Estimated reading time: 5 mins
As a freelancer, you are going to be competing with hundreds and thousands of people all over the world. As remote work becomes more popular, this competition is only going to get fiercer. Because of this, you need to know how to market yourself effectively so that you can secure the job. Marketing yourself as a freelancer is different to the norm because you will largely be resorted to online methods and because you are selling yourself rather than a brand or a product. With that being said, read on to discover some of the most common mistakes that freelancers make when marketing so that you can avoid them.
Not having a website – It is surprising how many freelancers do not have a website. It is something that a lot of them seem to skip. However, this provides you with a platform for creating a business card, online resume, and portfolio, all in one. It shows you as a professional, and it gives clients all of the information they need to know. If someone has a question or wants to know anything about your services, they can head to your website and get all of the details that they need.
Not understanding your market – You will never be able to market yourself effectively if you do not understand your market. You need to be clear about whom you are trying to sell to and what you are trying to sell. Take the time to understand your consumer base, and make sure you then study that target demographic as well. By doing this, you will be able to discover the best ways to reach your target audience. What are their likes and dislikes? What are their spending habits? All of this information will help you to formulate the best marketing plan.
Overlooking the benefits of guest blogging – One of the most effective methods of marketing for freelancers is guest blogging. This gives you the opportunity to get word out about your services while also demonstrating your skills. It is all about subtle self-promotion and showing yourself as an expert in the field. By offering value and information to readers, you can build strong connections. Make sure that you choose blogs, though, with a good following and that are relevant to your business. If you are a freelance medical writer and you post your guest blog posts on a baking blog, it’s not going to deliver the results you had hoped for.
Failing to embrace technology – There are a number of tools and solutions that are available for freelancers today to help them build their presence and secure more business. A good example of this is the social media scheduling tools that are available. It is unlikely that you have the time to sit on Twitter all day long, building up your social media reputation. If you do this, you won’t get any paid work done. Nevertheless, having a strong social media presence is a must in today’s competitive business environment. This is where social media scheduling tools can be worth their weight in gold. You can dedicate around 30 minutes every morning to social media, yet by scheduling your posts it will feel like you are active all day. This is a great way to interact with customers and establish yourself as an authority figure in the field.
Not dedicating any time to marketing – As touched upon in the former paragraph, marketing is something that is going to take a bit of time. You should dedicate a set portion of your day to your marketing efforts. By doing this, you can ensure you continue to get word out about your freelance services, yet at the same time you make sure this does not interfere with the paid jobs you need to complete. After all, it is very easy to get distracted as a freelancer, isn’t it?
Getting lead generation wrong – A lot of freelancers get lead generation wrong because they focus on quantity rather than quality. When looking for bloggers and industry professionals that can take your freelance business to the next level, you need to make sure that they are relevant and high quality. You can find free MLM leads online, which can give you a head start and get word out about your business. After all, freelance marketing doesn’t – and shouldn’t – have to cost a lot.
Taking too long to respond – When working with freelancers, business owners are looking for those who are quick and efficient. If you take a long time to respond to requests, you will have killed your marketing efforts before they have even got started. You should make an effort to reply in a timely manner at all times. This makes a massive difference.
Missing the opportunity to upsell – It is surprising how many freelancers do not take advantage of the opportunity to upsell. Whenever dealing with a client, you should always make a point of asking them how else you can help them. For example, ask if they need any new flyers made or if they are happy with their current website. You never know when this could lead to new opportunities. Of course, there are going to be a lot of clients that will end the relationship there, but for others, it will give food for thought. If they are happy with the work you have produced, they may get you to work on something else.
So there you have it: some of the most frequently made mistakes that freelancers make when trying to market themselves online today. If you can make sure you do not commit the blunders that have been discussed, and embrace the advice that has been provided, you should be able to feature more prominently online and secure jobs over the competition.
