Getting Started on BidTable

1. Set up your profile

Your profile is the first thing clients see. Fill out every section: title, bio, skills, hourly rate, and location. Upload a profile photo (a real one, not a logo).

The bio doesn't need to be long. Two or three sentences about what you do and what kind of projects you're best at. Avoid generic phrases like "passionate creative professional." Just say what you do.

2. Add portfolio pieces

Upload 3-6 examples of your best work. Each piece should have a short description: what the client needed, what you delivered, and any results (if you know them).

Quality over quantity. Don't pad your portfolio with student work or personal experiments unless they're genuinely impressive.

3. Write good bids

When you bid on a project, your cover message matters. Don't copy-paste the same message on every project. Reference something specific from the project description so the client knows you actually read it.

Include: your proposed approach, a rough timeline, and why you're a good fit. Keep it under 200 words. Clients skim.

4. Price yourself right

When you're new, it's tempting to underbid everyone. Don't. Clients who only care about price are usually the hardest to work with. Price competitively but not desperately.

Look at what other freelancers with similar skills are charging. Your rate can be on the lower end while you build reviews, but don't go below what you'd accept for the work involved.

5. Deliver and get reviews

Your first few reviews are critical. Over-deliver on your first projects. Communicate proactively. Meet deadlines. A handful of 5-star reviews will do more for your career on BidTable than anything else.