Working outside that usual 8 to 5 routine and being your own boss definitely has its perks. You get to work on your schedule. You have the freedom to work wherever you like. Plus, you have a say on which jobs to accept. And yet, as we all know, there is no such thing as a perfect job.
Freelancing also comes with its banes and one of those is the never-ending search for clients. In contrary to a normal office job where you simply follow through with your tasks for the day, the freelancing does that and everything beyond. Being self-employed means you also get to do everything else for yourself, admin tasks, accounting, and yes, even looking for your clients.
There is an unwritten, unsaid (yes, but we’re going to say it anyway) rule known among freelancers. Never, ever settle on one client. Projects come and go as they please and if you want to create a steady stream of ‘livable’ income, you need to make sure that as soon as one project ends, the next one is ready for you to take. Sometimes, even having to multi-task and take on several projects at the same time. As a freelancer, you can simply never have “enough clients” to work for.
And as a little bit of help from our team to you, here are our top 5 fool-proof ways to land on more freelance gigs:
1. Your portfolio should only include your best works.
One of the most common misconceptions about work portfolios is that they should include all of your works. No, doing so would burden your client. Clients would often like a direct-to-the-point presentation of your skills. To create a more effective portfolio that gains your clients’ attention, you should only include at least the top three or top five of your best works.
2. Explore freelancing sites.
Before the pandemic, only so little of the total workforce population consider freelance working sites as reliable sources of work. We understand. It is a vast world out there and it could be scary. To put your mind at ease, you should take the time to research and cross-examine these sites before creating accounts on their platforms. It may sound like a lot of work but trust us when we say that it will be worth it.
3. Advertise yourself.
As a freelancer, your biggest investment is yourself. Apart from honing your craft, you should also learn to put yourself out there. Simply creating a blog, Youtube account or even a Facebook page can go a long way. It will not only serve as a good portfolio, but it is also a good way to let people know about your services and what you could offer. Think of it as creating an advertisement for a brand but instead, you are advertising yourself.
4. Socialize.
The network is everything in this industry. You do not only gain jobs from clients. You can also receive freelance gigs from fellow freelancers. These referrals are good vouchers for your work ethics and capabilities. Take the opportunity to ask around during events. You’ll be surprised by how far a simple hello and small talk could go.
5. Run promotions.
It may sound weird at first but hear us out. Whether we like it or not, clients love freebies and discounts. With promotions, you are opening the possibility of providing them with a good deal. Ask yourself. What are you willing to do for free? It does not have to be anything big or fancy. As long as it is something that you think will be of help to your client or target market, then that is good to go.
How about you? What are your tips on gaining more clients?