Nice thread there since I'm pretty new in Web Dev+Design freelancing (2y part-time, 7m full-time), but I think I've got in touch with a hint of an answer few days ago.
Someone came to me 2 weeks ago with a clear idea of copying a website, because her business was in the same market. We finally met 3 days ago about her project, and she told me she has seen 5 freelancers and 2 agencies for her website, but she still wanted to speak with me because she wasn't decided yet.
The first thing I asked her was: "Can you explain me about your business ? And what process the customer is going through ?". Then we went through a pleasant hour-long brainstorming phase, until she realized her point was totally different from the existing website she wanted to copy, and that we ended up with a way better and more suited solution for her. She surpisingly said : "You're the only one that asked me those things, and I loved it!".
Then I asked her how it went with those 7 other clients and she told me nobody cared about her business, and how they only seemed to want to get the contract, at any price. Even though some of them looked professionals, she wasn't sold.
After this meeting, I understood that a freelancer shouldn't be positioned as an "expert" sitting at the opposite of his client, but as someone sitting alongside his client, as a friend caring about their goals. When you're the right person, your time is invaluable, and your price will be the right one.
In conclusion, there is a lot of bad freelancers out there. Just be nice, get close to your client by genuinely caring about their problem, be honest , and you will build a strong network that will like you, trust you, and pay you well.
Someone came to me 2 weeks ago with a clear idea of copying a website, because her business was in the same market. We finally met 3 days ago about her project, and she told me she has seen 5 freelancers and 2 agencies for her website, but she still wanted to speak with me because she wasn't decided yet.
The first thing I asked her was: "Can you explain me about your business ? And what process the customer is going through ?". Then we went through a pleasant hour-long brainstorming phase, until she realized her point was totally different from the existing website she wanted to copy, and that we ended up with a way better and more suited solution for her. She surpisingly said : "You're the only one that asked me those things, and I loved it!".
Then I asked her how it went with those 7 other clients and she told me nobody cared about her business, and how they only seemed to want to get the contract, at any price. Even though some of them looked professionals, she wasn't sold.
After this meeting, I understood that a freelancer shouldn't be positioned as an "expert" sitting at the opposite of his client, but as someone sitting alongside his client, as a friend caring about their goals. When you're the right person, your time is invaluable, and your price will be the right one.
In conclusion, there is a lot of bad freelancers out there. Just be nice, get close to your client by genuinely caring about their problem, be honest , and you will build a strong network that will like you, trust you, and pay you well.