Working as a freelancer, you probably have experienced the feast or famine cycle when you are either overworked or desperately searching for work. But this doesn’t have to be the case just because many freelancers find themselves caught in this endless pattern.
You can build a lucrative freelance business so that you won’t have to worry about finding work or being paid in the future.
It takes deliberate labor to grow your as a freelancer to levels that are profitable and long-lasting. Without a good plan, it can be difficult to exit your present phase, just like it is with any other standard business structure.
No matter where you are in your freelancing career, it can be challenging to know where to begin when trying to expand your one-person operation. It can feel too much to handle because there are so many things to think about and fresh approaches to attempt. Here are seven concrete steps you can take right now to get the outcomes you want.
1. Enhance your skills
It goes without saying that you get better at a service the longer you do it. Combine this work experience with opportunities for professional growth, research, and learning from experts in your industry who have already traveled the path you are.
Run a current skills audit on you and any employees working as contractors under your fictitious roof to determine all of their strengths and weaknesses. Take into account all advice given to you by those who have utilized your service and put into practice any recommendations made in testimonials from your current and former customers. You may even begin by trying one-on-one mentorship.
Your reputation as a freelancer in your industry will grow as your talents advance, and as demand for your product rises, you’ll be able to choose your customers because you’ll be in great demand.
2. Remain in touch with previous, present, and potential customers
Being in continual communication with clients is some of the best business growth and maintenance advice you will find as an entrepreneur. The best method to develop a relationship with your clientele is through this. It’s crucial to establish a working relationship with your clients because it’s a terrific strategy to keep customers and expand your business.
When working with current clients, it’s important to stay in touch because it’s a wonderful approach to keep up a relationship and offer the greatest service or product. Getting in touch with prospective customers or leads is a terrific approach to convert them into paying customers. Finally, it’s important to maintain contact with your past customers because doing so may encourage them to use your service again or perhaps refer it to others.
3. Narrow your niche
As a freelancer, even if you believe you have current skills in your field, there is still much to learn. You can increase your rates by specializing in one industry and growing into a recognized authority in your field.
A customer seeking for a copywriter in the banking industry will be considerably more drawn to a profile from a specialist than from a generalist, and they will be willing to pay more for that specialized knowledge.
Your name will swiftly spread throughout the industry after you establish your authority and reputation in your specialty, and you’ll start getting requests from clients prepared to pay top bucks for high-caliber work.
4. Determine your strengths and weaknesses
It’s a good idea to take some time to reflect on your achievements and setbacks from the previous year, regardless of how long you’ve been in business or how new you are to it. Start by going through your procedures, assessing your highs and lows, and making a concrete list of what has and hasn’t worked well for you thus far.
Getting rid of the things that hold you back is one of the most basic strategies to advance. A thorough study at this point is crucial to your impending progress because that could be anything from subpar internal processes to unfavorable relationships.
Look for strategies to prevent failures from happening again and measures to ensure that your achievements are sustained.
5. Target bigger clients
You can charge more for your services because bigger brands and more established businesses typically have more money to spend. Working for larger organizations might be beneficial for your career growth as a freelancer and your portfolio. Simply if it’s not always simple to get a foot in the door, try using your current contacts, social media, or even making a speculative call or email to the appropriate individual to see if you can gain access. Keep in mind that persistence and timing are the keys, so be persistent.
6. Network
Finding potential clients, freelance partners, and industry information can all be found by going out and meeting new people. Intriguing people and possibilities frequently present themselves when you least expect them, so you don’t even need to attend PR and marketing events if you don’t want to. Print some business cards and keep an eye out for activities that catch your attention.
7. Establish effective procedures for attracting new clients
Successful freelancers build robust systems, ideally ones that run automatically, to fill their client funnel with the right kinds of people.
Avoid focusing on the projects to the point where you finish them and then have free time on your calendar. Create procedures and practices that will help you attract new clients, and schedule your time in advance so you always know when your next paycheck will arrive.
As you make your pitch to potential clients, start with being absolutely certain of who you’re looking for. Identify those clients’ locations. Do not invest your time in social media marketing groups if you are a marketer who specializes in working with the fashion business. Participate in online fashion communities. Respond to user inquiries in pertinent forums.
Become a sought-after resource in that field. Make a list of your ideal customers and send them one email every day with advice on how to boost their marketing. The clients will come to you when they need an expert if you first offer value to them.
Read Also: How hiring a virtual assistant can help your business grow
