These days, freelancing is a popular way to make money and be your own boss. It’s also a great way to supplement your income if you’re working full-time or want an extra stream of revenue.
But how do you find clients when you’re just starting? Here are some tips that can help you on your journey to finding the right people to work with whether they’re individuals who need a graphic designer for their website, startups looking for copywriters, or businesses in need of content marketing services.
I’ve been successful as both a freelance writer and an editor through my network of contacts, so I know firsthand how important it is to establish relationships with other professionals before diving headfirst into this career path. See what works for you!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Build a strong and diverse portfolio |
| 2. Leverage online platforms for freelance opportunities |
| 3. Network with other professionals in your industry |
| 4. Showcase your skills and expertise effectively |
| 5. Set competitive and fair freelance rates |
| 6. Stay proactive in seeking new projects and clients |
| 7. Manage your time and deadlines efficiently |
| 8. Prioritize clear communication with clients |
| 9. Be adaptable and open to different types of freelance work |
| 10. Continuously improve and update your skillset |
Build Your Network
To find work, you have to network. Networking is the process of meeting people who can help you get more work. You should meet people in person and online.
Here are the best ways to build your network:
- Meet other freelancers at meetups or conventions, or join industry-specific Facebook groups.
- Volunteer for non-profits or charitable organizations that help people in need and ask if they need any help with their projects.
- Join professional associations such as Freelancers Union (for US residents), Freelance UK (for UK residents), and Freelance International (for international residents).
These organizations often have events where they bring together freelancers from all over the world once a year or so and these events are great places for making contacts!
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Create A Website To Showcase Your Work
To show off your skills, make sure you have a website that showcases your work. You don’t want to use it as a portfolio instead, focus on the design and simplicity of the site. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating one:
Make sure it’s up-to-date. If you’re a freelancer who works full time and has client deadlines, it can be easy for your website to fall behind on posts or updates. Keep track of what needs updated and make sure they get completed regularly so that clients know they can trust your work ethic by visiting the site frequently.
Showcase only 2–5 pieces at once while keeping them short and sweet (3 paragraphs maximum).
This is not an academic paper; rather than written out every detail about a project or showing every single screenshot used in an interaction with a client or user testing group.
Tell people why these projects were important for their business goals without taking away from making them visually appealing by choosing one well-designed piece per week/month/year if possible depending on where we are in terms of technology trends like voice interfaces becoming more popular among consumers!
Share Your Work On Social Media
Social media is a great way to get your work in front of people who might be interested in it. You can post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram the options are endless. This can help you build your brand and get your name out there.
This is also an opportunity to interact with other freelancers and potential clients on social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook groups specifically designed for freelancers like [insert link here].
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Join Relevant Facebook Groups And Follow Hashtags
Facebook groups and Instagram hashtags are great ways to find work as a freelancer. If you’re posting your work on Facebook, consider joining relevant groups and following hashtags that might be useful in helping you find clients or people who could use your services.
Use hashtags to connect with other freelancers in the same field as you, then use them again when posting about projects that need doing this will help get potential clients’ attention and give them reasons why they should hire you over others.
Send Sales Emails To Prospective Clients
Send out a template email, but personalize it to the individual client. Sell yourself as an expert in your field and use examples of previous work that you’ve done for businesses like theirs.
You may also want to mention that you have experience with other online tools such as G Suite (formerly Google Apps for Work) or Mailchimp both are free trial options that can help you grow your business quickly and easily.
Write Cold Pitches To Prospective Clients
Cold pitches are emails you send out to people you don’t know and haven’t built a relationship with. If a prospective client doesn’t know you, it’s better to save your cold pitches until after they’ve hired you for one project or another.
You should only send cold pitches if:
(1) You have a very specific and targeted email list of people who might need what you have to offer;
(2) You can afford the time and resources it takes to manage this type of project;
(3) You’re confident in your ability to deliver something truly valuable for them;
Follow Up With Clients Who Need A Little More Convincing
If a client is slow to respond, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean they’re not interested in your services or that you’re doing something wrong. They might be busy with other projects, or their inbox may be overflowing with responses from other freelancers. Give them some time and then follow up again in about a week.
If you’ve already sent a message but haven’t heard back from the hiring manager yet (or if it’s been over a week), it’s okay to send another email with your pitch but this time make sure that your message is tailored specifically for them, rather than just replicating what you sent earlier.
Think: What kind of information did they request? What questions did they ask? Did anything change between sending the first email and writing this one?
You should also consider following up on LinkedIn as well as emailing again and possibly even sending an SMS if that’s part of their preferred communication method!
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Participate In Online Communities With Other Freelancers
If you’re looking for a way to meet other freelancers and grow your skills, one of the best places to do that is in online communities. There are plenty of resources out there where people can connect through blogs, forums, social media pages, and more.
Here are some ways you can find an online community that’s right for you:
Find communities based on experience or focus area. For example, You might want to join a community specifically geared toward creative writers who want to self-publish their novels (or who already have!) or maybe someone who wants to learn how to build their website from scratch?
You could also look for communities that focus on specific industries such as graphic design or web development whatever area interests you most!
Search by location. This will help narrow down the results so they include only those local groups within driving distance from where you live right now (or farther away if necessary). It might not seem like much but being able to meet up with other people face-to-face makes all the difference when it comes time
Meet Other Freelancers In Person At Local Events
Meetup.com is a great resource for connecting with other freelancers in your area. You can use the website to find meetups, then go to those meetings and network with others in the same field. You may not be able to get a job at one of these meetings, but you’re sure to find someone who knows someone who can point you in the right direction.
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Be Prepared Before You Talk To Anyone In Your Network About New Business Opportunities
It’s important to have the right information at your fingertips before you reach out to a potential client. Here are some of the key points you should know:
- What they need and want (for example, asking a client what they need instead of just pitching your services)
- A budget range or the number for their project
- How long it will take them to complete the project
- Their expectations in terms of outcomes, deliverables, etc.
In addition to these details, it’s also helpful to find out more about the company itself so that you can better understand how your skills fit with what they need. Some things worth looking into include:
Company history and culture; are they focused on innovative technology? Are they creative types who value design? Do they see themselves as being cutting edge or old-fashioned? This information will help give context for why a given client may be interested in working with an independent contractor like yourself or not! You might find that one company isn’t an ideal match because there’s no synergy between their goals and yours (but another might be). Company goals; this will allow you to make sure that any projects are aligned with these objectives before moving forward
As an example, let’s say that you’re a freelance graphic designer who specializes in designing websites for businesses around town. You could explain:
- What freelancing entails
- How much does it cost (for example, per hour or project)
- What kinds of projects you’ve done before (and whether those have been successful or not)
- How long does it take for each task/project to complete?
- Ask friends and family for work or referrals.
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One Of The Best Ways To Find Work As A Freelancer Is By Asking Friends And Family For Referrals
Ask your friends and family if they know anyone who might need your services. They may be able to help you find clients or projects that could be a good fit for you as well.
If possible, offer them a discount on your services in exchange for their help in finding new customers.
Go old school and hand out business cards to anyone and everyone you come into contact with regularly without being pushy about it.
You may be wondering if you need a website or social media presence, and the answer is that yes, you do. You can’t just hand out business cards to anyone and everyone you come into contact with regularly without being pushy about it; first impressions are everything!
But what I’m saying here is that your business card is not going to be enough for people to remember who you are.
People will probably look at your business card for about 3 seconds before putting it away in their wallet or purse. They’ll write down your name on their phone, but probably not your website or social media handles and that’s where problems start happening.
Your website should have a prominent link on every page so it’s easy for people to find if they want more information from someone who gave them a business card after meeting them once at an industry event (or twice if they were impressed).
And of course having an active presence on social media Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is crucial because that’s where most people get their news nowadays anyway; there’s no reason why yours shouldn’t show up there too!
Conclusion
If you’ve managed to take even one thing away from this post, then we’ll consider it a success. We know that freelancers have different needs, and our tips are designed to be flexible enough for every situation. So, whether you’re just starting or you want to improve your existing methods, we hope that these strategies can help you get more clients in the future. Good luck!
Further Reading
Indeed Career Advice – How to Find Work as a Freelancer Short Description: Get valuable insights and practical tips on finding freelance opportunities through this comprehensive guide by Indeed.
DotKnowledge – How to Find Work as a Freelancer Short Description: DotKnowledge shares expert advice on navigating the freelancing world and securing rewarding projects.
Webflow Blog – Freelance Websites Short Description: Discover the best platforms for showcasing your freelance skills and connecting with potential clients, as discussed in this Webflow blog post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Freelancer?
A freelancer is someone who works on projects or contracts for clients but is not employed by any one company. Freelancers can work as writers, artists, editors, programmers, administrators, or any other type of job that requires specialized skills.
Many people choose to be freelancers because it allows them to work from home, which can be convenient when raising children or caring for an elderly relative. Freelancers also have more flexibility in their schedules than employees do, which makes it easier to balance work and family life.
How Do I Become A Freelancer?
You’ll need to build up your skills and experience so that you’re ready for the job market when you decide to go freelance. Your best bet is to find some companies who need your services and offer them your services at low rates until you have enough experience under your belt to charge more!
It’s also important that you understand how taxes work if you go freelance you may want to consult with an accountant before setting up shop!
How Do I Find Work As A Freelancer?
If you’re looking for ways to make money as a freelancer, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together all of our most helpful tips in one place so that you can quickly and easily find work as a freelancer.
What Should I Charge For My Services?
You should charge for your services based on what other freelancers are charging in your area. You can also use sites like Fiverr or Upwork to get an idea of how much other professionals in your field are charging.
How Do I Manage My Time As A Freelancer?
As a new freelancer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the things you need to do to keep up with everything going on in your life: school, family commitments, etc. To manage your time effectively as a freelancer, set goals every day and stick to them!
That way when something comes up unexpectedly like an assignment due at school you won’t be caught off guard by it because you’ve already accounted for it in advance (that’s what we call “prioritizing”).
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
