How to Grow Your Freelance Copywriting or Design Business (3 proven approaches)
by Andy Strote
Here are my best ideas on how to grow your freelance copywriting and design business. These are approaches that have worked for me and many successful freelancers. At least some of them will work for you.
Increase Your Rates, Change Your Billing Structure, Improve Your Positioning
Most people will tell you that the way to grow your business is to get more clients. True, but before you do that, I think you should look within your business. Make the most of what you have, and then get yourself ready for new business.
I wrote an in-depth post on 7 ways to grow your freelance business.
The post covers these 7 key topics:
Raising your rates (how much and when)
Changing how your bill (are you using the best way to bill?)
Getting more clients in your niches (tips and techniques to grow your niches)
Positioning your business for bigger clients (bigger clients mean bigger budgets)
Expanding your business services (tips on how to do this)
Growing your business by starting an agency (worked for me, will it work for you?)
Creating a product to sell (build it once, sell it over and over again)
Work for Agencies—Grow Your Freelance Business Faster
There are pros and cons freelancing for agencies. I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Working for agencies gives you access to bigger names for your portfolio. That can help you build your niches and set you up for more profitable freelance clients.
The second massive benefit is that agencies will help you exponentially grow your network. Make connections that you can build on for decades.
I wrote about working for agencies to grow your freelance business faster here.
9 Tips to Get More Repeat Business from Existing Clients
For me, the “success formula” was to find clients that gave me a lot of repeat business. I’d rather have a few clients with lots of work, than a lot of clients with a few projects each.
I developed expertise in my clients’ niches. They benefited from a copywriter who understood their business.
Here are the 9 tips on how freelancers can get more repeat business from existing clients:
Identify clients that actually have repeat business (that likely means bigger clients)
Have an up-to-date website that addresses your best prospects
Build your social presence (especially LinkedIn—Google loves it)
Make a great first impression
Run your freelancing like a business
Develop processes for your work
Be reliable (it’s even more important than talent)
Go beyond the basics (actively work on growing your client relationship)
Make clients your business friends (what are business friends? I’ll explain)
Learn more ways to grow your freelance copywriting or design business in my book, How to Start a Successful Creative Agency. It’s the essential business guide for graphic designers, copywriters, filmmakers, photographers, and programmers.
Buy the Book Here
Over 300 pages and 23 chapters, available at Amazon (Paper & Kindle), Kobo (ebook), Apple Books (ebook), and Gumroad (PDF).
The book is packed with useful information to help creatives start and grow their business.
Practical Value from Real Experience
“Loved this book. As a copywriter and content writer, I look for books that can help me strengthen my skills. Many books have too much fluff and I easily forget what they teach me. Not this one.
Andy did great providing value. This book is built on his real experience as a two-time agency owner and he offers advice for professionals from every level and age group. Great read!”
Verified Purchase, Amazon.com, 5-Star review
Want a free taste first?
Sure! Sign up below to get a free PDF of Working With Clients, which is Chapter 14 of the book.
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.