Early in my freelancing career, when I first wanted to find clients directly, I was given this piece of advice: mine your network.

I was told to consider who I could reach out to for work or connections and to get the conversations started. This is good advice, and broadly speaking mining your network is always going to be a part of the freelancer experience.

The problem? I didn’t have a network to mine.

Let me rephrase, I didn’t believe I had a good enough network to reach into. I didn’t come from a wealth of success, I didn’t attend a prestigious university, and after switching careers, my professional network consisted only of peers from the life I was trying to leave.

I had networked my way into the Film Industry through cold calls, Facebook groups, and asking for favours, but how to network my way out of it… I didn’t have a clue.

Over the years I have faced this challenge again and again. What does it mean to network as a creative? How can I break into an industry without an ‘in’? Are my services good enough to sell to a peer?

I didn’t have a pathway. So I found my own. And now I am sharing it with you.

How to Gain Clients as a Freelancer.

1. Speak Your Success into Reality

I used to tell myself that the problem was my network. The reality? I’m the problem. It’s me. Or my confidence, to be more specific. I didn’t believe in my skills enough to share them. Instead, I hoped that I could keep my freelancing venture a secret until it took off and I could present myself as already established. Spoiler: that doesn’t work.

The greatest lesson I’ve learnt is to speak my career into reality. And not because I believe in making wishes and waiting around for them to come true, but because people cannot find you if you’re not shouting loud enough. Learning to share your new venture with friends, family, and colleagues demonstrates confidence in your skills. There’s a difference between saying “I want to be a freelancer” and “I am a freelancer”.

I’d never refer a client to someone ‘wanting’ to be a writer.

You’ve heard the phrase ‘dress for the job you want’ – it’s all about presenting yourself as already prepared to take on your dream work, project, or client when the opportunity comes around. And you’ll be surprised how many doors will open up as soon as you share your work with others. Hearing “My friend does something similar” or “My brother-in-law is looking for someone who can do that” is a lot more common than you might think.

2. LinkedIn Optimisation

LinkedIn can be a daunting place for new freelancers. It’s common to feel your Connections number is too low, or that posting your new venture would be embarrassing for your old classmates to see. Let’s talk facts. Optimising your LinkedIn profile will enhance your chance of connecting with potential clients. Regardless of where you’re starting from or what someone you haven’t thought about in years might think. If you want to find new clients, this is what to do.

Craft a profile summary that highlights your skills and incorporates keywords relevant to your specific services. For instance, if you’re a graphic designer, weave in terms like “innovative design,” “visual storytelling,” or “branding expert”.

Next, utilize the Projects and Publications sections to showcase testimonials and a portfolio of your work. This gives clients a visual representation of your capabilities through examples of past work. If you’re brand new and don’t have any projects to highlight then it’s time to invest the time in creating a sample portfolio for yourself. You can even ask friends for testimonials on work you’ve produced in the past that also touch on your character as a Creative and Professional.

Regularly update your profile with new projects and accomplishments as you complete them to demonstrate ongoing engagement and expertise in your creative niche. This will help to increase the likelihood of appearing in searches and connecting with new clients.

3. Expand your Peer Network

For a long time, I took for granted the importance of building a community of other freelancers. Wrongly, I had prioritised only using my network to find clients meaning when I faced roadblocks and challenges, I had no one to ask for help. I’d gone from a career completely built on people – a film crew can easily contain hundreds of people that you’re working with face-to-face every single day for 11+ hours – to being completely on my own. It didn’t take long to realise I needed to find a freelancing community.

It’s important to build a network of those in similar positions, or even ahead in their career, to find support, advice, and inspiration. You may also find this network as a valuable resource for referrals and connections with new clients.

I started with friends or friends of friends that I knew were freelancers. I had at first overlooked them, unsure of what similarities a writer might have with an artist, social media manager, or UX designer. Our fields might be different, but many of the logistics are the same. Sharing stories about evasive clients, imposter syndrome, and useless accounting software gave me validation I didn’t know I needed. When I have experienced self-doubt and frustration, these peers have given me the motivation to continue pushing through.

If your current network lacks freelancers of any sort, I suggest joining online communities in your niche. There’s a Facebook group for every service imaginable, huge Reddit communities ready to respond to every query, and specialised online forums for freelancers around the World. I’ve even found success in interacting regularly with LinkedIn posts of freelancers whose work inspires me.

4. Build an Online Presence

Whilst LinkedIn does a great job of offering a platform tailor-made for professional networking, it is only one option when crafting your online presence. Growing your virtual visibility is vital to establishing authority through knowledge sharing, opening doors to collaboration, and creating yet another avenue to connect with clients.

Start by educating yourself on some basic SEO principles to increase the potential reach of any online presence. Not all posts are made equal, and the better you get optimising for engagement, the faster your network is going to grow. Google is a great resource for finding SEO for Beginners content, and why not reach out to your freelancing peers to see if they have any tips or tricks?

Once you have these principles down, you might want to start by utilizing other Social Media platforms like Instagram or X (formerly Twitter). Make sure to stay specific to your freelancing niche but don’t be afraid to try out different styles of posts and content.

Establishing a blog can also serve as a powerful bridge to connect with clients and fellow freelancers. Consider collaborating with others in your niche through guest posts, broadening your network, and reaching new audiences. Even better, your blog can function as a dynamic portfolio, showcasing your expertise, style, and the range of projects you’ve undertaken.

5. Online ‘Cold Calls’

I got my ‘big break’ in the film industry through the art of cold-emailing. I would send my CV to any email address I could find online for individuals or companies. This technique led me to get visa sponsorship for an internship in Los Angeles with Working Title, and later my then dream job on Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in New Zealand (you can read about my story here). For some reason, however, the idea of cold-calling as a Creative didn’t occur to me for a full 12 months.

My cold-emailing in film was successful for one reason: I knew how to sell myself.

From that moment I decided to adopt the same approach as a freelancer. First I had to define three things: who I am, what I’m offering, and what my Unique Selling Point (USP) is.

From there I created a few different outreach templates to cover the different mediums of email, LinkedIn, and Social Media DMs. I’ll share them with you below.

Who I am:

I’m a Writer and Coach who’s worked with CEOs, Founders, and Directors to help produce over 5,000 pages of successful books, scripts, and written content. I offer support both tactically and emotionally to guide clients through their creative process, ensuring that they reach their project’s end.

What I am offering:

Bi-weekly 60-minute creative coaching sessions to help guide you through challenges such as project management, self-doubt, and accountability. Work with me to break through creative blocks and the fear of starting in order to access your inner voice and personal fulfillment.

My USP:

I act as not just a coach, but a creative collaborator, accountability partner, and advocate for you and your dreams. Sessions are a continuous safe space for you to confide the highs and lows of your week without fear of judgment, knowing you are speaking to someone who truly wants you to win.

Email

Hi (first name),

I hope this email finds you well. I came across your email through (acquaintance name/website/company) and felt compelled to reach out after learning of your desire to (write a book/move into the creative industry/grow your following).

I’m Jessica, a Writer and Coach who guides clients through their creative process during 60-minute goal-based sessions. I offer support both tactically and emotionally to help guide you through the challenges of starting a creative project such as self-doubt, mental blocks, and accountability. I act as not just your coach, but a creative collaborator, accountability partner, and advocate for you and your dreams. Sessions are a continuous safe space for you to confide the highs and lows of your week without fear of judgment, knowing you are speaking to someone who truly wants you to win.

I’ve worked with CEOs, Founders, and Directors to help produce over 5,000 pages of successful books, scripts, and written content and your project could be next.

If you are interested in learning more about coaching, or how I might be able to you in embarking on this new journey, feel free to book a free consultation at the link below. You can also find my website here, or simply hit reply to this email if you have any immediate questions.

All the best,

Jessica

LinkedIn

Hi (first name),

I’m reaching out after coming across your content – I love how honest you are when it comes to the struggles of (writing/creating/juggling projects). This is such a common experience, but it’s also one I can help you with!

I’m a Writer and Coach who’s worked with CEOs, Founders, and Directors to help produce over 5,000 pages of successful books, scripts, and written content. I offer bi-weekly 60-minute creative coaching sessions that use goal-tracking to guide you through the challenges of project management, self-doubt, and accountability. Working with me is working to access your full potential.

Interested? I’d love to share more about my work with you here, or during a free consultation call that you can schedule at the link below.

Social Media

Hey (first name),

I know this is a bit random, but I’m a coach who helps creators like yourself manage the challenges of project management, self-doubt, and accountability. Struggling to see through your creative project goals is such a normal experience, but one I can help you with!

I offer 60-minute goal-based coaching sessions where we work to break through creative blocks and the fear of starting with a focus on personal fulfillment. If you’re interested I can send you some more details or set up a free consultation. After working in the creative field for over 5 years, there’s nothing I love more than watching people win!

Is finding clients something you’ve struggled with as a freelancer? Do you have any strategies that I’ve missed? If you’re just starting, then I’d love to welcome you to my community, introduce yourself below!

If you’re considering entering into Freelancing but don’t know if a career change is the right move for you, then you might want to read my Step-by-Step Guide to Exploring New Career Paths.