Avoid Freelancer Burnout—9 Ways to Find New and Better Clients
Many freelancers think that burnout only happens when they have too much work.
But freelancers can burn out from too little work too.
If you desperately need to find new clients, you’ll soon be stressed, anxious, and on the edge of burnout.
On Twitter, I asked freelancers what techniques they used to get new clients.
Try these ideas to help you get more business and avoid burnout.
Avoid Freelancer Burnout—9 Techniques for Finding New Clients
To avoid burning out from lack of business, try these suggestions for finding new clients:
Notify friends and clients of upcoming availability
Network by posting and engaging on LinkedIn and Twitter
Write custom-tailored cold pitch letters of introduction
Blog regularly
Create a newsletter
Attend virtual and live conferences
Be a presenter at industry functions in your niche
Belong to a closed freelance mastermind community
Write for business journals in your niche
1. Notify Friends and Clients Of Upcoming Availability
It’s so obvious, it’s easy to forget.
Let friends and clients know when you have availability. Send past clients a short note letting them know you have some open time. It might be just the prod they need to contact you. Post your availability on social media. I see it all the time on Twitter.
You can integrate an online appointment booking and scheduling app so they can book their time with you.
2. Network By Posting And Engaging On LinkedIn And Twitter
A few freelancers mentioned this. If you take social media seriously, you can make it work for you. Build your network. Follow and learn from leaders.
What should you include on your social media?
In your bio, include your niche. Make it obvious.
Examples of recent work (get client permission)
Client testimonials
Your availabilities with a calendar link if you have it
Links to your newsletter, blog, and articles you’ve written
Your expertise—tips, case studies, etc.
Engage with other freelancers for team-up opportunities
Fine-tune your social engagement. Don’t just read about it, take action. Start applying these tips consistently.
3. Write Custom-Tailored Cold Pitch Letters Of Introduction
On social media, look for companies you’d like to work for.
For example, if your niche is gardening, find relevant gardening companies. On social media, look for individuals who work at those companies in a marketing role.
Follow and engage with them. Do some research to understand how they approach marketing and communications.
Follow up with a well-written letter of introduction that’s part inquiry (do they use freelancers?) and part soft sell. Include examples and testimonials.
Your first few letters will be 100% custom. But after that, you’ll have created templates you can quickly adapt.
4. Blog Regularly
It’s never been easier to communicate your expertise and perspective. Start a blog, and post regularly. Include links to posts on your social media. Re-purpose content from your blog in your social media posts.
An active blog gets picked up by search engines. If I search my name, my blog/website comes in third after the Amazon listing for my book and my LinkedIn profile.
Here’s a direct link to the listing pages of my blog posts.
5. Create A Newsletter
You can combine your blog and a newsletter. Send out your newsletter with excerpts and links to your blog. Want to see how that works? Sign up for my newsletter here.
Your newsletter should highlight your expertise, perspectives, and links to valuable and related content.
Promote and build your list. Need help with that? Many examples and tutorials online. Google is your friend.
6. Attend Virtual And Live Conferences
Look for industry events, virtual or live, in your niche.
Avoid marketing events where everyone does what you do.
For example, if you create content for building materials manufacturers, find a building materials event where you are the only one (or one of a few) offering your services. Then get involved. Offer tips and ideas to get attention.
Does the conference offer a list of attendees? Could you get the list to follow up?
7. Be A Presenter At Industry Functions In Your Niche
If you’re an expert in a niche, look for presenting and speaking engagements. You’ll need a fresh topic specific to that audience.
Many people have built their businesses through speaking. Polish your public speaking skills, so you’re confident and will attract new business. Look into Toastmasters to improve your public speaking.
8. Belong To A Closed Freelance Mastermind Community
It may take digging to find and then apply to join a relevant mastermind community. While there are paid communities, there are also many free ones. Hunt for one, apply, and if you’re accepted, monitor and listen before joining in.
Mastermind communities are a good way to “stand on the shoulders of giants”. You’ll learn from others with more experience. Generally, they’ll share freely.
9. Write For Business Journals In Your Niche
Virtually every industry has journals, association websites, or newsletters. All are hungry for good, no-cost content. That’s where an authoritative article that includes your bio and a link to your site can gain valuable exposure.
Contact the editor first to enquire.
This path takes a bit more work, but you’re gaining from the exposure to a larger audience in your niche.
What will you write about? The obvious subject is how (whatever you do in a marketing-related field) has helped others in their industry get more customers, more sales per customer, etc.
Create an Effective Website for Your Business
You need to own your online real estate. Just social media isn’t enough. You want a URL to forward to a site you control.
No matter how you pursue new business, your outreach should include your URL.
If you don’t have a site of some kind (where do you have your samples and testimonials?), I’d build one before starting any serious outreach.
What goes on your website? Here’s an excellent website for a freelance writer. Read and learn. Even if you have a site, you could pick up some tips to include in yours.
What are the Easiest Ways to Find New Clients?
There isn’t one “easiest way” for everyone, but here’s the secret. The easiest and best way to find new clients is to do whatever you will continue to do consistently.
If you’re already active on social media and find it easy, maybe you just need to re-focus your posting on new business.
Identify clients you’d like to work for (Do you have a dream list? If not, make one.), and then start hunting them down. Find the companies, zero in on the individuals, make contact, and after a while, try a direct approach.
Caveat: DO NOT pitch them the minute they accept your LinkedIn invitation.
If you have a blog that’s grown dormant or stale, why not commit to refreshing it with weekly posts? And, of course, let everyone know.
Do you have public speaking experience but stopped because of Covid? Tune up the vocal cords, pitch conferences, and get back in front of audiences.
Create a Combination of Inbound and Outbound Activities
Some simple definitions: inbound is where you create assets such as a website or newsletter. With inbound, you hope to attract potential clients to you. They have to find and engage with you.
Outbound is where you target companies and individuals and take the initiative to approach them.
Smart freelancers do a combination of both inbound and outbound activities.
Let’s divide the activity list into inbound and outbound.
Inbound includes:
Attending virtual and live conferences
Being a presenter at industry functions in your niche
Blogging regularly
Creating a newsletter
Writing for business journals in your niche
Your website
In each case, you’re putting yourself out there but waiting for someone to find and then contact you.
Outbound includes:
Notifying friends and clients of upcoming availability
Networking by posting and engaging on LinkedIn and Twitter
Belonging to a closed freelance mastermind community
Writing custom-tailored cold pitch letters of introduction
Here, you’re taking the first step, reaching out to find potential new business.
How to Combine Inbound and Outbound Activities
For example, if you’re attending or have recently attended a virtual or live conference, share that with friends and clients.
If you’re blogging, include links to posts on social media and let your mastermind community know about it.
If you’ve just written something for a business journal, include a link in a letter of introduction. It’s a sample of your recent work.
What NOT to Do if You’re Approaching “Too Little Work” Burnout
I know it’s easier said than done but DON’T PANIC. Take time to assess your situation. While you’re thinking about it, update your portfolio. Make sure your presentation is the best it can be.
Think about what new business activities would work best for you. Then create a plan you will commit to for at least a few months.
Whatever you choose, consider the steps you need to take, and then get to work. Make a list and knock off the tasks, one at a time.
If you start today, in a few days, you’ll be well on your way.
Here’s the Activity List Again. Pick the Ones That are Easiest for You
You want to avoid burning out from a lack of business. Don’t allow yourself to get there.
Get into a calm frame of mind, review the list, and decide what will work best for you.
Tip: For most people, the first three on the list are the easiest.
The next three require more effort.
The last three assume you have more years of experience.
But you pick. Mix and match in a way that makes sense for you.
Notify friends and clients of upcoming availability
Network by posting and engaging on LinkedIn and Twitter
Write custom-tailored cold pitch letters of introduction
Blog regularly
Create a newsletter
Attend virtual and live conferences
Be a presenter at industry functions in your niche
Belong to a closed freelance mastermind community
Write for business journals in your niche
Thank You Twitter Freelance Contributors
If you’re a marketing or communications freelancer on Twitter, why not follow these guys? They’re friendly, helpful, and experts in their work.
@corrieoberdin, @AngelaTague, @alice_rowan, @MichLovesMoney, @PRisUs, @BukkieAllison, @P_Hendrickson, @karadetwiller, @gardenwriterguy, @PeteFierle, @WinningSolo, @GuppyFishWeb, @webcami
Learn more about avoiding burnout in my book, How to Start a Successful Creative Agency. It’s the essential business guide for graphic designers, copywriters, filmmakers, photographers, and programmers.
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The book is packed with useful information to help creatives start and grow their business.
5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable for starting a design business
Will, from the U.K. said,
“Hey Andy. I recently finished your book and absolutely loved it. I myself am starting a design business with a colleague and it’s already been invaluable for us. It’s helping us organise the million things we have going on in our heads prior to the jump from full time. Hope you’re well. Thanks again for the great read. Cheers Will”
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This chapter covers essential areas such as Clients vs. Projects, Corporate Clients vs. Small Business Clients, How to Create an Opportunity Document, Benefits of Finding a Niche… and much more.
Questions? On Twitter, I’m @StroteBook. D.M.s are always open. Ask away.