As of 2023, there are an estimated 73.3 Million freelancers in the U.S. And for these freelancers, finding clients and projects is becoming more competitive than ever. To stand out, you need a strong marketing strategy for yourself. Here are five ways to effectively market yourself as a freelancer and grow your client base.
1. Maximize Social Media Exposure
Social media platforms are a powerful tool to market yourself and find new opportunities. Take the time to learn about these platforms and see how you can use them to maximize your online presence. Benefits of the 3 main platforms are outlined below:
LinkedIn is a great place to build new connections, engage with your audience, share your work, and network with clients. A strong profile on LinkedIn showcases your resume, portfolio, and key career highlights that demonstrate expertise.
Instagram is a great place to visually showcase your craft and inspire potential clients with work from your portfolio.
Facebook can also help you make connections with potential clients. As the largest social channel with 2.96 Billion monthly active users, chances are your next client is already there. Ways to use Facebook include joining industry-specific groups and creating your own page to share content.
2. Develop Your Portfolio
Having a professional portfolio that visually highlights the work you have done is a great way to establish credibility. Keep it updated with your most recent work so you’re not rushing to pull it together when an opportunity arises.
Not in a role that typically has a portfolio? Even if you’re not a creative, you can still have a portfolio. This could include case studies and examples of projects and programs you managed or worked on. You can also create a blog and write articles that show how you think, what’s important to you, and how you work.
3. Know Yourself
Creating a personal brand will help differentiate you from other freelancers. Find your unique selling point (USP). What makes you different from others? If you’re not sure, ask current and former clients and coworkers what they think.
A great practice is to develop an elevator pitch detailing who you are and what you provide (here’s a guide to get you started). This will be especially useful in interviews and with any random connections you meet. Keep it short and sweet – a minute will do.
Want to learn more about how you can Ace the freelance interview? Check out our blog on best interview practices.
4. Attend Networking Events
Although it may have been a while since these were a regular thing, there are still many opportunities to get out there and meet potential clients these days. Look for industry events, meetups, conferences, and really anywhere you might meet someone new – book club, anyone?
Be sure to have your elevator pitch ready to go – and practice it beforehand.
Networking doesn’t always have to be an event. Be sure to keep in touch with former clients and colleagues so you’re top-of-mind when a project comes up for them. Make a point to regularly grab a coffee or lunch with someone in your network.
5. Join a Community
Unlike working at a company, being a freelancer means you may be working solo a lot of the time. It can be helpful to join a freelance community to find projects, people to work with, and to have a support network of people who know what it’s like to freelance. Here are some communities to consider:
Freelancing Females on Facebook
Another way to find great clients and projects as a freelancer is to join Wripple. We’re always looking for experienced digital professionals to join our marketplace, which matches you to qualified project opportunities, sourced by our team, with top brands and agencies.
