3 Tips To Get Agency Work As A Webflow Freelancer

Most people reply to job board ads to get agency work. Since this is the most obvious way to find a job, everyone is also applying for it. This often makes it insanely competitive and unless your portfolio is particularly special, you may not get a response let alone a job from applying (speaking from experience).

‍

If applying for agency work from job boards isn’t quite sealing the deal, you may need to try a little harder. With thousands of agencies out starting to specialise in Webflow, there’s never been a better time to become a Webflow freelancer for agencies.

‍

Before we dig in to the 6 tips on how to get agency work, let’s explore the reasons why you should get agency work:

‍

Why should you get agency work?

• You get great experience learning from other people in the agency that are better than you
• Agency work can steady the ship as a Webflow freelancer - especially when you are just starting out.
• You get to peek behind the curtain at how agencies are run
• You can earn a steadier income than when you just try and get individual clients as a freelancer
• You see the importance of process when you work with the agency
• If the agency allows you, you can potentially show these projects on your own personal portfolio
• You get to work on projects that are far bigger than those which you would get yourself

‍

How do you get agency work?

‍

‍

Job boards didn’t cut the mustard when I started applying for Webflow agency work a couple of years ago. I spend days sending out emails with my portfolio and only some replied. I ended up getting desperate and got an agency job at a shady agency that focussed on making church websites for wealthy religious influencers in the US.

‍

It was all one massive fuck up. Anyway, I hope these 3 tips help you avoid the disastrous months I had working for an agency I didn’t align with!

‍

1) Work out what skillsets you want to develop and projects you want to be involved with

‍

‍

Knowing the skillsets you want to develop helps direct which agencies you might want to work with and learn from.

‍

By knowing that you want to be a Webflow designer that focusses on e-commerce websites, it makes sense to look for an agency that is particularly good at Webflow e-commerce websites (like Kleo). Or maybe, there is a Webflow agency that focusses on sustainable web design (like earthly made studio). Want to excel at animations in your web development? Maybe working for a studio like Obys agency would be best for you.

‍

You get my point. Essentially, if you just thoughtlessly apply to every job you see advertised, your applications won’t be any good and the agencies might not be a good fit for you or helpful for your professional development. Choose wisely my friend!

‍

2) Start connecting with people in these agencies

After you have figured out what type of Webflower you want to be/ what projects you want to be involved with, hopefully you have found some agencies that you actually want to work for. From there, I recommend the following:

‍

• follow the agencies, creative directors and art directors on twitter/IG/LinkedIn etc
• sign up to the newsletters of the agency and (if they have one) the agency owner
• Make note of whatever online events/podcast episodes they are organising or are featured in and go to them!

‍

You might be thinking “what the hell are you talking about Jack? I want to get some work, not a marriage partner.”

‍

I know it seems a bit overkill but if you write thoughtful and supportive comments on these social feeds, you will keep popping up on these social accounts. You will become recognised as someone that supports the agencies’ work - not because you have to but because you want to! You love their work and so it’s almost like you subconsciously become part of their team when you appreciate their creative output.

‍

In fact, I actually got a job just replying with a thoughtful reply to an agency owners’ newsletter. Seems so simple and obvious, but most people just don’t bother. You would be surprised how a thoughtful response to a newsletter can lead to conversations and before you know it, you have some freelance work!

‍

3) Invite people who have the job you want for a coffee

‍

‍

A lot of the time, we look at creatives at agencies that are crushing it and think ‘Wow, I’m never going to be that good!’ Well guess what buttercup. You certainly aren’t with that attitude.

In the words of Seth Godin, “success leaves clues.”

Success Leaves Clues

So, you know what you can do to get as good as the people you see online?

Ask them.

I know - revolutionary, right?!

Ask them how they got to where they are!

It’s literally that simple. Most designers that are working at agencies don’t get dm’d with thoughtful and flattering messages asking how they got to where they are. The vast majority of the times I have done this, they have been more than willing to hop on a call! So organise a zoom coffee and have a chat. They will not only give you advice but potentially ask their network if there is work available for you!

Since they have offered you support, they will also be invested in your success so they may out you forward for work when it comes! Building your network this way is great fun too.

Good luck and let me know how you get on!