Use LinkedIn for freelancer marketing, but why? Around 73 percent of hiring managers are relying on freelancers for getting the work done. Freelancers are no more relying on Upwork and Fiverr to get freelancing gigs. LinkedIn has emerged as an effective platform to get work opportunities. Around 36 percent of the American workforce is taking freelancing projects.
LinkedIn has established itself as the most professional social networking site and now it is emerging as a marketplace to connect freelancers with contract-based work. If you are a freelancer planning to gain more gigs, then this article will tell you how you can use LinkedIn for freelancer marketing.
Use LinkedIn for freelancer marketing and get clients?
For freelancers, LinkedIn provides a big stage with a huge audience waiting. You can promote your personal brand and services on this platform. Whether you are looking to get new gigs or just starting in the freelancing world, here are a few tips that can help you maximize your benefits on LinkedIn.
1. Create a portfolio of work
A tangible work portfolio holds much more value than a standalone resume. Gather all your large projects and exceptional documents in a place and display them on your LinkedIn profile. Pick 7 to 10 samples of your work that showcases your expertise and use them to create a work portfolio.
Before doing this make sure of telling people that you freelance. An about section and description bio are the best places to let visitors know about your work experience. Make sure that your portfolio isn’t too lengthy or messy for the readers. Keep updating your profile based on your work progress.
Also, see The Ultimate Guide to LinkedIn Company Pages
2. Be consistent on LinkedIn
Consistency is the key to growth on all social media platforms and LinkedIn is not an exception. Make sure to post and engage on a regular basis with your connections on LinkedIn. It helps more people know about you and come across your profile. Posting daily might be a great idea for freelancers who wish to stay active. Keep a check on your inbox to make sure you don’t miss out on any messages. Make good use of LinkedIn updates and LinkedIn groups to establish yourself as an expert in your subject area.
3. Network and build connections
LinkedIn is a networking platform and almost all professionals have created their accounts on LinkedIn. It is one of the best social media platforms to meet people from different professional backgrounds. Instead of just waiting for potential clients to reach out to you, go and connect with people who might require your services. An easy way to find people on LinkedIn to connect with is by looking at your existing client’s profile description. For example, if you are a freelance content writer, your ideal profile to connect with will be marketing managers or content managers.
4. Complete your profile
As per LinkedIn, the completed profiles get 40% more visibility as compared to others. Even something as simple as adding a profile photo would increase your chances of getting more reach in terms of profile views. To boost your chances of getting work, make sure that your profile is complete on LinkedIn. Get a LinkedIn All-Star status by completing each section required and creating a profile that your potential clients will be attracted to.
Also, see Linkedin Marketing for beginners
5. Ask for Referrals
Genuine referrals are very important when it comes to working as a freelancer. Getting your work reviewed by existing or past clients will make sure that you gain the trust of potential clients. LinkedIn has a separate section where people in your network can leave you a review or endorse your skills. Make use of this section to display your expertise in an area of interest.
Go ahead and ask your existing clients if they know about anyone who can benefit from your services. They might refer you to someone who has a requirement immediately.
6. Build up your skills and endorsements
Keep building up your skills by gaining certifications and attending LinkedIn learning tutorials. It lets clients know that you keep yourself up to date with the latest information in your field. Also, ask clients to give you a LinkedIn endorsement and recommend you for skills after you have finished working on a project with them. It helps in building your portfolio.
Properly manage your skills to highlight the ones you want to be best known for. It gives visitors a clear about your work and area of expertise.
7. List large projects individually
If you have worked on a large project or for a particular client over a long period of time, list that as a separate experience. Either structure it as a summary or include a case study. Remember to add a quote from your happy client if possible to make your case study more authentic and valuable. One thing to note while doing this is to make sure not to add them as your employer. The projects and the client must be added as a freelancing project or contract-based work. Include the link to your work for clients to see you in action.
8. Take advantage of other LinkedIn sections
Other sections of your LinkedIn profile are also useful to get across that extra information about you and your work. Include volunteer experience if any, this is especially helpful in the case of freelancers or a recent college graduate with no experience. Include your accomplishments including projects, courses, organizations, certifications, publications, and much more. The two most relevant achievements for freelancers on LinkedIn can be previous projects and the organizations that you have been associated with earlier. Include your interest areas and hobbies that will help you to connect with like-minded people. It might also lead to more projects in your area of interest.
LinkedIn isn’t a pure sales platform so instead of selling yourself or your work, try to make engage with people and make connections. There are plenty of opportunities yet to be discovered on LinkedIn. For freelancers, the LinkedIn space is not yet saturated and can turn out to be quite beneficial.
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