Marketing is a freelancer’s lifeline. When you know how to market yourself as a freelancer, you’ll have plenty of work to keep you busy. You can avoid the dreaded dry spells that keep other freelancers up at night. And when you have a healthy amount of projects, you can make this whole freelancing thing work!
So, where do you start with self-promotion when you have no clue about marketing? Whether you’re a freelance writer or a graphic designer, a web designer or a marketing pro, you need to know how to promote yourself to the right audience. Let’s explore some options:
Launch a website or blog
Writing your own blog posts lets you showcase your knowledge and expertise in your field, which can help attract business. Even if you’re not offering content writing as a service, your blog can become part of a strong portfolio.
Blogging is a great way to build your personal brand. You can use your blog to share your story and connect with potential clients on a deeper level.
Also, blogging can help you attract new clients and grow your business. By sharing helpful and informative content, you’ll be able to show potential clients that you know what you’re talking about – which can make them more likely to hire you for their next project.
That said, you’ll want to use search engine optimization best practices to help more people find your blog content. Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to the process of creating content that can be understood by search engine algorithms. This helps new clients find you via search instead of directly typing in your website or finding you via your social media channels.
Improve your social media activities and presence
As a freelancer, it’s important to have a strong online presence. One way to build and maintain a good reputation is by using social media.
Social media sites can help you connect with potential clients, collaborate with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on industry news. It can also help you build your brand and show why you’re a great fit for a client’s needs.
Using your social media pages to their potential means being consistent with your presence. It’s not enough to post something one day and wait a month or two before posting again. You’ll want to focus on creating content consistently and keeping your audience up-to-date on what you’re doing.
Need some content ideas? Try a mix of your current projects, inspiring quotes, advice for clients, answers to common questions, past, work, and memes. People love memes.
Build a personal network
Freelancers often feel isolated and alone. After all, you don’t have the built-in support system that comes with working in an office. But what you do have is the ability to build your own network of contacts and colleagues – and it’s important that you do.
Having a network gives you access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. When you need advice or help with a project, there’s someone you can turn to.
Also, networking can lead to new opportunities. You never know when someone you know will be in a position to hire you or recommend you for a gig.
Last but not least, building a strong network will help you weather the inevitable ups and downs of freelancing. When work is slow or things get tough, your network will be there to support you – both professionally and personally.
So, how do you go about building a network?
I used LinkedIn to build a professional network. I’ll add anyone with whom I make contact in person or in the inbox. I’ll also add people I know from college, friend circles, or local businesses.
You can also build up your network by attending business networking events. Connect with other freelancers and business owners. Never underestimate the power of any connection.
Ask for referrals
Referrals are truly the highest form of flattery. When a past client recommends you to someone else, it’s a great way to build your business and get more work without any effort on your part.
But as a freelancer, you can’t just sit back and wait for referrals to come in – you have to ask for them.
Asking for referrals shows you’re confident in your work. This can help attract a potential client who is looking for someone who knows they can deliver.
It also helps build relationships with past clients and others in your network. You’ll know someone really values your work when they tell others about you.
Let me also say that referrals are FREE marketing! Work comes to you, allowing you to focus on what you do best instead of spending time on marketing.
Build client relationships
Good relationships lead to repeat work. If you do a great job and your client is happy with the results, they’re likely to come back to you for more work in the future. This means less marketing and advertising!
These relationships will also help you get referrals. If you have a good relationship with a client, they may be more willing to refer you to others.
Good client relationships can help you negotiate higher rates. If you have a strong relationship with a client, they may be more likely to agree to pay your higher rates when you negotiate them.
Word-of-mouth advertising
I LOVE word-of-mouth advertising. That’s because other people market my services for me — I can sit back and wait for inquiries.
All types of small businesses thrive on word of mouth. It’s basically free promotion and will send more traffic to your website, blog, social media sites, or portfolio. Plus, you’re not having to spend your own time trying to market yourself.
All that said, word-of-mouth advertising doesn’t always happen on its own. You may need to get the ball rolling by asking past clients if they would spread the word.
Or, if you’re a new business, you can ask family and friends to share your business cards or social media posts.
You can also post in Facebook groups, create content for your LinkedIn profile for others to share, or self promote via blog guest posting. Creating content makes it easy for your audience to share your content and spread the word.
Take the time to tailor your pitches
As a freelancer, you are always looking for your dream clients and projects. To get the attention of potential clients, you need to have a great pitch. But what makes a great pitch?
For starters, your pitch should be tailored to each client. A generic pitch won’t cut it. You need to show that you understand the client’s needs AND that you are the best person for the job.
You also need to be clear and concise. Potential clients are busy people and don’t have time to read a long, rambling email. Get to the point and explain why you are the perfect freelancer for the job.
Also, make sure your pitch looks perfect. Nothing will sink your chances of landing a gig faster than typos or grammatical errors in your pitch.
Send cold emails to prospective clients
As a freelancer, it’s important to look continuously for new clients and projects. One way to do this is by sending cold emails.
Clients won’t always come to you. Oftentimes, you need to go to the client and put yourself on their radar. Cold emailing can be daunting, but it’s a necessary evil if you want to keep your business afloat.
Why cold email, you ask?
For starters, it’s an effective way to reach new potential clients. Cold email lets you make new connections, introduce yourself and your services, and present yourself as an expert. It lets people get to know your brand and learn how you can support their marketing strategy.
It also allows you to pitch your services without having to meet in person or talk on the phone. You can send cold emails at almost no cost, allowing you to make the most of your time and other resources.
With the right tools, you can track results and measure your success rate over time. Not everyone will open your email. And of those that do, not everyone will respond. Cold emailing is a numbers game, and you can still get plenty of clients even if only a small percentage engage.
Last but not least, you can easily outsource cold emailing, freeing up your time to focus on other tasks. You may get more clients if you hire someone to handle your cold pitches on your behalf, which will more than pay for itself.
Write for yourself
As a freelancer, you are in control of your own career. You can choose to take on assignments that interest you and turn down those that don’t. But with this freedom comes the responsibility of constantly looking for new work. And one of the best ways to find new clients is to create content for yourself.
By “content,” I’m referring to a blog post or guest posts, social media content, video, meme, infographic, case study, or anything else that highlights your freelance business. The most important thing is to stick to topics in your niche to attract potential customers.
By sharing your work online, you’re showing the world what you can do and what kind of value you can offer. This is a great way to attract attention from companies or individuals who may need your services.
Creating content also helps you build up your credibility as an expert in your field. The more quality content you produce, the more likely people are to see you as a thought leader in your industry.
Your personal projects can be powerful marketing tools, as long as you make them available to clients.
Develop your online portfolio
Your online portfolio is essentially your resume. It showcases your skills and experience to potential clients. By having an online portfolio, you make it easy for clients to find and view your work.
There are a few things to keep in mind when creating your online portfolio. First, make sure to showcase a variety of your freelance work. This will give potential clients a sense of your range and capabilities. Also, be sure to update your portfolio with your latest work. This shows you are active and always improving your skills.
Finally, remember to promote your online portfolio. Make sure to share the link with potential clients and post about it on your social media sites. By doing this, you increase the chances that potential clients will see and appreciate your work.
Request reviews
As a freelancer, one of the best ways to market yourself is to request reviews from your current customers. By having five star reviews from happy customers, it will show you are good at what you do and that others have been happy with your work. This can help you attract new clients who are looking for someone with your skill set.
In addition, requesting reviews can help you get more work from your current clients. If they see that you have good reviews, they may be more likely to give you more work or refer you to other people they know who are looking for someone with your skills.
Also worth noting is that having good reviews can help you negotiate higher rates. If potential clients see that you have good reviews, they may be willing to pay more for your services knowing that they will likely be satisfied with the work you provide.
Go old-school with business cards
One of the oldest and most basic forms of self promotion, business cards still has a place in modern marketing. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to promote your freelance business to everyone you meet.
Business cards help you look professional and put together, even if you’re just starting out. They’re also a great conversation starter, which can help you network and find new clients.
And if you’re not a graphic designer or are worried about looking like a novice, don’t be. Take advantage of online templates and design services that can help you create a sleek and stylish business card without breaking the bank.
Success starts with knowing how to market yourself as a freelancer
Growing a solid freelance career hinges on knowing how to market your own business. Marketing will help you target clients via social media platforms, search engines, and in the real world. Nail this part of your freelance business and you should have no trouble making money and building a steady income.
Don’t have an established blog? No network? Brand new business? Where do you start to successfully market yourself?
My five-part course, How to Market Yourself as a Freelancer, has you covered. In this course, I show freelancers the two foundational pieces of an effective marketing strategy, regardless of the type of freelance business. Learn how to market your freelance business online and offline to gain more confidence in being your own boss for the long term.
Sign up and learn how to market your freelance business today!
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