Sitting back and hoping for new clients to show up is not even an option for successful freelancers. You need to be proactive if you want to build your business. Even if you are high-skilled, this is not a guarantee of constant work.
In a survey run out in 2020, the results showed that 68% freelancers assure landing clients is their biggest problem. Project acquisition is, by far, the most common challenge freelancers face.
The time required to find new clients will depend on the experience you have as a freelancer and also the industry you are in. If you’re new in freelancing, don’t be surprised if you spend 75% of your time finding new clients or projects. Otherwise, the average seems to be three or six hours per week looking for work.
One of the advantages of freelancing is getting paid what you worth, but the freelance market is competitive. Some days you will feel that like a freelancer you’re spending more time looking for clients than actually working. As time is money, you should use it wisely. To do so, we offer to you some tips that you can apply to get more clients on your own.
1. Create a clear portfolio and market it
Your portfolio is your visual calling card, it’s what makes the world to know your skills, talents, and expertise. For that reason, try to include your best work, quality over quantity. You don’t need to include everything. Keep in mind the kind of clients you would like to attract and select the material they would like to see. Make sure the work is fresh and up to date.
Potential clients want to see new work, so constantly update and edit your portfolio. This is the perfect place to show your versatility. Including different material will show your creativity. It’s also important to depict a full range of your capabilities. There many tools you can use to create your portfolio, here are some you can try on.
Once you know your niche, it’s important to keep in mind the services other freelancers are offering and what makes you different from them. Also, get testimonials from previous clients and make sure your contact info is easy to locate. When you have the perfect portfolio to showcase your work, the next step is to promote it.
2. Position yourself as an expert
The first step to position yourself as an expert is to create content. Writing about relevant topics for the field will give you the chance to show your expertise. To do so, think about what kind of people you want to work with and write articles for them. Blogging is another way to market yourself and your services. So, make sure to write about topics that’ll appeal to your target client.
For going beyond the standard blog, you can write things like an eBook. Anyone can publish a book on Amazon, but also, there are other options like Gumroad. Aside from showing your expertise, writing an eBook will give you the opportunity to do speaking engagements or interviews.
You can also do other things such as create online courses and informational products like videos. This is going to take you some time, but you won’t have to spend money on advertising.
3. Take part at events or conferences
Attending meetings and conferences of your interest will give you the chance of sharing with interesting people. And also you can meet potential clients. Remember to bring some cards with you to those events.
Speaking at conferences is also a good strategy to find people interested in the services or products you offer. Through this activity you will also have the chance to demonstrate your value. If you want to know which events are coming, you can click here.
4. Be active in social media
Engaging in social media is one of the best ways to find projects and clients. To do so, you’ll need to have at hand your portfolio and content.
For building real connections with people, you’ll have to interact with them in a genuine way. If you see a post of someone asking a question, answer it, give your ideas and feedback. If someone is looking for a service, share your portfolio. Every interaction will give you the opportunity to create community and establish real connections with people.
In the end, freelancing is about relationship building. Using these methods for promoting yourself, you’re not going to spend precious time or money in advertising. Following these tips, you will see the results you’re looking for. Now, it’s your turn, try these strategies and tell us your results in the comments. If there is another useful strategy to find clients, share it here, and let’s start building community together.