A common challenge most freelance social media marketers inevitably run into is finding a steady and consistent stream of clients.
The social media marketing industry is rapidly getting saturated. Your only chance of survival is by standing out. In this article, we shall go over 6 ways to find clients for your social media marketing service.
6 Ways to Find Clients as a Freelance Social Media Marketer
1. Have a website that reflects your brand
A website is one of the best ways to stand out as a freelancer. It shows that you mean business, and also makes it easier for potential clients to find you online.
You can use tools such as WordPress or Wix to easily build a site without having to outsource the work to developers. Make sure that the website is easy to navigate and mobile-friendly so visitors can easily find the information they need, regardless of the device they’re using.
A well-designed site will also rank better in search results and bring more clients to your door. Mobile-friendly sites lead to more business for numerous reasons:
- They are easy for Google (and other search engines) to crawl
- They load faster than non-mobile websites
- They offer a better experience for users who visit from their phones or tablets instead of desktops/laptops.
2. Create an SEO strategy for your website
SEO (search engine optimization) is a very effective way for finding clients online. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s simply the process of optimizing a website to make it rank higher on Google and other search engines.
Most people only visit the pages they see on the first page of Google, therefore that’s where you should aim to be.
To build an SEO strategy for your social media marketing business, focus on content marketing and link building.
Content marketing means creating blog posts that rank well for various search terms related to your business. For instance, you can create a blog post about “how social media marketing can help you increase your sales”, and then use a paragraph or so to pitch your services.
Link building means getting other websites to link back to yours. These links help boost your search rankings by increasing the trust and authority of your site in the eyes of search engines like Google.
3. Make sure you’re visible on as many platforms as possible
There are several platforms that can help you get in front of potential clients, including social media itself.
You can visit a couple of Facebook pages owned by local businesses to see which ones are the least active. That’s a sign that they’re struggling with social media and could do with some help.
Another great place to find clients for social media marketing is through freelancing platforms like Upwork, Guru, and Fiverr. Once you sign up on such sites, the first thing you should focus on is building up your ratings and reviews.
You can do that by temporarily offering your services significantly cheaper than your competitors. That will help you get clients fast. Once you have a decent amount of ratings and reviews, then you can readjust your rates.
4. Get involved in industry events to meet new people
If you want to find clients for social media marketing as a freelancer, one of the best ways to do so is by networking. Networking doesn’t have to be a scary thing—if you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips:
- Find industry events in your area by searching Google or Meetup.com (if there’s an event nearby that interests you, check it out)
- Make sure you have business cards on hand before attending any networking event. It can be awkward if someone asks for yours and you realize that you left it at home
- Remember: listening is more effective than talking when networking at events like these. Be sure not only to pay attention when people are speaking but also to ask questions about their work to show that you’re interested in what they do
- Don’t just focus on finding new clients—make sure you get involved with the community in general and even make some friends. You never know how they could benefit you in the future
5. Become a thought leader in the community
Creating a thought leadership platform is a great way to set yourself up as an expert in your niche.
The more people who know about you, the more clients and referrals you’ll get. Here are some ideas for creating a thought leadership program:
- Write articles, blog posts, or books about how to become successful on social media
- Start a podcast (or co-host one with another expert)
- Create a YouTube channel where you share tips and tricks for using social media effectively and efficiently
- Start an online community focused on helping people learn how to use specific tools and platforms
- Create Twitter accounts that provide updates on news related to your industry, so followers stay informed without having to go out of their way searching all day long just trying to keep up with things happening around them
6. Advertise
Running an ads campaign is one of the fastest ways to get social media clients. You can run your campaign on social media platorms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
LinkedIn would probably yield the best results because the majority of its users comprise of business owners and high-level managers.
You can also run an ads campaign on Google Ads (if you have a website or landing page). The biggest advantage of Google Ads over other platforms is that you can target people based on the specific terms they are searching for. For instance, you can have your ads show up whenever people search the phrase “best social media marketing freelancer”.
You can also advertise on job boards and LinkedIn/Facebook groups for freelancers like yourself. Posting your profile will make it easier for potential clients to find and connect with you quickly.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for clients for social media marketing, one of the most important things you can do is to create a brand that conveys trust and confidence.
It would be best if you also advertise yourself as much as possible. You can get involved with industry events, become a thought leader in your community, know your audience exceptionally well, where you advertise yourself (LinkedIn vs. Facebook vs. Twitter), and more.
I hope these tips have given you some ideas to get started finding clients for social media marketing.
Remember, the most important thing is to always make an effort. Don’t just create a page on Upwork or social media, and then sit back, hoping clients will come to you. You have to be more proactive.
Even if your first attempts are not successful, keep trying and learn from your mistakes. That is how you grow as a professional.
