There is no denying that life as a freelancer is very tough, especially if you are just starting out in the world of freelancing. The first main problem you will encounter is that you don’t have any clients to work with, so how do you get clients when you don’t have any experience? It can be difficult to get your foot in the door when you are new in the industry and there is so much competition out there. On top of that, many freelancers are not entirely sure how to even find clients, which makes it even more difficult.
| Takeaways |
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| 1. Assess Your Online Presence: Review your online portfolio, website, and social media profiles. Ensure they showcase your skills, expertise, and professionalism to attract potential clients. |
| 2. Refine Your Marketing Strategies: Experiment with various marketing techniques, such as networking, social media promotion, and content marketing. Tailor your approach to reach your target audience effectively. |
| 3. Seek Feedback and Make Improvements: If you’re facing challenges in acquiring clients, ask for feedback from past clients or colleagues. Use their insights to identify areas for improvement and enhance your services. |
| 4. Specialize and Niche Down: Consider focusing on a specific niche or industry where your skills align the best. Specialization can make you stand out and attract clients looking for expertise in that area. |
| 5. Stay Positive and Persistent: Freelancing can be unpredictable, but maintaining a positive attitude and persistence are key to success. Keep refining your approach, stay motivated during slow periods, and continue to seek opportunities. |
The Reason You Are Not Getting Client
There are many reasons why freelancers are not getting clients. When you first start out, you may have to work hard to land your first few clients. You might even have to work for free or lower your prices.
The following are common reasons why freelancers are not getting clients:
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1. Lack Of Experience
When you don’t have enough experience in the field, it is difficult to get a job. You also don’t know what is needed and not needed to do the job effectively. An inefficient freelancer who doesn’t deliver quality work or doesn’t meet deadlines will quickly get a reputation as unreliable and clients will avoid hiring them.
2. High Rates
Many freelancers overprice their services thinking they can get away with it because they have no overhead expenses or they have a high level of skill or experience in the field. However, this is foolish thinking as clients can easily find an alternative for cheaper, someone willing to negotiate on price, or even learn how to do it themselves rather than pay an exorbitant amount for someone else to do it for them.
3. No Portfolio Or References
People will hire you only if you can prove that you can do the work. If you don’t have any experience, then build a portfolio by doing free work for friends and family. Offer to build a website, develop software or create content for them in your area of expertise. You’ll gain valuable experience and testimonials for your portfolio that will help you get clients in the future.
4. Poor Website Or Social Media Presence
No website? No problem, right? Wrong. You might think it’s easy to land gigs without a web presence, but the truth is that your potential clients will rarely hire you if they can’t find a way to verify your skills and experience. Even if you have a great portfolio, people need to see it!
A bad website is even worse than not having one at all. If it sucks, it’ll turn off potential clients and make them think you don’t take your work seriously. (Remember: first impressions are everything.)
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5. Not Putting In Enough Time And Effort
The first mistake that many freelancers make is not putting in enough time and effort. Freelancers think that they can just set up their profiles, show off their work, and the clients will just come knocking. This is not the case.
If you are a freelancer, you have to start marketing your services aggressively to land your first client.
There are many ways to do this, including:
- Connecting with businesses through LinkedIn
- Building a website showcasing your past work
- Building a social media presence by creating accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms
- Guest blogging for other websites or businesses
- Creating a video portfolio showcasing your skills and experience
- Reaching out directly through phone calls or emails and asking for work (yes this really works)
6. Lack Of Communication Skills
If you aren’t much of a people person, you might want to consider brushing up on your communication skills. Even if you’re not a full-time freelancer and only need occasional help, it’s important for clients to communicate with the person helping them out. If communication is lacking, the project will likely end up being a disaster.
The best way to get better at communicating is to practice. Take some time each day just to talk with other people and try to be as assertive as possible. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it’ll pay off in the long run!
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7. Not Asking For Help When Needed
If you are not getting clients, you are probably not asking for help. The reason could be that you are shy or fearful of rejection. This is understandable but it is the wrong approach to not ask for help if you need help.
Humans are social beings and most of us prefer to do things with and around others. Asking for help is something that we can all do with ease. It does not mean that you are weak or vulnerable.
In fact, it takes courage to admit that you need help in order to succeed. Also, in many instances, the person who offers their advice or assistance will feel honored when asked for help.
If you ask for help from the right person at the right time, they will be happy to assist you with the resources they have.
8. You’re Not Visible Enough
If nobody knows about you, they cannot hire you. If you want to get clients, you need to be in the places where your target audience is. This means that if you’re a web developer, for example, you need to be on forums and sites like Stack Overflow (and showcase your expertise). Or if you’re an illustrator, you can join Twitter chats or create a Pinterest board with your work and optimize it for SEO.
9. You’re Not On Social Media
You can’t expect clients to find you online if you’re not online. And I’m not just talking about a website: I’m talking about being present on social media. Nowadays, people search for everything online — including freelancers — and they look for them on social media first: Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. It’s all there! So make sure to have an active presence on each of these platforms and post regularly: it’s free marketing!
Ways To Get Client As Freelancer
If you are looking for clients but not getting any, here are some things that you can try:
1. Network In Person And Online
When it comes to finding clients, networking is your best friend. You can network with people both in-person and online. It’s important that your network is as much as possible so that people remember who you are and what you do.
2. Provide Client Testimonials On Your Website
If you want to get more clients, then it’s important that you offer client testimonials on your website. If a potential client sees that other clients have enjoyed working with you, then they will be more likely to reach out to you for services.
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3. Ask Your Friends, Family, And Acquaintances
The easiest way to find work is to talk to people you know in real life and see if they need any help with anything. You can offer your services to friends, family members, and coworkers who might be running a business or even just need some help online with something that they want to get done.
4. Try To Use Social Media To Gain More Exposure
One of the best ways to get your brand out there is by using social media as this can help you in so many ways. Social media can be used for free and you can share images, articles, and even videos with people all over the world. Not only that but it’s possible to use social media for free and it doesn’t take long to set up either.
5. Never Stop Looking For New Clients
Someone who is a freelancer should never be content when they do not have any clients and actually, they should always be looking for a new client. If freelance worker has too much time on their hands, it could lead to them feeling depressed and unhappy. Not only that but the more time they have on their hands, the less creative they are likely to feel as well which is why it is important that they keep themselves busy at all times.
6. Do Some Free Work
If someone wants to become a freelancer but doesn’t currently have any clients, then it may be worth doing some free work just to build up a portfolio so that you can show potential clients what you are capable of doing in the future.
Who can say no to free labor? If you offer some of your time for free to someone who needs it, they get something they wouldn’t otherwise have had, and in return, they will help you out by giving you exposure and testimonials that can help build your reputation even further.
7. Get Referrals From Other Freelancers
Make use of your network and find out people who freelance in fields similar to yours. You can reach out to them and ask for referrals. They may pass on your details to their existing clients and you could get some work from their side as well.
8. Keep An Open Mind
You never know who will give you work unless you put yourself out there. You might think that only big companies can hire freelancers but there are plenty of small businesses that need help with their marketing or web design. By being open-minded about who could hire you, you increase your chances of landing work significantly!
9. Get Clear On Your Niche
The more specific the better. For example, if you’re a copywriter, make sure that you identify the types of industries and companies that you want to work with. Getting clear on your niche will help you find prospects that are likely to be interested in your services.
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10. Create An Account On Different Platforms
Use websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, which are designed for freelancers to post their services so that clients can contact them directly. These sites are perfect platforms to showcase your skills and get some reviews from customers in order to build up a portfolio.
Takeaway
Hopefully, these sources help you find new clients for your freelance business. If you are still having trouble finding potential clients, check out our other blog articles on freelancing and hiring freelancers to see if they will help.
Further Reading
Reasons Why You Can’t Find Freelance Clients and Solutions: Learn about the common challenges freelancers face when it comes to finding clients and discover effective solutions to overcome them.
How to Deal With Losing Clients: Tips for Freelancers: Losing clients can be tough, but this article provides valuable tips on how freelancers can cope with client loss and bounce back stronger.
Not Getting Any Projects? Here’s What You Should Do: If you’re struggling to get freelance projects, this Q&A with experts offers practical advice and strategies to boost your chances of landing projects.
FAQs
Why am I not getting any freelance clients?
Finding clients as a freelancer can be challenging, and there could be various reasons behind this. It could be due to a lack of a strong online presence, ineffective marketing strategies, or not showcasing your skills adequately. Consider optimizing your portfolio and networking to improve client acquisition.
How can I improve my freelance marketing efforts?
To enhance your freelance marketing efforts, focus on building a professional website or online portfolio, engage in social media promotion, and utilize freelance platforms to showcase your expertise. Additionally, seek referrals and recommendations from satisfied clients to expand your reach.
What steps should I take after losing a freelance client?
Losing a client is part of freelancing, but it’s essential to handle it gracefully. Reflect on the reasons for the loss, seek feedback, and use the experience as an opportunity to improve your services. Remember to maintain professionalism and stay positive in your future endeavors.
How can I stand out as a freelancer in a competitive market?
To stand out in a competitive freelance market, identify your unique strengths and skills. Niche down if possible and specialize in specific areas where you excel. Providing excellent customer service and exceeding client expectations can also help differentiate you from the competition.
What can I do to stay motivated during periods of low project availability?
Freelancing can have its ups and downs, including periods of low project availability. During such times, focus on self-improvement, learning new skills, and networking with potential clients. Stay positive, maintain a routine, and consider taking up personal projects to stay motivated and enhance your portfolio.
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.