How to Land More Freelance Clients on LinkedIn in 2023
Want to land more freelance clients? In this article, we will be showing you easy ways to use LinkedIn to get more freelance work and gigs.
For freelancers, your network of professional connections holds significant potential for securing work. With over 774 million members, LinkedIn stands as the world’s largest online network for professionals. By enhancing your LinkedIn profile, you can enhance your chances of landing more meaningful job opportunities. According to a LinkedIn report found by DailyTechNG, 8 people are hired every minute.
Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer to freelancing, facing a period of low activity, or simply aiming to discover projects that align with your interests, LinkedIn emerges as an excellent resource for accessing freelance work. Utilize these pointers to strengthen your profile and refine your approach on the platform. By doing so, you’ll be better positioned to secure additional freelance assignments.
Here’s how to use LinkedIn to promote your business.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile functions as your online storefront and offers a crucial opportunity to leave a lasting impression on potential clients. Optimizing this profile can have a profound impact on how these clients perceive both you and your services.
Here are a few ways to achieve that:
Creating an Engaging Profile: Crafting your LinkedIn profile is a delicate art—it involves presenting your skills and services genuinely while resonating with your intended audience. Be sure to incorporate keywords that potential clients might use when searching for services similar to yours.
Perfecting Your Headline: Your headline serves a greater purpose than just indicating your job title. It’s a chance to swiftly convey your unique value proposition. Your digital elevator pitch should grab attention and pique curiosity. Additionally, it’s advisable to steer clear of overusing trendy buzzwords.
Highlighting Your Portfolio and Skills: The portfolio feature is a goldmine for freelancers. It grants you the opportunity to exhibit your finest work, providing concrete proof of your abilities. Furthermore, endorsements from your network function as virtual endorsements, bolstering your profile’s credibility.
Build your LinkedIn network
Beyond simply collecting connections, building a valuable network on LinkedIn involves cultivating relationships that can yield client leads and collaborative opportunities.
To expand your contacts on LinkedIn, consider these clever strategies:
Craft Personalized Connection Requests: The key to making a meaningful connection request lies in personalization. Sending a generic request can come across as automated and might be overlooked. Always include a personalized message explaining your interest in connecting. Utilizing LinkedIn’s advanced search can also enhance your networking efforts.
Demonstrate Thought Leadership Through Comments: Engagement is the lifeblood of LinkedIn. By leaving comments on pertinent posts within your network, you showcase your expertise and kick-start conversations. This not only boosts your visibility but also nurtures authentic connections with your audience.
Engage in LinkedIn Groups: LinkedIn groups offer a platform to interact with professionals who share your industry interests. Engaging in discussions, sharing insights, and assisting others can help you establish your credibility and expand your influence within your niche.
Promote Yourself
It might surprise you to discover the numerous job opportunities that align with your expertise. Among your connections on LinkedIn, there could be those who require the skills of a freelancer like you at this very moment.
Don’t hold back – leverage LinkedIn to convey your readiness for work to your network. Consider sharing a post that announces your availability for specific project types. Include a call-to-action inviting your connections to refer you if they’re aware of someone in need of your services.
As you successfully wrap up projects you take pride in, make sure to feature them in your LinkedIn portfolio. This practice offers several advantages:
- You keep your network informed about your projects, allowing them to explore your work. This positions you as a top-of-mind option for future suitable opportunities.
- By showcasing your work experience, you provide potential clients with tangible evidence of your capabilities.
- The completeness of your profile is boosted by adding work experiences. This can positively influence how the LinkedIn algorithm presents and elevates your profile in search results.
Consider requesting permission from a client to mention them in an update where you express satisfaction with working together, whether individually or as a company. Such updates could catch the attention of others in their network, thereby expanding your own network and opening doors to more projects.
Furthermore, if you have contented clients, it’s worthwhile to ask if they’d be willing to write a LinkedIn recommendation for you. In return, offer to do the same for them. These recommendations can amplify your profile’s appeal and foster stronger relationships with clients – potentially leading to additional referrals.
LinkedIn features an “Open to Work” option for profiles, too. When activated, this overlay on your profile photo signals to fellow LinkedIn users that you’re available for project engagements. This feature not only increases your visibility to recruiters but also amplifies your presence among potential opportunities.
Showcasing Your Expertise
Within the realm of LinkedIn, your expertise takes on the role of a valuable currency. By effectively putting it on display, you position yourself as a sought-after authority in your field.
There are several ways through which you can effectively communicate your value:
Recommendations: Testimonials from clients or colleagues serve as valuable endorsements of your skills and professionalism. These recommendations not only add an extra layer of credibility but also foster trust with potential clients.
Leveraging Endorsements for In-Demand Skills: Endorsements provide a quick snapshot of your skill set. When you accumulate a substantial number of endorsements for skills that are in demand, it reinforces the credibility of your profile.
Sharing your stories: Narrating stories of successful projects not only offers social validation but also showcases your knack for problem-solving. These narratives enable potential clients to visualize the advantages of your services in a practical context.
Use LinkedIn Premium Features
You also have the option to invest in your LinkedIn profile by exploring LinkedIn’s premium features. Read our informative article on the benefits of LinkedIn Premium for job seekers.
First off, there’s LinkedIn Premium, a tool primarily designed for recruiters, but it also offers valuable advantages for candidates and freelancers who opt for the paid service. Freelancers can benefit from LinkedIn Premium in the following ways:
- Direct Communication: You can send personalized messages directly to recruiters and hiring managers.
- Profile Insights: Gain insights into who has visited your profile in the last 90 days. This information can help you initiate connections with relevant individuals.
- Learning Resources: Access an extensive library of over 15,000 LinkedIn Learning courses. These courses are an excellent way to enhance your freelance skillset, and you can showcase your course completions on your LinkedIn profile.
- Interview Preparation: Receive helpful tips and guidance to prepare for interviews effectively.
To gauge if LinkedIn Premium aligns with your freelance career objectives, you have the opportunity to try it out free of charge for a month. This trial period allows you to assess whether the service can contribute positively to your freelancing journey.