Working for yourself, whether you’re freelancing or starting your own business, comes with a range of responsibilities—none of which may be greater than getting people to buy what you’re selling. Once you create your business plan and identify your target market, consider these options to help find work for your new business.
1. Network to expand your reach
As you’re getting started, your current clients may be former associates, close friends, family, neighbors, or friends of friends. Reach out to your contacts and let them know about your new venture—you might be surprised by who’s interested. Most cities also have networking groups you can join to expand your contact base.
2. Join industry associations to build credibility
Many industries have professional associations that offer a variety of benefits, such as training and networking. Affiliating with a professional association can help build your legitimacy and credibility. They also often publish member directories, which you can use to link up with potential customers.
3. Use online platforms to make connections
In today’s digital world, there are tons of job boards and companies that can connect you with people looking for your skill set. Online platforms may be specific to an industry—some specialize in jobs within the creative industry, such as writing and design. Others offer work across a number of categories. Online platforms can make it easier to find work and contract with clients. Keep in mind, there are often fees associated with these platforms.
4. Get work through staffing agencies
These companies offer temporary assignments for a wide range of positions, from office workers to restaurant help. There are a number of big national staffing agencies; some professions like writing and design have industry-specific agencies. One benefit of working through a staffing agency is getting paid on a regular basis—most agencies pay you weekly or bi-weekly.5. Pitch your business directly to prospects
You can also go directly to companies that you’re interested in working with. Consider how you can help with their challenges and reach out via email or LinkedIn. Work on your elevator pitch so you can use it in person as well—you never know when you'll run into a potential client.6. Ask current clients for referrals
Ask existing clients to pass along your name if they know of anyone looking for your services. This lets you take advantage of your clients’ network—and that referral can make it easier to get in the door. As an incentive, you could consider offering referral discounts on future work.
As you get started, you may want to try multiple options to ensure you bring in enough money to cover your expenses. Once you’re established, you can focus on the approach that works best for you.
7. Market your small business
The best way to consistently find work is ongoing marketing and promotion. Consider these common strategies to market your business and services.
- Set up a website to showcase your portfolio of work and services and provide additional details on your business. A website also builds credibility for potential clients who are looking for more information on your business.
- Write blog posts on hot topics within your industry to establish authority within your area. Guest blog posts can be a good way to expand your potential audience and drive traffic to your website. You can also post on industry forums to build visibility.
- Build out your social media presence by making sure you’re active on key platforms that your target clients use. That could consist of sharing content on LinkedIn or X (formerly known as Twitter) or posting about your product on Instagram or TikTok.
- Partner with peers by joining forces with another freelancer who offers complementary services to the same target audience. You can develop a joint offer, collaborate on a piece of content, or simply pass along leads.
- Get more from industry events, using them to connect with peers or potential clients. Take on a leadership role in professional associations to expand your network and build expertise.
- Publicize client feedback and get the word out. Solicit testimonials from past clients via email or sites like LinkedIn and include them on your webpage and social media pages.
While marketing takes time and effort, you’ll find that if done consistently, it should eventually pay off. The good news is most of these strategies won’t cost much, if any, money, which is important when you’re starting out.