A major attraction of freelancing is being able to run your own business. Instead of just following everyone else’s advice, you get to do your freelance business YOUR way. Other’s advice might work for them, but it doesn’t have to work for you.
This is your reminder to make your own rules.
How to market your freelance business
There are many different ways to market your freelance business, some of them more effective than others, but pause and ask yourself which ones give you the most enjoyment. Or, if you really hate putting yourself out there, which ways are the least depressing for you? Choose those, combined with the ones that get you the most results (check your data!).
Here are few to choose from:
- Cold emails/pitching
- Discovery calls (especially if your closing rates are good)
- Social media
- Content marketing
It also helps to market your freelance business when you have some sort of “credibility marker.” That’s something that shows your clients you’re an authority on your subject matter. It could be a book, a blog, testimonials on your website, or headers from well-known sites that you’ve written for.
One of my credibility markers is my podcast — I have over 100 episodes about being a freelance writer. I can point to that when talking with prospective clients.
What is your freelance business goal?
In order to decide how you should best run your freelance business, you need to figure out your number one priority.
Is it making a lot of money as soon as possible, so that you can quit your current job? Is it building in your spare time, so that you’re not stressed out? What are your goals that lead you to that?
Fast growth vs slow growth
If you need to grow your freelance business quickly, you’re going to have to be uncomfortable for a while and choose some things which you might not like to do as much. Later on, you can jettison those. Cold emailing, or pitching, is probably one of those ways. It’s arguably the fastest way to grow.
For slower growth, and possibly a more enjoyable time, the best tactic for you might be something more organic. You could work on establishing a social media presence. You could do content marketing or Instagram marketing. You should position yourself as a subject matter expert, so that your clients hear your name and become familiar with your business.
Commit and work the strategy
Figure out what works best for you and YOUR freelance business. But ultimately, you need to pick something and do it. If you don’t take any action, you won’t have any business.
Once you do have clients, make sure you keep enjoying your business by setting your boundaries. For more, you can read my post 7 Tips For Managing Client Expectations.
