I’m spending a lot of time learning automation and building systems while also trying to build an Upwork profile and create content. What should I focus on to get my first paying clients?
Focus on the need‑to‑know, not the nice‑to‑know. Get customers first, then let their feedback tell you where to invest your time. Apply for jobs on platforms like Upwork to start earning, and learn the tools you need by actually doing the work for a client. Prioritize outreach—cold email with personalized Loom videos works well initially—rather than spending endless hours learning theory. Once you land your first client, double down on delivering value and then scale from there.
Focus on the need‑to‑know, not the nice‑to‑know. Get customers first, then let their feedback tell you where to invest your time. Apply for jobs on platforms like Upwork to start earning, and learn the tools you need by actually doing the work for a client. Prioritize outreach—cold email with personalized Loom videos works well initially—rather than spending endless hours learning theory. Once you land your first client, double down on delivering value and then scale from there.
Great question. I would watch all of my own tutorials—like the 'make money with make' playlist and the NAN full course playlists I've set up. Not exactly playlists, but compilations. The simplest and easiest way to get up and running with the technical skills is to watch those. I'd also watch a few of my business videos, like the 80/20 summary of automation basics in less than an hour. I watch that, and a prompt engineering video—those together form the 80/20 curriculum I'd recommend. Once you know that, you actually get out there and start making Upwork applications, sending emails, sending cold DMs, reactivating your network if you're running a previous business, making community posts, and so on. Basically, you need to put yourself in front of customers as much as humanly possible. It doesn't even matter what your skill levels are.
I’m not saying you can’t use automation – you can, but if you’re underage you can’t sign up for Upwork. For people in that situation I recommend treating the platform like a straightforward sales funnel: you don’t need to master every sales skill, you just pitch why you’re the better pick among thousands of freelancers. Talk to the client, explain how you can solve their problem, and close the deal. If you can’t use Upwork, replicate the same approach by sending custom video DMs that solve a specific problem, distributing them via Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email. Search for “Loom outreach” or “video outreach” to see detailed tutorials I’ve made, and check out the Maker School community for a step‑by‑step guide.
No, I don't think so at all. You're making a plan that's too far out; who's to say any of this will matter in four months? You shouldn't budget three months of learning automations. Instead, learn automations in the next week and start talking to customers on August 9th. That's the only thing that matters. Don't plan things out in a rapidly changing world—your plan likely won't be feasible in three or four months. You don't know what you don't know, and most of what you need to learn is still unknown. Scrap the lengthy plan and spend a week learning my automation content, go through a tutorial, then sign up on Upwork, send cold emails, record cold DMs via Loom, and start interacting with the market—real feedback beats tons of planning.