How I Became One of the Top 1% on Freelancer.com and Earned the Verified & Preferred Badge

After a year and a half of grinding on Freelancer.com, I’ve seen both sides of the game. It’s been one hell of a ride—some days were amazing, others just straight up draining. But through it all, it’s been a chapter full of growth—technically, professionally, and personally. When I first joined the platform, I had no roadmap. Just vibes, ambition, and a drive to figure things out. I was juggling everything—learning how to communicate with clients, refining my development skills, managing projects solo, and slowly gaining awareness of how the tech and freelance industry really operates. Over time, the wins started stacking up. I completed 80+ projects, built strong relationships, and made sure every client left a positive review. That consistency helped me stand out. Eventually, I was recognized among the top 1% of freelancers on the platform. I earned the Verified and Preferred Freelancer badges, which they give to what they call their elite freelancers. And honestly? That meant something. Not just the badge, but what it represented: trust, reliability, and proof that I’d built something real from scratch. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I had some tough experiences with clients that forced me to learn the hard way. I’ve dealt with unclear expectations, unfair demands, and people who just didn’t value the work. That taught me to be selective, to ask the right questions upfront, and to protect my time and energy. Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: freelancing in tech is not easy. It’s competitive. Brutally so. You can’t just know code—you’ve got to understand people, business, and sales. You need to know how to win clients, earn their trust, and retain them. You’ve got to be more than a developer—you’ve got to be the person they think of first when they have a new idea, a new problem, or a new product. I was lucky enough to get a head start because of my journey building my first startup. That experience? Wild. It forced me to learn fast—branding, execution, handling failure, and thinking beyond code. All of that translated into skills that shaped my freelance profile and made it stronger. So, do I love freelancing? Truth is—I’m still figuring it out. It’s been rewarding, but I’m not sure if this is the end goal for me. Right now, I’m focused on building something bigger—a tech business that gives me more creative freedom, more stability, and better reflects the value I bring to the table. Freelancing gave me the launchpad. Now it’s time to level up.

Apr 20, 2025 - 21:11

How I Became One of the Top 1% on Freelancer.com and Earned the Verified & Preferred Badge

After a year and a half of grinding on Freelancer.com, I’ve seen both sides of the game. It’s been one hell of a ride—some days were amazing, others just straight up draining. But through it all, it’s been a chapter full of growth—technically, professionally, and personally.

When I first joined the platform, I had no roadmap. Just vibes, ambition, and a drive to figure things out. I was juggling everything—learning how to communicate with clients, refining my development skills, managing projects solo, and slowly gaining awareness of how the tech and freelance industry really operates.

Over time, the wins started stacking up. I completed 80+ projects, built strong relationships, and made sure every client left a positive review. That consistency helped me stand out. Eventually, I was recognized among the top 1% of freelancers on the platform. I earned the Verified and Preferred Freelancer badges, which they give to what they call their elite freelancers. And honestly? That meant something. Not just the badge, but what it represented: trust, reliability, and proof that I’d built something real from scratch.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I had some tough experiences with clients that forced me to learn the hard way. I’ve dealt with unclear expectations, unfair demands, and people who just didn’t value the work. That taught me to be selective, to ask the right questions upfront, and to protect my time and energy.

Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: freelancing in tech is not easy. It’s competitive. Brutally so. You can’t just know code—you’ve got to understand people, business, and sales. You need to know how to win clients, earn their trust, and retain them. You’ve got to be more than a developer—you’ve got to be the person they think of first when they have a new idea, a new problem, or a new product.

I was lucky enough to get a head start because of my journey building my first startup. That experience? Wild. It forced me to learn fast—branding, execution, handling failure, and thinking beyond code. All of that translated into skills that shaped my freelance profile and made it stronger.

So, do I love freelancing?

Truth is—I’m still figuring it out. It’s been rewarding, but I’m not sure if this is the end goal for me. Right now, I’m focused on building something bigger—a tech business that gives me more creative freedom, more stability, and better reflects the value I bring to the table.

Freelancing gave me the launchpad. Now it’s time to level up.