The key to succeeding as a freelancer is knowing how to market yourself well. Unlike large companies or even small businesses, you likely won’t be able to afford to hire a team with strategic marketing services to help you promote your business at the start.
But even if marketing can be time-consuming and costly at times, it’s still possible to do effectively on your own. These low-cost marketing methods will show you how to rack up clients and establish your presence in the freelancing community without breaking the bank.
Request for testimonials
Testimonials from past clients, whether they’re good or bad, help to substantiate your credibility and reputation. Don’t forget to request one from a client once you’re done doing business with them. You can display these on your website or social media as a way to show prospective clients that you can be trusted and depended on to deliver the best services.
Create a striking and comprehensive online portfolio
Your portfolio is an important marketing tool that highlights your best work, skills, and potential. This is the quickest and most convenient way to show your clients what you can do and what you have to offer them. There are several ways you can create a striking and comprehensive online portfolio. You can use an online portfolio platform, dedicate a page on your website to your portfolio, or create a PDF version of it by yourself. Just be sure to link your portfolio on your social media accounts and your email signature to maximize visibility.
Send cold emails or cold-call prospective clients
Every so often, you should take the time to sit down and send some cold emails and call some prospective clients. This is a free and effective way to get the word about your business out there. Make sure your email gets to the point quickly, so that you can easily hook in the people who most need your services. Don’t forget to include a link to or an attachment to your portfolio in the email.
Set Up a website
Establishing your online presence as a freelancer is extremely important. Besides creating social media profiles, you’ll also need to set up a website to show your legitimacy. Your website should contain your portfolio, testimonials from past clients, a brief background on your business, and a page with all your contact information. You can also set up a blog, which is another way to market your products and services. Creating SEO-rich content will boost your website’s visibility on search engines and increase your visibility and reach.
Organize engaging online events
Online events are entirely free, yet they’re one of the best ways to showcase your knowledge and expertise and capture the interest of prospective clients. Some examples of engaging virtual events you can organize include webinars, giveaways, workshop classes, and Q&A sessions. Once you’ve figured out what kind of event you want to host, you’ll need to choose which platform you want to host it on. Common platforms to consider are video chat services like Zoom or online streaming platforms like Twitch.
Resourceful and enterprising freelancers are thriving around the world. You can be one of them if you know how to market yourself effectively. These low-cost marketing methods are a good place to start.
