Proven ways to increase your clients as a freelancer

This guide is all about helping you find clients. Pick and choose the techniques that make sense for you, your clients and the business you want to build. Start with methods that have the potential to bring you the most clients with the least effort.

But be prepared to test a few different approaches until you find the tactics that work for you.

𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗚𝗢𝗧:

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟭: 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲
Your website acts as the hub for your social media presence, portfolio, and case studies. Both your site design and content should look and feel professional and consistent with your image. Remember to align them to your UVP (unique value proposition) and highlight the results you deliver for clients.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟮: 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲
Your marketplace profile acts as a live CV of your latest projects that you’ve worked on and helps represent you and your brand identity. To make sure you’re visible on Wishu, and that clients can find you easily… you will need to upload portfolio posts and update your services at least 2 times per month, this helps the algorithm for a better discovery experience.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟯: 𝗧𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸
You have a powerful app that provides you with a network of thousands of creatives in the palm of your hand. Start connecting, and communicating with them. It’s highly likely that they have built their own professional network. A network of people they can refer you to.
When looking for referrals, this is the best place to start. Ask them if they know anyone who needs what you’re offering. Tell them what you do, and ask them to suggest anyone they know who may be interested. But be careful not to be too pushy. Your network is valuable, and it’s not worth burning relationships by pestering them.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟰: 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Networking events allow you to build connections with fellow creators. Start with events close to home around topics relevant to your services or within the creative sector. Remember that the best networking is rarely described as ‘networking’ — but may be called a zoom meet-up, huddle, conference, workshop, talk, or a demo. As well as looking for events attended by your commercial peers, look for events that will attract your potential customers. Check out Wishu’s hosted events (new events always published every Tuesday).

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟱: 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
Wishu has a functionality that allows Top Talents to import their previous reviews. Ask your former clients to write an honest review of your services. This can be then shared with the Wishu Team Member (Hubert@wishu.io) and added to your profile.

𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔 𝗙𝗘𝗪 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦 𝗔 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞:

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟲: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮
Comment and respond to conversations on social media in an authentic manner. People love to interact with peers who add value to discussions, especially on sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. Providing advice or recommendations demonstrates your expertise in your chosen field. This may lead to enquiries and, at the very least, can lead to invaluable lifelong connections. Look for groups, hashtags, and live chats so you can engage with your professional community effectively.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟳: 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻-𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿
Search for relevant pain points on Twitter through various hashtags. For example, if you’re a Graphic designer, search for #ux and identify questions or complaints that you can address.

𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚-𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦:

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟴: 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀
According to a report by TrustRadius, 50% of buyers prefer reading case studies and reviews during the buying consideration stage. Make sure that your portfolio posts on Wishu are full of juicy details and information about the project (from beginning to end).

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟵: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀
Having articles published in relevant, authoritative industry blogs and publications is an effective way to expand your audience.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝟭𝟬: 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹
Setting up a podcast isn’t just a great way to add value to your audience. It’s also the perfect business development tool to connect with industry thought leaders, as well as senior decision-makers and target companies.

This guide is designed to act as a hub of ideas to attract new clients. Not all the options we’ve laid out will be right for you, but there should be a handful of techniques that will work again and again.