How to Successfully Reach Out to Clients
Best practices to get clients as a freelancer
So you want to know how to successfully reach out to clients – that’s great. But before we explore that, let’s figure out the most important thing:
How Can I Find Customers That I Can Reach Out To?Â
Something that can sometimes feel discouraging is when you are in the early stages of your career as an independent; just remember that a little hard work can easily be transformed into a sustainable business.
Some ways to achieve this are:
Start Networking
If you are new and want to be successful working as a freelancer, it is extremely necessary that you start creating relationships with other freelancers and of course with potential clients.
This doesn’t mean that sending an email or connecting with someone on Linked In or in Facebook groups will ensure a sale (although it can happen), but it’s definitely a great way to position yourself on the radar of people/companies, and these connections can refer work to you in the future.Â
Use Freelancing Platforms
If you are not yet an established freelancer, using freelancing platforms is a great way to get your first clients.
It’s true that sometimes on these sites it is necessary to start with a lot of work to build a reputation to be a successful seller, but many times in the long run it ends up being a great way to grow since obtaining good reviews and more exposure, you can transition to better and higher paying projects.
An excellent alternative is Revolancer since, unlike many other sites, transactions with buyers are safe for everyone and they don’t take a percentage of your earnings in commissions. On top of that, you can talk with the clients off the platform.
How to Successfully Reach Out to Clients?
You already know where to find potential clients, now how do you contact them to hire you?
Customize Your Proposals According to Your Client’s Needs
If you really want to convince your prospects to hire your services, you need to send messages, emails, etc. personalized according to what each one of them needs.
Because once your email is opened you only have a few seconds chance to get the attention of your potential customer and the reality is that a generic email just won’t cut it.
Your Portfolio
Over time you may have gotten a lot better at how to successfully reach out to clients, but if you don’t have a portfolio that showcases your work, all the effort you put into marketing your business will go to waste.
On many occasions, your work speaks for you, especially in the world of freelancing. That’s why it is essential that you can show in the best possible way what you can offer them and the successful projects in which you have participated.
There are many ways you can create your portfolio, and it also depends a lot on your career, but the most common ones are websites like WordPress, Behance, Sortfolio, etc. On some sites like Revolancer, you have the opportunity to show your best projects on your profile.
Clients want to know if you can walk the walk and talk the talk. An optimized portfolio on plus.page will help boost your freelance game. If you actually want to leverage your influence and make it easy for your audience to reach you, this no-fuss, beginner-friendly mini website is perfect.
What should your portfolio include? In summary, you have to include a brief bio about yourself and a selection of your best works; you can also include some reviews or testimonials from your previous clients, your resume, and a way they can contact you. Remember that you have to be constantly updating your portfolio since with more practice you acquire more experience and that should always be reflected.
The Process of Working With You
It’s possible that on some occasions you have a client who doesn’t have previous experience working with freelancers, so it is important to guide your buyer by hand about the process of what it’s like to work with you.
Explain everything from the moment the project is discussed, your work process, to the deliverables that your client will receive.
This not only helps your client become familiar with the process of working with freelancers, but it is also the time for both of you to clarify any doubts you may have about the project, the process, etc.
Provide the Estimated Time It Will Take You to Complete the Project
You should always be clear about how long will take you to complete a project. And even when you know if it will take a day or a month, it is recommendable to give yourself some extra time in case something happens that is not under your control.
Delivering a project after the agreed deadline speaks badly about your professionalism and your business in general; on the contrary, you should always try to deliver earlier to take the remaining time in case there are changes that need to be made at the request of your client.
Be Responsive
One of the most important parts of working as a freelancer apart from the quality of your work is customer service, and to be honest, nobody wants to work with a person with whom they have no contact or who is difficult to reach out.
The great thing about having your very own website is that you can immediately communicate with clients and give them the deliverables.
Remember that your client is putting a project in your hands, and if as a freelancer you do not have time to dedicate to your clients, it is most likely that you will end up losing them.
Make sure you always maintain good communication and answer any questions they may have.
Your Best Marketing Strategy
The reality is that knowing how to successfully reach out to clients and keep them is something that you will constantly be learning, and one of the best ways to achieve it is to let your work speak for you.
Having your clients happy by delivering quality work should always be your number 1 priority. In this way, your current clients will love the work and they themselves will be the ones who will spread the word and attract more people to you.
Remember that at the end of the day happy customers are the most loyal! So keep learning and improving.
Before You Go
We recommend you to check out Where to Start Freelancing to learn more about building a successful career as an independent, also, for more information on how to properly showcase your work, go to How to Create a Freelance Writer Portfolio. And be sure to check out the plus.page to create your own mini website, so you can attract more clients!
Freelance marketplace: Revolancer