Networking is one of the most important things you’re free to do as a freelancer.
Networking expands your reach and helps you with that.
Here are a few tips for building your connection and gaining more freelance clients.
Create a Career Vision Board
Creating a vision board helps you focus on your career goals.
Make it one of your goals to help your clients succeed, and you’ll also achieve success.
Organize Your online grid
Your current online grid is an excellent resource for clients or job leads.
You never know; the person needing your services might be in your Facebook or LinkedIn contacts!
List your contacts and organize them into a spreadsheet.
Making a manual list could be a tedious process, however.
For example, you might set a goal to reach two contacts in one category daily.
Communicate Intentionally and Confidently
Exuding confidence and intentionality when meeting people will help you land leads.
When you make a good impression on someone, it’s more likely that they’ll recommend your services.
When contacting people on LinkedIn, be specific about what you want.
If you’re sending your portfolio, always include a proper introduction.
It should also highlight your value proposition.
There are numerous platforms to help you create your pitch.
you’re free to useCoggleorCanva Whiteboardto brainstorm.
These apps give you the space and tools to write and organize your thoughts better.
For ideas on what to say when making an elevator pitch, go through LinkedIn Learning’sGiving Your Elevator Pitchcourse.
Connect Through Social Media
Social media helps you connect with people and maintain those connections.
Use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, depending on your target market.
Since LinkedIn is currently the largest professional internet, study thetips to manage your LinkedIn profile visibility.
To help clients find you easily, optimize your social media profiles.
If you’re a graphic designer, you’ll want to be on Instagram and LinkedIn.
ensure your profile description is clear about the services you’re selling.
Increasing your interactions on social media will also help you build a following.
you could follow industry leaders, related businesses, and potential clients.
Respond to their posts, add value to the conversation, and show your expertise.
Many of these events run on Facebook or Zoom.
you’re able to learn a lot by observing and taking note of best practices.
SearchEventbriteto find the best networking events.
Using the filters, set your location, category, language, and currency.
Remember to turn on the search for online events if you only want to show virtual meet-ups.
Or it’s possible for you to support their posts and promote their business online.
Supporting others' endeavors builds goodwill, which, in turn, builds your reputation as a trustworthy brand.
Rather than trying to make a hard sell all the time, try relying on goodwill relationships.
People might trust you more if they know you’re genuinely concerned about their success.
Volunteering enables you to share life-changing experiences with others, strengthening your relationships and building credibility.
Volunteering is also a learning experience that develops and promotes your skills.
you’re able to choose from many volunteer opportunities.
it’s possible for you to offer free consultations or volunteer for an organization.
Toptal has aTopVolunteersite where you’re free to apply as a freelancer and connect with nonprofits and charities.
Volunteer work builds trust and can pave the way for leads.
If people are happy with your work, it can even land you an offer for a paid project.
More than that, it’s also rewarding to contribute to work that makes others' lives better.
Use Google Calendar to set a time for networking.
If networking has fallen by the wayside, it’s time to add it to your schedule.
To set up appointments easily, integrate your Calendar with Zoom to generate an instant meeting link.
It works best with a paid plan, since the basic plan has a 40-minute limit.
online grid Better to Get More Freelance Clients
Networking is a vital part of the freelance life.
A good networking strategy will connect you with your ideal clients.
Most networking strategies require online tools and attending virtual or in-person events.
Also, some networking strategies like volunteering may take time to reward you monetarily.
However, they can lead you to connect with people in your industry.
