Once I first began freelance writing, discovering a high-paying writing job felt like a full-time job.
I bear in mind refreshing job boards, sending pitches, and ready for replies that by no means got here.
Some months I had an excessive amount of work. Different months have been quiet. Too quiet.
And that’s after I realized one thing vital.
Freelance wrirers who constantly land shoppers aren’t fortunate.
They’ve a system.
A shopper acquisition system is just a repeatable solution to appeal to, join with, and land shoppers for your small business.
And as freelance writers, we’d like this as a result of we don’t have a gross sales workforce or advertising and marketing division serving to us out. It’s simply us.
Many people depend on one channel to get shoppers — perhaps referrals, job boards, or LinkedIn (I do know I get within the a behavior of doing this!).
But when that one supply slows down, you’re all of the sudden scrambling for work once more.
I’ve skilled that precise scenario in my very own freelance writing journey.
Early on, I relied closely on job boards and positive I had success however that was all I knew.
Once they have been energetic, I had work.
Once they weren’t, my inbox went quiet and not too long ago due to the explosion of AI, job boards have gotten just a little static.
So I began constructing a system as a substitute.
And that’s what I need to share with you.
Let’s stroll by means of the shopper acquisition methods that assist freelancers preserve their pipeline full.
Be sure to take a look at this video that walks by means of my course of for locating shoppers that I’m doing RIGHT NOW.
The Finest Shopper Acquisition Methods for Freelancers
Shopper acquisition merely means how you discover and land new freelance writing shoppers in your writing enterprise.
However crucial phrase right here is system.
As a result of freelance writing isn’t nearly writing weblog posts or electronic mail campaigns.
You’re additionally operating a small enterprise, and each enterprise wants a dependable means to herald prospects, proper?
With no system, your revenue turns into unpredictable and if you wish to make a LIVING as a author, the shoppers and revenue must be considerably constant or at the very least, dependable over time.
It took me some time to create a shopper system and even now, I alter and adapt yearly.
Simply bear in mind, profitable freelance writers don’t depend on one methodology to get shoppers.
They create a number of methods for shoppers to find them.
So, let’s break these concepts down.
1. Begin With Referrals
One of many best methods to land freelance writing shoppers is thru referrals.
When somebody recommends you to a different enterprise, the belief is already there.
The potential shopper doesn’t must surprise when you’re dependable or expert.
Somebody they belief has already advised them you might be.
However right here’s one thing many freelance writers neglect.
Referrals hardly ever occur routinely.
Generally you need to remind folks that you simply’re accessible for brand spanking new work.
For instance, after ending a challenge efficiently, I’d ship a message like this:
“Hey, I’m opening up a couple of spots for brand spanking new writing shoppers subsequent month. If you already know anybody who wants weblog content material or web optimization articles, I’d love an introduction.”
That small message has led to a number of new writing gigs for me over time.
And when you make this a daily behavior, referrals can turn into probably the most dependable sources of shoppers.
However what when you don’t have a writing job atm? That’s okay, you possibly can depend on associates and households and even your present job.
For instance, when you work within the college system as an E.A. you possibly can ask the precept or a trainer in the event that they know anybody that may want some copy for his or her electronic mail or enterprise.
You’d be stunned by the potential of writing gigs in your ‘neighborhood.’
2. Construct Visibility The place Your Purchasers Are
One other key a part of shopper acquisition is visibility.
Individuals can’t rent you in the event that they don’t know you exist, proper?
And one platform that each freelance author have to be on is LinkedIn.
Many companies are actively trying to find writers there.
Advertising managers, founders, and editors typically scroll LinkedIn every day in search of concepts, insights, and generally even writers.
However as a substitute of regularly pitching your self, give attention to sharing helpful insights.
For instance, you may submit one thing like:
“A SaaS shopper got here to me with dozens of weblog posts however virtually no visitors. Right here’s one factor we modified that began bringing in readers.”
Posts like this present potential shoppers the way you suppose and the way you resolve issues.
Over time, folks start associating your title with a particular experience.
And finally, somebody will ship a message asking when you’re accessible for writing work.
Different varieties of posts you possibly can share in your LinkedIn feed could be:
- A BTS of the way you write for a shopper article
- Any private success in your small business like electronic mail open charges or gross sales of your merchandise
- Sharing your newest shopper piece
3. Construct Partnerships With Different Freelancers
One other shopper acquisition technique that has labored nicely for me is forming partnerships with different freelancers.
Freelancers typically work with the identical shoppers however provide completely different providers.
For instance:
- web optimization consultants want writers
- Net designers want copywriters
- Advertising strategists want weblog content material
As a substitute of competing with these professionals, go forward and collaborate with them as a solution to construct relationships.
Through the years I’ve linked with web optimization specialists, designers, and different entrepreneurs to assist me develop my model and attain.
When their shoppers want content material, they refer them to me.
And if a shopper asks me for a service I don’t present, I can refer them to somebody I belief.
These relationships create alternatives you may by no means discover on job boards.
4. Heat Outreach Works Higher Than Chilly Pitching
Chilly pitching can work, however many freelance writers strategy it the mistaken means.
They ship generic emails to dozens of firms and hope one replies.
A greater strategy is heat outreach and it’s one thing I exploit greater than chilly pitching.
Heat outreach means you construct a connection first.
You may touch upon an organization’s LinkedIn posts, observe their updates, or interact with their content material for a couple of weeks.
Then while you ship a message introducing your self, they already acknowledge your title.
This small distinction makes your pitch really feel extra like a dialog as a substitute of a gross sales message.
I’ve landed a number of freelance writing jobs this manner.
Generally the dialog didn’t result in work instantly, however months later the corporate reached out after they wanted a author.
The factor to recollect is to observe up and interact with their posts so your title is at all times on thier minds.
5. Strengthen Your LinkedIn Profile
One factor I’ve realized not too long ago is that many potential shoppers test your LinkedIn profile earlier than the rest.
Earlier than your web site.
Earlier than your portfolio.
So conserving your profile up to date is a crucial a part of your shopper acquisition system.
Begin together with your headline.
Your headline ought to clearly describe what you do and who you assist.
And don’t fear, you possibly can change your title when you don’t like or it doesn’t symbolize what you’re providing.
For instance, right here’s my present LinkedIn title:
It’s a mouthful for positive, however I need to embody area of interest key phrases that shoppers may seek for.
One other easy replace is refreshing your LinkedIn profile photograph.
When you’ve been utilizing the identical photograph for years, updating it may possibly make your profile really feel extra present and energetic.
And that’s one thing I not too long ago did!
Including testimonials is one other highly effective step.
If a shopper has left constructive suggestions, embody a brief quote in your profile or banner.
Social proof can shortly construct belief with potential shoppers.
That is one thing I did a couple of years again and I’ve stored the little testimonials on my banner as proof.
I added one other title and a brief testimonial on my LinkedIn banner.
6. Maintain Your Writing Samples Recent
Your writing portfolio additionally performs a job in attracting new shoppers.
In case your writing samples are a number of years outdated, it could be time to refresh them.
A great rule of thumb is changing samples which might be older than six to 12 months if potential.
This isn’t alway true of my web page, however I work exhausting at ensuring it’s as related as potential.
This exhibits shoppers that you simply’re actively writing and staying present in your area of interest.
You may create new samples like:
- one web optimization weblog submit
- one electronic mail sequence
- one niche-specific article
If you have already got sturdy shopper work, you possibly can reorganize your portfolio to spotlight the kind of writing you need to do extra of.
For instance, in order for you SaaS shoppers, place these samples on the high of your portfolio.
Additionally, listen if shoppers eliminated your articles down and even modified the creator. This has not too long ago occurred to me with my shopper Running a blog Wizard.
They have been one in every of my first shoppers ever and it’s comprehensible after a decade they might need to have these items of content material re-written by a brand new author.
However that meant, I misplaced a giant bulk of my writing.
This offers me motivation to preserve discovering shoppers so as to add to my portfolio!
7. Search for Hiring Indicators
One other technique that works surprisingly nicely is expecting hiring alerts on LinkedIn.
Many advertising and marketing managers and founders submit messages after they really feel overwhelmed or want additional assist with content material.
Right here’s a current LinkedIn submit:
If you see posts like this, you possibly can ship a brief message.
One thing easy works nicely.
For instance:
“Hello, I noticed your submit about needing a author. I assist SaaS firms create weblog content material like this. Right here’s a pattern when you’d like to have a look.”
This strategy works as a result of the individual is already in search of assist.
You’re merely responding to the necessity they’ve already expressed.
Create a Weekly Shopper Acquisition Routine
If you need regular shoppers, it’s greatest to construct a routine round that objective.
One routine that works nicely for a lot of freelance writers seems like this:
Every week you may:
- ship three heat pitches
- touch upon LinkedIn posts for 15 to twenty minutes
- share one useful perception or lesson
- observe up with previous leads
These small actions compound over time.
After a couple of months, you’ll probably begin noticing extra conversations with potential shoppers.
And a few of these conversations flip into writing gigs.
When you want extra assist structuring your whole freelance writing enterprise on a weekly and month-to-month foundation take a look at my video on this. There’s additionally a hyperlink to the every day guidelines I speak about on this video.
Shopper Acquisition Is a Lengthy Recreation
Constructing a gradual movement of freelance writing shoppers takes time and that’s okay.
Some methods work shortly.
Responding to hiring posts or sending outreach emails may result in conversations inside days.
Different methods take longer.
Posting insights on LinkedIn or constructing relationships in your trade could take months earlier than they result in alternatives.
And it’s vital to do each brief and lengthy techniques in your freelance enterprise.
As a substitute of regularly trying to find writing jobs, shoppers begin discovering you.
And that’s when freelance writing begins to really feel extra steady.
Let me know within the feedback what your plan for locating constant shoppers are or if you’ll observe my shopper system!
I’d like to know!