5 Places to Find New Freelance Clients

Good morning, adventurers!

We’re over halfway through 2014 already (seriously, how did that happen?!) and I had originally planned to talk about taking stock of my yearly goals and what that means for my business. But that’s actually going to come on Friday, because I have something else on my mind today.

Specifically, I’m thinking about how freelancers can find clients.

A comment thread on another blog (I wish I could remember which one!) put this in my mind a little while ago. It stuck because, as you may remember, I’ve had to spend the last few months hustling to find new clients after a rough spring.

And of course, finding clients is a huge deal for anyone who wants to become a freelancer. Because if you have no clients, you have no business.

Figuring out where to find them, though, can be scary and confusing. I still don’t have all the answers, but I do have some good systems in place that I want to share with you!

xx5 Places to Find New Freelance Clients

1. Job boards

There are a bunch of these out there, and which ones you frequent will depend on what niche you work in. I rounded up a few of my favorites here. The thing about job boards is that you have to check them regularly and respond immediately, but you may not hear back for a while. I’ve heard back from new clients anywhere from a day to two months after I first contacted them!

2. Twitter

You can make some great contacts on social media, and Twitter is my network of choice for making connections that can turn into new clients. Find out where the people you want to work for hang out (what chats they frequent, what hashtags they use) and get involved in the conversation. Share your expertise and show them what sort of value you can offer, and they’ll remember your name when they need some help.

3. Other bloggers

This is a bit of a sneaky one, and mostly applies to other writers. A lot of bloggers will share links to sites they write for, either on social media, in their posts, or on their “Hire Me” page. If you find bloggers who write in the same niche you do, you can use these links to find new markets.

4. Email

Yes, sometimes all it takes to land a new client is just putting yourself out there with confidence. For online freelancers, email is the new cold call, and you need to be willing to do it. If the thought of emailing potential clients is terrifying (or you just have no idea where to start) check out my guide to emailing clients, which includes three templates that will get you started like a pro.

5. Referrals

Whether from satisfied clients or colleagues who know your works, referrals go a long way to landing you work. Not only do you get the connection to a new client, you gain instant credibility when you are recommended by someone they know and trust. So don’t be afraid to ask for referrals! Just remember that your work reflects not just on you, but also on the person who referred you, and behave professionally.