One of the main differences between freelancing and working full-time is that, as a freelancer, you are always going to be on the hustle. Even when you are very busy, it’s important that you are continually putting feelers out there that can open up new client relationships for you in the future when some of your current projects come to an end.
There will be times, though, when your list of clients looks a bit thin on the ground. Even though these periods of less work can be quite stressful, you can be confident knowing that your continual hustling will help to bring you more work. But what if these quiet periods last a long time, and you go a while without signing on any new clients? That shows there could be a problem with the way you conduct your business. Here are some reasons why you might be struggling to take on new clients.
Your Brand Confuses People
Are you able to explain your business and what you can do for clients in just a couple of simple sentences? If not, then you might need to reflect on this, as your brand could be confusing the potential clients you are targeting. If you aren’t able to quickly explain your services, then clients won’t understand how you can help them. As a result, they won’t want to hire you.
Other Problems Are Taking Up Your Time
As a freelancer, you constantly need to be putting yourself out there where clients can find you. However, there might be some reasons why you aren’t doing that as often as you should be. That’s often the case if you are dealing with some problems elsewhere in your business that are taking up too much of your time. Maybe you are contending with IT issues. In this case, you can always look for some IT support firms who can take care of these issues for you. At the end of the day, it’s a good idea to outsource whatever problems you are facing, so you can keep on targeting new clients.
You’re Not Marketing Yourself
Are you sure you are marketing yourself enough? You can’t expect clients to always stumble across your website or LinkedIn profile. You need to be active in putting yourself out there where they are definitely going to find you. Not only that, though, but you also need to make sure that you are marketing yourself correctly so that potential clients can instantly tell what you do just by looking at your marketing materials.
Your Approach Isn’t Personal
One of the best ways to target new clients is by sending them an introductory email. However, make sure you don’t make the mistake of just editing an email template and sending that to everyone. It’s much better to go for a personal approach and write a different email for each client. They will be able to spot a template a mile off and won’t be impressed at all!
Good luck trying to bag some new clients!