There are over 57 million freelancers in the US alone.
If you are suddenly faced with working from home indefinitely, how can you ensure that you will actually make it and land a freelance job when there’s competition?
Whether you’re a graphic designer, freelance writer, editor, coach or Pinterest VA, as a freelancer, you need to develop a set of habits as well as marketing savviness to land gigs and be memorable.
How can you ensure that you will actually land a freelance job when there’s competition?
Because if you don’t know – to be the go-to freelancer for clients, they have to remember who you are.
And you can do that easily with these five tips to help you land that job even when there’s competition.
1. Develop a Damn Good USP
What is a USP?
In the marketing and business world, it’s your unique selling point.
What is it about YOU and your freelance service that a business wants?
Is that you always produce speedy work?
Is it because that no matter what time of day it is a client can reach you?
Is it your professionalism?
There are many attributes, personality traits and business productivity traits that make up your USP. For me, I love writing long-form content while listening to music. I also have been told that my writing is simple and easy to read.
From this and other personality traits, I can craft a memorable USP.
As a long-form B2B writer, I enjoy breaking down digital marketing topics to make it easy for your audience. And being a mother to twins has taught me to make everything I say and write crystal clear so that even a 6 year old can understand. Once I have that topic idea for you, all I need is 5 days, some Latin music and I’m good to start writing.
Doing this exercise will get you in the right mindset to land that first freelance job and not even pay attention to the competition.
2. Be Everywhere
This doesn’t mean you have to be online 24/7; it means that when a prospect searches you online, they are overwhelmed by the content and platforms you are on.
Can you do this if you are a brand new freelance writer? No. This strategy takes time and, that’s a good thing for you – the budding freelancer. You have to gain confidence and develop a process to land clients.
So, what does it mean to be everywhere?
- Have more than one portfolio
- Guest post frequently (for free or paid)
- Have several social media profiles
- Comment on blogs
If you search my name in Google, you will see all the places I’ve guest posted, commented, client pieces and social media profiles. Here is page 4 of Google.
If you need help with this, check out my course to help you market your business as a freelance writer better.
3. Have an Optimized Pitch
Look –
In the beginning, jobs aren’t coming to you. You have to find a freelance job, and that means pitching… a lot. Some of my students have to pitch hundreds of times to land their first gig. Other students pitch one time and land the gig!
So, to be on the safe side, pitch at least ten times a day for two or three weeks.
So how do you write a pitch?
Check out my Youtube video to learn how to write a pitch for a writing job!
One thing to remember when crafting your freelance pitch is to make sure it’s about the prospect and not so much about you.
Sharing your love of writing and how you’ve written a book and that you’re a teacher probably won’t impress a prospect (unless this person is also a teacher and is looking for another teacher who has written books to write for them).
Instead, you want to share the benefits of your writing. What can your writing do for them?
Can it:
- Gain new leads?
- Rank in Google?
- Grow their list?
- Make them more money?
These are what clients are thinking of when they hire a freelancer!
4. Hustle Hard (In the Beginning)
It’s true –
In the beginning, you WILL have to work hard.
When I started six years ago, all I did was pitch and find leads.
I guest posted as a way to get in front of potential clients, and I pitched day and night.
And guess what?
It paid off!
I got my break, and that led to another writing job, and it soon snowballed!
Now?
I don’t have to hustle as much.
Businesses seek me out (because they research me on Google and see ALL the PLACES I’ve been writing on) because they know I’m a credible writer for them.
There is no competition when businesses seek you out.
But, as I mentioned, in the beginning, you will have to lay the groundwork.
This means networking with other freelancers in your industry. It means cold pitching to businesses that aren’t actively seeking a writer or freelancer.
It means reaching out on social media to businesses that you want to collaborate with.
Maybe they posted a new blog post on Twitter. Visit the post, read it and comment on it. Follow that brand on Twitter.
Boom!
This will make it easier once you decide to reach out!
5. Change Your Mindset
How do you view your freelance business?
- A challenge?
- Unable to find a gig?
- Do the clients suck?
This negative view has profound effects on your output and willingness to go above and beyond with your clients.
Maybe you aren’t negative, but you aren’t hopeful either.
You strongly believe that because you are a bad writer, you can’t possibly be a freelance writer or that because you have small kids, there is no time to start a side hustle.
These are only mental roadblocks stopping you from really succeeding as a freelancer. And that is ingrained in your mindset about freelancing in general. Realize that it’s a legit side hustle, and that side hustle can make you thousands a month! I’m proof, and thousands of other writers are proof that this is a legit industry.
It’s Not a Competition
While freelance marketplaces like Upwork make it a competition to find the cheapest writer or freelancer, when you create your own writer platform, you will quickly see there really isn’t a competition.
If you have a USP and if you’re memorable, then no one else can compete with you!
Just YOU can compete with yourself!
So don’t let YOU get in the way!
Over to you – what’s stopping you from landing that first freelance job?
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