Why You’re Struggling to Find Freelancing Work in Pakistan (And How to Change That)

I get it. You’ve heard all about the opportunities in freelancing, how you can work from home, earn in dollars, and be your own boss. But here you are, months in, and it feels like nothing’s happening. You’ve made a profile on Fiverr or Upwork, maybe sent a few proposals, but no clients are knocking at your door.

You’re not alone. I’ve seen many young people in Pakistan face the same struggle. They jump into freelancing, full of hope, but soon get frustrated when they don’t see results. The good news is, finding work as a freelancer is possible—but only if you approach it the right way.

In this article, I’m going to walk you through the real reasons why you might not be getting clients and give you practical, no-nonsense tips that will make a difference. This isn’t about generic advice you’ve probably heard a hundred times. These are the real-world strategies that work.

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Why Most People Struggle to Find Freelancing Work

First, let’s be honest about what’s going wrong. If you’re not finding freelancing work, it’s not because you’re unlucky. There are some common mistakes that many new freelancers make—mistakes I’ve seen over and over again.

1. You Haven’t Chosen a Clear Service

Are you offering to do “anything” for your clients? Maybe you’ve listed yourself as a graphic designer, writer, and social media manager all at once? I’ve seen this happen a lot, especially with new freelancers. They think if they offer more services, they’ll have a better chance of getting hired. But that’s not how it works.

If you don’t focus on one specific skill, clients won’t know what you’re good at. They want to hire someone who is an expert in what they need, not a jack-of-all-trades.

You find it helpful to read my article on how to choose the best freelancing nitch.

2. Your Portfolio Is Weak (Or Non-Existent)

You might be skilled, but if you don’t have a portfolio that shows off your work, how will a client trust you? A lot of beginners don’t have any real samples to show because they haven’t worked with clients yet. So, they end up with profiles that look empty or unconvincing.

Clients want proof that you can do the job. If you don’t have that proof, they’re going to move on to someone who does.

To learn how to create a good freelancing portfolio, read my article How to Build an Impressive Freelance Portfolio That Gets You Hired.

3. You’re Passive About Finding Clients

Freelancing isn’t about waiting for opportunities to come to you. Creating a profile on Fiverr or Upwork and waiting for clients to reach out isn’t enough. If you’re sitting there thinking “why aren’t clients messaging me?” you’re being too passive.

Freelancing is a business, and just like any business, you need to go out and find customers.

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What You Can Do to Start Finding Freelancing Work

Now, let’s get to the part that really matters—how to fix these problems and start getting clients. I’m going to give you some simple, actionable steps you can follow. If you’re serious about freelancing, these tips will help you make real progress.

1. Choose One Service and Stick With It

The first step to fixing your freelancing career is to decide exactly what service you’re going to offer. This is key.

If you try to do too many things at once, you’re going to fail. Clients want specialists, not generalists. Take some time to think about what you’re really good at and what’s in demand. Here’s how to make that decision:

• Look at the market. Check out what services are being sold on Fiverr, Upwork, or LinkedIn. What’s in demand? Is it graphic design? Copywriting? Video editing?
• Think about your strengths. What do you enjoy doing? If you like writing, focus on writing. If you’re into design, stick with that. You need to pick something you can improve at and enjoy over the long term.

Once you’ve chosen your service, everything else becomes easier. You’ll know exactly who to target, what kind of portfolio to build, and how to position yourself.

2. Build a Portfolio—Even If You Have No Clients

A strong portfolio is like your business card. It shows potential clients what you can do and gives them a reason to trust you. If you don’t have client work to showcase, don’t worry. You can still create an impressive portfolio from scratch.

Here’s what you can do:

• Create mock projects. If you’re a designer, make sample logos or website designs for fictional businesses. If you’re a writer, create blog posts or articles on topics you’re interested in. These mock projects don’t have to be real—they just need to show your skills.
• Offer free work to build experience. You can also offer to do a small project for free for a friend, local business, or charity. This gives you real-world examples to include in your portfolio.

Don’t wait for clients to give you work to build your portfolio. Start now. Even a few solid examples of your work can make all the difference when pitching to clients.

Reading more: How to Build an Impressive Freelance Portfolio That Gets You Hired

3. Actively Seek Clients

The biggest mistake you can make as a freelancer is waiting for work to come to you. You need to be proactive.

Here are some practical ways to find clients:

• Apply for jobs on freelancing platforms. But don’t just send generic proposals. Tailor each proposal to the client’s needs. Show that you understand their problem and explain how you can help them. Make it about them, not you.
• Use LinkedIn to find work. Many professionals are on LinkedIn, and it’s an underrated platform for freelancers. Create a professional profile, connect with people in your industry, and start sharing posts or articles that showcase your skills. Don’t be afraid to send direct messages to people who might need your services.
• Join Facebook groups. There are many Facebook groups for freelancers and entrepreneurs. Join groups related to your niche and be active. Share your knowledge, answer questions, and let people know you’re available for work.

The key is to reach out to potential clients, whether that’s on freelancing platforms, social media, or through personal connections.

Read more: How to Get Your First Freelance Client: A Step-by-Step Guide for Pakistanis

4. Market Yourself Professionally

Freelancing is all about trust. If clients don’t trust you, they won’t hire you. To build that trust, you need to market yourself professionally.

Here’s how to do that:

• Create a simple website or portfolio page. Even if it’s just a single page, having your own website gives you credibility. You can easily create one using platforms like Wix or WordPress. Just make sure to include your bio, services, and portfolio.
• Stay active on social media. Depending on your niche, choose a platform where your potential clients are active. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, Instagram is great for sharing your work. If you’re a writer, Twitter or LinkedIn might be better.

Don’t just sit back—keep sharing your work, stay active, and engage with people in your industry.

5. Don’t Give Up Too Soon

Freelancing can be tough, especially in the beginning. You might not get a client in your first month, or even your second. But that doesn’t mean you’re failing.

The reality is, it takes time to build momentum. The freelancers who succeed are the ones who don’t give up after a few weeks. They keep pushing, keep improving, and eventually, things start to fall into place.

Here’s how to keep yourself motivated:

• Set small, achievable goals. Instead of focusing on landing your first big client, set smaller goals like creating your portfolio, applying to 10 jobs a week, or building connections on LinkedIn. These small wins will keep you going.
• Keep learning. Freelancing isn’t just about talent—it’s also about staying up-to-date with the latest trends. Keep learning about your field, whether it’s through YouTube tutorials, online courses, or blogs. The more you improve your skills, the more valuable you become.

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Final Thoughts: You Can Find Freelancing Work—Here’s How

Finding freelancing work in Pakistan isn’t impossible. In fact, with the right approach, it’s very achievable. The key is to focus on the right things—becoming an expert in one service, building a strong portfolio, actively seeking clients, and marketing yourself well.

If you do these things and stay persistent, you’ll start seeing results. It might take a little time, but trust me—it’s worth it. Once you get your first few clients, you’ll build confidence, and from there, things will start to grow.

So don’t give up! Take it one step at a time, keep improving, and you’ll soon find yourself landing the freelancing jobs you’ve been hoping for.