Freelancing

Stage 2 · Lesson 2 of 7

Sample projects to fill the gaps

Proof without reviews

If you lack relevant pieces, build a on your own terms. You could redesign a realistic clinic site, turn a public dataset into an automatic weekly report, or speed up a demo shop. Choose problems your target really have.

Keep each one to a week or less, and label it clearly as sample or concept work. This is different from free work for a real client. Free work gives your time to someone who may use it without paying, while a sample stays yours. Use realistic content and never suggest that a real company hired you.

Common trapspending months on one large sample instead of finishing two small ones, or using a real brand in a way that suggests it was paid client work.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with

Keep handy

  • Free hosting for your one-page portfolio, straight from a repository

  • Flags long, hard sentences in your case studies before a client reads them

Also worth your time

  • Show Your Work!Go deeperPaid

    A short book on sharing your process so the right people notice your work

Mark this stage as not done?