How to Market on r/freelance
A community for freelancers across all industries to discuss the business of freelancing: client management, pricing, contracts, finding work, and work-life balance.
r/freelance Rules & Self-Promotion Policy
Understanding the rules is critical for successful marketing. Here's what you need to know about r/freelance.
Strict Self-Promotion Policy
This subreddit has strict rules against self-promotion. Product mentions should be rare and only when genuinely helpful.
Community Rules
- 1No job postings or service offerings
- 2Keep it professional and helpful
- 3Use megathreads for rate discussions
- 4No self-promotion
- 5Search before asking common questions
How to Write for r/freelance
Supportive but realistic. Freelancing is hard, and the community knows it. Share practical advice without being preachy. Real experiences resonate more than generic tips.
Best Practices for r/freelance
Maximize your impact by understanding when, what, and how to post.
Best Times to Post
- Weekday Morning Est
- Sunday Evening Est
- Wednesday Afternoon Est
Posts stay relevant for about 12-24 hours
Content That Works
- Client management challenges and solutions
- Pricing and rate discussions
- Contract and legal advice
- Work-life balance experiences
Who's Here
Freelancers from all industries: writers, designers, developers, consultants, marketers. Mix of new and experienced. Primary concerns are finding clients, pricing, and managing the business side of freelancing.
Common Mistakes on r/freelance
Avoid these pitfalls that get marketers banned or ignored.
Promoting your freelance services
r/freelance is for discussing freelancing, not for finding clients. Job posts and self-promotion get removed.
Instead
Share your experience and expertise through helpful answers. Credibility comes from being genuinely helpful, not promotional.
Asking "how do I find clients?" without context
This question is asked daily. Without details about your skill, niche, and experience level, answers are too generic to help.
Instead
Be specific: "I'm a UX designer with 2 years experience. Tried cold email (X results). What channels work for mid-level UX work?"
Undervaluing the business discussion aspect
Many posts are too focused on the craft/skill side. The community is specifically about the BUSINESS of freelancing.
Instead
Frame discussions around business challenges: pricing, clients, contracts, taxes, work-life balance. Craft discussions belong in industry-specific subreddits.
Giving advice without sharing your actual rates
Vague pricing advice like "charge what you're worth" isn't helpful. The community values concrete numbers.
Instead
Share real numbers when relevant: "I charge $X/hour for Y type of work in Z market." Specifics help others benchmark.
Complaining without seeking solutions
Pure venting posts don't add value. The community prefers actionable discussions.
Instead
Include a question or seeking advice: "Client ghosted after delivery. Here's what happened. How would you handle this?"
Post Formats That Work on r/freelance
These content formats consistently perform well in this community.
Client Problem
Example Format
""Dealing with [specific situation] with a client. Here's the context. How would you handle this?""
Why It Works
Specific situations generate specific advice. Community loves problem-solving real scenarios.
Rate Discussion
Example Format
""After [X years] freelancing in [skill], I've raised my rates from $Y to $Z. Here's what enabled that.""
Why It Works
Real numbers with context. Shows progression path. Invites similar sharing.
Lessons Learned
Example Format
""After [X years] freelancing, here are [N] things I'd tell past me. Real talk from actual experience.""
Why It Works
Experience-based advice has credibility. Specific lessons over generic tips.
Related Communities & Use Cases
Expand your reach with similar subreddits and see who uses r/freelance for marketing.
Similar Subreddits
Who Should Target r/freelance
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about marketing on r/freelance
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