How Freelancers Can Win More Clients Using LinkedIn
For freelancers, LinkedIn is a goldmine of contacts and opportunities. It can be the ticket to your next big gig when used correctly.
But for success on this business-friendly platform, you can’t simply set up your profile and then forget all about it. It requires some upfront effort to get your LinkedIn profile where it needs to be and just minimal effort to maintain it. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of such a simple platform that yields great benefits?
Why Freelancers Can Win with LinkedIn
When I first started my freelancing career, LinkedIn was just getting started, and I wasn’t aware of the potential opportunities that awaited me there. Since that time, LinkedIn has become one of the most popular online profiles, not just for creating and posting content but also for job searching. It reaches and connects people throughout the world.
I’ve built my business with the help of LinkedIn, whether through scoring clients with its built-in resume pages or helping me connect with people looking for freelancers. I’ve even had clients see my profile and reach out directly to ask me to do work for them.
I don’t get all my clients from LinkedIn, but I do believe it’s a huge part of how I’ve built up my client base. And the opportunities are available for anyone looking to do the same.
Update Your Profile Picture
Your profile is the first thing a client may see when considering hiring you. It’s kind of like a first impression. When you’re looking for clients, you want your profile to be up to date with your best photo and most relevant experience.
Start by updating your profile picture. You want a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile, not a wedding photo or a photo of you wearing a ski mask. You certainly don’t want a group shot. If you don’t have a professional headshot ready to go, don’t worry; you may not need to hire a professional photographer to do the job.
I recently discovered AI headshot generators for getting high-quality headshots the same day. I made my LinkedIn headshot with AI, which was so easy! I was able to create it from home and had several professional-looking pictures ready to use the same day.
Find People in Your Area of Expertise
Connecting with like-minded individuals is always a good idea for freelancers looking to expand their networks. You never know when someone in your industry needs a subcontractor. Or maybe they get more job offers than they can handle, so they recommend a trusted peer to the client instead.
If you’re connected with these people, you’ll have opportunities to score more work and make a name for yourself. Just remember to repay the favor with your own connections when you can!
Expand Your Professional Network
If you aren’t having much success finding clients within your area of expertise, try broadening your search. Reach out to others in the same field as you. Comment on relevant posts or ask questions to help establish connections.
You can also check out the profiles of those your peers, competitors, and clients follow. You might find job postings and clients seeking work that you’re qualified to do.
Reach Out to Past Relations
LinkedIn is the perfect place to reach out to past relations who can help advance your career. Former college professors, previous clients, and even relatives can all serve as good connections to help you grow your business.
It can be somewhat awkward to reach out to those you haven’t spoken with in years to discuss business dealings, but most people don’t mind. It’s nice to exchange pleasantries, but don’t beat around the bush too much–it’s better to get to the point and ask for what you want than to pretend you’re reaching out for a social call.
Showcase Your Personal Brand
I’ve used LinkedIn as an online profile of sorts when vying for a new job. There’s plenty of room for your work experience and skills all in one place. You can also attach links or documents of your previous work to your profile. That way, when clients ask what makes you qualified for the work they’re offering, you can give them a single link to show what you do.
Showcasing your personal brand on LinkedIn is not only convenient but it’s also a great way to establish trust and credibility with potential clients. They don’t have to get to know you personally to know you’ll do a good job because the proof is right there on the web page.
Join Groups Relevant to You
Along with building up your profile page, you’ll want to join groups that are relevant to your industry. There are likely hundreds of groups within your industry that could be beneficial but start with a few to avoid overwhelming yourself with posts.
To find groups to join, you can search for them by industry in the search bar at the top. Better yet, you can see what groups other connections in your industry have joined and see if any of those would be a good fit for you.
Within these groups you’ll have opportunities to both network and apply for job opportunities as they arise. Be an active and helpful participant in these groups to establish credibility for yourself so you’re more likely to get the bid.
Put Yourself Out There
Sometimes, it can be nerve-wracking to put ourselves out there, even when it’s just social media. But if you don’t let others see who you are and what you can do, it’ll be pretty difficult to find more work to build up your business.
Putting yourself out there is pretty easy on LinkedIn. Just comment on posts, add people to your profile, join groups, build up your resume and skills section, etc.. Choose one small thing to do every day, and you’ll soon have built up a name for yourself in the LinkedIn community.
Maintain Client Relations
You want to continue to build trust with your clients even after they’re done working with you in case they want to hire you again or refer you to others.
Maintaining client relations is pretty easy with LinkedIn because you can comment on their posts, check in via messages, and share posts you think they might like. You don’t have to do these things often–just when it feels relevant. Even if it’s only every few months that you reach out in some way, that’s still a great way to keep the door open to that relationship.
LinkedIn has endless possibilities for finding new clients. Not only is it easy to use, but you can also establish your brand and let others know who you are. Don’t squander this easy opportunity to put yourself out there and make a name for yourself in your industry.
