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A few things that actually worked for people making the same transition:
Start with your existing network. Former colleagues, suppliers, even competitors who are too busy — tell everyone you’re taking on freelance work. First clients almost always come from warm connections, not cold outreach.
Pick a niche early. “SEO for e-commerce” is already a strong positioning — lean into it. Clients pay more for specialists and it’s easier to get referrals when you’re known for something specific.
LinkedIn is underrated for this. Optimize your profile to say you’re available for freelance, post once a week about something you learned or a result you got (anonymized). People reach out.
Upwork / Fiverr as a launchpad, not a destination. Good for getting the first 2-3 clients and reviews, terrible margins long-term. Use it to build a portfolio then move off.
One practical tip once you start landing clients: monthly reporting becomes a time sink fast. I built a tool called RankBrief that automates GSC + GA4 reports so you’re not spending hours on that every month — just search for it, happy to give you a free trial if you’re interested.
