How To Get Clients As a Freelancer: 5 Simple Steps

These approaches to getting shoppers as a freelancer have a low success fee:

• Sending chilly emails to dozens or lots of of potential shoppers per week
• Making use of for freelance jobs
• Creating an internet site and hoping potential shoppers discover it

When you may get the occasional job utilizing these methods, the fixed rejection is discouraging. Even in case you do win a consumer utilizing these methods, these shoppers are typically low high quality and count on loads of work for little pay.

The most effective shoppers sometimes rent from referrals.

You probably have no community, how do you get that first consumer? And after you have a couple of shoppers, how do you preserve regular work? 

On this submit, I’ll clarify an answer that lets you emerge as a widely known freelancer in your area of interest, leading to regular work from high-paying, low-maintenance shoppers. 

Step 1: Outline One Service For One Area of interest 

It’s tempting to supply quite a lot of providers throughout completely different industries to get your first consumer. It makes logical sense that you’ve got a greater probability of getting a consumer in case you supply extra providers to a bigger pool of shoppers.

Nevertheless, most shoppers search for specialists to finish a selected job.  

Subsequently, positioning your self as a generalist is definitely counterproductive and might flip potential shoppers away.  

For instance, in case you’re a cybersecurity firm hiring a author, which one are you extra more likely to rent?

A cybersecurity consumer is extra more likely to rent Pablo as a result of he’s a cybersecurity specialist.

Subsequently, choose one area of interest and supply one service. 

Niching down additionally reduces competitors as there are way more generalists than specialists in any particular area of interest. For instance, there are way more “writers” than “cybersecurity writers.”

Establishing your self because the definitive specialist for one service in a single area of interest additionally instantly makes you appear to be an skilled, even if in case you have minimal expertise.

To pick out a distinct segment, use this method:

Some examples of a single service for a single area of interest embody:

• Internet design for SaaS corporations
• search engine optimization for actual property brokers
• Electronic mail advertising and marketing for ecommerce 

A generally requested query is: can my area of interest be too slender?

Usually, it’s higher to start out in a distinct segment that’s too small after which develop somewhat than the opposite method round.

Nevertheless, one option to decide if it’s too area of interest is by figuring out an inventory of your dream shoppers after which perform a little research to see in the event that they’re already utilizing the service you propose to supply.

For instance, if you wish to supply electronic mail advertising and marketing for ecommerce, you possibly can see what number of ecommerce corporations are already doing electronic mail advertising and marketing. 

Some fast analysis exhibits that loads of ecommerce corporations are doing electronic mail advertising and marketing.

Niching down additionally lets you develop into a real grasp at a single service, permitting you to ship higher consumer ends in much less time. Consequently, you possibly can earn extra per hour labored. 

Step 2: Work For Free

The error most aspiring freelancers make at this level is chilly emailing anybody of their area of interest and pitching their service. 

The issue is that prospects obtain dozens of chilly electronic mail pitches like yours each week, so most gained’t reply – even in case you personalize it.

As a substitute, determine your dream consumer. 

This needs to be an actual firm. 

For instance, it could possibly be Airbnb or Nike. 

Then, determine precisely who in that firm could be answerable for managing the service you supply. 

For instance, in case your service is YouTube technique, it is likely to be the model supervisor. If it’s electronic mail advertising and marketing, it is likely to be their advertising and marketing director. 

You need to use LinkedIn to seek out these individuals. I usually discover that one of the simplest ways to seek out these individuals is looking out on Google somewhat than LinkedIn. 

Right here’s an instance:

Ideally, goal an government or senior group member with decision-making authority. 

As soon as the corporate and the individual, create not only a personalised pitch, however a complete technique of precisely the way you’ll execute for them. When doable, execute your entire technique after which hand them the ultimate product. 

For instance, in case you’re providing electronic mail advertising and marketing, ship them a complete accomplished electronic mail sequence for his or her firm. Or, if it’s internet design, ship over a accomplished mock-up. If it’s search engine optimization, ship them a accomplished key phrase roadmap and a weblog submit focusing on a type of key phrases.

Then, supply to proceed executing without spending a dime for 3 months.

Right here’s an actual electronic mail template you need to use:

Right here’s an actual instance of how I’d pitch an ecommerce firm electronic mail advertising and marketing providers. 

The e-mail needs to be just a few strains (ideally 3 or much less). Most significantly, make sure the recipient doesn’t should do any work to obtain the worth. 

In the event you ship a generic electronic mail providing to work without spending a dime, it nonetheless burdens the recipient to determine what they need you to do. Consequently, most will nonetheless flip you away, even in case you’re providing to work without spending a dime.

As a substitute, telling the recipient precisely what you’ll ship so that every one they should say is “positive” removes any burden and is solely useful to them.

It’s additionally necessary to notice that it is best to solely ship this pitch to your dream consumer. This pitch requires loads of work up entrance, as you need to create actual samples, however it tends to have a really excessive acceptance fee. 

Moreover, in case you land a gig (even when it’s working without spending a dime for a time frame), that model identify will provide you with extra credibility that immediately makes you stand out to potential shoppers on the lookout for prime quality freelancers. The model affiliation will even make it simpler so that you can justify a premium worth in your providers. 

Despite the fact that it would take longer to earn a living within the brief time period, your efforts will repay in the long term as you’ll have the ability to cost extra and work with higher shoppers.

Step 3: Construct A Private Model

One of many greatest challenges as a freelancer is incomes constant work. 

Even in case you’ve labored with a few of the most spectacular corporations on the earth, it gained’t assist you to entice shoppers if no one is aware of about your expertise.

The answer to make sure you at all times have an extended checklist of shoppers ready to work with you is to construct a private model. 

Personal branding is the method of creating your self as an authority on a selected matter by posting content material about that matter. The content material then attracts followers who need to study extra about that matter. 

After you have a gaggle of people that acknowledge you as an authority on that individual matter, you’ll have constant demand in your providers as these individuals will attain out to you organically. 

For instance, Alex Lieberman has established a private model as a B2B content material creator with lots of of hundreds of followers.

Consequently, he at all times has loads of demand for his ghostwriting company.

For instance, he posted this Tweet:

And there was loads of demand within the feedback:

The important thing to constructing a private model is constantly posting content material in regards to the matter you propose to ascertain your self as an skilled in (e.g., internet design for actual property brokers, electronic mail advertising and marketing for ecommerce, and many others.).

So, how do you create content material on a subject in case you don’t have any expertise? 

First, keep in mind that you’ve already created a handful of actual samples for the dream corporations that you just pitched. 

For instance, in case you needed to do electronic mail advertising and marketing for Nike, you already created 4 pattern emails for Nike. 

These samples might be your first few items of content material. 

Publish them in your social media accounts and talk about what makes these emails efficient and key takeaways individuals can implement of their electronic mail advertising and marketing technique.

That method, even when the corporate doesn’t settle for your proposal, these samples will nonetheless be helpful in constructing your private model.

Even with hundreds of paying clients, Patrick Campbell nonetheless does pricing web page teardowns to indicate individuals how they’ll enhance their pricing pages:

An alternative choice is to interview different service suppliers in your area of interest and write case research about their work. 

For instance, Ryan Hashemi wrote a thread on influencer Codie Sanchez’s course of for buying $200 million value of companies, and it carried out very effectively. Despite the fact that it wasn’t his story, it helped him earn followers from his target market:

Whereas it could appear unusual to showcase another person’s work, writing case research about how they achieved particular objectives your excellent shoppers need to obtain will assist you to earn these particular person’s consideration and construct the suitable viewers. Then, you’ll have an viewers once you start posting content material about your personal work and expertise. 

Moreover, you don’t have to attend till you may have paying shoppers to create content material about your work. You possibly can at all times write about your experiences working along with your free shoppers. 

After you have some expertise, listed here are a couple of frameworks you need to use to craft your experiences into fascinating content material:

• A/B checks and classes discovered
• Private failures and classes discovered
• Step-by-step directions to particular achievements you’ve achieved

A/B Checks and Classes Realized

Right here’s an example this advertising and marketing influencer ran a small A/B take a look at after which wrote a submit discussing actionable takeaways:

Private Failures and Classes Realized

Right here’s an incredible instance from Tom Bilyeu. He not too long ago launched on Twitch with out success regardless of a large YouTube viewers and wrote in regards to the failure:

Step By Step Directions

One other method you need to use is explaining step-by-step directions you used to realize a selected purpose. 

Here’s an incredible instance:

Remember the fact that the accomplishment doesn’t must be astonishing. It may be a easy step-by-step course of for rising touchdown web page conversions. 

Additionally, individuals usually default to discussing their accomplishments, however your viewers will resonate extra along with your content material in case you body your successes as failures you overcame and classes discovered. 

This makes you extra relatable and your content material extra participating because it provides emotion and story to your recommendation.

In order for you extra assist with private branding, we’ve got a separate community and course devoted to the topic. Nevertheless, the principle factor is to get began and publish content material constantly.

Step 4: Ask For Referrals

Constructing a private model and gaining the belief of your target market takes time, so one of the simplest ways to shut your first paying shoppers is to transform your free shoppers into paying shoppers. 

Assuming the service you’re providing is efficacious, it’s a no brainer for the corporate you’re working with to pay you in your work, as hiring is a headache for many managers.

To get extra shoppers, the subsequent step is to ask them for referrals. Right here’s an actual electronic mail template you possibly can ship:

The most effective shoppers usually ask their associates for suggestions, so asking your present shoppers for referrals is among the finest methods to get extra high-quality shoppers. 

That is additionally why it’s necessary to solely work without spending a dime for dream shoppers as they’ll possible have a big community and have the ability to refer you to different glorious manufacturers.

Even when your shoppers don’t have any contacts at the moment on the lookout for freelancers, asking for referrals communicates that you just’re on the lookout for extra work. This can lead to them sending you extra referrals down the street, or they might enhance their contract with you.

Step 5: Construct Techniques and Processes

A course of is a method to repeatedly ship the identical outcomes. 

If shoppers see that you’ve got a course of, they’ll really feel assured that you just’ll ship constant high quality, serving to you stand out from different freelancers. 

High quality shoppers additionally don’t need to micro-manage freelancers, and presenting a course of eliminates the burden of the consumer offering mission outlines, deadlines, and execution directions. 

Subsequently, growing a confirmed course of is vital to charging premium costs. 

To start out growing a course of, doc the way you full every bit of labor.

Begin by writing out the mission define. For instance, right here’s what my very own course of seems like for writing:

• Key phrase analysis
• Publish define
• First draft
• Add examples, graphics, and knowledge
• Edit ultimate draft

Then, write out the way you execute every step. For instance, right here’s what my course of for key phrase analysis seems like:

1. Determine matters associated to ache factors that constructing a private model (our group and digital product) may remedy.
2. Then, discover key phrases that match that matter by taking a look at competing web sites and utilizing a key phrase analysis device like Ahrefs.
3. Lastly, choose the key phrase that most closely fits that matter and has the perfect mixture of low issue and excessive search quantity. 

Do the identical factor for all the following steps (e.g, submit define, first draft, and many others.).

Then, assemble every of these processes right into a mission timeline, like this:

Presenting this course of to a consumer helps them perceive why your course of works and instantly makes you stand out from different freelancers. 

Your processes might change over time, and that’s wonderful. 

Even in case you’re simply beginning out and have by no means delivered a bit of consumer work, you possibly can nonetheless create these processes as you’re making free samples to pitch shoppers. 

As you construct a private model, consumer demand will enhance, and you might resolve to construct out a group. 

Processes are significantly necessary as you construct a group as a result of they let you produce comparable outcomes at scale. As you possibly can see, I may give my key phrase analysis course of to anybody with a fundamental understanding of search engine optimization, and they’d have the ability to discover equally applicable key phrases.

Query: What mission administration software program ought to I take advantage of?

When individuals consider constructing out processes, they usually consider mission administration software program and filling out calendars and to-do lists.

Whereas mission administration software program could also be useful as you scale a group, it isn’t obligatory once you’re getting began. You need to use a easy Google Doc to put in writing out your step-by-step course of to execute every step inside the bigger mission timeline.

Right here’s a pattern template you need to use:

How To Get Extra Assist As A Freelancer

The method of getting your first freelance shoppers is comparatively easy, although miscellaneous questions often come up throughout the course of. 

From consumer communication to deciding when to scale, you may want the chance to speak to different freelancers to get their enter in your resolution. 

That’s why we constructed the Copyblogger Academy. It’s a group of aspect hustlers, entrepreneurs, and freelancers the place you possibly can attend accountability classes, ask questions and obtain suggestions from not solely the group, in addition to the seven determine entrepreneurs who run it, Charles Miller and Tim Stoddart. 

And the group is just the start. You’ll even have entry to 9 programs on matters starting from search engine optimization and content material advertising and marketing to private branding and electronic mail advertising and marketing. 

To see if the Copyblogger Academy is best for you, join today risk-free. In the event you aren’t 100% happy, we’ll offer you a full refund within the first 30 days.