8 Tips & Tricks To Get Better Clients as a Freelance Professional

Every professional perceives and treats his business differently. The bridge between the winners and losers is marked by the standards, expectations, and work ethics of each freelance entrepreneur.

The first thing a freelancer must do is understand the reason why he chose freelancing in the first place. Because freelancing is a certain way of doing business, you'll need to understand that your clients are expecting mainly one thing from you: VALUE.

By finding out why you want to provide value to others (other than financial reasons), you'll always know your way. You'll have a roadmap or a compass that'll keep you close to what you resonate with and close to what you want to achieve.

By jumping into freelancing without consciously committing to the process, you'll only do trouble – both to you and to your clients.

Nevertheless, since you're here, reading this interesting post, I'm assuming that you're looking for some tips, tricks, and tweaks that should help you better define, grow, and sustain your freelance business.

Well, here are 8 tips to get better clients as a freelance professional and grow your skills.

Establish Your Branding Strategy

As I’ve already mentioned, a freelancing business is still a business. Therefore, it obeys the “laws of the marketplace”.

Successful freelancers perceive themselves as a brand, while mediocre ones perceive themselves as service providers.

A freelancer who has a branding strategy will usually aim high, looking to reach the top of the ladder and become one of the best. A freelancer who approaches a transaction-based strategy, meaning that he’s after the short-term compensation will usually be satisfied with anything he gets.

Your branding strategy starts the moment you understand that your name is a brand image and that everything you do and say will influence your long-term success. Start by defining exactly what you'll do.

I'd highly suggest you focus on a single thing and get extremely good at it. Better master one skill and focus your time, energy, and efforts on that. When you're very specific with what you do, your entire branding and marketing game will work unexpectedly well.

Secondly, define your target audience.

• Who are you targeting?

• What is your target audience's mindset?

• What problems do your customers have?

• What needs do you need to solve?

• Why would clients choose you?

The more awareness you have the faster you'll climb up the ladder. Confidence comes once you're no longer confused about what to do, while mastery is achieved through persistent practice – which should be fully focused on your specific purpose.

Lastly, make sure you plan everything out. Don't keep your branding strategy in your head. Put it out on a piece of paper, draw mind maps if you have to, and make sure that you outline it.

Brian Tracy, bestselling author and entrepreneur suggested that "ten minutes in planning equally one hour in action". Keep that in mind and try to leverage planning on an everyday basis!

Gather Every Useful Resource

If you don't know how to list freelance work on your resume, ask another freelancer to help you. If you have no idea how to start a website, find another freelancer who can help you get started in a matter of hours.

You should always use everything you have at your disposal to improve your freelancing game. If you decide to take your branding but your writing skills won't allow you to consistently post quality content, hire a freelancer on any freelancing platform like Upwork, or, try collaborating.

Here's my point: the more resources you have the more you'll be able to "joggle" and fix critical situations whenever they arise.

Network frequently, find useful digital tools that specifically solve your needs, study other successful freelancers who you admire, read their books, and apply their techniques while adding your twists.

Every new knowledge, skill, and connection that you get is a truly useful resource!

Overdeliver on Work and Ask for Word of Mouth

The best way to get more clients as a freelancer is to provide amazing work that surprises most clients. Have you ever heard of the law of reciprocity?

In a few words, it is a very effective persuasion technique that consists of offering free or additional value through your work. For example, if you have to provide an 800 words blog post as a content writer, make sure you write 1000 words full of value, no fluff. Make it look and feel amazing. Your job is to provide remarkable work.

At the end of the gig, simply ask your client to recommend you to other co-workers and professionals. Mention that you're just at the beginning and that you'd highly appreciate a good word in case they've enjoyed working with you.

Constantly Develop Your Portfolio

The best way to develop and promote your portfolio is to simply work. That's right – the more freelancing projects you take (and the more you complete) the more appreciated you'll be in the freelance marketplace.

If your resume (portfolio) speaks for you, you won't have to worry about convincing anyone of your worth. You can then simply ask the right price and people will come to you.

Asides from your unique purpose, this should be one of your top priorities as a freelancer. Make sure you build experience in more areas but focus on a specific one. The one that you're best at!

Start Your Own Blog and Take Your CV to the Next Level

The best way to better emphasize your portfolio and personal brand is to create your own web platform. Everyone can start a WordPress blog today, as it’s all free and there are tons of educational material available on the internet.

Think of your blog as a university degree. If you had none, it would be hard to convince employers to hire you. If you had one, then it would be all fine and you'd be able to tap into the opportunities that often arise.

In the freelance marketplace, if you want to "access the right doors", you'll have to be able to link to your portfolio, a.k.a. your professional website.

Also, do not forget that you can always create infographics to make complex topics enjoyable and easy to understand. On your site, you should describe what you do, how you do it, and why you do it. This is your online resume, so treat it responsibly.

Secondly, you should start your blog. If you're a decent writer, you can always write and publish purposeful content. By posting "good stuff" on your blog consistently, content targeted towards your clients, you'll easily establish and then solidify your authority in the marketplace.

Do Guest Posting Every Now and Then

If you don't want to start your blog though you'd like to publish content now and then, you can use guest blogging as an effective promotion strategy.

Guest blogging involves publishing unique content on websites and blogs that are offering guest posting opportunities. You will submit your blog post (often for free, sometimes for a price) to a website/blog that doesn't represent direct competition. They get free content and you get to put your name in front of their targeted audience!

Keep Your Social Presence Strong (especially LinkedIn)

As a freelancer, your social media presence is as important as your portfolio. Many clients like to have a look at their prospective clients' news feed to "get a better picture".

Of course, your personal and professional social media life should be separate, and you should have two separate profiles on each social media channel you use.

However, LinkedIn is a pretty universal choice in case you want to stick to only one platform. You can improve your LinkedIn presence and reach by consistently connecting to new relevant prospective clients. You can improve it even more if you constantly curate content or publish your own.

Focus on Quality over Quantity

The last piece of advice I'm giving you is quite simple. To grow your client's base and your professional reputation, always focus on quality over quantity.

Don't aim to reach five average clients – aim for one, but make sure he's the best. Don't write five mediocre blog posts – write one, but amazing.

Lastly, make sure you always treat your customers well and provide them with as much quality as possible. Remember – your job is to offer value, so do that without exception!

Conclusion

My best advice for you is to smarten your work. Turn it into play and you’ll never work another day. Freelancing is not supposed to be difficult unless it’s not for you. Is it challenging? Sure it is. Rewarding? You bet

The difference between success and failure lies in your passion, strategy, commitment, and consistency. Don't forget that, and don't forget to put everything you've learned here into implementation as quickly as possible!