5 Ways to Find Freelancing Work
If you’re just starting out in freelancing, then looking for projects can be overwhelming. It may not seem like it, but there are many freelancing opportunities out there. But even experienced freelancers have trouble telling the good ones from the bad ones.
Well here are 5ways to find freelancing work.
1. Cold calling
Just the thought of cold calling strikes fear into the heart of many freelancers. In cold calling, you contact a company that you think is likely to need your services and introduce yourself in the hopes of finding business opportunities.
You may follow up your initial contact by sending an information folder about yourself or, if the company is really interested, by scheduling a meeting.
Drawbacks
Fear of rejection is the biggest drawback to cold calling. The key to successful cold calling is doing your homework. Make sure that the prospect you contact is in your field and that you are speaking to the right person. Targeted cold calling has a much higher rate of success.
2. Help wanted listings
Help wanted listings differ from some other types of listings in that the competition for jobs is not usually based on bidding.
A help wanted listing may appear on a company website, LinkedIn, in the job bank of a professional society and many other places. Some popular professional sites also include a place where jobs can be listed. Freelancing help wanted listings may even appear in a trade magazine or the local newspaper.
Drawbacks
As with any published job, competition will be fierce. Most companies that publish jobs receive dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants. If you apply to a help wanted listing, make sure to put your best foot forward.
3. Let the client find you
If you’ve done a good job of networking and branding your freelancing business, after a while clients will begin to find you. This is especially true if you have an active social presence and a blog to promote your freelancing business.
The clients that find you tend to be a mixed bag. If your branding is strong, they will be of higher quality and pay a little more. However, if your branding is weak, they may simply be looking for a bargain.
Drawbacks
If a client you have never heard of contacts you because you have a strong online presence, you need to spend some time doing your homework to learn all that you can about the client.
4. Networking
Many freelancers rely on a network of friends, colleagues and clients to find work. Networking can be the source of some of the most lucrative freelancing positions.
If you have a strong network, you will likely find out about an opportunity before most other freelancers. In some instances, you may be offered a job directly without having to compete with other freelancers.
Drawbacks
Networking is not a short-term strategy. It can take months, or even years, to build a network of contacts in your field.
5. Third party placement and agencies
Another place where freelancers often find work is as subcontractors or through placement agencies. These jobs are sometimes advertised, but often they are not. You may join a group that keeps a listing of professionals to be considered for one of these jobs.
One positive thing about working through an intermediary is that the potential for repeat business is high. Also, you don’t have to do the marketing – so this type of work appeals to freelancers who don’t like marketing.
Drawbacks
There can be communication issues if the intermediary does not convey the project requirements accurately. Also, the intermediary typically takes a cut of the project fee, so pay can be slightly less.
