Whether you’re working as a freelancer or running a copywriting agency, finding and retaining clients is central to your survival. However, if you truly want to thrive in this industry, it’s crucial to switch your focus from finding clients to finding quality clients. These are the people who will provide clear and concise briefs, accept your rates, and pay you on time every time. Here’s how you can find them:
1. Become an expert in specific niches
While it’s great to be an all-rounder, you can boost your rates and find clients who understand your worth if you specialize in high-demand niches. Become an expert at writing e-books, online courses, white papers, grant applications, or any number of other specialties, and you can charge a premium for your services. The more you earn from each project, the more discerning you can afford to be about which clients you accept.
2. Consider volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to fill gaps in your portfolio or gain experience in a certain niche. While you may not get paid, you will gain experience and portfolio pieces to prove your capabilities. If this saves you from having to pay for a course, it can work out in your favor in the long run.
So, if you want to break into grant writing, volunteer for a non-profit organization. If you’re hoping to write for publications like Rolling Stone one day, start by volunteering with a local street press magazine.
3. Update your website or portfolio
Whatever you’ve got going to showcase your skills online, make sure it’s up-to-date and easy to navigate. If you don’t yet have anything, now is the time to start. While it does help to have a visually appealing website, it doesn’t have to be ground-breaking. People are coming for your writing skills, not your design capabilities, so focus on finding the best ways to showcase your talent.
4. Tweak your social media presence
The channels you choose will depend on your personal taste and the niche you’re targeting. For example, if you’re writing web copy for small businesses, Facebook may be a good platform. If you’re a beauty or fashion writer, Instagram may be more appropriate.
LinkedIn is generally a must for modern professionals as it gives you a place to network and demonstrate your experience, career highlights, and milestones. Past clients can endorse your skills and leave testimonials, and you can showcase what you’ve achieved for them.
5. Create valuable content
It’s easy to get caught up in the work you have to do for clients and forget to write content that could support your career growth or help you nurture your creative spirit. So, if you want to attract quality clients, dedicate some time each week to developing valuable content for your website and social channels. If people find value in your posts or comments, they’re far more likely to trust you with their messaging.
6. Partner with other freelancers and agencies
From graphic designers and web developers to SEO agencies and creative design studios, these professionals can be an excellent source of regular writing work. You can choose to white label for them (providing your services under their brand), or they can send you clients who need your services. For the second option to work, you’ll need to be able to do the same for them in return.
Follow these tips, and you should soon be able to say goodbye to your days of dealing with flaky, cheap, and unreliable clients.
