The freelance field guideA practical starting point for a Figma designer

From Figma to your first clients

Your craft.
Your own business.

A simple system to show your work, find the right people, and turn conversations into design projects.

Start the guide

How the pieces work togetherSelect a part to open its chapter

Your business OSYour knowledge: your offers, evidence and next actions
+ your AI workspaceReads your context and returns drafts. You check and approve.
Conversations + lessons→ logged in Leads→ reviewed every Friday

Conversations and lessons go back into your OS. The next proposal starts with better context.

Your starting pointThis guide covers the business setup; it does not teach Figma. You are learning to become excellent at Figma. Now give people a clear way to understand what you can do and how to hire you.

Your first goalA credible online presence and a repeatable way to find projects. Work through this in seven sessions, at your own pace.

01

Sell something people can picture.

“I know Figma” describes a tool. A useful offer describes the project you can deliver and who it is for.

  1. Pick one starting client type.

    Try independent businesses, small software teams or agencies that need design help. Choose a group whose problems you understand.

  2. Choose a small, specific service.

    A landing page design, a mobile app flow, a website redesign or a Figma component library. Start with the work you can already do well.

  3. Define the boundaries.

    Write down the screens, desktop/mobile versions, revision rounds, delivery files and realistic timeline. Say clearly whether development is included.

A starting offer you can adapt

“I design clear, responsive landing pages in Figma for small service businesses.”

Example scope: one page, desktop + mobile, reusable components, two revision rounds and an organized handoff file. Set timing after seeing the brief.

Design ≠ development. If you deliver a Figma file, say so. A functioning website is a separate deliverable unless you include it.

Use AI to sharpen your offer
Replace the brackets, then paste into your AI workspace.
I am a Figma designer starting a freelance business.
My strongest skills are: [skills].
Work I can show today: [real or concept projects].
Clients I understand: [client types].
I can spend [hours] per week on this business.

Suggest 3 narrow service offers I can credibly deliver now. For each, explain the client problem, exact deliverables, exclusions and evidence I would need. Recommend one starting offer and write it in one clear sentence. Do not invent experience or promise business results.
Finish line: One offer sentence, one defined scope and one client type. You can revise them after real conversations.
02

A second brain for your business.

Keep what matters in one place. Give your AI that context, use it to think and draft, then save the useful results back into your system.

Start with one AI workspace.

Choose Claude or ChatGPT. Try the same real task in each free version, then pay for the one you prefer.

Create a Project called “My Figma business.” Add your offer, work examples and instructions. Keep separate chats inside it for proposals, content and planning.

This is your AI business assistant: it helps you plan, review and draft. You still check the facts, make decisions and approve what gets sent.

Keep a source of truth outside chat.

Create a folder called My Figma Business in Google Drive, or use a small Notion workspace. Start with five documents and a simple lead sheet.

If an AI suggests something useful, save it there. Chats are working conversations; these files hold your current decisions.

You can start with ordinary documents. A database, automation platform or elaborate dashboard can wait.

Claude or ChatGPT? Vlad’s practical take

Claude: my usual value pick.

“In my experience, Claude is often the better buy for the value I get.”

That is Vlad’s working preference, rather than a universal model ranking. Test it on your own tasks: writing an offer, reviewing a design brief and turning notes into a case study.

ChatGPT: the web-chat experience.

Vlad values being able to spend long sessions texting with powerful models in the web interface, with fewer interruptions from limits.

Check the exact plan and model. ChatGPT Plus is $20/month. A Pro subscription is a separate, higher-priced option; current Pro models also have usage allowances. “Unlimited Pro-model texting” is not a promise to rely on.

Both services have limits. Pick the one that helps you finish real work within your budget. Current ChatGPT Pro-model limits · Pro subscription tiers

My Figma BusinessGoogle Drive folder or small Notion workspace · six filesFilled-in fictional example
00_HOMEOpen this first, every working session.

What matters this week

Your current offer, links to the other files, this week’s goal and the next three actions.

Updated
Monday, week 2
Current offer
I design clear, responsive landing pages in Figma for small service businesses.
This week’s goal
Finish the second case study and send three careful proposals.
Next 3 actions
  1. Write up the bakery concept case study — Tuesday
  2. Save three suitable Upwork jobs to the lead sheet — Wednesday
  3. Draft one LinkedIn post about the mobile menu decision — Thursday
Links
Context · Proof · Leads · Review · Prompts
01_BUSINESS_CONTEXTPaste or upload this into your AI Project.

What your AI needs to know

Your skills, target clients, services, availability, tone and boundaries. Update this when your offer changes.

Skills
Figma layouts, auto layout, components. Still learning: advanced prototyping.
Target client
Small service businesses: studios, clinics, local shops
Included
One page, desktop + mobile, reusable components, two revision rounds, organized handoff file
Not included
Development, copywriting, hosting
Availability
Weekday evenings; timeline confirmed for each brief
Tone + rules
Plain and specific. No invented claims; I review every outgoing draft.
02_PORTFOLIO_PROOFOne entry per project you can show.

What you can honestly show

Project links, your role, design decisions and approved screenshots. Label concept work. Record measured results only when you have evidence.

Project
Neighbourhood bakery landing page
Real or concept
Self-initiated concept. No client engagement or measured results.
My role
Page structure, visual design, responsive layouts and the component set
Key decision
Moved opening hours and location to the top of the mobile layout.
Reason
Assumption, not tested: phone visitors mainly need to know when and where to go.
Measured outcomes
None — concept project
03_LEADSA sheet, not a document.

Who needs a next action

A sheet with client, source, project need, status, last contact, next action and due date. Start with five well-matched opportunities.

ClientSourceNeedStatusNext actionDue
Local studioLinkedInLanding pageResearchingCheck service fitMon
Small app teamUpworkMobile onboardingProposal draftConfirm scopeWed
Design agencyReferralFigma supportConversationReply to briefThu

The highlighted columns are the habit: every active lead has a next action and a date.

04_WEEKLY_REVIEWTwenty minutes on Friday.

What you learned

What you tried, which conversations moved forward, what clients asked for and what to change next week.

Planned
Finish case study 2 · three proposals · one post
Actually done
Two proposals and one post; case study half written
Client questions
One client asked whether development is included.
Adjust
RepeatEnding proposals with one scope questionImproveSay “Figma file only” in the first linesStopApplying to briefs with no clear scope
Next week’s top 3
Copied to Home
05_PROMPTSOnly the prompts that earned a place.

Instructions worth reusing

Save prompts that gave you useful results, alongside a good example. Improve a few reliable prompts over time.

Proposal draft
From chapter 04. Kept because it checks fit before drafting. Example saved: the app-team proposal.
LinkedIn post
From chapter 05. Kept because it preserves the concept label. Example saved: the mobile menu post.
Weekly review
From chapter 06. Used every Friday; its output updates Home.

Connect the documents to your AI.

  1. Put your business context in the Project.

    Upload or paste the current context and portfolio notes. Add the instruction below as Project instructions.

  2. Give each task the right material.

    For a proposal, add the job post and a relevant case study. For a post, add your actual design decisions and screenshots you can share.

  3. Keep the context current.

    After changing your offer or completing a project, update the source files and replace old copies in the AI Project. Uploading a file does not create automatic sync.

Bring the contextAsk for a draftCheck + edit itSave the decision
Copy your AI Project instructions
Use this in the Project’s instructions/settings.
You help me run my freelance Figma design business.
Use my business context and portfolio notes as the source of truth. If information is missing or outdated, ask me instead of guessing.

Help me with offers, client research, proposals, case studies, LinkedIn posts and weekly planning. Recommend the smallest useful next step.

Write in plain, natural language. Never invent clients, qualifications, results, reviews or work I have not done. Distinguish evidence from assumptions.

For client-facing drafts, check that the scope, timeline and claims match my actual skills and availability. Flag anything I need to verify. I approve all messages, purchases and publishing.

End planning sessions with: next 3 actions, decisions worth saving, and the source documents I should update. Do not claim to have updated files or sent messages unless that action was actually performed.

Before adding client material, check permission and your AI privacy settings. Remove personal details and confidential information; use a sanitized summary when needed.

Fill in your business context template
Save this as 01_BUSINESS_CONTEXT.
MY FIGMA BUSINESS — updated [date]

Name and preferred language:
Current skills and skills still learning:
Target client type:
One-sentence offer:
Included deliverables:
Not included:
Portfolio links and whether each project is real or a concept:
Weekly availability:
Typical timeline (confirm for each brief):
Pricing approach / minimum project scope:
Preferred writing tone:
Where I find leads:
Current priority:
Next 3 actions:

Rules: no invented claims; client approval before sharing work; I review all outgoing drafts.
$20 / month

One paid AI plan

ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro at the published US monthly price. Local prices and taxes vary. Both have usage limits; API billing is separate.

ChatGPT Plus details · Claude Pro details

$0 to start organizing

A few documents + a sheet

Use a free personal tool you already know. Your OS becomes useful when you update it and act on it, even with a very simple layout.

Finish line: Your folder and AI Project exist. Ask the AI to explain your offer and recommend your next three actions; check that it uses your real context.
03

Give your work a proper home.

A small portfolio website should answer three questions: what do you design, how good is your work, and how can someone hire you?

One page is enough to begin.

An illustrative mock-up of a fictional portfolio, drawn for this guide. It is not a screenshot of a real website. Point at a part below to outline it in the mock-up.

A real example: Vlad’s website.

Visit dvlad.com to see the Astro + Cloudflare approach in practice. Look at how the offer, case studies and contact route fit together, and how projects explain the work, role and supporting evidence. Use those ideas to plan a portfolio around your own services and design work.

Clear introduction

Your name, your offer and who it is for. Use the same message as your profiles.

Two strong examples

Show the brief, key design choices, desktop/mobile views and your role.

Scope + process

Explain what the client receives, how feedback works and what you need to start.

A contact route

A working email link or simple inquiry form. Check it on your phone.

No clients yet? Show concept work.

Design a landing page for a fictional local business, or an onboarding flow for an imagined app. Explain your reasoning rather than showing only pretty screens.

Label it clearly: “Self-initiated concept. No client engagement or measured results.” If you use a real brand, also make the lack of affiliation clear.

Only publish work and assets you have permission to share. Never add made-up testimonials or conversion numbers.

Vlad’s recommended starter setup: Astro static + Cloudflare.

Astro static siteCloudflare hostingYour .com domain

My recommendation for starting out with websites is Astro, built as a static site, hosted on Cloudflare. Use your Figma work as the design, and get help from AI or a developer to turn it into the website. Keep the site simple: your offer, case studies and a working email link.

This route gives you editable source files and can keep hosting costs low, within the chosen service’s limits. It does involve code and a build step; the walkthrough below shows what to ask for. Your domain is still a separate yearly purchase.

Give the website your design judgment.

Astro and Cloudflare handle the website setup. Its visual character comes from your choices. Design the desktop and phone layouts in Figma first, then ask AI to implement them faithfully.

Named resources to start with

  • Siteinspire — choose your references. Find two or three relevant designer portfolios. Save a screenshot and one specific reason for each: the project presentation, type scale or balance of image and text. Use them to define a direction for your own work.

  • Impeccable — guide an AI coding assistant. A design skill for supported coding tools such as Claude Code and Codex. Start here if you want the assistant to help develop or review the design. Give it your approved Figma direction and ask it to check hierarchy, typography, spacing and mobile usability.

  • Anthropic’s frontend-design skill — an alternative design guide. Useful guidance for making deliberate visual choices when the design still needs development. Choose one main design skill for the task; give it your brief rather than combining conflicting instructions.

Learn from Nate Herk and Jack Roberts

Nate Herk — Scrollcraft. A coding-agent skill for distinctive, scroll-driven websites. Study how it plans the visitor journey, uses brand assets, gives phones their own composition, and checks actual rendered views. Try the full workflow when a project calls for immersive scroll storytelling; for your first portfolio, make the projects and contact route easy to find. Follow the repository’s setup instructions and check any generated-media costs before using that part of the workflow.

Jack Roberts’ recommendation — SlopMonster. Use this for the writing on your website: headlines, About text and case-study descriptions. It checks English copy for common AI writing patterns and provides an editing workflow. Review its suggestions, preserve your actual experience and facts, and keep the wording in your own voice. It does not design the layout, and a clean score does not prove that the copy is good. Watch Jack’s introduction to SlopMonster.

How they fit together: choose a visual design workflow such as Impeccable or Scrollcraft to suit the project, then use SlopMonster as an optional copy review. Your own Figma work and design judgment guide the result.

These are learning references, not a guarantee of a distinctive result or a particular selling price. Pick one main design workflow for a build, keep your Figma direction in charge, and review the output yourself.

If you are using the ordinary Claude or ChatGPT website: use the brief in the prompt below and attach your design screenshots. Naming a skill does not install or activate it in a web chat. Follow the resource’s setup instructions only if you move to a supported coding tool; the brief works without installing a skill.

A small design handoff

  1. Choose a specific direction.

    Write the audience and intended feel, name your fonts and colors, and attach the two reference screenshots with notes. “Clean, premium, modern” is too vague on its own.

  2. Make your work the main visual.

    Use your actual Figma screens, readable project titles and short captions explaining your decisions. Give each section a purpose and choose its layout to suit the content. Gradients, glass effects and card grids should appear only when your chosen design calls for them.

  3. Compare the built page with your Figma design.

    Check the actual browser at desktop and phone sizes. Look for changed type, cramped spacing, tiny screenshots, generic headings and unnecessary animation. Check keyboard focus and text contrast too. Request specific corrections, then review again before publishing.

Useful feedback: “At phone width, show the bakery screenshot before its caption, keep the heading left-aligned, and match the spacing in my Figma frame.” This gives the AI something concrete to change.

Build it, then connect your domain.

  1. Start with Astro static + Cloudflare.

    Use the recommended setup above and the AI walkthrough below. If you prefer a fully visual workflow, Framer or Figma Sites can be alternatives. Check publishing eligibility and custom-domain plan costs before choosing a builder.

  2. Prepare the content before polishing.

    Use your offer and portfolio proof files. Add your best two projects, rewrite generic template copy and remove every placeholder.

  3. Choose a short .com domain.

    Your own name is a sensible starting point. Check availability and both first-year and renewal prices with a registrar such as Porkbun. Buy it in your own account and save the renewal date in your OS.

  4. Follow your host’s domain instructions.

    Add the exact records it provides in your registrar’s DNS settings. DNS is the address book that points your domain to your site. Do not replace existing email records. Wait for the domain connection and HTTPS check to finish.

  5. Test before sharing.

    Open the live address on desktop and phone. Check navigation, images, contact delivery and every link. A Figma prototype link is useful supporting material; publishing a website is a separate step.

The budget, without hidden assumptions.

Domain: plan around $10–20 per year for a standard .com; actual availability, promotions and renewal prices vary. Premium names can cost much more.

Website: the domain buys the address. Hosting or a builder plan keeps the website online. Free subdomains can work while you prepare; custom-domain builder plans are an extra cost. Check the full yearly commitment before buying.

Example planning budget: $20/month for one AI plan + $15/year for the domain = $255/year, before website hosting, Figma, Upwork applications and local taxes. This is an example budget, not a checkout quote.

Build your Astro portfolio with AI

Ask Claude or ChatGPT to help create a small Astro project in static mode. Astro turns the project into files that Cloudflare can host. Save the source project as well as the built website so you can make changes later.

  1. Give the AI your design and content.

    Provide your Figma screenshots, offer, two case studies, approved images and contact email. Ask for a complete Astro project and beginner-friendly setup instructions. A Figma design does not automatically become a working website.

  2. Preview, check and build.

    Follow the project’s local preview instructions. Check the copy, phone layout, images and email link; ask for specific fixes. Then build the static site. Ask the AI to identify the generated output folder and explain which files to deploy. Start with an email link; a contact form needs a receiving service.

  3. Publish on Cloudflare, then add your domain.

    Follow the current official Astro deployment guide for Cloudflare. Test the provided hosting address first, then connect your .com using the host’s instructions. Preserve existing email records when changing DNS.

Official Astro + Cloudflare deployment guide · Cloudflare: hosting static assets

A prompt for your first Astro portfolio draft
Create a simple, responsive Astro portfolio website in static mode for my Figma design business. My recommended starter setup is Astro static + Cloudflare hosting + my own .com domain.
Use my current offer and portfolio proof below: [paste context and case studies].
Contact email: [email]. Approved images and filenames: [list].

Design brief:
Audience and what they should understand first: [details].
My approved Figma desktop and phone designs: [attach screenshots; include measurements or notes where needed].
Reference websites or screenshots, and the specific qualities I want to draw from: [2–3 references with notes].
Fonts and their roles, type sizes, colors, spacing and image treatment: [my choices].
Distinctive element to emphasize: [for example, a large real project screenshot with a short design-decision caption].

Follow my approved Figma direction. If a choice is missing, propose a concise visual plan for me to approve before implementation. Use my real work and specific copy. Do not add generic SaaS sections, decorative effects or repeated card grids unless the design calls for them. If you are a coding assistant with Impeccable or another design skill installed, use one main skill to review the result while preserving my approved design. If no skill is installed, follow this brief directly. Compare rendered desktop and phone views against my design and report any differences; also check readable text, contrast, keyboard focus and reduced-motion preferences. Optionally use SlopMonster, if available, to review the website copy separately. Treat its findings as suggestions; preserve my facts, experience and voice, and ask before any paid model or media calls.

Deliver the complete Astro source project, including its configuration and package scripts, plus clear instructions for image files. Include my offer, two case studies, service scope, process and a working email link. Make it accessible and readable on phones. Keep all client and concept labels accurate. Do not invent testimonials, results or images. Keep the site static with no account integrations, analytics or backend. Give beginner-friendly steps to set up the project, preview it locally, build it and deploy the generated files to Cloudflare using current official documentation. Explain how to connect my domain and how to update the website later. Ask before publishing or buying anything.
Turn a project into a case study with AI
Use your screenshots and actual notes.
Help me write a short portfolio case study from these facts:
Project and whether it is real or a concept: [details]
My role and exact deliverables: [details]
Audience and design problem: [details]
Constraints: [details]
Two important design decisions and why I made them: [details]
What was delivered or tested: [details]
Evidence of any results: [details, or "no measured results"]

Use: brief, my role, design decisions, final work, what I learned. Keep it under 350 words. Do not add metrics, client quotes or outcomes that are not in my notes. Tell me what screenshots would help a client understand the work.
Finish line: A phone-friendly portfolio with two honest examples and a tested contact route. A free subdomain is fine while you choose the paid setup.
04

Meet people with a project in mind.

Upwork is a place to look for active demand. A clear profile and a thoughtful application help a client see whether you fit their particular brief.

  1. Create a freelancer profile.

    Use your real identity, a clear photo and accurate experience. Complete the profile sections and any verification requested by the platform.

  2. Match the profile to your offer.

    A title such as “Figma UI Designer | Landing Pages & Responsive Web Design” works if those are services you can deliver. Add relevant skills and your strongest case studies.

  3. Choose jobs carefully.

    Look for a clear brief, suitable budget and work you can confidently complete. Read client history where available. Record promising jobs in your lead sheet.

  4. Write a short, specific proposal.

    Start with their need, add one relevant example, explain your approach and ask one useful question. Check the scope and timeline before quoting.

Example proposal structure — adapt the facts

Fictional job post

The brief: “We need a mobile version of our existing landing page, designed in Figma.”

Their need

You need a mobile version of your existing landing page.

Your approach

I’d start by checking the page hierarchy, then build the responsive layout with reusable Figma components.

One relevant example

A relevant example is [your case study; label it as a concept if needed].

Scope

My proposed scope covers [deliverables], with [revision rounds].

One useful question

Do you have an existing component library, or should I create the core styles as part of the work?

Before you send:Connects for this jobDisplayed service feeScope + timelineTalk stays on Upwork
Keep it yours. AI can help structure this. Your actual judgment and evidence are what make it credible.

Know the costs and communication rules.

Creating a Basic freelancer profile is free. Applications commonly require Connects: purchased Connects cost $0.15 each, and the number needed varies by job. Do not assume free monthly Connects will be available to your account.

Upwork’s freelancer service fee currently ranges from 0–15% per contract. Review the displayed fee before sending your proposal or accepting an offer, and account for it when setting your price.

For ordinary Upwork leads, keep communication on Upwork before a contract starts; avoid sharing contact details to move the conversation away. Keep payment through Upwork unless an official permitted exception applies. Sharing a portfolio must not become a way to bypass the platform’s rules.

Connects · Service fees · Contact rules

Draft a tailored proposal with AI
Paste the brief and one relevant example.
Read this Upwork job post: [paste job post].
My relevant portfolio example: [paste facts and link].
My offer, available hours and scope boundaries: [details].

First tell me whether this is a realistic fit and what is unclear. If it fits, draft a proposal of 120–180 words: their specific need, one relevant example, a brief approach and one useful question. Label concept work honestly. Do not invent credentials, claim I reviewed a site I have not reviewed, promise results or move communication off Upwork. Flag anything I must verify before sending.
Finish line: A clear profile, two portfolio items and three suitable saved jobs. Review your first proposal and the Connects cost before submitting.
05

Make your thinking visible.

LinkedIn gives people a way to understand your work over time. Build a clear profile, share useful design decisions, and have normal professional conversations.

  1. Make the profile consistent.

    Use your real name and photo. Add a headline with the service and client type; a simple banner can show one strong piece of your own work.

  2. Explain your service in the About section.

    Say who you help, what you design and how you work. Describe your current experience accurately and include an easy contact route.

  3. Feature your best evidence.

    Add your portfolio or case studies to Featured where available. Add genuine work history, skills and a Service Page if it fits the services you offer.

  4. Post from the work you are doing.

    Start with one useful post per week. A screenshot plus one clear design decision is enough. Comment thoughtfully where potential clients and collaborators spend time.

Your Name

Example headline

Figma designer for small businesses · Landing pages, responsive layouts & clear handoffs

About

Who you help, what you design, how you work, your current experience and an easy contact route.

Featured
Portfolio websiteBakery case study · concept
Fictional profile layout. The numbers match the steps in this chapter.

Three posts from one project

One projectYour case study notes + screenshots you may share
Your NameConcept project

Before + after: show the hierarchy problem and how you addressed it.

Your NameConcept project

One decision: explain why you changed the mobile layout or form.

Your NameConcept project

How it is built: show the component structure and why it makes revisions easier.

Label concept projects in the post, and share client work only with permission.

Draft a LinkedIn post from your own work
Keep the post grounded in one real design choice.
Turn these design notes into a LinkedIn post of 100–150 words:
Project (real or concept): [details]
The problem: [details]
One decision I made: [details]
Why I made it: [details]
What I can actually demonstrate: [details]

Use a natural first-person voice. Give the reader one useful takeaway. Keep the concept label if this is not client work. Avoid hype, fabricated results, engagement bait and generic motivational advice. Suggest which of my actual screenshots to include. I will review the draft before publishing.

Start with a free personal LinkedIn profile. You can evaluate Premium later if a specific feature solves a problem you have. LinkedIn’s Service Page guidance

Finish line: A clear headline, accurate About section and featured work. Prepare one useful post and make a small list of relevant people to learn from.
06

Keep the system moving.

The setup creates a starting point. A small weekly routine turns it into a business you can learn from.

During the week

  • Review a few suitable Upwork jobs and send careful proposals within a fixed Connects budget.
  • Share one useful LinkedIn post from your real work.
  • Improve a portfolio example or a skill clients are asking for.
  • Log conversations and give every active lead a dated next action.

Friday: 20-minute review

  • What did I actually send or publish?
  • Which leads replied or moved forward?
  • What objections or recurring requests did I hear?
  • What should I repeat, improve or stop?
  • Update HOME with next week’s three priorities.
When someone asks: “How much does it cost?”

Ask for the brief first: goals, screens, responsive versions, existing assets, deadline and feedback process. Estimate the time, then choose a price that accounts for revisions and any platform fees.

For direct website or LinkedIn inquiries, send a written scope covering deliverables, exclusions, timeline, revision rounds and payment stages. Agree to those terms before starting, and use an invoice and a payment method appropriate to your country. Confirm local business and tax requirements before accepting paid work.

For Upwork projects, use its contract and payment process; for fixed-price work, confirm the milestone is funded before starting. Never promise a price or delivery date based only on an AI estimate.

A lead sheet can stay this simple.

The rows below are fictional examples. Your real sheet should also include links, last-contact dates and next-action due dates.

LeadSourceNeedStatusNext action
Local studioLinkedInLanding pageResearchingCheck service fit
Small app teamUpworkMobile onboardingProposal draftConfirm scope
Design agencyReferralFigma supportConversationReply to brief
Run your weekly review with AI
Use sanitized notes from the week.
Help me review my freelance week.
Planned actions: [details]
Actions actually completed: [details]
Proposals / posts / conversations and replies: [details]
Time spent and Connects or other costs: [details]
Client questions, feedback and blockers: [details]

Separate facts from guesses. Identify one thing to repeat, one to improve and one to stop. Do not draw strong conclusions from a small sample. Recommend 3 achievable actions for next week within [available hours]. Draft an update for 00_HOME and note any changes needed in my business context.
Finish line: Every active lead has a next action and date. Measure useful conversations and agreed projects alongside the effort and money spent.
07

Seven sessions. A working foundation.

Use these as focused work blocks, not a promise to win a client in a week. Portfolio creation may take several sessions of its own.

Session 1
Choose the offerPick a service and client type.

Save the scope and one-sentence offer.

Session 2
Set up your business OSCreate the files and AI Project.

Test the AI against your real context.

Session 3
Prepare your proofWrite up your best two projects.

Use clear concept labels where needed.

Session 4
Build the portfolioUse one simple page.

Test it on a phone; decide on the domain and hosting budget.

Session 5
Create your profilesReuse your offer and case studies.

Make Upwork, LinkedIn and the site consistent.

Session 6
Start the conversationsChoose quality over volume.

Review one tailored proposal and one useful post; log the next actions.

Session 7
Review and adjustUse what actually happened.

Save the lessons and next week’s three priorities.

Your ready-to-start checklist

Tick these as you work through the guide. The ticks last for this page session; keep your lasting progress in HOME.

Your first system can be small.
Make it clear, keep it current, and use it every week.