Getting new clients is a huge part of building a freelance career.
But as a freelancer myself, I’d also say it’s one of the most challenging. A recent survey from The Mighty Marketer shows that over 60% of freelancers feel the same.
From finding leads to sending dozens of cold emails daily, finding clients and promoting your services takes serious effort, especially when starting.
To make the process easier for you, Thumbtack is a great place to find local clients who are already interested in what you have to sell. There’s most likely a category for any skill you have on the platform, ranging from home maintenance, events, legal services, pet grooming, personal training, design, life coaching, and much more.
Let’s dive into what the site offers and how you can get started!
What Is Thumbtack?
Founded in 2008, Thumbtack is a site dedicated to letting customers research, hire, and review local freelancers and other service providers for free. From roofers to financial planners, there are over 500 categories available that fit virtually any professional service you can think of.
So far, the site has over 200,000+ professionals who can easily access leads and grow their businesses. Thumbtack also offers an extensive video library with free tips to help you start selling your services!
How To Sell Your Skills On Thumbtack
Thumbtack makes marketing more convenient by bringing potential leads to you.
Any customer that signs up can look up professionals based on categories like skills, rates, and profile. They’ll contact you or make an instant booking if you’re a good match for what they’re looking for.
The site also sends you leads based on your preferences and lets you find opportunities to sign up for projects in your area.
Even if it’s easier than looking for leads yourself, you need an engaging profile giving key details about what you do and some solid references to make the most out of the site. You should also reply to clients quickly to avoid missing out on projects!
The categories on the platform:
- Home Improvement
- Wellness
- Pets
- Business
- Events
- Lessons
- Crafts
- Design and web
- Legal
- Personal
- Photography
- Repair and technical support
- Writing, translation, and transcription
How Does Thumbtack’s Pricing Work? How Do You Get Paid?
Opening a Thumbtack profile is free, and the site charges you for every lead and booking instead. The site also doesn’t have fixed rates. It bases them on factors like job availability, project scope, size, and whether it’s an instant booking.
If you see a job opportunity you like, you’ll also see the project’s lead price before you send a request. Thumbtack won’t charge you for these leads unless the customer contacts you for more information.
Thumbtack stands out from other sites because they won’t charge a commission fee. Once you pay for a lead, you keep 100% of the project’s profits!
How do you get paid? Since payments must be arranged between you and the customer (not on the Thumbtack platform), you should prepare a contract and get an initial deposit before starting so everyone is on the same page. You can decide what payment methods you’ll accept from the customer.
Is Thumbtack Legit?
Thumbtack is a legit website with thousands of users each day. The Thumbtack Guarantee covers up to $1,000 in property damages or unfinished projects, which gives them added security when hiring a pro on the site.
Many customers and pros alike love how Thumbtack makes their experience more convenient.
“Thumbtack changed the whole game for me because I no longer had to worry about how I would get my next client,” says Jeanne, a music instructor and Thumbtack pro.
Alice, from The Smart Wallet, utilized Thumbtack when she needed to find a private chef for her elopement night in a city she wasn’t familiar with.
“It was easy to find local chefs for the zip code that I would be in. After reviewing profiles with ratings and pictures of food, I contacted a chef who could come to the AirBnB and prepare a charcuterie board, an appetizer, and entrees with two sides for 6 people while we were offsite getting married. It was only $85 per person (signed contract and paid via Zelle), the food was delicious, and she also gave extra food. Well worth it, and glad I found her through Thumbtack!”
Thumbtack: Pros And Cons
Pros
- Completely free to create a profile
- No commission fees
- Thumbtack Guarantee gives customers added security
- Will only charge for opportunity leads if the customer responds to you
- Free educational resources
Cons
- No fixed lead fees
- No guarantee you’ll find clients
- High competition in some industries
The Bottom Line
Creating a profile on Thumbtack makes finding customers and expanding your business easy. It has a vast customer base, doesn’t change commissions, and has valuable resources to help you succeed.
But having excellent reviews and a detailed profile is a must. Many users don’t understand this and become disappointed with the app.
You should never rely entirely on only one platform to promote your services. Thousands of professionals in your industry use this site, so there’s no guarantee you’ll find leads right away.
Still, Thumbtack is a great tool to use as part of your long-term marketing strategy.
Want to give it a try and start adding more clients to your list? Download the app or sign up on the platform’s website today!
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