As a freelancer you’re always looking for ways to generate more leads so that you can take the leap to the next income level. But finding clients is hard. And though there’s no secret solution, there are ways to work smarter, not harder. This week, I read three articles that highlight important tips every freelancer can take to help them get more clients.
“People spend money when and where they feel good” – Walt Disney
Ever thought you’d see Walt Disney and Mark Zuckerberg in the same sentence? Neither did they, but it’s the truth behind Walt Disney’s famous words that has Facebook projecting that it will rake in 65% of world spending on social ads. That figure comes from Terry Collin’s important CNET article.
He also points out that Facebook’s Instagram now has 400 million users and is expected to generate $600 million in ad revenues. So now you can use either Facebook or Instagram to reach your mass audience. But just because reach is easy and your target audience so easily accessible, it doesn’t mean you’re going to have an easy time standing out from the crowd. But here’s a tip – think about Disney’s maxim and why you’re posting on Facebook. Make your prospects feel good and find a way to connect it to what you’re offering.
When you think social, think about your ideal clients
An important marketing lesson is to “be where your consumers are”, so it’s really important that you do your homework before you spend a penny in advertising on social networks, or even investing your time there.
In this article, the one and only Scott Ayer provides you with the must-know demographics of the most important social media platforms. But that’s only half the work (or even less). It’s up to you to determine who your ideal client is and figure out what his demographic is. The more you know about your ideal client the more informed you’ll be about where to find him. And after that’s done – it’s time to tailor your content and other marketing materials.
The “do-not-disturb” workspace
In this great Inc. article, Minda Zetlin points to a “disturbing finding” that has (or should have) employers very concerned about their employee’s productivity rates. And while this may not sound so relevant to freelancers, it is. It’s perhaps this factor that is bringing more and more businesses to hire more freelancers.
Zetlin offers some good ideas about what employers can do to help their employees work more productively. One of these is creating a “do-not-disturb” workspace. And though she says this in the context of a business, it’s no less important for freelancers.
Whether your workspace is your home office, a local coffee shop or a library, a quiet workspace is crucial to producing good work. It’s a macro strategy without which you’ll find it very hard to succeed as a freelancer.
The work of a freelancer is never done – certainly not when it comes to finding more clients. But by working smarter you can increase your productivity and become better informed about where to find your clients and what ads you should choose to target them.
What important tips have you picked up this week? Let us know in the comments below.