5 Ways Freelancers are Missing the “Marketing Mark”
So, you’ve decided to start working for yourself. Congrats! Whether you’re just getting started, or have been in the freelancing game for several years, here are 5 ways you might be missing the “marketing mark.”
You’re Not Marketing Yourself
If you’re not marketing your own business, you’re definitely missing the mark. You should always have social media pages, a website, email distributions (or if you’re new, you should be working to build this list), business cards, flyers, whatever it takes to tell people you’re in business. Even car wraps will work! Make sure everyone knows who you are and what you do.
Or, You’re Marketing Yourself, But You’re Relying on 1:1 Networking
It’s going to take you a heck of a lot longer to reach a massive audience if you’re relying on 1:1 networking to tell people about your business. Use the internet for all it’s worth, and pair your “word of mouth” strategy with the ability to communicate from one to many. Target Facebook ads for a large area (my target ad area is set for the entire United States) and their system will tell you the potential reach (spoiler alert: it’s HUGE), or develop videos so you can put in the work once but distribute it an infinite number of times.
You Never Go to Networking Events
On the flip side, if you never go to networking events, you could miss out on a great opportunity, and the ability to hand every person in the room a business card. Network through the local Chamber of Commerce, industry events, or anything else that might be available to you in your area. Another good option is going to (in or out of state) conferences (if you can afford them). I’ve developed contacts at conferences that I still speak to to this day, and you can bet they heard about it when I started freelancing. Don’t be afraid to play the long game with this one, it’s more important to make the friendships than get instant work. Down the road, those connections will think of you first when you meet their needs.
You’re Not Listing Your Freelance Status on LinkedIn
Especially if you’re leaving the corporate world to go it on your own, changing your LinkedIn status can be a scary thing! With the development of LinkedIn ProFinder, however, it would highly benefit you to update your profile. Companies and individuals who are looking for freelancers (and there are many, many of them) either won’t know, or won’t believe you’re a freelancer if this isn’t part of your work history. Plus, you’ll instantly notify all of your contacts of this change.
Your Marketing is Unprofessional
Because the way you market is a direct reflection of your professional capabilities, if it’s unprofessional you’re going to give the wrong impression. Even if you’re the best graphic designer in the whole country, poorly developed marketing tools are DEFINITELY missing the mark. Be sure to check for spelling errors when producing written materials, and make sure pictures of you are clear, professional, and current. Putting your best foot forward is never going to steer you wrong.
