Get clients as a freelancer
One of the most disturbing questions that a professional asks himself when he decides to start working independently is how to get clients as a freelancer, because you fear that the volume of work will not be enough while your accounts keep coming and you find yourself in a financial bind.
Don't worry. While it's natural to feel a little insecure at first, the important thing is to take action and start promoting yourself to get more clients and freelance jobs .
We are going to see some strategies that you can implement to achieve it.
1. Get clients with acquaintances and referrals
A simple and relatively easy way to start getting clients as a freelancer is by exploiting your natural market of acquaintances who need the services you offer.
You can tell your close contacts about your new venture and put yourself in order. Also ask them to recommend or refer you to people who may require your services.
In this way, you can begin to build a portfolio of clients whom you can contact in the future, sending information by email or calling by phone to find out what new projects you can help them with.
2. Contact other freelancers
It is always important to be in contact with other freelancers with whom you can ally, people who may need to complement their services with yours to offer a more complete package to the client.
For example, if you are a photographer, you can seek an alliance with a graphic designer, whose clients may eventually require a new stock of photos for their magazine, posters, etc.
If you are an expert in digital marketing, you can team up with a web developer to offer clients not only a new website but a whole promotion strategy for their new image on social networks.
Customers will like to know that you and your associate can provide a more comprehensive solution to their requirements.
* Also learn how to reach your customers with email marketing
3. Create a portfolio
Prepare a sample of previous jobs in which you have participated and promote it in companies that may require your services. Send them your portfolio, contact them and get ready for their future projects.
To create a portfolio, you can use pdf files, slideshows, or an image gallery.
Then, choose an online site where to display them. There are several sites like Isuu, Slideshare, Pinterest, etc. Another option is platforms like Coroflot or Carbonmade.
Of course, it is also important that you have one or two physical copies.
When creating your portfolio, take the time to choose your best works. Choose the ones with the best presentation, your most successful projects and work for renowned clients.
Your portfolio is a tool that you will find very useful. Spare no effort to create something visually attractive and representative of your quality as a professional.
Do not forget to include your contact information in your portfolio, as well as a link to your social networks and an invitation to follow you on them.
If you plan to make in-person visits to offer your services and prospect clients, remember to bring a business card that you can leave with them.
You may be interested in reading: How to create a portfolio when you have no experience
4. Social networks
One way to start projecting yourself as an independent professional and get clients as a freelancer, once you have started, is to take advantage of social networks to promote yourself.
You can start by updating or creating a LinkedIn profile where you describe your areas of competence and invite your contacts to validate your skills.
It is also recommended to create a fan page on Facebook , where you not only promote yourself as a freelancer , but also share quality content for your followers.
There you will be able to establish contact with other freelancers and potential clients while developing a closer relationship with them.
Take advantage of the tools it offers you:
Facebook also offers you the possibility to buy advertising and segment your target audiences so that your ads reach the right audience, those interested in your services or who work in related areas.
As you know, Facebook is one of the most used networks today. Many people search for products and services directly on it. Therefore, your fan page must include complete information about your services and contact information.
Another social tool that you can use is Twitter . This network has the possibility of being synchronized with Facebook so that the content you publish on your fanpage is shared on your timelime.
Follow people related to your area to keep up to date with articles of interest to your specialty and do not forget to share the interesting content you find.
You can also create an Instagram account to share photos of your creations and use hashtags related to your work. All this will help you to have greater visibility and position your personal brand.
5. Attend events
A good place to contact new people and get potential clients is an event related to your area of work, such as conferences, launches of business projects, fairs, contests and awards. Always stay informed with news about upcoming events to be able to attend.
Keep in mind that the main objective of attending is to get contacts from potential clients and allies, promoting your services among people who are interested in them, so you must be selective and not attend events that are not relevant to your area of work. . Do not forget to bring samples of your work, business cards and a notebook to write down any information of interest.
6. A website of your own
If you have the possibility to do something more elaborate, it is recommended that you create a website. In it, place complete information about your services, projects, satisfied clients. Add a form and contact details and links to social networks.
This allows you to give a more professional image of you and your services. At the same time, build trust in your customers.
Try to keep your site simple but contain all relevant information about what services you offer. It must be able to be seen correctly from any device, be it mobile or desktop, and have a clean and easy-to-navigate interface, so that the information is as clear and at hand as possible.
On the internet you can find hundreds of sites that offer templates for you to choose a design that is pleasing to the eye and friendly to the user.
It is also recommended that your site is optimized for search engines and that it includes a blog section. You will be able to write news and articles related to your area of work. Then share the content on social networks to generate more traffic to the site.
* Discover how to attract customers through a blog without spending on advertising.
7. Digital platforms
To get clients more easily, you can subscribe to an online platform for freelancers.
The advantage of these sites is that they are a portal for thousands of potential clients who request offers for their projects, which you can work 100% remotely.
A good option is SoyFreelancer.com , an easy-to-use platform where you can offer your services and work 100% online.
You can sign up with your email or with your Facebook or LinkedIn account.
An important aspect is that you project reliability and experience in your profile. You must complete it 100% and place samples of work done.
Where possible, ask for references from clients you've worked with before so this is reflected on your profile.
Finally, regardless of which strategy you choose, the most important thing is to generate value for your customers.
Offer creative solutions in all the projects you do. This will create a loyal clientele and lasting business relationships. It will also help other potential clients see your work and become interested in you.
Always remember:
Compliance and good service are key to having satisfied customers and keeping the work coming.
Get to work. Start planning your strategy to get clients as a freelancer right now.
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