Depending on your niche, your freelance business may have a lot of competition. Even if it doesn’t, you still want to come across with a professional persona to expand your client base.
Freelancing businesses in the 21st century have to abide by an entirely new set of guidelines that change rapidly. If you want to make your business successful, keep these 7 strategies in mind.
Stay a Cut Above the Rest with These Tips
1. Update your portfolio regularly. Clients want to see that you are staying abreast of the changes in their industry. Any time you get a new type of work that’s even slightly different than anything you’ve done before, add it to your online portfolio.
You never know what might catch the attention of a potential customer and make you stand out from your competition.
2. Accept a wide variety of payment options. It’s easier to lose a potential client than it is to gain one. Getting them to the finish line, only to find that their preferred form of payment isn’t one you take is a waste of your time and theirs.
Freelancer payments come in many easy methods. Be sure you find the one that gives you the widest solutions at the lowest rates for your business.
3. Let your customers know you appreciate their business. If you’re already successful, discounts on your services may not necessary. But they are appreciated, and if you send them to customers who have used you in the past, they may return to you for repeat business.
4. Know your target market. Advertising to the wrong clientele is a waste of resources, but marketing to the right audience the wrong way can be disastrous.
Before you start your campaign, get to know your target market and their pain points. What solution do you provide that they need? Focus on solving their problems, not yours, and both will happen.
5. Keep an open communication forum. With so many customer relationship management (CRM) platforms out there, your client likely has their own preferred method of communication that integrates with their technology.
Have multiple ways to communicate available, like Skype, texting, and social media. Whatever your client’s comfort zone is, that should be yours, as well.
6. Get a virtual assistant. It’s a digital age of 24/7 communication, and your clients expect that from you. Unless you plan on responding to every message yourself in a timely manner, you might want to find a virtual assistant to help you.
7. Always keep your work quality high. It doesn’t matter how low your rates, how well your communication, or how many discounts you offer. If your work quality is low, word will get around to other people looking for the services you provide.
Ratings are crucial, so try to get your clients to provide feedback and recommend you on your freelance site, Yelp, social media, or other resources. It’s free advertising and the best form of marketing you can get.
Professionalism in Freelancing is Everything
With these seven strategies to guide you through your day, your freelancing business can be successful and lucrative!