Ten New Ways for Freelancers to Get Work

As a freelancer you are always on the lookout for new clients. It is important to have plenty of work lined up so that you can stay busy. Cold calling, business cards printing and your website will only get you so far, you need to have other avenues available to find work. It is important that you make the most of the advertising and outreach that you do so that you can turn the time you spend looking for work into more contracts and positions.

Alumni Association

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A great way to forge connections and find more work is to use the relationships available through your alumni association. Many associations have a website where you can advertise your services. There may also be a local alumni chapter that holds social activities. If you become active in this you can contacts for future jobs. This is a great way to expand your client list.

Business Associations

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Business associations are a great way to expand your client base and to advertise to a set of clients that would be interested in your services. Look for local business associations that would use your service. For example if you work as a computer consultant you can advertise in the business association newsletter for small businesses in your state. This is very targeted advertising. You can also attend the association meetings to gain new clients.

Volunteering

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Another way to gain new clients is to volunteer for a nonprofit. Many nonprofits have contacts with several different professionals that work at other companies. These people will recognize your work and may hire your for additional projects. It is also a good way to get a reference or client quote to put up on your website. Volunteering will grow your contact list.

Reconnect with Old Clients

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Although you will not be gaining new customers, you can often find new work by sending a newsletter or greeting card out to your old clients. They may not need work all of the time, but you may soon realize that they need seasonal work and you can send out an email or card about the same time they need work each year to remind them you still want to provide your services.

Attend Professional Conferences

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Another good way to gain contacts that can turn into jobs is to attend professional conferences in your line of work. These conferences are good because they help you connect with other professionals. Some freelancers like to have a few people they funnel extra work to, and they may subcontract work out to you. They may also know of clients that are looking to fill two or three positions and be willing to offer your name as a referral once they land the gig. You can return the favor with those that you meet at the conference.

Advertise at Trade Shows

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Trade shows are another great way to gain clients, especially if you do work that can be done remotely or if you are willing to travel to do the work. A trade show will reach a lot of people interested in the services you are providing. If you cannot set up your own booth consider advertising in the brochure and offering door prizes with your business name on them.

Teach a Class

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Another way to expand your client base and to make your resume look better is to teach a class related to your services. You can offer the class through your local community college or a school district. They often offer noncredit classes for people interested in improving their business skills or wanting to expand their knowledge base. Your students may turn into clients.

Ask for Referrals

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A great way to build your client base is to ask for referrals from your current clients. They often talk to other business owners or managers and may be willing to pass on your name or give you a name and number for you to contact with your services. This is a great way to build your client list.

Chamber of Commerce

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Join your local Chamber of Commerce. This will put you in contact with a large number of local businesses that may benefit from the services that you offer. You may also want to advertise in the publications that nearby Chamber of Commerce organizations send out to their members. This is a great way to target the people who use your services.

Use Local Media

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Do an interview on your local radio talk show or morning news show to advertise your services. You may also volunteer as an expert on a topic or participate in a panel or regular weekly show to build your client list. A regular show or column in your newspaper is a good way to get your name out to potential clients as well. Often you can get this type of advertising for free.

About the Author: Dana Vicktor is the senior researcher and writer for duedatecalculator.org. Her most recent accomplishments include graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in communications and sociology. Her current focus for the site involves online pregnancy tests and early symptoms of pregnancy.

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