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Re:Ask HN: How do you find clients with no network? by taprun on Wednesday August 22, 2018 @04:48PM (#17822046)
There's nothing to prevent you from networking while you have a job. Here's what I suggest:

1) Find a specialty. It's easier to get referrals when you're the "shopify guy" then when you're the "generalist programmer guy." You don't have to BE a specialist, so much as present yourself as one at the initial stages.

2) Let people know that you have that specialty. Introduce yourself as such, gives talks on the subject, build a blog about it, start a newsletter, offer to help people in related chat rooms / discussion boards.

3) Along the way, try to be helpful to other people, both in your field of expertise and not. Helping people strengthens bonds in a network and makes them more willing to recommend you.

4) Every once in a while ask if people you know might know of people who have problems you can help with (and get paid for)

Feel free to contact me, I'm happy to help...

Re:Ask HN: How do you find clients with no network? by AnancyDotWS on Thursday August 23, 2018 @09:19AM (#17826985)
Thanks! I will definitely think about presenting a more specialist image and asking people I already know esp. family.