The Definitive Guide to Marketing Your Freelance Business for Cheap!

From business card printing to hosting for the site, Facebook ads to marketing automation… all individuals monthly expenses accumulate fast, and also you can’t run your company on free trials forever.

Not just is marketing your freelance business costly, but doing the work right also takes considerable time. You’re busy enough remaining on the top of client work. Maintaining your lights on doesn’t leave lots of additional time for chasing lower start up business possibilities.

Seem familiar?

The issue is, if you wish to increase your freelancing business, marketing isn’t something you really can afford to disregard-and it is certainly not at all something you are able to half-ass (should you haven’t updated your site in days, or perhaps several weeks, I’m speaking for you here).

What exactly will you do?

Well, to begin with, don’t panic.

The good thing is that by using these simple rules, advertise your freelance business just like a boss. Even without having to burn money and time it’s not necessary.

There is a nearly infinite plethora of possibilities to promote an independent business, however these 10 stick out. They’re effective, affordable, and within achieve for just about any freelancer.

Table of contents

Launch an internet site (and blog)
Leverage lead magnets
Automate your email outreach
Send cold emails
Host content occasions
Network (in-person an internet-based)
Request referrals
Seek (positive) online reviews
Produce a brand / style guide
Run online ads

(As you can tell, there’s lots of advice here. Studying it all-in-one go may well be a bit much, so bookmark this site. You’ll wish to refer to it later!)

1. Launch an internet site (and blog)

Hopefully you have that one covered. But simply in situation, do your favor: put aside fifteen minutes to obtain your website and blog ready to go. That’s what is needed. Grab your own domain name, hook it up for your favorite web site design software, and you’re all set.

marketing ideas

Here’s each step you have to generate a freelance business website:

How to setup a effective website for the freelance business

Register your domain and hosting

Some cms incorporate a custom domain registration using their premium plans. If your domain isn’t provided by your CMS, however, take a look at these registrars:

Dreamhost
Bluehost
GoDaddy
Namecheap
GreenGeeks
Google Domains

Google Domains continues to be in beta, however it bundles domain registration by having an optional custom current email address and use of Google’s G Suite productivity software.

Many cms providers offer hosting. If you go searching for a CMS without incorporated hosting, however, consider among the trustworthy companies above.

Select a cms (CMS)

There isn’t any lack of site-building apps for probably the most non-technical freelancers (that’s me!). These are merely a couple of of my top picks for marketing your freelance business without emptying your wallet:

WordPress.com is among the most widely used CMS solutions, and it is easy to understand why. Easy-to-personalize styles along with a small group of useful plugins keep things simple. Compensated plans start at $2.99 monthly and can include hosting. Some plans likewise incorporate a totally free custom domain.

WordPress.org enables you to download WordPress and host it by yourself server. It’s free and it has virtually limitless styles, plugins, and options. Unless of course you’re acquainted with the fundamentals of website maintenance and management and therefore are comfortable establishing your personal hosting, I suggest choosing all-in-one WordPress.com.

Squarespace enables you to select from numerous templates and utilizes a simple drag-and-drop grid system to create design super simple. Plans start at $12 monthly and can include hosting. Some plans incorporate a free custom domain.

Wix’s drag-and-drop interface makes design easy. Compensated plans start at $5 monthly (a restricted free plan’s available too) and can include hosting. More complex plans incorporate a free domain, more storage, with no ads.

Strikingly is an easy CMS choice for freelancers searching to obtain began rapidly. It’s less features than competitors, but is intuitive along with a great choice if you prefer a scrolling opt-in page. Compensated plans start at $8 monthly and can include hosting. Premium plans have a free custom domain.

Heek is a superb website builder if you’re a non-technical. Because of their chatbot technology, all you need to do is talk to the small robot watching your site arrived at existence. You’ve room to personalize your site the way you like and may get full support using their hands-on team as needed. Prices plans start at $4 per month.

Bookmark takes it one step further it builds the web site for you personally within minutes using Artificial Intelligence. Their software “AiDA” will get some good info regarding your website needs and uses that understanding to create a website that matches your specific needs. Compensated plans start at $12 monthly. More Complex plans include eCommerce abilities. Bookmark suits a large number of specific business types and supply free hosting, storage & bandwidth.

Make Your Websites supplies a step-by-step guide that will help you make your own website without resorting to getting a technical background. Whether you’re searching to begin your very own blog or generate a professional searching website Make Your Websites will equip you with all you need damaged lower in four easy and simple to follow along with steps.

Your site will frequently function as the first impression you’re able to make on prospective customers. So it’s important to have it right.

Listed here are a couple of strategies for designing your freelance website and blog:

Prioritize signups

Most of all, your site should motivate prospects to give email addresses address. Make certain your email signup form is front-and-focus on your homepage, which your site encourages readers a subscription.

If you are using an e-mail company or automation service like MailChimp or ConvertKit, make sure to hook it up aimed at your website. Most CMS software integrates with popular providers, and you may always make your own data connections using tools like Zapier.

Bonus: Join Sumo and add effective list-building tools aimed at your website and/or blog. A fundamental plan’s free and enables you to add simple banners, popups, scroll boxes and much more for collecting emails.

Setup tracking

Many CMSes include built-in analytics, however i recommend installing Google Analytics. It’s free and could be setup with zero programming understanding.

Should you might consider advertising with Facebook later on, carry the Facebook tracking pixel, too.

Employ a copywriter (if you are not just one yourself)

If writing isn’t your factor, consider spending a couple of dollars on the freelance copywriter. I am unable to highlight enough the significance of strong, action-oriented copy in your website. You will find a quality freelance copywriter on Hubstaff Talent or other freelance marketplace.

Develop a portfolio

Don’t be put off by your successes. Make certain your site features a strong portfolio of previous work. Prospects worry about results, so highlight what your projects accomplishes. If you’re able to, write down a situation study or more, and get current or former clients for testimonials.

If you’ve labored with recognizable brands, mention them. This is an excellent time for you to share any publications or news sites your company has made an appearance in, too.

Be personal

There’s a million freelancer websites available. What sets you apart will not be the theme, colors, or images you select, however the story you know. Like a freelancer, you’re the organization.

Prospects need to know in regards to you, so seriously consider the About page along with other possibilities (such as the blog) to inform your story.

Show, don’t just tell

Individuals are attracted to visual content. Make certain your site and/or blog includes strong visuals and, if at all possible, videos.

Consider getting a freelancer that will help you produce a marketing or explainer video for the business, and embed it around the homepage.

How you can advertise your freelance business by leveraging blog content

If you are like 99% of freelancers available, the objective of your site differs from what full-blown agency blog.

Search traffic isn’t likely to take into account a lot of your company.

Like a freelancer, it’s not necessary enough time to purchase Search engine optimization. That’s only the reality.

Don’t allow the marketing speaking heads shame you for this. With regards to marketing your freelance business, your site is efficacious for building credibility, creating yourself like a thought leader, and driving start up business.

With regards to creating a freelance site, DO:

Stick the hyperlink for your blog on all you can

Including your email signature, social profiles, job site profiles, business card printing, proposals, and invoices.
Market your latest blogs via email
These may be personal or automated-more about both in a moment.
Keep the blog content fresh
A couple new posts monthly is ok.
Share your latest blogs by your social networking accounts
marketing ideas

LinkedIn and Twitter are particularly great channels for reaching Business to business prospects.

Stick to the 80/20 rule on content

Focus 80% of content in your niche. Another 20% should contain other content your audience will dsicover useful. You may also toss in a couple of personal posts, as numerous prospects need to know in regards to you personally.

But DON’T:

Seem like you need to create a new publish (or more!) each week

That sort of frequency is mainly for bigger agencies searching to get search traffic.

Spend over our limits time on Search engine optimization

I understand, this runs counter to just about everything you hear elsewhere. But I’ll be straight along with you: like a freelancer with almost no time for marketing your personal business, your time and effort is much better spent working out the best way to talk about your articles, not rank well for #1 on the internet.

Don’t disregard the fundamental stuff-make certain your title and meta description are cleared up for discussing, include relevant keywords, and so forth. Just don’t burn a lot of time that’s better spent cultivating relationships. Seriously. Now have a breath. I understand you’re still losing it.

2. Leverage lead magnets

People aren’t stupid. They are fully aware email addresses address may be worth something, plus they expect something in exchange. This is where lead magnets are available in. A lead magnet is one thing you are offering in return for your prospect’s current email address. The smart folks at Digital Marketer describe it by doing this:

An irresistible bribe supplying a specific slice of value to some prospect in return for their contact details.

That “chunk of value” might be anything. Listed here are a couple of popular kinds of lead magnets:

Guides / reports / cheat sheets / handouts

Templates / toolkits
Resource lists
Infographics
Videos (ideally some type of training)
Software downloads / free trials
Discounts
Quizzes / surveys
Assessments / tests

OptinMonster includes a library of awesome lead magnets if you are searching for inspiration.

Bear in mind, however, that the lead magnet is not only a highly effective incentive for email signups. It is also a effective tool for demonstrating your expertise. Here’s one particualr lead magnet that you will see frequently at Hubstaff:

Whoever you hire to provide, allow it to be specific and irresistibly highly relevant to your target customer. Demonstrate to them guess what happens you’re speaking about.

Best sources for DIY lead magnets

Canva is really a super-simple graphics tool for those that do not know (or shouldn’t spend lots of cash on) Illustrator. Templates, fonts, icons, and pictures allow you to create a killer lead magnet very quickly. Canva is free of charge, while offering a comprehensive library of premium elements for $1.

Google Slides is ideal for developing a guide or ebook. You are able to adapt numerous free templates and export your slides to some PDF when you are done. On top of that, Google Slides is free of charge having a Google account.

Typeform is really a go-to tool for creating quizzes, surveys, assessments, and tests. Its effective logic-based forms are ideal for creating interactive lead magnets. Typeform is free of charge for collecting as much as 100 responses monthly, with increased robust plans beginning at $29 monthly.

Wistia enables you to create “turnstiles” where users can unlock videos simply by entering email addresses address. Even better, Wistia’s free plan provides you with use of its features for approximately three videos.

Sumo’s banners, scroll boxes, and list builders are ideal for promoting lead magnets and collecting opt-ins. For sites with limited traffic, the disposable plan should have the desired effect. If you are driving as much as 5,000 unique visits each week (first, congratulations), choose the “Small” Sumo Pro plan at $29 monthly.

3. Automate your email outreach

Automating emails saves a lot of time. Additionally, it helps to ensure that you’re remaining in touch with your list.

But it isn’t just your list that you ought to be automating.
You need to automate your one-to-one email outreach, too.
We’ll review these two at length.
How you can automate emails for your list
Choose an automation tool

There are numerous choices with regards to email automation for freelancers. These 3 providers stick out, though:

ConvertKit is much more sophisticated than a number of its competitors. Plans start at $29 monthly and can include limitless forms, automation rules, emails, as well as squeeze pages.

ActiveCampaign is definitely an intuitive drag-and-drop email editor. Its visual workflow enables you to easily setup automated campaigns. Plans start just $9 monthly for approximately 500 subscribers ($17 for 1000).

Mailchimp’s free plan includes automation tools for drip campaigns and handles as much as 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails monthly. Plan upgrades start just $10 monthly and can include more features and greater subscriber limits.

Make your first campaign

Begin with the basics. You are able to segment your list and obtain fancy later. At this time, you’ll are thinking about creating a fundamental welcome sequence which includes a welcome email plus 3 to 5 emails within the next couple of days.

Don’t reinvent the wheel here. Most content inside your drip campaign may come out of your blog.

Pro tip: Go ahead and take first slice of your blog publish and employ it as the start of your email. You might like to give a unique intro or alter the format just a little. A couple of sentences in, give a “Read More” connect to direct readers towards the blog itself.

(CoSchedule, below, performs this very well their emails are extremely difficult not to click.)