Lucy Miller

tenth Mar 2024

Studying Time: 4 minutes

When you’re simply beginning out as a freelancer, you’re prone to have one query straightaway: the place can I discover purchasers? 

Not having the ability to discover work is among the most daunting elements of being a self-employed freelancer. Fortunately, although, there’s a tonne of labor on the market for many who are daring sufficient to strike out on their very own. Usually, freelancing can really feel extra steady than a conventional profession path – particularly if in case you have a number of earnings streams that you would be able to depend on, moderately than only one. Additionally fortunately, that is true of most industries that rent freelancers. 

So, the place do you look? On this article, we’ll introduce you to some totally different routes that you should utilize to seek out purchasers. Tell us should you’ve discovered work in a method that we’ve missed… 

Job boards

Job boards – the Reed, Monster, Indeeds of the world – are ten a penny, and also you may must sift via lots of irrelevant postings earlier than you discover work that’s acceptable to you. They’ll nonetheless be helpful, although. Simply make sure that your electronic mail alerts are filtered so that you’re solely seeing the roles you may want. Freelance journalists ought to regulate Cision, the place a whole bunch of roles are marketed. For the broader media, Mediargh and The Media Mentor are good choices. 

There are freelance particular job boards, too. Try The Dots and Underpinned for nice roles throughout quite a few inventive freelance areas. 

Recruiters 

You may not assume you’ll discover purchasers to your freelance work via recruiters, however hear us out!  When you’re on the lookout for long term gigs (maternity covers, for instance, or one-off initiatives that may take a number of months to finish) this could be a nice possibility.

Recruiters can actually provide help to out in terms of issues like pay and contracts. Better of all, they’ll discover the alternatives so that you don’t at all times must. Taking over contracts could be a nice possibility if you need a dependable earnings stream for a number of months. Search for recruiters that concentrate on short-term contracts, and be clear in regards to the type of work you do (and don’t) need to do. 

Newsletters 

Freelance journalists throughout the land have been singing the praises of Freelance Writing Jobs, the weekly e-newsletter by author Sian Meades-Williams, for some time. Touchdown in inboxes each Thursday, FWJ lists all one of the best (paying) alternatives of the week – from in-house poets to editors laying out pitching tips for his or her glossies. Enroll should you’re a author of any sort. Search for comparable initiatives inside your individual trade should you’re not. 

Journalists must also try journalist Anna Codrea-Rado’s The Skilled Freelancer, a e-newsletter with a wealth of invaluable recommendation and related musings. 

Mine your community

That is the time to verify everybody you will have contact with know that you simply’re self-employed and open for enterprise. This consists of the random connections in your LinkedIn profile, and prolonged relations. Unfold the message broadly, and don’t be afraid to succeed in out to previous colleagues or acquaintances who may have the ability to assist. Assembly folks for coffees to replace them in your work is an effective way to remain in contact. You by no means know, that particular person out of your previous job may introduce you to a possible new consumer or spark one of the best thought you’ve had all yr… 

Freelance communities  

Because the freelance workforce grows, an increasing number of teams are popping as much as help each the newly self-employed and people with present expertise. Throughout the inventive industries, the tradition of neighborhood is rife. Every part from recommendation on discovering purchasers to financial administration (and even simply the corporate of others in an analogous place) is being freely provided.

Search for Slack communities inside your trade, and take a look at organisations just like the Society of Skilled Journalists, Ladies in web optimization Tech, and Freelance Heroes. That is, after all, the tip of the iceberg. 

Your website and on-line portfolio

You’ll most likely have heard one million occasions that it’s worthwhile to show your greatest work on-line through your website and on-line portfolios. Nevertheless it doesn’t make it any much less true! When you show your work clearly and your story is participating, and should you’ve obtained particulars of how one can be contacted displayed prominently, you’re in your strategy to having purchasers coming to you moderately than the opposite method spherical. If it’s worthwhile to, put money into a graphic designer to get your website trying as skilled as potential. You gained’t remorse it! 

On the subject of on-line portfolios, higher than us in regards to the ones which might be greatest suited to your particular trade. Do your analysis, and ensure you’ve obtained profiles and work displayed on the overall freelance portfolio websites (Behance, The Dots, Underpinned) in addition to those which might be extra particular to your sector. 

Discover purchasers at conferences

Conferences might be nice locations to satisfy folks inside your trade. That may embrace potential new purchasers in addition to these in an analogous place to your self. Even digital occasions, which have largely changed head to head ones in 2020, could be a nice springboard for conversations. It’s time to get entangled…

Social media 

Lastly, we couldn’t finish this piece with out giving a shout-out to the behemoth of freelance alternative that’s Twitter. In journalism circles, editors with a pitching price range typically head straight to the timeline to shout in regards to the alternatives they’ve, what they’re on the lookout for, and how one can contact them. Is that the identical in your trade? Perhaps – and also you gained’t know except you’re paying consideration. Imagine us, the time you spend scouting for brand new purchasers on Twitter is never wasted! 

We hope this has given you some inspiration on the place to seek out purchasers to your upcoming freelance initiatives. When you’ve obtained an concept that we haven’t talked about, we’d love so that you can share it. Tell us over on the boards! 

Now learn:

Want extra assist establishing your freelance enterprise? Learn these articles subsequent!