Ask HN: How to find clients in the US?

3 points by zerobrainwash 3 years ago | 4 comments

I’m an experienced dev and am now in the process of starting an agency, or venturing out on my own as a contractor. I’m based in Eastern Europe but my goal is to find US clients to work with, mainly because of potentially more interesting projects, and higher pay. What do you think would be the best route to achieve this? Does good work speak for itself, should I incorporate in the US as well, perhaps fly-in and make connections in person, anything else that could help?

brudgers 3 years ago |

Unless you have a strong network in the US, developing for US clients is probably better suited as a long term goal.

Using Eastern European contractors doesn't have a clear and obvious upside for US companies. The main argument for outsourcing overseas has always been lower prices and good clients don't think that way.

Good clients want to work with people they know and when that doesn't happen they ask people they know for recommendations.

What I am saying is that you can put a lot of time, energy and money into trying to develop a US client base, but unless you are world famous there's not a good reason to choose you even if your work is good. There are a lot of good US developers, and a lot of other good developers outside the US.

Good luck.

zerobrainwash 3 years ago | |

I see, thank you! That’s what I thought. So keep doing and showing good work, the rest will come.

brudgers 3 years ago | | |

If you want to sell your services, prioritize selling.

The technical side is much much less important.

Work only has to solve the client's problems.

Often the important problems are not technical.