Freelance work allows you to monetize your skills while giving you the flexibility to work at your time. In other words, it’s a startup. Business models don’t just apply to apps/ products but also to your freelance work. Knowing how to target your audience is crucial to any business model. As long as there is a need for your skills, you are in the right place. This post will talk through 5 tips that will help you in lead generation in your freelance business.
Why You Need a Lead Generation Strategy
A strategy is a framework that can be reused based on the output. Running a successful freelance business takes more than just being the best in what you do. If you treat it like a startup, it brings a unique perspective. Knowing how to reach your target audience can take multiple iterations. With the number of platforms available today, you need to find a way where you can provide value. This means you have to be persistent and consistent in your efforts and take note of what is working for you. In a few months, you will have a unique lead generation strategy that works for you.
Do This Before You Look For Leads
Understand Your Unique Strengths
You are not alone in this business. There could be a million other competitors out there offering similar services.List all your skills down. When you build a value proposition, leverage your skills that can provide more value for a potential client. Oftentimes, even your experiences can put you in an advantageous position. If you were a world traveler or collect antique mugs, find a story with your experiences and then add it to the value proposition. Nothing is original except you and your experiences.
Gather Customer Personas
Most experts say that find your customer persona. But the real question is how do you figure it out? When you start as a freelancer, it’s challenging to hone down to one persona right away. Keep a couple of them in your mind. As you work with clients, you begin to understand the following
- What kind of service brings out the best in you
- Who do you enjoy working with
- How much do you want to make
- How much can you charge for your services
This is a process. As you grow in your business, it gets clearer. Just be patient as you figure out your unique journey. Just because a path worked for someone, doesn’t mean its the right one for you.
The 3 Proven Methods to Generate Leads
These are the three tried-and-true methods for acquiring new clients: no matter what type of services your company provides, these will generate new customers.
- Referrals
Word of mouth or referrals is the most effective way to gain clients for your business. This could be from testimonials, reviews, case studies, etc.
- Outbound Lead Generation
This is when you approach potential clients about your business. It could be from social promotions, event networking, or emailing prospects.
- Inbound Lead Generation
This is when your website or free resource naturally attracts leads by providing value through content and giving people a reason to contact you. This strategy takes longer but it will work no matter what industry you are in.
5 Lead Generation Tips for a Digital Freelancer
1. Leverage Your Network
Your network is truly your net-worth. Leverage your connections and let them know about your services. Reach out to other business owners who could be your strategic partners. Involve in your communities and volunteer. As a business owner your focus should on the following
- Provide value
- Build Connections
- Engage with your community
At the end of the day, you are talking to humans. Learn how to get the conversation of trust and ask people to refer to your services.
2.Get on Social Media /Networking Events
After you immediate network, the next step is pretty obvious. But how you use social media for lead generation depends on the type of services you offer and your customer persona. Based on where your customer personas hangout, you can follow and get in touch with potential customers. Before you reach out, research about them and customize your message. Focus on providing value and build a connection. Some tools that will help are:
- Facebook groups
- Meetup groups
3. Establish your Brand
Brand is simply what you do, who you are and what you care about. The colors, design comes next but your brand personality should reflect your values. The more credible you look, leads will favor you over your competitors. In an freelance business, credibility can come from the following:
- Build a Professional website- this can be as simple as a one page.
- Get a business card and always be ready to pitch yourself in any event
- Volunteer to speak at panels with your niche topic
- Set up a basic Google Business Page
- Based on your services, leverage tools such as Yelp, NextDoor, Thumbtack
Related : How to Write Website Content: 5 Tips from a Copywriter
4. Don’t be afraid of Cold Emails
Cold Emails have a very negative emotion to it. but if you take the time to understand your potential customers and what they care about, cold email can be transformed to a personalized connection. Not all emails will be responded but take the time to understand how to write an effective email with a clear structure. This takes practice when you are being genuine, magic can happen.
85% of small businesses use email marketing to get and retain customers.
5. Ask for Testimonials/ Review
Reviews are a big deal with freelancing. Every review or a testimonial counts. Offer value to your customers and don’t be afraid to ask for a review/ testimonial. Put them on your website/ social profiles. Ask your customers if they know any one else who may benefit from your service. Treat your customers with all the attention you have and you will reap the benefits for a long time
Freelancing can be Rewarding with the Right Lead Generation Strategy
Treat your freelance business like a startup. Initially you may have trouble in finding clients right away and may seem really scary. Honor the fear that comes along because its new and as you begin to understand the kind of clients you want to work with, its easier to target the leads. Until then, keep your head up and put in the work.
What other strategies have worked for you ? Leave them in the comments section below.
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