If you’re a freelancer working from home, you already know just how hard it can be to expand the business and feel like you’re growing. Most of your focus will be online and through social media, where thousands of people might interact with you on a daily basis, but even then you can feel like things are moving so slowly it’s not worth it at all!
That’s why you should reorientate yourself and use tips like those below to boost your business and widen the parameters of your client base. You should even think about local marketing techniques, which you may not have considered before - some of the best clients are often right next door!
It’s not just your website that brings traffic and attention your way. You can connect with other local businesses in the area and share in their client base. It’s the most basic benefit of networking; when you’re amongst those you can be face to face with on a regular basis, they’re much more likely to pass along your details when they hear about an opportunity.
So get to know the business owners around you. The person who owns the corner shop down the road, the real estate companies in the town centre, the people who pop in and out of your local chamber of commerce - they’re all good people to rub along with in the course of your career.
A company car is a great thing to have, thanks to the way it markets you as you go. Anyone who sees it is going to know your name, number, and what you can do for them. As a freelancer, this could be the best way to approach your local area and pick up clients when they’re least expecting it. Advertising is otherwise very expensive when you’re a one person business on a limited budget!
Of course, you may not want your current car to be the company car, thanks to the insurance terms on it, so you may want to think about buying another car for this purpose. This might sound expensive, but you can buy an affordable second hand car from edmunds, print off a couple of logo stickers, and then apply one to each side. Voila! You’ve got a professional company car to ride around in.
This is a good strategy for any business owner with a website, but it’s key for a freelancer in order to show their creative muscle. Whether you’re a writer, graphic designer, photographer, or a mix of many different freelancing careers, start writing about what makes you different, unique, and worth hiring. Keep this up and you’ll soon influence the SEO score of your website, which can do wonders for you in the search rankings!
If you’re a home based freelancer, don’t let the four walls around you limit your reach. Get online, get outside, and make some noise amongst other business owners.