Marketing Tips For The New Freelancer
Starting a new business is an exciting time. It also often means a minimal marketing budget. While marketing is a crucial component to getting your business off the ground, we have found many ways to market and reach a lot of people on a budget, if not for free.
Marketing Your Small Business -Marketing doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. It just needs to happen!
Define Your Brand
The more concise you are, the better your chances of getting clients. Pinpoint what you do first. You can also offer other services, but pick the main one to draw people in.
Social Media
Start your social media accounts now if you haven’t already! Post pictures and videos of you or your service in action. People don't want to read a lot of text, so grab them right away. You already have a captive audience, so half of your job is done.
Connect with similar freelancers or businesses; a courtesy goes with liking and sharing each other's posts. It is an excellent way to reach more people.
Build Your Network
Connect with similar freelancers or businesses that want to see you succeed. Yes, these people do exist!
I have worked with many freelancers and small businesses that do that same thing as I do and have received much of my work through an intro or referral through them; when this happens, don't forget to return the favor one day!
Great Website
You need a professional website that has excellent content. This is where you may want to use your budget. A great agency will build your website with you, manage it, and add content. Your website should be easy to navigate and let people leave comments or contact you through it. Connect it to all your other social media sites, so all roads lead back to you.
Get Referrals
Get people you have worked with before to refer you to your next client. Referrals can come from your previous job, past clients, or reputable agencies you have work with. Use your entire network of people you know, past co-workers or employers, or business people who know you. They can reach out to their list of networks to help you get started.
Volunteer
You can also approach a larger company and offer your services for free for a mansion. Write a guest post on their website and include a link back to your own. Offering free service for marketing is an innovative way to extend your reach. If their site gets a lot of traffic, you should see an increase in traffic on your site, as well. This can also be effective by lending a hand locally in your community. Help out at a school or a seasonal festival to increase your presence and your network.
Keep Your Prices Within Reach
Once you have established a few clients, you can boost your fee a bit. But don't raise it out of reach for many companies. Once you have a few referrals and clients, you will be more confident.
Client Testimonials
Ask your clients to leave a review or testimonial on your website or other platforms. Most people look up a business or service online before they even leave the house. This is a great way to reach a lot more people without lifting a finger. People tend to believe other people before they believe the company. Competition can be challenging, so getting the okay from a satisfied customer will make potential clients make up their minds.
Persistence is Key
Don't be afraid to hit as many sites as you can. There are plenty of job boards and other agencies online you can take advantage of to get started. You won't make a lot of money right away, so let that aspect go. If you do have trouble, reach out to these agencies online for help. Many people that use them are just like you, trying to get their own business or freelancer service off the ground. Help each other, and be part of your community.
