What
You’ll need to invest time in finding work and customers, so that you’re able to generate revenue.
Put a plan in place for yourself, so you know what you’re offering, who you’re selling to, and how you’re communicating with your audience.
Why
Just being registered as a freelancer doesn’t mean you’ll magically start getting opportunities knocking at your door.
You’ll need to have a clear plan in place to find and engage with potential customers, generate opportunities and convert them into paying clients.
Despite this being one of the most important things you’ll need to do in your business, it’s also an area of freelancing that many feel less comfortable, and many people neglect.
Sometimes, it feels like there are just as many people who have an opinion on “how to find freelance work”, as there are freelancers, so it can seem overwhelming to look for advice too.
How
1/ Be clear on your offering, and the type of customer who might value what you’re selling.
2/ Draft a marketing plan: outlining your offering, who your customers are, why they might buy from you, and how you’re aiming to find and engage with those customers.
3/ Learn about the variety of ways to find freelancing work, and investigate which approaches be right for you.
4/ Start to communciate via your existing network, and then extend into connecting with new people.
5/ Start to think about what collateral you might need - credentials, portfolios, a website, social channels, etc.
6/ Give yourself a target for how much time you’ll spend each week on marketing or finding work.
7/ Consider creating a simple “CRM” system to keep track of who you’re having conversations with.
8/ Remember: building your reputation and finding clients can take time - don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results.
Remember
Marketing and new business is a significant part of building a successful self-employed career. This task is just the start, and you should treat this as an ongoing process, rather than a one-off job.
We don’t pretend to have a comprehensive guide to marketing your services or finding work as a freelancer - there are many great resources out there, which you can find in our “Finding Work” portal.
