By Devanshu Bhatt
As a freelancer how we make new clients.
When you decide to pursue freelance work, you might not have a clue how to actually find clients. But if you start with research and ask businesses what they look for in freelancers, as well as ask your peers for advice, your network will begin to grow and you'll already know what clients are looking for. A Freelancer is often considerd to be a self employed person, offering services, generally to businesses and to multiple clients at a time. Almost every type of services a business would need is provided by freelancers such as translation, graphic designing, article writing, web designing and lot more. As we are in the field of translation, a freelance translator can provide translation services to any company or organization all over the world. It is always better to do a course of specialization in translation which improves our translation skills. This is useful to get work in the beginning.
Without clients, we cannot develop. So while freelancing, the most important thing is that we need to have clients.
- As beginners, we should avoid rejecting projects and assignments. This can create a negative impression in the industry and people may not contact us next time.
- We must make our own website. A website is a way great way to showcase your expertise and attract new clients. The website must answer all the questions that clients would ask. It should include the services we provide, why they should choose us and how are we different and better than others. We can also have a user reviews section or a list of clients and work done before. By this, they can trust us and expect a good experience of working with us. And of course, the website, its name, its look and its content – everything has to be captivating.Since we are beginners we can spend 40-50% of our time in marketing. This includes social media marketing.An ad campaign can be a great way to create awareness about our work. We can post ads about our website online. Facebook ads can also be very helpful. Also place your ads in reputed industry magazines. In this way, you will be noticed by the right group of people.
- We should be an active user of social media. Increasing connections on LinkedIn, stay active in facebook groups will never go in vain.
Along with online networking, we should also work offline. Meeting clients outdoors if they are in the city is not a bad idea. Living in big cities is like icing on the cake where a number of agencies, companies and organizations are located. We can get lots of opportunities by networking offline.
Freelancers must ensure that they are always personable and prepared when interacting with clients. These relationships can be tenuous, and one bad experience can change the dynamic of the relationship irreparably. The most important part of any relationship is communication, and in the professional world it is all the more crucial to be clear, open and honest about your skills, schedule and availability so that each job you take can be completed on time and in line with the client’s needs and requirements. It is often the small things that clients remember most about working with freelancers. If you have the time and budget, doing favours such as offering to proofread a document for free, adding personal touches like sending thank you notes or holiday cards, or accepting last-minute or rush jobs will keep you in work and in the client’s good books. You might also consider offering your older clients a discount rate or a package deal for certain jobs to show that you appreciate their business.
Lastly, Clients want to know that you are organized and efficient so that they can feel comfortable trusting you with their projects. Freelancers can showcase their talents through an updated resume, an elevator pitch, a cold call, or a portfolio of past work for which you received positive feedback. By preparing these assets ahead of time, you can offer a clear, concise version of yourself with your strengths and weaknesses clearly defined. Whether you are conducting a full interview, calling a company to inquire about employment, or briefly meeting an executive at a conference, the goal is to appear polished and to be memorable. Additionally, target your client search to companies with values that align with your own. Show interest in the client and their accomplishments, any interesting projects they’ve done and their prospects for the future. Being invested in your clients’ work makes it more fulfilling for you as a translator and will produce better work on your end, as well as foster a deeper relationship between you and the client.
My Profile Link: http://www.modlingua.com/interns/322-devanshu-bhatt.html
