As a freelancer, you'll agree that finding new clients and starting a new freelance gig has become increasingly difficult. The freelance business is now at the booming phase. Still, gig-workers buddying up with clients face many challenges.
You may be a member of many paid websites that promise you clients, but with no actionable results. However, you can get a continuous flow of clients free of cost.
Read on to learn how to devise a strategy that will blend apps, tools, and creativity to increase your client base.
1. Referral From a Client or Anyone You Know
Referrals from previous clients usually work better than alternative marketing tactics. It is quite common for businesses to search for the best service provider among their peers to avoid some of the hectic bidding processes.
So, it is vital that you ask your existing clients to refer you to other businesses. Your best chance of finding clients is to ask around among your friends.
They could also be your family members, mentors, former colleagues, managers at previous employment, etc. Let them know that you’re looking for referrals.
2. Publish Marketing Blog Contents
Maintaining a blog site with a marketing objective is the most cost-effective way of spreading brand awareness among prospective clients. You can start blogging from websites like WordPress, Blogger, Medium, Hexo, etc., for free.
When you’ll post content, make sure that the writing tone has a sales outlook. If you’re a WordPress developer/designer, publish content that appeals to the target audience to recruit you. For example, write how responsive websites increase sales up to a certain percentage and that you’re an expert in delivering such websites.
3. Start Guest Posting in Reputable Websites
Many business owners, managers, and individual entrepreneurs subscribe to reputable online technology or business-oriented websites to stay updated. Hence, you need to send proposals to such websites and find out if you can publish your creatives on their platform.
Doing so will increase your work’s visibility to the people who have the hiring authority. Some of the best guest posting sites are:
- Answerout.com for freelance SEO gigs.
- Content Marketing Institute for content writers.
- HubSpot Blog for general marketing.
- AllBusiness.com for small business gigs.
- Mashable for social media marketing gigs.
- GetResponse Blog for email marketers.
- Slashdot for technology gigs.
- Hongkiat for website designers and developers.
4. Maintain an Updated and Versatile Portfolio
Create a digital portfolio in multiple formats like website, video, and PDF. You should also include a convincing cover letter and summary resume in your portfolio.
Once your portfolio is ready, you need to publish it on a searchable portfolio platform to attract clients. Based on your skills, you can try any of the following portfolio platforms to display your gig:
- Graphic Artists Guild
- Coroflot
- Hireillo
- Sortfolio
- SolidGigs
- Upwork
- PeoplePerHour
- Fiverr
5. Focus on LinkedIn Networking
Managers and recruiters from medium to large businesses prefer LinkedIn for the hiring purpose. Additionally, on Google and Bing searches for names or skills, LinkedIn is often the first search result.
Improve your LinkedIn profile to look professional and stylish. It would help if you tried the following:
- Put a link to your portfolio website or upload a video or PDF as a portfolio.
- You should link your freelance brand’s website.
- Add a professional-looking profile photograph.
- Craft a summary that displays your skills and achievements.
- Keep the skills and experience section updated.
- Add completed projects in the work samples section.
- Add recommendations and skill endorsements to your LinkedIn profile.
6. Utilize Social Media for Business Marketing
You need to actively interact on many social media platforms to grab prospective client’s attention. Social media is the best platform to post your portfolio in the form of images, videos, and document files.
You need to try any of the following social media platforms depending on your freelance gig:
- Content writers and authors: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and APSense.
- Graphic and motion designers: Behance, Dribbble, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Software developers: GitHub, Reddit, HackerNews, and Stack Overflow.
- Freelance photographers: Photo Critique, Tumblr, Instagram, Behance, Vero, and Steller.
- UI/UX designers: YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Figma Community.
- Website designer and developers: Dribbble, Pixel Groovy, Pinterest, Designmoo, and Behance.
7. Start Sending Marketing Emails and Newsletters
Email or newsletter marketing is a highly successful method that can increase your client pool. It’s highly lucrative for both new and existing freelancers. You can create appealing marketing emails from the below-mentioned websites. Some of these websites will also allow you to send marketing emails for free.
- Moosend to create and edit email/newsletter templates.
- Mailchimp for email templates, online CRM, newsletters, and landing pages.
- Sendinblue for email/newsletter templates, sending marketing emails, storing client contacts, etc.
8. Improve and Practice a Sales Pitch for Your Gig
You need to create an informative and convincing sales pitch to attract clients. You need to have a separate sales pitch for in-person and email. You’ll find free sales pitch on the following websites:
9. Find Phone and Text Marketing Opportunities
Calling and texting are the most conventional way to connect with prospective clients. You can use the same sales pitch that you created earlier for cold calling and texting. For local clients, you should try phone and text marketing.
You can get local client details from many sources like Google My Business, Google Maps, Bing Maps, and Yellow Pages Directory.
10. Present Yourself as an Expert
Businesses and freelance clients will always want to hire an expert. Therefore, you need to position yourself as an expert on the project for which the client should hire you. Followings are the cost-free ways to demonstrate that you’re the expert that everyone should be hiring:
- Write an eBook and support that with interviews and public speaking. You can publish for free on websites like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Barnes & Noble Press, Apple eBook Store, Kobo Writing Life, etc.
- Create free online courses on websites like Thinkific, LearnWorlds, Teachable, Podia, etc.
- Produce informative products to increase brand awareness. You can create infographics, videos, whitepapers, press releases, animations, etc., and publish them on supported platforms.
Evergreen Ideas to Win More Clients as a Freelancer
The client acquisition strategy is an ever-changing process. However, follow the simple steps mentioned above and make freelance marketing a regular task. You should see more contracts coming your way than ever before. Moreover, don’t forget that your blog/website is the flagship of your brand.