“Where do you usually get your clients?”
Guilty. That’s one of the most-asked questions I get from friends since I started freelancing.
I created this list for everyone who wanted to explore working directly with clients to grow their business.
I hope this can help Filipino freelancers like me who wanted to welcome the possibility of owning their own business.
Here are the ten (10) places we can get clients:
Freelance Marketplace
Upwork, OnlineJobs, FreeUp, and Fiverr are websites to get (mostly) digital marketing clients and virtual assistance roles. There are other freelancing websites out there, too.
While these websites are good places to start, but oftentimes, the issue that freelancers get from these sites is that newbies have a hard time finding clients.
Your Family & Friends
Any business owner gets referrals from their family and friends if they are open to discuss what they do. If you are a proud freelancer, you’ll most likely get some client leads from them.
You should also tell them that you’re open to helping more people with what you do. This trick works like magic!
Facebook Friends
Have you tried posting on your Facebook profile that you’re looking for clients? If you’re worried that they might not like what you post, don’t worry about them.
Some of the Facebook friends we have are looking for talents, and if what you do is something that they’re looking for, you might instantly get a message from them.
Facebook Groups
One of the tips I learned recently is that when I join Facebook groups to look for clients, I should not post that I’m looking for clients. Instead, I should actively engage in comments and provide insight to people looking for answers.
This strategy has allowed me to receive friend requests and messages from potential clients several times already. You should try it, too!
If you’re posting on LinkedIn just to update your work title, you’re missing the entire point of LinkedIn.
Just like any social media, it’s building a connection with your network!
For example, I’ve been posting about Facebook Ads on my LinkedIn for the past two months already, and that allowed me to get connection requests from potential customers. Some of my connections has also messaged me that they’re interested in working with me.
Pro tip: hashtags play a good role in the LinkedIn algorithm.
Workshops & Events
If you’re invited to workshops and events as a speaker or even just a participant, don’t forget to network with others and introduce what you do.
There’s a good chance that these participants are likely looking for someone like you or have friends who are looking for someone to help with their business.
Pro tip: in virtual events, make sure to get people’s names and add them to LinkedIn.
Groups & Organizations
If you’re a social person like me, you’re in an excellent place to find clients within these circles.
One of the tactics I learned is that when introducing yourself to others, make sure to include what you do, and help others. This one-liner description can work like wonders.
For me, here’s my one-liner: Hello, I’m Rome. I co-founded Bisaya Digital, where we help businesses go digital and connect to their customers online, especially social media.
This is enough signal to send that if someone is looking for a social media marketer, you’re that guy!
Existing Clients
If you’re making your clients happy, don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials or referrals.
If they have networks looking to hire someone like you, you’ll be the top-of-the-mind person for them.
That’s why it is essential to maintain good communication with your clients even after you parted ways.
Cold Email
An email is still a powerful tool for marketers. I have sent several emails to potential clients, and the tip that I can give you is to make it personal.
Business owners still check their email, so that’s a good reason why this works.
Social Media
We mentioned Facebook and LinkedIn for potential sources.
But how about the other social media sites? They are landmines of potential clients, too. I know someone who found clients just using Instagram or Twitter.
The secret is clients are anywhere online. They’re not limited to the freelancing platforms, and if we offer them value, they might just trust us and potentially consider working with us in the future.
That’s it. Happy connecting with them!
7 Responses
Rome, I like this article. As you see, when I stopped being part of a company, I was really having a hard time looking for clients. Word of mouth is still a powerful tool but traditional. So, the clients that I have are friends’friend and former colleagues. You are right. I am worried posting my business on FB coz my friends might say something undesirable about it. I have to change that, of course, if I want to be better with this freelancing job. Really, this article is very helpful. Thanks, Rome!
Marketing is one of the biggest challenges in any business gyud. Good thing we have these platforms to extend the network and provide information that are accurate and relevant.
As a Marketing Manager this types of Marketing Platforms are all useful .especially when you are starting from a Scratch you should check Prospects under different Social Media Platforms and introduce your business.
There are so many ways to get clients, especially in the digital age and social media. All you need to do is find which clients you should focus on. You can’t have them all since your skillset won’t match with the client’s needs all the time. 🙂
Last June before being back to the academe, I have tried to venture on freelancing focusing on one specific skill while contemplating about my life and professional direction. Got three clients and all of them are my friends. Hahaha with that short freelancing experience, I can say that friends and networks can be a good start to find your loyal clients and get feedback. Though, I believe that digital platforms have a wider reach for potential clients which is something I have not explored that much for my random gigs. This is very helpful not just to freelancers, but to entrepreneurs planning to kick off their businesses anytime soon and consider both traditional and digital marketing to help their future businesses.
Thank you for putting these together, Rome. Nowadays, when doing business online becomes the norm, there are also a lot of opportunities to network, connect, and find clients. While virtual connection won’t replace the connection we make in person, it also shouldn’t stop us from reaching out to people who might need and want the services we offer. Clients are out there, we just need to be seen and heard. 🙂
I’ve been using all of these to get clients! Just make sure to be patient because you can just get some clients right away. 🙂