"How can I build a freelance client base while I have a full-time job?"
Here's what I'd do.
A thread.
Here's what I'd do.
A thread.
1. Tell people you're available in a freelance capacity.
Friends, family, friends of family, family of friends.
Not, "I'm thinking about going freelance", but:
"I'm ready to take a freelance project now".
Friends, family, friends of family, family of friends.
Not, "I'm thinking about going freelance", but:
"I'm ready to take a freelance project now".
2. Using an honest appraisal of your skills, spend time working out a singular service to provide. One that:
- You're best at over all potential others
- Is most saleable over all potential others
- You can stick with for a long time
Don't go too broad.
- You're best at over all potential others
- Is most saleable over all potential others
- You can stick with for a long time
Don't go too broad.
3. Think about the type of clients you want to work with in particular.
Does your job give you an experience advantage in a sector?
Commit to understanding them, their specific problems and how your services can solve these problems.
Does your job give you an experience advantage in a sector?
Commit to understanding them, their specific problems and how your services can solve these problems.
4. Start building an audience on social media using the results of points 2 and 3 as your guide on who to connect with.
It's great to speak with like-minded people; treat this as a life exercise with the business benefits as a byproduct.
Make it genuine.
It's great to speak with like-minded people; treat this as a life exercise with the business benefits as a byproduct.
Make it genuine.
5. Share everything that your skills have taught you that's relevant to the service from 2 and the type of clients you picked from 3.
- Tweets
- Articles
- Case studies
- YouTube videos
- Guest blog posts
- LinkedIn updates
- Podcast appearances
Double-down on what works best.
- Tweets
- Articles
- Case studies
- YouTube videos
- Guest blog posts
- LinkedIn updates
- Podcast appearances
Double-down on what works best.
6. Don't sell straight away.
Give a lot of value before you ask for anything in return.
Put a preference on relatable value that you can distribute at scale digitally.
By proving your worth consistently in point 5, you'll often attract leads without selling at all.
Give a lot of value before you ask for anything in return.
Put a preference on relatable value that you can distribute at scale digitally.
By proving your worth consistently in point 5, you'll often attract leads without selling at all.
7. After you land the first freelance project, do a good job on it.
Ask if there's anything else that you can help with.
Ask if your client has contacts who could use a good freelancer.
Ask for a written testimonial.
Use this social proof to further increase your client base.
Ask if there's anything else that you can help with.
Ask if your client has contacts who could use a good freelancer.
Ask for a written testimonial.
Use this social proof to further increase your client base.
TLDR:
- Make yourself available
- Pick a service
- Pick a client type
- Build an audience
- Share everything
- Don't sell straight away
- Do a good job
It won't be easy.
It'll take work.
It'll take time.
But it's possible.
- Make yourself available
- Pick a service
- Pick a client type
- Build an audience
- Share everything
- Don't sell straight away
- Do a good job
It won't be easy.
It'll take work.
It'll take time.
But it's possible.
