[fredwu]

I hangout on a few Slack groups (Elixir, Ruby, etc), got quite a few projects this way as the founders were looking for experienced consultants.

It also helps if you could show either/both:

* a portfolio / clients you've worked with

* open source / "street-cred"

When I was looking for projects I always attach my Github profile (https://github.com/fredwu) to show my open source contributions, and also the SaaS products I've built myself (https://wuit.com/), and if clients are looking for C-level / strategic-level help, I also attach my LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wufred/), these help build up your reputation and stand out amongst many freelancers also looking for projects.

I just had a very quick glance at your site - there seems to be a lot of text, mostly focused on what you can offer. But what's missing is... who are you? What have you done?

[osakasaul]

This is solid advice. I'd add that community presence matters more than you might think—but it has to be genuine. Hanging out in Slack groups and actually helping people (without immediately pitching) builds real relationships. When you do mention you're consulting, people already know your work quality.

The portfolio/OSS combo is key because it removes risk. Clients can see what you actually ship, not just what you claim. Even small open source contributions help more than you'd expect.

One thing missing: referrals. Your first few clients are the hardest. But if you do good work, they'll refer others. That becomes your growth engine pretty quickly, so don't treat early clients as one-offs.