The main benefit of working as a freelancer is that you don't have to be tied up to a particular location. Instead, you can "roam the world" and then choose a place where you would "anchor" for some time. This way you can enjoy different cultures and meet various people across the globe – the opportunities are endless.
But, there's a catch!
Starting your freelance career is a huge step as you have to consider different ways of finding, attracting and reaching out to potential clients.
So, if you are a freelancer or a digital nomad just entering the world of remote work or if you are planning to step into it, there must be thousands of questions swarming in your head.
One, and certainly the weightiest, is:
How do you get clients?
We've done our research to help you learn about how you can reach out to clients easily and quickly.
Let's find out!
1. Make Your Own Website
The easiest way to help your visitors learn about your services and your key differentiators is through a well-designed website. Your website acts as your shopfront – you need one to motivate your customers to want to go inside the shop.
While social media networks help your customers see what your brand is all about, they do not belong to you.
Cutting through the white noise and building your authority is extremely difficult if you do not have something that is truly yours, making you unique.
But, don't do this alone. Hire a web design and development company that can help you build a website that will attract, engage and convert customers. You don't want to get behind your competitors. Instead, show your visitors you are ahead of them.
2. Join Freelance Job Sites
Naturally, one of the first things freelancers do when looking for new clients is to join one of the job sites. Once you create your account, you need to research how that specific platform works and find people who may be interested in your work.
You will also have to check your clients regularly and find the offers that perfectly suit your needs. Eventually, you will start building a network of clients, which will only continue growing. Some of these websites are:
3. Join Co-working Spaces
Even if you have enough space at home or enjoy working from a local café, you may want to choose one of the co-working spaces for work. You may be thinking, "Why do I need this?"
Well, the workspace can become a valuable resource because it will help you meet new people with different backgrounds who may eventually become your customers or introduce you to new, potential ones.
The dynamic and friendly atmosphere, nice and welcoming interior and attractive design will make you feel lovely and be even more enthusiastic about your work.
By meeting new people, exchanging experiences and visiting some of their events, you are more likely to meet new clients than when you are when sitting at your computer home alone.
4. Ask for Referrals from the Past Clients and People You Know
Asking people to say a word or two about your services and their collaboration with your company is one of the oldest ways to promote yourself. Still, it seems that everyone is neglecting it. Why?
Even though referrals are perhaps the most cost-effective way to reach new clients, asking for referrals from them may be a bit awkward.
But there are ways you can do this without sounding like you need it desperately. Use your network of friends and family to ask for referrals from people they know.
Also, choose some of your best clients and ask them for referrals. They will refer your products or services because they trust you.
When other people say a few nice words about what you do, this brings additional value to the quality of your products and services.
5. Send Cold Emails
Cold emails are one of the best outreach methods used in marketing when done properly. To send a good cold email, you need to focus on three things: research, personalization and relevance.
In order to reach out to potential customers, you first need to find as much information as you can about them and their expertise.
Make sure you never copy-paste emails because the recipients will see right through you. Try to personalize your emails and make them more friendly. You need to make your customers feel important.
Finally, you always have to ensure that you reach out to the person who would consider your proposal or request as relevant. Write your pitches wisely.
6. Join as Many Social Media Groups as Possible
Once you build a website, it's time to connect with the local business community through social media groups like Facebook and LinkedIn groups. This is an amazing way to find a group of people interested in similar topics and looking for solutions you may offer.
Look for groups where you can exchange ideas, share knowledge and add something valuable. This way, you will build visibility and brand awareness, letting people know you are an expert at what you do.
However, you need to be selective and choose the groups that will add value to your work. Once you connect with them, you will ask the right people the right questions, extend your reach and find new business opportunities.
7. Be Proficient at What You Do
Even if you find many new clients, all of your efforts will fall flat if you don't take your job seriously. To bring the best results, you need to stick to a strong work ethic. Think about why your clients like working with you and define your core values.
While some clients like you because of your accuracy, functionality and creativity, others choose to work with you because you have an amazing team spirit.
At the end of the day, a satisfied customer will bring you many new customers.
8. Build a Strong Online Presence
Creating a website is not enough to show the world who you are and what your brand stands for.
In this new digital era, when the future of service is digital, building a digital presence is critical.
There is a whole new range of channels you can choose for your business, and that depends on your preferences and target audience.
For example, if your business requires you to showcase your products or services through videos, then, obviously, your target audience is on YouTube or Vimeo.
Social Media can help you a lot in this area, but you mustn't rely solely on it. For instance, if you are a designer, it's advisable to exhibit your work on platforms like Behance, Pinterest and Dribble.
But keep in mind that you are not in the position to control these specific communities. You need to be where your potential clients are, but avoid being everywhere if you cannot manage all of your accounts properly.
9. Create Freebies on Relevant Topics
People love free stuff.
Freebies can be your secret weapon to get new leads and build a network of clients. All of us have downloaded a freebie at least once in our lifetime.
Freebies come in handy for a few reasons: they cover a specific topic, provide value to your audience and attract new customers that come to your site to look for more.
Also, freebies allow you to set up an email list and collect email addresses you can then use for your upcoming campaigns.
10. Start Writing a Blog
While it seems that everyone is writing a blog nowadays, don't worry, there is always enough room for you.
Writing blogs for business is a bit different from personal blogging, where you are solely responsible for driving traffic to your blog. In this case, you can focus on relevant topics and leverage SEO to drive traffic to your site.
If you manage to engage your readers and encourage them to come for more, you easily start building authority, and a unique tone of voice people will know you for.
On the other hand, if blogging takes much of your time and makes you feel overwhelmed, you may try to create a long piece and promote it on social media.
However, keep in mind that your ultimate goal should not be to drive as much traffic as possible to the blog but establish yourself as an authority in the ever-increasing market swarming with competitors.
Start Looking for Clients Now
Waiting for people to find out about you without working on your self-promotion won't get you anywhere. I hope these tips will help you start building your network of clients that will continuously increase.
With such a big competition on the market, it's critical to do whatever it takes to boost your visibility and get hired by all kinds of companies, from start-ups to large-scale corporations. The sky is the limit.
Author bio: Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for DigitalStrategyOne.
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