How To Attract Freelance Clients

6 Ways to Get Freelance Clients
         

1. Word of Mouth

This is probably the best way to land clients without doing any work to get them. When someone recommends you to a person they know, it means a lot more than a polished resume.

People trust personal recommendations more than a portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or blog. It all comes down to that age-old saying: “It’s not what you know, but who.”

So, do good work, and get referred to others. People who own their own business probably know others who do, too. And those connections just may need a new website, video editing, new logo, etc.

Also—don’t disregard family and friends. Starting out by doing work for a family member is nothing to be ashamed of. Money is money. Experience is experience. And you need both.

2. Have a clear, up-to-date portfolio—and market it   

A good portfolio is practically non-negotiable. However, it is important to note that having a site won’t guarantee that people will come to it. To attract potential freelance clients, you need to market it.

Another way is to blog (which we’ll get to next).

And don’t disappoint when they get there!

– Have work samples and/or case studies

– Get testimonials from previous clients

– Make sure your contact info is easy to locate\

Key Points : Don’t just make a nice portfolio to showcase your work; promote it, too.

3. Write (or create content) for *others*

When you create content for others, you put yourself in front of more eyeballs (including those of potential clients!).

The most common form of this is guest writing. However, creating content for other sites/publications doesn’t have to be writing. It could be:

– Illustrations

– Infographics

– Videos (with your name in the credits)

– Images (taking photographs for a particular post/guide, with a link to your site beneath)

While in general, the more people you get in front of, the better, it’s also who you’re getting in front of. Quality is more important than quantity. Here, quality means an audience comprised of people who can use your expertise.

key Points : Creating content for others gets you in front of more people, meaning more potential clients.

4. Keep your LinkedIn up to date

Moreover, LinkedIn profiles tend to show up high in search results when people Google your name (which almost every recruiter/employer does).

Having an outdated, dusty LinkedIn won’t make you stand out among the rest. Make sure to:

– Include a summary that addresses your most important and relevant skills and achievements

– Keep your experience and skills updated

– Add relevant work of yours in the LinkedIn “work samples” area.

– Have a crisp looking profile photo.

– Go above and beyond by adding recommendations from former employers/people you have worked with.

Key takeaway: Recruiters and others making hiring decisions look at LinkedIn. Make a memorable first impression by keeping yours updated and polished.

5. Position yourself as an expert

There are ways you can establish you as an expert in your field that goes beyond the standard blog (which it seems like everyone has, these days).

For instance, you can write an eBook. The fact is anyone can publish a book on Amazon or on their own using a platform like Gumroad …but not everyone knows that.

Aside from showing your expertise on the topic at hand, writing an eBook gives you a reason to do speaking engagements or interviews—because you can talk about your new book!

However, if you’re not much of a writer, you can do other things to position yourself as  an expert, such as:

– Create an online course—on your own, or on a platform like Udemy or skillshare

– Build another kind of information product—like a package of goodies (videos, files, etc.)

– Mentor newbies to the field online or in person (you can do this either on your own or via a structured program)

Beyond solidifying yourself as an expert on the given topic, eBooks and information products are another way to generate a little extra revenue.

Key Points: Create material that goes over the blog post. Teach others through eBooks and other kinds of information products. Take Ryan Robinson‘s example, and you can even make a little extra money while at it.

6. Speak at events/conferences

One step up from attending events is speaking at them. The best kinds of events/conferences to speak at are ones where audience members may need your services.

For instance, you are a web designer. These days, every business should have a website (made easy by companies – who offer a killer end-to-end web design platform for professional designers) so speaking at a conference for business owners will get quite a few potential clients to remember your name. And if you give a talk about the importance of good website design in business, outlining all benefits it can bring (longer time on site, increased visitor engagement, more sales, etc.), you’ll demonstrate your value even further.

Of course, when it comes to landing speaking gigs, you have to start small. But as you build up credibility as an amazing speaker, it’s even possible to get paid to speak at events. Promote your brand, get new clients, and get paid for it? Sounds too good to be true.

Key Point: Speaking engagements strengthen you as an expert in your field. They also provide the opportunity to get in front of new potential clients.