How To Get More Clients For Your Freelancing Business
As a freelancer, you know that getting more clients is essential to your success. But sometimes it can be tough to know where to start.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a new freelancer or an experienced freelancer. Getting more clients is tough.
The good news though, is that there are many different ways to get more clients for your freelancing business, whether you are just starting out or have been freelancing for some time now.
Here are 23 of the best strategies to use when trying to reach out to new prospects and bring in fresh business.
Your website and social media profiles (like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook) are like an online business card. They contain important information about you and your work, so it’s smart to be sure that all of this information is accurate.
It’s also smart to use sites like these to consistently share interesting information related to your profession with your network of peers. That way, clients who might be looking for someone with your skills can find you.
2. Use SEO (search engine optimization) techniques to make it easier for prospects to find your services online
You may not know this, but many people use search engines like Google and Yahoo more than they use social media sites when trying to track down freelancers. So if you want to be found, you need to make sure that your website is on the first page of search engine results.
Use search engines to reach potential clients
Creating a website is the first thing you’ll need to do in order to market your services online but it’s not enough. You also need to learn about SEO so you can get your website on top of search engine results and make it easier for prospects to find you.
One way to do this is by including popular keywords in your site’s text content. But if you are not very web-savvy, it may be better for you to hire a freelancer or business owner who can handle this for you.
3. Ask friends and colleagues to recommend you
When you are just starting out, it can be tough to get word of mouth referrals from people who might not know you very well (and therefore aren’t too confident about your ability). So ask them to spread the word instead – in person, over the phone, or even by email.
4. Reach out to people in your professional circles
If you have just started to work as a freelancer, odds are that you know other professionals in the same line of work who might be able to refer you to their clients. This is a great way to jumpstart your business and build up your client base quickly. If for some reason you don’t know any other freelancers, you can reach out to industry bloggers and association leaders.
5. Find a reliable marketing firm that can help grow your business
The best thing about hiring a marketing company is that they have access to many more potential clients than just about anybody else. Since they are working on behalf of several businesses, they have a huge potential customer base that they can share with you. All you have to do is find a reputable marketing agency and explain your needs, then sit back and let them start bringing in clients for you.
6. Take advantage of the freelancing platforms to market your services
While it’s true that clients come to you directly without having to go through middlemen, there are still some benefits you can get from joining freelance networks. You are likely to find more jobs here since they are advertised on these sites and also, other people might see them. Plus, you can get more exposure for your business by doing networking with other freelancers on these sites. Upwork for example has a referral program that allows freelancers to refer other freelancers to a client when they are unable to take on a project.
Various websites allow freelancers to post their profiles online for employers who are looking for someone with their skills. As you gain more clients, you might even want to consider upgrading to a paid membership, which gives you access to more features and services.
The beauty of using a freelancing platform is that in most cases, you don’t pay for marketing. Instead, clients come to you directly. This is great in the sense that they are already looking for what you offer. But it can also make your project management more challenging if there’s a lot of competition on the platform (in which case, you might want to consider focusing on other marketing activities instead).
7. Start blogging
If there is anything that can make you stand out from the rest, it’s a blog. Nowadays, blogging is one of the best ways to build up your reputation as an expert in your field and attract more attention from potential clients. If you have accounts on social media sites like Twitter or LinkedIn, try writing some quality posts that use keywords related to your niche and then linking those posts on those networks.
8. Try going offline to reach more clients
Local networking events are a great way to connect with potential clients and grow your business. Since you’re meeting them in person, it’s much easier for people to trust you and feel confident about working with you. Plus, since you probably won’t meet everybody interested in what you do, it’s a good idea to have business cards ready – just in case.
9. Create a killer portfolio to showcase your skills
One of the easiest ways for clients to see what you are capable of is by looking at your previous projects, so you must keep yours up-to-date. You can start this before you even get your first client to build up your portfolio. This will help you seal the deal when the time comes for you to negotiate your fee with clients.
10. Improve your skills by taking relevant courses or attending seminars/workshops
Some clients might want to hire freelancers based on how much experience they have in a certain field. Of course, the only way you can gain this experience is by doing more projects. But there are also many online courses, seminars, and workshops out there that can help you improve your skills quickly. You don’t need to enroll in an expensive degree program to get what you need. Many programs are offered online or even for free in public libraries, so take your pick and try to include them in your learning plan for this year.
11. Offer free consultations to potential clients before turning them into paying customers
Once your portfolio is good enough and you have a few testimonials to show, you can start offering free consultations before turning clients into paying customers. This helps build trust and also allows you to see if it’s worth your time to work with them or not.
Alternatively, you can choose to offer consultations at a fraction of the project cost. This in itself helps clients see the value you are offering and at the same time, allows them to try your services without committing to a large investment.
12. Create a mailing list of interested potential clients so you can keep in touch with them
Another way to stay in touch with your potential clients is by creating a mailing list. This way, you can send them informative articles and other content they might be interested in so they remember who you are and what you do. Just make sure you don’t annoy them as the last thing you want to do is turn potential clients away from working with you.
13. Network in person at events such as conferences, networking mixers, and meetups
There are tons of conferences, networking mixers, and meetups happening around the world throughout this year so take a look at what’s going on in your area and try to attend at least a few of them. These events give you a great opportunity to network with other professionals in your industry and build relationships that could eventually lead to better business.
14. Use your past clients as testimonials, case studies, and references for future potential clients
Whenever you work with a client, always ask if they would be willing to provide you with a testimonial or reference. Make sure these are published on your website so anyone viewing it can see the quality of your services right away without even contacting you.
15. Create an email auto-responder series to turn site visitors into subscribers
Your website should be your “home base” that directs all traffic to other social media platforms. That being said, it’s also the first place people will go to when they want to learn more about your services and what you have to offer so your website should always be kept up-to-date. Make sure you also have an auto-responder series in place to turn site visitors into subscribers so you can build your list and market to them at a later date.
16. Update your LinkedIn profile with the skills you offer and what types of jobs you’re looking for
LinkedIn is a unique social media platform and if used correctly, can turn your profile into a lead magnet.
You need to make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the rest of them so potential clients can easily see what you offer and how they can contact you. Be sure to include samples of your work and a link to your website as well as a short bio and headline. Also, list the types of jobs you’re looking for and any other skills that could be of use on future projects.
Customize your LinkedIn background with your logo or other eye-catching images
Your LinkedIn background is one of the first things people will see when viewing your profile so make it count. Make sure it has your logo or other eye-catching images that immediately show potential clients what you offer.
When people view your profile, it should be apparent to them what you do. If they have any questions, there should always be a way to contact you so they can reach out if they are interested in working with you on their next project.
17. Create a website that demonstrates your expertise and the value you offer
The ultimate lead magnet for freelancers is their own website, which should include all the information visitors need to know before contacting you. Your website needs to clearly demonstrate what you can do, how clients can reach out to you, and some of your past work so people can see the quality of your services first-hand.
Make sure any testimonials you have are published on your website as well as case studies that highlight an important project or result that might be useful for potential clients. If you need help creating a website that works, check out this post for 8 tips on building a website.
18. Offer your services at reduced rates for potential clients to get more experience working with you
If all else fails, consider offering your freelance services at reduced rates for the first few projects so you can build up your portfolio and market yourself while still earning money. The only downside is that once you start working for cheap, it can be difficult to raise your rates so you want to make sure this is only done when absolutely necessary.
19. Build up a reputation as an expert in one specific area so that people know they can count on you when they need help
Besides improving your visibility and increasing the number of people who would be interested in working with you, another benefit of using social media is that it will help you build up a reputation as an expert in one specific area so that people know they can count on you when they need help.
This is especially important for freelancers who work remotely and have to market themselves without the support of an established team. Make it your goal to become a go-to person for certain types of projects by demonstrating your expertise and networking with those who have a similar audience to your target market.
Using hashtags on social media is another great way to make yourself visible and connect with potential clients who might not otherwise know about your services. For example, if you create great infographics or other visual content, use relevant hashtags in your posts so people searching for someone with your skills can see what you have to offer.
This strategy is especially effective when used on Twitter or Instagram, where users are much more likely to find the latest trending hashtags and follow relevant accounts to expand their network and learn more about people and ideas they’d like to connect with.
21. Participate in group discussions to build relationships with potential clients
If you are looking for ways to connect with potential clients, look no further than online groups. This is a great way to connect with others who work in your field and interact with them so you can build relationships.
This is also a good method for learning more about the latest developments or challenges people face when working on similar projects. This could help your business avoid these mistakes and come up with better solutions that benefit everyone.
22. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t so you can adjust your strategy when necessary
It’s important to keep track of what works and what doesn’t so that you can adjust your marketing strategy accordingly. If a certain type of post or networking strategy is getting a negative response from your target audience, consider using different methods to promote yourself on social media.
For example, if people aren’t clicking on your posts or visiting your website, you might want to use fewer hashtags or post more frequently. On the other hand, if people are engaging with your content but not converting into clients, try adding a call-to-action in the post itself so they know exactly what action to take next.
Finally, since consistency is crucial when it comes to maintaining a strong social media presence, make sure you are posting at the appropriate times of day and adjusting your strategy if necessary. For example, different sites have different peak hours so some posts might be more successful on one site but less successful on another.
Since there are so many different social media sites and it can be hard to know which network will work best for your business, consider investing in a software like HootSuite or Sprout Social, which allows you to post updates simultaneously on all the various platforms where you have an audience. This way, you won’t have to spend so much time constantly adjusting your strategy and can focus instead on engaging with potential clients.
Once you have a strong social media presence, remember to constantly post links back to your website so people take the next step toward becoming customers or hiring you as a freelancer. Without sending traffic to your site, it’s likely that very few people will become actual clients.
Start Growing Your Client Base!
That’s it, folks! So I hope you enjoyed the article and leave a comment below if you have any questions or thoughts about getting more clients for your freelancing business. Thanks for reading 🙂
Good luck!
What do you think about these tips? Which one will you focus on first? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. And remember to share this article on your favorite social media sites and with your friends and colleagues.
If you want to learn more about freelancing, here are some related articles I recommend: 20 Best Freelancing Sites For Beginners How to Find Freelance Work on Upwork Top 20 Freelance Sites that Pay Well and How much do You Charge?
