Wondering how to get clients as a freelancer or contractor? Our guide explains more, as well as what you might need to include in a freelance contract. How to find clients Going freelance can be a great move for many people. But while freelancers and contractors enjoy perks like flexibility and the opportunity to choose who they work for, it can be difficult to find clients in the first place. This is especially true if you’re just starting out. It’s not impossible, though. There are tried-and-tested methods you can put into action today to help you get freelance work. Some are quick wins, while others might take time – which ones will you use for your business? How to get freelance work 1. Focus on a niche Freelancers are often specialists in their chosen field, whether that’s writing , graphic design or IT . But successful freelancers often go further. Choosing a niche helps you define which clients you want to work for – and makes it easier for potential clients to see what you can offer. Think of your niche as your unique selling point . Instead of just being a copywriter, you might be a copywriter who focuses on sports fashion. Alternatively, you might hone in on a particular service as your niche. For example, graphic designers could sell themselves as skilled Photoshop designers, or on designing conversion-driven emails. 2. Make the most of your existing network Even if you’re just starting out, you might have an existing network made of close friends, family members, and people you’ve worked with in school or at university. And they’ll have people in their own professional networks who they could recommend you to. If you’re experienced, you should have people you’ve worked with in the past who can give you recommendations. Reach out to these people, without being too pushy. Some tips for maintaining your network include: keeping a contact tracking spreadsheet – if you’ve spent time building your network, it makes sense to keep track of your contacts. Use a spreadsheet to track their details, where you met, and how often you should get in touch (for instance, is this someone you should check in with monthly, quarterly, or yearly?) giving your contacts something useful – is there a useful article you can share with your contacts (even better, an article you’ve written)? Have you created anything that you’d like them to see? Or have you got any tips from a book you’ve just read? thanking them – this could be as simple as thanking someone for their time after meeting them, or as big as letting someone know you’ve appreciated their mentoring in the past 3. Set up (and optimise) your website It’s important to keep in mind that you’re running your own business – which means you need to do your branding and marketing yourself, too. Creating and maintaining a professional-looking website should be top of your list. It’s essentially your shop window, which you can use […]
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