6 Places to Find Clients Right Now

Slow growth and client referrals are tremendously powerful, but sometimes they can take many, many hours of networking, promoting on social media and product-building to get to a place where we’re getting good leads to actual project work. Sometimes we don’t have the time.

If you’re short on patience and marketing dollars, here are some ways to get clients sooner rather than later.

1. Old clients

Skip the time you normally spend introducing yourself by going directly to clients you’ve already worked with in the past.

• Send them a quick hello on social media.
  
  
• Send them an email asking how they’re doing, sending along industry news, or letting them know you’ll be available soon if they have any projects.
  
  
• Make a direct pitch on a new project (if you work in the kind of industry that operates that way).

2. LinkedIn

Perfecting your LinkedIn account with the right keywords and job terms can make a big difference in which clients can find you.

This is also a great place to hunt down the people who work at a company you know, like, and you feel would benefit from your business. Try connecting with them this way rather than email.

3. Local businesses

Have you ever tried to reach out to your local coffee shop to design their menu? Or your local bookshop who desperately needs a new website? This is where frequenting local businesses comes in handy. Many of these small businesses are too busy to figure out how to hire someone (or even figure out that they need to hire one).

4. Offer a discount for fewer services

This is not about cutting your prices to land cheaper clients. However, you may be able to offer fewer services to a client who has a lower budget, so that you’re still getting what you deserve.

Try to break up what you do and pitch that to smaller potential clients. Make sure people know the parameters of the deal and that you also offer a whole host of more intensive services for an additional cost.

5. Become your own client

Are you only thinking about selling your services to clients? What about selling information to other people who want to be like you? What about selling products to your Instagram followers?

Here are some common alternate revenue streams that freelancers often use:

• Teaching online

  This is a great business and do know that some freelnacers have made $80,000 teaching online.

• Selling merchandise

  This is best for illustrators, graphic designers and witty wordsmiths, who are interested in putting their images and words on T-shirts, mugs, art prints, coasters, etc.

• Self publishing

  You don’t need to write 150,000 words. Try a great 30-page pamphlet about how you started in your business or best practices that you sell for $1.99. Start small. Remember that this may involve a significant bit of promotion.

6. A networking event or launch party in your industry

Get your face and business cards directly in front of people who hire freelancers like you.

SOURCE: Freelancers Union