The Free Creatives

February 8, 2010 in Finances, Marketing by Crystal

Any business can benefit from having a marketing budget to buy advertisements, subscriptions to job boards and the like, and for any software that can help them with marketing. However, most new freelancers do not have that sort of budget, and even with a few extra bucks in the pocket, it is still incredibly important to live frugally as a freelancer (just in case next month isn’t so fortunate!).

When I was just starting out, it took me some time to realize what worked and what didn’t in terms of marketing my freelance business. Just within the first year, I hastily lost plenty of my income on unneeded or ineffective marketing. Now, I’ve learned from my own mistakes, and have a successful marketing strategy on only $7/mo. Even with my large $7 a month being spent though, in this post I’d like to show any new freelancers how to get going with a steady client base on only $0 (free!).

Here are my top three methods for marketing for free:

1. Give 110% Effort, and Take Advantage of Word of Mouth

Any freelancer that has been in business for more than a year will tell you that the #1 most effective freelance marketing method is to use word-of-mouth to your advantage. People will take on a personal recommendation from someone else rather than ‘your own word’ on a job application any day.

Plus, many potential clients just don’t know where to look when it comes to finding a freelancer, so these clients are not listing their projects on job sites, finding your portfolio, or even finding your work on Flickr or DeviantArt. Once they hear that their co-worker’s wife’s cousin’s friend is a successful freelance web designer, they’ll be sure to be in touch.

To take advantage of finding work like this, tell your friends, family, and even acquaintances that you are a freelance designer. Be sure to tell even the most casual of acquaintances what you do for a living, and be sure to sugar-coat any accomplishments you may have come across. (Especially your mom, you know how moms like to brag!) Next time they have a friend that needs a good designer, they can give them your number or email address.

This method shouldn’t only apply to those in your offline social group, though. When landing a client, even if it’s cheaply done work when just starting out, give more than what you think the job is worth. Give 110%. Do not a good job, but a fantastically-amazing job. Clients who are pleased with your work come back for more, and they also recommend your work to others in their own peer group.

2. How to Use Twitter and Other Forms of Social Media

You have a portfolio, you have a few examples in it, and now you just need to find someone to check it out. Applying for jobs individually is a great method for getting someone to do that, but chances are that client is looking at many portfolios, many of which may have more in them and give your portfolio less significance. So how can you target those looking for web designers without waiting until they post on a job board? Also, posting on job boards can sometimes be expensive. How can you target those looking for designers that are not willing to post on job boards?

Social media’s job is for Internet users to have a social life on the web almost too easily. It is a great way to make connections with other freelancers, other designers, and potential clients. By just getting involved and being known within large social media websites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Twitter, you are increasing your chances of clients finding you.

Another technique I like to use is to go on related websites, like CSS or design galleries and leave useful and relevant comments. Do the same for related blogs as well. Many clients will check out these websites without interest in web design as a profession, but rather to get inspiration or to find a designer for their next project. Act like you know what you’re talking about, and clients will click through to your portfolio.

You can also do a search on Twitter for ‘looking for web designer.’ This brings you right into the most recent conversation of anyone who may say the phrase ‘looking for web designer.’ It can bring you directly closer to anyone in need of your services. Send a quick @reply introducing yourself with a link to your portfolio. More often than not, I at least get a response with direct approaches like this.

3. Apply for Jobs Consistently

Any designer’s chances for finding work on large job sites are less than likely with other methods, but these are some of the better jobs available, and eventually jobs will become listed that are a perfect match for what you have to offer.

I always apply to at least three jobs on any of the given job boards I visit daily. Why three? I suppose that’s my magic number, but do what works for you. What I see many new web designers do is apply for a job here and there, wait, see nothing, and give up for a few weeks. The key is consistency. Apply every day to a certain number of jobs, and eventually you will get a response from one, either getting the job, or at least getting the opportunity to submit a proposal for the job.

Beyond applying for jobs directly like this, it is also important to consider consistency in the regions listed above. Get on your favorite social media site and look for potential clients every day. Get involved in the community somehow every day. Tell somebody new what you do for a living, every day. By doing this, you are giving your business and your brand exponential growth, and eventually the clients will be coming to you.

Any freelance web designer with a tad bit of experience will tell you, “Always market your services, even when you’re swamped.” I, just like any other freelancer, couldn’t agree more. The goal is to be able to jump right into a new project, right when finished with the last. This is truly what a constant flow of freelance work is, and it can be what financial freedom is for many freelance workers.

What do you do to market your freelance business?

Everyone markets their business differently, and anyone’s marketing strategy can always be improved. What do you do to market your business? Any tricks or advice?