • Market average for your service
  • Scope of the project
  • Time required

For example, if most entry-level writers charge $15–$20 per hour, start at $12–$15 to gain traction. As you gain reviews and experience, gradually raise your rates.

✅ Step 5: Leverage the Power of Keywords and Search

Many clients use the search bar on Insta Freelance to find freelancers. If your profile is optimized with the right keywords, you’ll appear in relevant searches.

🔹 Where to add keywords:

  • Profile title
  • Overview description
  • Skill tags
  • Portfolio descriptions

Examples:

  • “WordPress Developer for eCommerce Sites”
  • “SEO Blog Writer for Health & Wellness Brands”
  • “Virtual Assistant for Real Estate Professionals”

✅ Step 6: Respond Quickly and Professionally

Clients often hire the first qualified freelancer who responds with clarity and confidence. That’s why it’s critical to:

  • Enable notifications on your phone or email
  • Respond to invitations and messages within minutes to a few hours
  • Answer questions clearly, offer suggestions, and be polite
  • Ask smart follow-up questions that show you’re invested in their success

Bonus Tip: If a client invites you to a job, that’s already a warm lead. Don’t delay!

✅ Step 7: Deliver Excellence — Every Time

Once you land your first gig, the most important thing is to overdeliver. This is how you turn a one-time job into repeat work and glowing reviews.

🔹 Best practices:

  • Communicate regularly with the client
  • Stick to deadlines
  • Be open to feedback
  • Deliver work in a professional format
  • Offer to revise if necessary (within scope)

When clients are happy, they’ll leave reviews — and that builds your profile’s credibility fast.

✅ Step 8: Ask for a Review and Referrals

Once a project is successfully completed, don’t hesitate to ask the client for a review. This small step can have a big impact on your credibility on the platform.

Example:

“I’m so glad you’re happy with the final results! If you have a minute, I’d really appreciate a quick review on my profile — it helps me grow and work with more amazing clients like you.”

Also, ask if they know anyone else who needs help. Word of mouth is powerful.

✅ Step 9: Stay Active and Keep Improving

Freelancing is a long-term game. The more active and visible you are on Insta Freelance, the better your chances of getting noticed.

🔹 Keep doing the following:

  • Apply to at least 3–5 relevant jobs per day
  • Update your profile every few weeks
  • Add new portfolio pieces regularly
  • Take skill tests or certifications (if available on the platform)
  • Join the Insta Freelance community or forums to learn from others

🚀 Real Stories: How Newbies Landed Jobs Fast

Sonia, Content Writer:

“I created 3 blog samples in a Google Drive folder, uploaded them to my profile, and got my first gig within 4 days. The client loved that I had samples ready even without paid experience!”

Ravi, Web Developer:

“I offered a discount for my first 2 clients in exchange for honest reviews. It worked! I’ve been getting consistent projects ever since.”

🎯 Final Thoughts: Your First Gig is Closer Than You Think

Starting from scratch may feel intimidating, but with Insta Freelance, the tools, opportunities, and support are all in place. Whether you’re a designer, writer, developer, marketer, or virtual assistant — your first freelance client is just one strong proposal and solid profile away.

So what are you waiting for?

Sign up on Insta Freelance today, optimize your profile, and start applying. Your freelance journey begins now — and success is just around the corner.