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Iβve said it a thousand times, but Iβll say it once more for good measure: learning how to get consistent freelance workΒ is one of the hardest things us self-employed peeps have to do. Without a system in place, we struggle to grow our businesses and build an income we’re happy with.
When you start landing clients, it can feel seriously euphoric β youβve made it! Woohoo! But when a project ends or a client drops off the radar, what happens next?
Iβm going to go out on a limb and say facing the void after a project finishes or losing a client is the second hardest thing us freelancers have to do.
Why? Because we tend to get caught up in what we do have. When weβre rolling in work and essentially turning away clients because weβre so busy, we arenβt looking further ahead. Weβre revelling in the moment (and, why the heck shouldnβt we β weβre rocking it, right?!).
But, as is the nature of being self-employed and being solely in charge of making sure your business doesnβt flop, we have to constantly be working the grindΒ to get consistent freelance work.
That doesnβt mean you have to spend five hours a day pitching new jobs or scheduling promotional Tweets until the cows come home (although it is a good idea to do a little something every day that will grow your business).
Instead, you want to make sure marketing and networking is a part of your daily working life. THIS is how you make sure you have a steady stream of clients every month.Β
Uh. What? So I have to constantly be in networking mode? I hear you ask.
No, no. If that were the case Iβd be a massive failure, because I really suck at networking (Iβm one of those awkward people who nurses their drink in the corner β both offline and online).
This is what I suggest instead:
Build a Community to Get Consistent Freelance Work
If you havenβt heard, community is pretty much everything these days. Communities believe in you, they support you, and they are ready and waiting to put in a good word for you whenever the opportunity arises.
For freelancers, community is absolutely vital.
Whether itβs a community of like-minded freelancers working in your area, or whether itβs an online mastermind group (I really need to join one of these), having people around to catch you when you fall, offer supportive words of wisdom, and throw work in your direction is invaluable. Itβs the bread and butter of freelancing and single-handedly the best way to get consistent freelance work.
But itβs all well and good me harking on about how glorious communities are, because the thing is β theyβre damn hard to create.
Think about it: those charity workers who shake money pots at passers-by? At a base level theyβre trying to create a community of passionate people to support their cause. If they struggle to do it armed with cute animals and guilt-trips, imagine how difficult it is for the Average Joe to drum up something that resembles a community.
Spoiler: itβs hard.
But not too hard if you know where to look and if you know how to make connections with people that matter.
So, today I want to talk about three different groups of people who you can invite into your community. Theyβre people who know you and your work, and can vouch for you.
Basically, theyβre not strangers. Theyβre not people youβve picked up off the street (which is probably where those money-pot toting charity peeps are going wrong).
Building a community that will eventually lead to a steady stream of freelance clients takes effort, but it is SO worth it when you can quickly reach out when a client drops you or work dries up.
Think about the alternatives.
Say one of your best-paying clients emails and says this is the last month youβll be working together (this has happened to me in the past and it is TERRIFYING). You donβt have a community to tap into, so what do you do?
- Hurriedly send off rushed pitches to as many job board ads as you can?
- Sign up to UpWork and pitch away?
- Send out Tweet after Tweet offering your services?
Letβs face it, we tend to panic when weβre faced with a situation we werenβt expecting. Which means weβre capable of doing anything.
Example: when the client I mentioned above dropped me I was so panicky I accepted work at a MUCH lower rate than I usually would. I wasnβt proud, but at least I was earning something, right?!
The thing with the methods I listed above, though, is theyβre not sustainable. Pitches get buried at the bottom of peopleβs inboxes, and you have to consistently be prepared to bid and pitch and bid and pitch until you start getting some traction.
Itβs exhausting and stressful β not what you need when youβre a tiny bit desperate for work.
Creating a community, on the other hand, is sustainable. Those peeps will be there regardless of how many pitches you send out, and they donβt have the measly life span of a Tweet.
Okay, okay, letβs get to the good stuff, shall we?
Letβs talk about how you can start building a community in an organic way TODAY.
Building a community with previous and current clients
Iβm not saying you should become BFFs with your clients, because things need to stay on a professional level, you hear me?!
Instead, you want to create a solid working relationship with them, the kind where you can rely on each other.
These are the people who hired you because youβre good at what you do and because you provide value, so they are the people who can vouch for your work first-hand. You donβt need me to tell you how important this is.
Even if you finish a project with a client, you want to remain on good terms and reach out to them every now and again to see how theyβre doing and whether they might need your help again any time soon.
This keeps you at the front of their mind, and shows them that they can rely on you.
This isnβt the only way you can keep in touch and create even stronger connections with them, though (which, in turn, leads to consistent freelance work). Hereβs how:
1. Newsletters
Itβs common knowledge now that email marketing is singlehandedly the best way to build a devoted community.
These people have given you their email addresses because they trust you and like what you have to say. When you on-board a client or even when you end with them, you could ask them if theyβd like to sign up to your monthly newsletter where you send out information that could help them (relating to your services) and discounts.
Chances are, if they like what you do, theyβll say yes. Which means, when the work dries up, you can send out a newsletter to your previous clients either a) announcing you have some slots open, or b) offering a discount for the first three people to sign up (or something to that tune).
2. Simply reach out
I have hundreds of clients Iβve worked with in the past, and I know Iβve been guilty of simply letting them fade into history. What I should and could have done, though, is reach out and see if they would like any follow up services.
For example, if I wrote their website copy, I could follow up asking if theyβd like someone to write blog posts for them. Or, if Iβm a designer and I designed a website for someone, I could follow up and ask them if theyβd like someone to create visuals for their posts and social channels. The possibilities are endless.
True story: I worked with one client in autumn last year and when the project finished, we parted ways. In the New Year, I reached out to see how the work Iβd done for them was going, and they sent a new, even bigger project my way. Iβm not sure this would have happened if I hadnβt reached out to them first.
Staying in touch and on good terms with all your clients is a great way to get consistent freelance work.
3. Refer to them
Referrals are kind of a two-way thing.
Think about it: Youβre way more likely to recommend someone if theyβve done something nice for you first, right?
So, if youβre hoping for referrals from a client, you can kick-start the process by referring people their way first.
Note: This shouldnβt be done with an ulterior motive in mind. Instead, it should be out of the goodness of your heart (and only do it if you believe in their product). Niceness breeds niceness, or something like that, so think of it as racking up the karma points. Plus, it feels good to give someone else business!
So, to summarise, basically create deeper connections with your clients than a simple working one. Refer to them, reach out to see how theyβre doing, and, most importantly, donβt be afraid to ask if they need more help!
Letβs move on to the next set of peeps who you need in your community.
Building a community with colleagues
For some reason, freelancers tend to carry their cards close (or whatever that saying is). Maybe itβs because weβre all essentially in competition with each other, or maybe itβs something else. I donβt know.
Iβm a big believer in helping others out, though. Us freelancers need to stick together to keep improving this wonderful industry, right?!
So, with this in mind, colleagues are a hugely important part of your community.
They are the people who know what youβre going through. Theyβre the people who are struggling and succeeding just like you are. Theyβre basically you but different.
But how can colleagues help you get consistent freelance work?
- Firstly, if theyβre overloaded with leads, they can pass some across to you
- They can recommend you to clients that arenβt a good fit for them
- They can point you in the direction of work that you might otherwise have missed
- They can collaborate with you on larger projects
All good stuff, right?!
Okay, but where do we find these mythical colleagues? As freelancers, arenβt we all just tucked away in our basements, rarely venturing out into the big wide world?
There are actually loads of places you can reach out and connect with colleagues, but Iβm going to discuss the two major ones here.
1. Facebook groups
Okay, Iβm a little bit in love with Facebook groups at the moment. They are seriously awesome. Seriously. See how serious I am about them?
Iβve joined three Facebook groups that are filled with fellow freelancers, whether theyβre writers, designers, or entrepreneurs. We get involved in conversations, we share our work, and we generally help each other out. Itβs a great environment to be a part of, and it feels like youβre with others even when youβve been working alone all day.
If youβre interested in which Facebook groups are good, Iβm going to be publishing a full-blown post on that soon, but Iβm happy to drop some in the comments if youβd like!
How to connect in Facebook groups
- Be helpful and answer peopleβs questions if you can. Join in conversations and just generally be your lovely self.
- Donβt spam people with your services. This is a sure-fire way to get kicked out of groups and lose friends.
- Ask questions and make yourself known.
- If youβve had a conversation with someone, be sure to check out what they do by hovering over their name. You might want to connect further by private messaging them, or sending them an email to continue the conversation.
2. Real life networking
When you hear the word networking, do you think of stuffy conferences, suits, and bald men? No? Just me?
But Iβve actually come to learn that networking can be FUN, if you donβt go into it thinking about selling yourself (not in a street-corner-at-night kinda way).
Networking events donβt have to be boardroom style nightmares with expensive drinks and business cards galore. There are loads of other ways you can meet like-minded people in your area.
Meetup.com is a great place to find real-life groups with similar business interests, and donβt be afraid to mix things up β if youβre a freelance writer, you could consider checking out a local marketing event or a web designer meet-up (because web designers often work alongside writers).
How to connect at networking events
- Ask questions. Donβt be that person who talks about themselves the whole time.
- Listen to what people have to say and be interested, otherwise youβll look like that person at the party who canβt wait to move onto the next group of people
- Donβt necessarily sell yourself. Feel free to take business cards, but donβt shove them in peopleβs faces. Instead, focus on having meaningful conversations β people are way more likely to remember you this way
True story: A couple of years ago I went to a conference when I first started blogging. I didnβt have any services or products to sell (I solely blogged for the love of it), so I was getting involved in genuine conversations to learn more and meet interesting people. I met a LOT of people this way (mostly because of the free-flowing alcohol).
Span forward a year or so and someone I met there got in touch to commission me to write two pieces for an e-book for a big-name brand. I didnβt even know they worked for this brand, I just knew them as βthat person I had a drink with on Wednesdayβ.
Itβs not all about the sell, you see. Itβs about the connections, and building relationships with all kinds of people.
Letβs move on to the final group of people who can help you land a steady stream of clients time and time again.
Building a community with followers
Followers. It sounds like such a pretentious word β itβs almost on par with disciples.
But bear with me. Being a freelancer means putting yourself out there, and one of the best ways you can do this is via social media and blogging. If youβre doing these things right, youβll build up a following pretty quickly. These people like what you do, they have an interest in you, and thereβs already a semblance of a connection there (because they followed you or subscribed to you).
These people get your name out there for you while youβre hustling away with clients. Theyβre basically making your marketing schedule a whole lot slimmer.
Why? Because theyβre sharing your posts and promoting your work without you having to prompt them.
How to build a community of followers
- First off, make sure you build something worth following. If your Twitter feed is just you giving a commentary on your food, itβs unlikely to get much traction.
- Provide unprecedented value. If you want people to believe in you and really shout your name from the rooftops, you have to work for it. Give, give, give, and give until you canβt give any more. Let people know that youβre worth vouching for.
True story: In the past few months, Iβve really worked hard on creating a community around Wanderful World and I now know itβs paying off.
How do I know that?Β Because people are recommending my posts, which lead to my services and my products. In one Facebook group, a member asked how they could start freelancing and no less than THREE people recommended my site β without me even being there.
I was literally gobsmacked. It was an amazing feeling knowing that these people had my back and would go out of their way to recommend me to others.
THIS is the kind of community you want to create. It’s THIS kind of community that lands you consistent freelance work time and time again.
Together with solid client relationships, connections with colleagues from all over the world, and followers who are ready and willing to share your stuff, youβll have a community thatβs on tap whenever work runs dry.
Sure, sending pitch after pitch off to job ads might bring in results in the short time, but creating a base of people who will consistently refer you work and offer you projects is SO much more valuable and sustainable.
This is how I land consistent freelance work, and itβs how the most successful freelancers I know do it.
Yes, it takes time, but if you really want to build a business that isnβt based on fleeting clients and one-off, sketchy projects, this is absolutely the way to do it.
Your turn!
Have you started building a community around your business? What are the best ways youβve found to get consistent freelance work each month?
Dear Lizzy,
Simply put it you are the best! Your teaching system is second to non you hold nothing back, these are informations so called guru freelance writers would only sell but here you are giving it away. I mean, even a new writer can grasp this information in one sitting and start implementation as soon as right now you are through the go to person when it comes to freelance writing.
I urge everyone writer new or professional to sign up to your ” Find Freelance Clients Fast free 7-day course”.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Victor! I really appreciate it.
Wow, Lizzie, what an AWESOME post! So helpful and informative, I loved it π I signed up for your course and can’t wait to get started! You should definitely put yourself out there more…I don’t see you around too much in the blogging community, and you have a lot of great things to say!
Thank you SO much, Miranda! That means a lot π haha I’m trying to get involved in the community, but it’s difficult to know where to even start!
Really great info! I translate from English to Spanish or vice versa, and it’s hard finding new clients some months! Thankfully I have many clients that come back. I really needed this, so helpful!
So glad this was helpful for you, Diana! Returning clients is one of the best ways I keep the work coming in, too π
Excellent advice. I need to go back and look through some of those past clients and reconnect.
So glad it was helpful, Kathleen! Yes, it’s valuable to stay in touch with past clients because they already know your processes and how good you are at what you do π
So much goodness here, Lizzie. And so much more I could be doing! I wholeheartedly agree about the Facebook groups – I’ve gotten both clients and friends through them.
YES – Facebook groups are amazing, right?! I just wish I’d found out about them sooner! Thanks for stopping by, Beth π
Great info. I think no matter where we are putting ourselves out there, we can always do more to build our following and develop better relationships with our past and potential clients. And I also totally agree about Facebook groups. I’ve met some great people there.
So true, Tamara! I’m all about cultivating those relationships. Facebook groups are great, right?!
This is very solid advice, and it’s also not a quick fix, but the most long-lasting, effective way to build your business.
You’re right, Stacey, this definitely isn’t a quick fix, but well worth doing if you want to grow a sustainable and rock-solid business!
Thanks so much for this post. I’ve been looking for some freelance work and your advice is amazing.
So glad this was useful for you, Jenna! Let me know if you have any other questions at all π
Definitely an EPIC post! Love all these tips, thank you π
Catherine | Fit Armadillo recently posted…Beyonce, Business, and CrossFit with Yolanda Crowley
Thanks, Catherine! So glad you liked it π
Couldn’t agree more with this post! Networking at MeetUps and Facebook groups have been SO helpful for growing my freelance business from scratch. I just started in January and landed two clients in one week!
I’d love to find a mastermind group or even a group of local freelancers to bounce ideas with…it’s one of the only things I miss about having co-workers π
Awesome work, Brittney! I love it when things start coming together! YES, finding a mastermind group is high up on my list at the moment, and I’m scoping out some local mastermind-style meet-ups in my area for the next month. I definitely miss that side of having co-workers, too!
HI, Lizzie. I just bookmarked this post. It’s great and just what I need right now, as I try to monetize my 2 blogs. I also subscribed to your site. Looking forward to implementing your tips for landing freelance work.
So glad this was helpful for you, Melissa! Let me know if you have any questions at all about anything freelance-related π
This is very helpful, thank you. I am interested in learning the Facebook groups you recommend focused on freelance writing. Also, I am starting over a bit regarding my client base after taking a few years off for my kids. What are your thoughts on Upwork and sending letters of introduction to organizations and publications in my niche?
Hi Sandi! So glad this was helpful for you! So, two of my absolute favourite freelance writing Facebook groups are Female Freelance Writers (https://www.facebook.com/groups/FemaleFreelanceWriters) and the Freelance to Freedom Project (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftfpcommunity).
There are a lot of mixed feelings about UpWork. In my opinion, it can be a good way to get started and there ARE well-paying jobs there contrary to popular belief. Make sure you narrow down your searches to ones that fit your niche and that are for medium-high level freelancers (easy to spot with the $$ and $$$ stamps next to them).
As a more seasoned freelancer, I much prefer sending out letters of introduction to companies I’ve researched carefully and that I think would be a good fit. Working with a combination of UpWork and sending LOI’s is a great place to kick-start your career again. Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any more questions!
Looks like you have some great ideas of how to get plenty of work. Keep up the good work on your website.
Thanks, Rhonda! I hope these are useful for you π
Great information. I’m just starting out and it is certainly helpful. Thanks
I’m not really sure how to start a community around my business…at first I wanted to promote my novels but that’s too difficult outside of Amazon so now I’m promoting my services providing writing advice and tips for writers who are just started out, or are too scared to try. It’s blogs like this and help like this that makes me more keen to jump into the entrepreneur space!
That sounds like a great idea for a community! Let me know if you have any questions at all about taking the leap into the entrepreneur space!
Haha it’s funny to find my original comment and see how much has changed! I’m still not landing much work but I’ve done my first non-fiction guest post and I’ve been getting to know people in Facebook groups – I feel like I’m at least building connections now! Plus I’ve chosen a niche (or three) so I know where I can start connecting with new people π
I love your blog and I like being in your community!
Hear hear! Love the idea about a monthly newsletter with your services. I definitely agree networking is about meaningful connections.
Thanks for the great post.
This was seriously helpful! I rarely comment on other blogs but I just had to voice my opinion here. Your way of writing is charming! I just finished creating a Work With Me page on my website. And I still have lots more to work on before I start fishing for clients on full swing. Thank you for the lovely post. I’m most definitely sharing it so others can benefit from it too!
So glad this was helpful for you, Angela, and thanks so much for your kind words!
Loved this one, and can’t wait for your post on FB groups. π
Any more you want to recommend? I got two from the previous comments. π
I’m currently a member of several, and run a couple myself. They have been invaluable.
Hey Pinar π is this the FB groups post you were looking for: https://freelancemagic.co/2016/02/29/networking-facebook-groups/
Thanks so much for this post. I’m starting out and your advice is so helpful.
So glad it was helpful, Liz! Let me know if you have any questions.
Awesome post Lizzie. Just like what Miranda said, you have the knowledge to share more about freelancing. I’ll definitely help out promoting your blog posts. They are awesome!
Thanks so much, Jan!