Find More Clients Being Active In Local Business Communities
There are plenty of freelancers and business owners who want to expand their client base. However, all will agree that having a plan on how to achieve this is key before taking action. The following information will provide tips and insights on how you can find more clientele by being active in local business communities.
Because they don’t know about my freelance skills and others
People who do not post ads or ask for workers will most likely not check your profile just because you’re there, but if they see your name frequently popping up around them online it is possible they’d be interested in what you have to offer as a worker/freelancer/business owner. Keeping your name visible keeps people coming back so it’s important to stay present and active if you want to be recognized.
This also means, of course, that you should make sure your profile is 100% complete and up-to-date with as much information as possible (like location, rate per hour/project and some recent work samples). Another great way to stay visible is by building a portfolio/blog website for yourself which you can link on your freelancing profile.
Because they’re looking for solutions at the last minute
If someone’s project deadline is tomorrow and they still don’t have an artist booked this isn’t their first rodeo so it’s safe to say they knew something was missing or would be tight on time but didn’t do anything about it until now. If your name doesn’t pop up when they search in the sites where people are looking for workers at this moment in time, you can’t be sure you won’t get to work with them.
Don’t immediately throw all your ideas out there because I’m still figuring out what my client might want
For some reason, there are freelancers out there who think the client needs to know all of their great ideas before they get started. Have you ever noticed that when you’re on a date with someone and they tell you everything about themselves in the first five minutes it makes you lose interest? Same goes for clients, nobody wants to hear about your 5-year vision for this project during your first conversation with them.
Your client’s time is just as valuable as yours so try not to overwhelm them right away with every idea you had while brainstorming before even hearing what they want or need. You can discuss these details once both of you feel more comfortable around each other but until then save your breath so people will still want to work with you.
Because they think I’ll be expensive
Many freelancers make the mistake of setting their hourly rate too high from the start. This, in turn, leads to them not getting any jobs because most people will only contact you if they can afford your rates and time without a problem. If you want more clients you should consider lowering your prices a bit unless what you do is incredibly unique and rare because that means there’s no one else who could do it as well as you.
If clients say that your price is higher than what they budgeted for but still want to work with you then offer them some extra services or bonus items at discounted prices so they feel like they’re getting some good value even though your base costs are higher than others.
If they think I’m too expensive/too cheap
Having your pricing set at an appropriate level is important because if you’re either priced too high or set to low then people will feel like there’s nothing in it for them. Most freelancers who want more clients don’t lower their prices but instead try to convince the client they’ll be worth every penny and give extra value extras. These freelancers put extra time, passion, effort and love into creativity to make sure everything turns out well; therefore, since they work hard they also expect the client to compensate their efforts with a higher rate per hour or project (depending on what was agreed upon). If this is done successfully then both parties are happy because of how much extra value was added and new opportunities will be presented for future work.
However, if you set your prices too low and rush through the work because of it then clients will only remember how little they paid for the job and how poor quality everything was (even if that wasn’t your intention) which can lead to lost business in the future. Keep this in mind before you throw out what you initially thought were reasonable rates.
If someone is asking for help and needs ideas on how to go about their project, talk it through before just throwing things at them that could turn into a big mess. Share some of your experience with them if necessary or let them know that you’ll get back to them once you’ve fully grasped what exactly they’re looking for. Because who likes having their ideas rejected? Every working situation is different but sometimes, after working together on something, there’s an opportunity to do more work together (and you’re already “on the inside”).
No relationship benefits everyone
It might not be blatantly obvious but some freelancers/workers who work with the same client over and over again end up becoming their friends. As romantic as it may sound, this can never benefit both parties and usually ends in disaster because of expectations and friendship issues (more like a family situation). So always make sure to keep your distance if you want to stay on good terms with them and don’t know whether they’ll need your help again.
There are plenty of freelancers and business owners who want to expand their client base. However, all will agree that having a plan on how to achieve this is key before taking action. The following information will provide tips and insights on how you can find more clientele by being active in local business communities.…