Become A Freelancer: 21 Best Ways To Find New Clients

Freelancing has taken off in recent years as more and more professionals are working flexibly and considering more than just a full-time role in a traditional office setting. We have varied our freelancing in many different ways, including long-term contracts, remote working, on-site working, client office work, and one-off gigs. We’ve even tried to balance freelancing with full-time work. This article is the one for you if you want to become a freelancer soon.

Table of Contents

How To Find Freelance Clients: 21 Effective Methods

Finding clients is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you can do as a freelancer, but it can also be one of the most difficult things to do.

Some freelancers do it effortlessly, while others struggle to find clients in the middle of their projects.

There are many ways to become a freelancer and get new clients and projects.

Sometimes they come in the form of an unexpected opportunity, while others come as a result of hard work and dedication.

So, if you want to get new clients or projects, you need to explore different methods, whether they are difficult or easy, and think about the various ways you can achieve success.

Follow these tips to become a freelancer, find new clients, and grow your business:

1. Networking Is The Key

One of the biggest misconceptions about networking is that it’s just another way to find freelance clients.

But it’s actually much more than that. It’s important to be smart and relevant. Network with industry experts or friends who have similar interests.

There are many different types of networking. From conferences to social networking sites, there are plenty of different ways to network.

By treating networking as an art or a hobby, you’ll find that it can be a lot of fun and a great way to find clients and finally become a freelancer.

2. Connect To Slack Workspaces Specific To Your Industry And Share Your Services

There are a number of Slack communities dedicated to specific industries.

If you’re looking for freelance clients, you can post about yourself on Slack or work in the relevant channels using polite and respectful introductions.

Most freelancers have similar goals, so it’s a great place to connect.

3. Engage In Online Remote Work Communities

Remote work communities exist on social media platforms such as Slack and Facebook that enable you to become a freelancer.

Some of the most popular remote work communities include “We Work from Home” and “Social Media Marketing In The NY Metro Area.”

These communities feature content for active engagement and can be used as a place to announce availability and answer questions.

4. Tell Your Family That You Want To Work As A Freelancer

I started a new business, won my first client on Slack in a women’s professional community, and started providing services to anyone who needed them.

After 6 months, I told my parents about my business, and they encouraged me to grow through their parents’ network.

I haven’t landed any new clients yet, but there’s still room for growth.

5. Create A Social Media Profile To Promote Your Freelancing In A Creative Way

If you become a freelancer and have a social media presence for freelance services, you can use it to promote your portfolio.

If you have a virtual service, you can use tangential images, such as computers or people at work.

You can credit photographers and artists.

You can also look at larger players to get an idea of their visual strategy.

For inspiration, follow NYC blogs and influencers.

6. Let Your Friends Know About Your Freelance Business By Sending Them A Cold Email

Email your contacts to get the word out about your new business, even if they are in different fields.

This is a great way to get in touch with potential clients and boost your chances of being seen as a freelancer if someone hears about your services.

7. Create An Ad On Craigslist

Advertising on Craigslist is one of the most effective ways to connect people usually for a very small fee and become a freelancer.

However, in the “Jobs” section, anyone can post a job application or advertise for a service, looking for clients.

People who have listed things on Craigslist before may not use this section.

8. Offer A Referral Bonus To Past Clients Who Have Already Referred You

Halfhalfphoto is a photography business.

I reached out to some of my previous clients to let them know that I am available for booking in the New Year.

Some of them responded, either proactively letting me know or recommending me to friends looking for a photographer.

9. Ask Your Fellow Freelancers If They Require Assistance Or Have Additional Tasks

All freelancers have too much to do, but not every freelancer has too much to do.

Some freelancers are willing to hand over work to others who need it, or who want to become a freelancer or are just getting started.

Networking is an important part of freelancing.

It allows you to connect with others who are also freelancers and shows your availability to new clients.

It also establishes your willingness to work with professionals in similar areas.

10. Join Freelance Gig Sites Such As Upwork, Fiverr, Etc

UpWork is a popular work-from-home job board for freelancers.

It lets freelancers submit proposals to clients. Fiverr lets clients buy services at the listed rates.

Both of these sites can be very competitive, so it’s worth taking the time to read more from professionals who have successfully worked on both to find your next freelancer client.

However, these websites are a good gateway to become a freelancer and earn a handsome salary.

11. Consider Subscribing To A Flexible Job Website Like FlexJobs

Flexjobs.com is a job search engine that analyzes job postings submitted by clients and companies. It’s different from other job search engines such as Craigslist.

You can try out Flexjobs for just one week, and you’ll get 30% to 50% off the site’s regular price.

Flexjobs now lists flexible jobs, remote jobs, and work from home jobs.

12. Create An Exceptional Website To Showcase Your Services

Building a website is one of the most important things you can do as a freelancer. It helps build trust and credibility.

A website is like a resume for freelancers. It makes it easy to share, share, and spread the word about your services.

You can share your website on social media, via email, text message, or Slack.

You can also archive your website permanently as long as you pay for the domain.

13. Create A Blog On Your Small Business Or Freelance Business Website

A blog is a part of your website that you can use to tell your success stories, give tips, or post case studies.

Blogging also helps in search engine optimization (SEO), which means that more traffic will be directed to your blog.

This is especially important if you want to connect with freelance clients and work on your business website.

14. Create A Client-Sharing Coalition With A Coworker In Your Space

If you’re working with a reliable freelancer in your industry, you may be able to open up new client networks by forming a client-sharing coalition with them.

This is useful when a colleague goes on vacation or when you’re taking on a couple of clients, depending on your industry.

It’s something you should consider based on your circumstances.

15. Engage With Former Coworkers And Discuss Your Pursuit Of New Clients

LinkedIn and other work-from-home platforms make it easy to get in touch with colleagues from previous jobs.

These one-to-one messages can potentially land you a freelance client because old colleagues may share your contact details with potential clients.

16. Drop Off A Flier At Your Local Coffee Shop, Gym, Or Community Center

Even though paper flyers are out of fashion, they can still be found in your local coffee shop, neighborhood coffee house, or library.

They can be a valuable tool for clients who come across your name and your website while looking through flyers.

17. Respond To #Job And #Gig Ads In Professional Communities

There are a number of networking tools you can use to get your freelancing career off the ground.

For example, you can post job descriptions online, join Slack groups, or join Facebook groups.

Even if you don’t land a job, it’s important to stay in touch as clients may contact you with a need or hire you for a one-time project.

18. Find A Kitchen Coworking Space To Hang Out With Other Kitchen Professionals

A coworking space in your area can be a great place to meet new people and introduce yourself to potential clients.

Even if you don’t have a coworking space near you, you can still find a coworking space that will introduce you to other freelancers and help you create a more productive work environment.

19. Contact Industry Experts To Learn About Their Strategies For Attracting Clients

Ask professional freelancers to talk about their experiences with writing, blogging, and social media content.

Remote networking allows you to have informational interviews and gain valuable insights.

Freelancing is a growing trend in remote work.

For those who already work full-time or are building their own businesses, freelancing adds value.

20. Create Business Cards And Don’t Hesitate To Distribute Them

Whether it’s a freelance business card or a company card, business cards serve as a reminder of the recipient.

Printed on cardstock, small photos can be a great reminder of the brand, and recipients can hang them on their fridges.

21. Attend Industry Conferences, Including Virtual Ones, To Gain Exposure And Expand Your Reach

One of the biggest benefits of attending a conference is that you can meet new people. This is especially true for freelancers who are looking to grow their business.

If you attend a conference, you have the opportunity to network with other attendees and make new contacts.

Related Content: 21 Ways To Make Money Online

Final Thoughts

Freelancing is gaining popularity due to flexible work hours, remote work, and on-site work.

To become a freelancer and find new clients, consider networking, connecting with industry experts, and engaging in online communities.

Utilize social media, Craigslist ads, referral bonuses, and join gig sites like Upwork and Fiverr.

Create a website and blog, and form a client-sharing coalition to grow your business effectively.

Happy Freelancing!

You May Like Also: