4 simple ways to get clients
It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting to freelance on the side, you’ve moved your business into the full-time spectrum or you’ve been a business owner for a few years. As entrepreneurs, it’s smart to always be open to new client-getting activities. It’s ideal to get to the point where you can be booked out months in advance and even the simplest of strategies can help.
1. Tell family and friends (who will tell their friends…)
Word of mouth referrals are the best. I’ve had them from the time that I started freelancing and now, as a full-time business owner, I still do work for some of those original referrals. Referrals lead to more referrals. As soon as you get connected to someone and do a great job, they will hire you for more work OR at least tell others about you. It’s a sweet cycle — as one of my former bosses used to say, “good work begets more good work.” To break it down even more, you can just send short and sweet emails to let people know what you’re up to and what work you’re available for. Ask that if they wouldn’t mind, to please forward your info onto someone who might need it. You will be surprised at the positive responses! And, you’re not losing out on anything by taking 5 minutes to write and send an email. You never know whose inbox it might get forwarded to!
2. Check Craigslist, local job boards, LinkedIn + setup profiles on freelance sites
You never know what opportunity can lead to the next. I once got a job through LinkedIn because I had a profile setup and it fit the description of what a local agency was looking for at the time. That original email led to a phone call, which led to an in-person interview. The rest is history. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve even searched Craigslist for design postings, as long as they seemed legit. If you’re a member of a local chapter of a national organization that pertains to your career field/area of expertise, you should be able to have access to a job board where they will often host listings (and not just for full-time opportunities, but also remote/contract ones.) Other freelance sites like Upwork are great ways to connect with companies needing your services.
3. Make it easy for people to find you
Have a nice and visually pleasing website that is easy to navigate — and social media platforms in place. Show up consistently and grow a following. Have a blog setup on your site and post regularly. You will eventually form a community that visits your site and reads your blog frequently — and who also follows you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Have your email address or a contact form readily accessible for inquiries. Interested parties should be able to quickly find you, if they need you.
4. Engage in Facebook groups
This wasn’t something that I did even two years ago, but now, it’s all the rage. It’s free, easy and should only take a few minutes of your time each day. You will make connections, build relationships, offer free help and collaborate with others. Someone will need your services and in time, they’ll already know, like and trust you enough to hire you. Request to join private groups that pertain to your field — whether that’s female entrepreneurs in general, health and wellness coaches, Etsy shop owners, jewelry makers, web designers, online business strategists, etc. And, don’t be “sales-y.” Get in the groups, participate, be of service and offer genuine value. Connect with people who can benefit from what you offer, as well as those who can be of service to you. Build others up! Spend a few minutes each day doing this — not a large amount of time. (You have other things to do, of course.) And again, you never know who you will meet!