5 Tips to Get Freelance Clients on LinkedIn
You have probably heard that LinkedIn is a social media platform with many opportunities.
You can get leads for your business on LinkedIn.
You can easily network with professionals across the globe.
You can find full-time onsite and remote jobs on LinkedIn.
You can learn about freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, 99Designs, and Truelancer.
You can find clients for your startup, and you can find freelance clients on LinkedIn.
Congratulations if you have been able to leverage LinkedIn.
Congratulations to you, also, if you have not tasted the goodies LinkedIn gives. I congratulate you because you are reading this post, which is intended to help you.
I have gotten more than seven full-time job offers within the last six months on LinkedIn.
I have gotten many freelance clients through LinkedIn.
I have networked with professionals way higher than me on the career ladder, and I have made friends with colleagues and mentees via LinkedIn.
To be honest with you, this single post wouldn’t change your LinkedIn success story, but it can get it started. I will share more LinkedIn tips as time goes on.
Here are five things you can do to attract opportunities on LinkedIn:
1. Improve your profile.
2. Create content.
3. Create Buzz.
4. Engage, and
5. Pitching
1. Improve your Profile.
Have a strong headline, a good profile picture, and a professionally designed LinkedIn header.
I can design your header for you at a friendly fee. Phone photos are great for a start, but professional studio shots are best. Write a compelling summary of your achievements, expertise, and education. Don’t forget to add your USP — your Unique Selling Point. Create a custom URL like this (linkedin.com/in/speakingpen). Ask your connections and followers to endorse and recommend you.
2. Create content.
Share contents showing your best works to attract new clients. You can simply share the stories of your professional journey or share your experience and knowledge to help others. You can even simply curate interesting materials that assist potential clients by addressing their issues in that specialized area. Many do this for a week or two and stop because they are not getting the results they desire. You need to keep learning and be consistent. With time, people will start responding to your content. You can start using inbound marketing to occasionally sell your service in your content. Shh! You will notice I did that in this LinkedIn post. Sharing good content wins you some followers organically. Followers are convertible to leads. Leads are convertible to sales. If you don’t have time, you can also use the service of a professional. I helped a couple of thought leaders ghostwrite their LinkedIn posts and blog content. Use relevant hashtags modestly as hashtag abuse can hurt your content’s reach.
3. Create a buzz.
Distribute your content — Share tasters, flyers and links to your LinkedIn posts on other platforms where you have a sizeable audience already.
You can share your LinkedIn post on relevant WhatsApp and Telegram groups. But don’t be spammy. You can use your mailing list to drive traffic to your LinkedIn post and share on Twitter. Leverage LinkedIn influencers by giving them value in whatever way you can — don’t try to ‘use’ them. Joining and participating in LinkedIn groups can be helpful too. Add your LinkedIn link to your website, blog, or email.
4. Engage.
LinkedIn is not the platform for noise. Yes, you have filled in your amazing experiences, academics, courses, and achievements on your profile, but the visibility of your profile is low. This is because your profile visibility thrives on search, content, and engagement. That is, people find your profile when they search. People see your content and then check your profile. When you comment meaningfully on the posts of others, especially mentors, thought leaders, and LinkedIn influencers, their other followers see your content and some will check your profile. That’s more visibility. Hence, constantly send connection requests to prospective clients, colleagues in the industry and fellow freelancers.
5. Pitching.
Pitching is not about writing an excellent copy and sending it once you have access to your prospective client’s DM. For a new prospect, don’t start in their DM. Start by showing a genuine interest in what they do. If possible, find a way to give a bit of value. If they post content, engage substantially and sufficiently in a way that is genuine and gets you noticed, so when you hit their DM, you are not some random stranger to them. Don’t forget to ask old satisfied clients for referrals and probably recommendations on LinkedIn. Pitching should not be limited to LinkedIn . For instance, you can attend industry events to connect and pitch to prospective clients.
Now that you have read this, make the necessary changes to your LinkedIn profile in the next three days and start posting one or two pieces per week from now on. Start engaging by liking and commenting on this post and other LinkedIn posts you find helpful.
Follow Sunday Abegunde on Medium and LinkedIn for more helpful content.
