You have a professional email address and a basic website. You have business cards. You can communicate confidently about the services you can provide in a results-oriented way. Now you are ready for some clients so you can start earning some income! When you are just getting started, it can be hard to gain momentum, but once you get a couple of clients it will be much easier to find more. Here are five ways to find clients.
1. Request referrals from friends, family, and former coworkers.
The first and most obvious way to find your first clients is through referrals from friends, family, or former coworkers. Tell everyone that will listen that you’re a freelance writer and you’re looking for work.
Many freelancers have started their careers from referrals that came from their social circles. Share how you can help clients and be enthusiastic when describing what you do. Your energy and interest in helping clients grow their businesses via the written word can open doors to a steady stream of future projects.
2. Tap your LinkedIn connections
Another place to look for clients is on LinkedIn. If you don’t have a profile on this social media network, set one up. If you have a profile but you haven’t refreshed it in a while, then spend some time improving it.
Your job title is searchable, so use a term that someone would search to find the services you provide. There are many types of freelance writers. If you have narrowed down your focus to a particular specialty, use that term. You may be offering Copywriting services, or Conversion copywriting services. You may specialize in technical writing. The words you choose for your job title will affect what opportunities come your way. The good thing is, you can tweak your entire profile, including job title, until you get it right.
After you’ve made your LinkedIn profile the best it can be (for now), connect with friends and colleagues. Let them know that you’ve officially opened your freelance business and are ready to serve new clients. A LinkedIn message or an invitation to connect can lead to a referral to someone who needs your expertise.
3. Join social media groups
What type of client do you want to serve? Would you like to help small business with content for their websites? Maybe your specialty is helping authors or coaches with their content marketing. Joining groups where your ideal clients convene is a way to connect with prospects. It is also a way to discover the needs and pet peeves of this particular niche and serve them better.
Following the group’s rules for self-promotion is a must. You may not be able to initiate a post which promotes your services, but you may be able to respond with a private message if someone asks for referrals for a certain type of work. You often can provide useful information which doesn’t cross the line of self-promotion. Build trust by giving value before you ask for anything in return.
4. Join offline groups
Look for and attend group meetings for small business owners. You may be able to attend meetings of your local Chamber of Commerce, for example. Check the group’s membership rules. You may be able to attend without committing to a membership. Group meetings can be a way to network and find clients. You can also offer to give a short educational presentation sharing your expertise in the services you provide.
5. Join virtual job board platforms
Some freelancers have gotten their first clients through job board platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Typically, job board platforms work like this: a client posts about the project they need done on the board. This project can be large, like writing new copy and content for their entire website or small, like writing one piece of content or a few emails.
If you are registered with the job board platform, you can view these requests for proposals and reply to the client, answering their questions and sharing why you are right for the job. If the job poster is interested in learning more about your services, he or she will respond. You may land an interview and get the gig.
The job board platform typically gets a percentage of your earnings as a fee for their service. Sometimes the client pays the fee. Sometimes you pay a small up-front fee to apply for the job.
An advantage of using a platform is that the platform acts as an intermediary to help ensure that you get paid for your services. The client may have to pay into an escrow fund when approving your contract. The platform holds the money until you have delivered your services and the client has approved. If the job is hourly, the platform may have an app which takes screenshots while you work, proving that you worked on the job for the time that you have logged. These measures may make it more likely that you will actually receive full payment for your work.
Finding your first clients can take some time. Don’t give up! It may take a few weeks to start seeing results from your marketing efforts. If you persevere and keep networking, you will land that first client. From there you will find it easier to land more.
