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Scoring new clients can be a big concern for freelancers. When you’re just starting out, it’s crucial but even if you’ve been freelancing for some time you should realize the importance of maintaining a few solid client leads to balance out the effects of feast or famine.
Sending pitches and getting referrals are two of the best ways for freelancers to establish new gigs, but you cal also use social media to do your bidding as well.
If you’re like most of us, you spend a ton of time on social media anyway so why not use it to boost your freelance business? Here are 3 easy ways to use social media to land new freelance clients.
1. Interact on Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are so popular these days because they help connect people with similar interests, careers, etc. Try joining a few Facebook groups for freelancers in your niche and start interacting with others in the group.
In most cases, you’ll be able to introduce yourself to the group when you join. Try to check in every now and then to respond to other’s post, share tips, and even promote your own projects if it’s allowed.
Sometimes, people may even post leads and opportunities in the group for other freelancers. This past week I saw a post in one of my Facebook groups about someone looking for a writer to do some work so I followed up on it. I never would have known about the job or been able to make the connection if I wasn’t apart of the Facebook group.
2. Get Active on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an obvious social platform you should be using if you want to land freelance gigs. It’s a great way to connect with people you know and even people you don’t know but would like to work with professionally in the future.
You can follow companies to see when they’re hiring and you can even join groups just like Facebook to receive alerts on new opportunities. With LinkedIn, make sure you complete your profile and mention that you are a freelancer in your job title and/or headline.
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Try to update your status at least once a week and share examples of your work for your network to see. The great thing about LinkedIn is that you don’t need to spend countless hours on the platform each week and as long as you remain consistent with your efforts, you’ll get more connections and leads for freelance gigs.
3. Search Hashtags
Don’t underestimate the power of hashtags. They’re a quick and easy way to connect people with specific interests or even to draw attention to certain companies and opportunities.
With Twitter and Instagram, it’s easy to search for hashtags on pretty much anything. For example, if you were interested in freelance writing, you could search for hashtags like #freelancewriter #needawriter #publisher #freelancer #writingjobs on Twitter and Instagram to connect with companies that may be looking to hire someone.
This can be a great way to connect with and follow companies that may have work for you in the future. Also, if there’s a brand or website you’d love to write for, follow them on social media or find out who their point of contact would be if you needed to send a pitch.
I’ve started quite a few conversations on Twitter which have led to a warm email pitch for a freelance gig.
Social Media to Land New Freelance Clients Summary
Social media is a big part of modern day society which is why it’s crucial to make it an active component of your freelance business and marketing strategies. Best of all, social media is free to use so the potential for ROI is pretty amazing.
Don’t worry about spending every waking hour on social media in order to get connected with freelance gigs. Just choose 2-3 of your favorite platforms and use them strategically for 20 – 30 minutes per week or so.