If you are not using LinkedIn to search for jobs, you might be missing out on a lot of opportunity.
LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networking sites with millions of professional and engaged users worldwide. According to a study conducted by Jobvite Recruiter, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to search for qualified candidates for various positions.
For a professional freelancer like you, LinkedIn could be an avenue to grow your network and secure clients. In this blog, we will discuss the correct strategies to double your freelancing rate by acquiring clients from LinkedIn.
Create an Impressive Profile
Your profile says a lot about you. Any errors in spelling, or outdated information, can reduce your chances of getting hired.
Your profile can be a major part of your success. A poorly written self-introduction is a common blunder that clients find unforgivable. If you want to be taken seriously, make sure that your profile is 100% spot on and relevant to who should be reading it.
Don’t forget to add a professional-looking picture on your profile. Adding a photo where you appear sharp, professional, and friendly can increase the number of people who views your page. And please, smile! I can’t tell you how many profile pictures I see on Upwork where the freelancer actually looks pissed!
Yes, it takes time and effort to create an attractive profile. But a good one gets you an interview and the bad or average ones put you in line with 90% of the other freelancers out there. So take the time to do it right, it’s probably one of the most important things you can do that will set you apart from the sea of other freelancers out there.
Target Clients That Will Benefits from Your Services
Many freelancers waste their time applying to jobs that are not within their niche. Don’t do that. Instead, focus on the clients who are more likely to be needing your service. They have a higher chance of hiring you because they badly need your skills.
Search for clients whose business depends on your skills. Do not look at your skills as something that the company “should have” but treat it as an ultimate solution to meet the client’s needs.
For example, if the client is looking for a “blog writer,” but his goal is to increase sales, tell them that you can do both blog writing and marketing copy. This way, your well-written blogs can keep the website’s ranking high while your copywriting skills can convert page visitors to buyers. In other words, you make your talent look indispensable to your client’s business.
When clients realize that you can provide a long-term solution to their problems, you increase your value as a freelancer. Therefore, you can ask for better pay in exchange for your quality service.
Research Top Companies and Follow Them
Top companies, in general, offer better compensation for their employees and freelancers to protect their reputation. Because of this, many freelancers are competing for a spot to work for these companies. Aside from better pay, working for the top 100 companies makes a resume (or portfolio) look fantastic.
Use the “Advanced Search” option in LinkedIn to look for top companies and follow them. Check often if they have a job posting related to skills and apply right away. Some companies even offer job alerts, so sign-up for those if you want to be the first to know when a job meets your criteria. You may get here also How to get a Job in Australia.
If you know somebody working for them, reach out to these people and ask for referrals. You have nothing to lose with this tactic.
Research for Your Prospect’s Company
Once you receive an invitation for an interview, take the time to get familiar with the company. Check their website and read the “About Us” page to give you an idea of what the company is doing, what services/products they have, who are their top leaders, and how your skill solves specific concerns.
Get to know the company culture by visiting their social media pages. Many companies publish pictures of their company events, community works, employee recognition program, etc. If you have a way to connect to their employees, do it. Ask them what they like or dislike about the company.
When you do your homework before the interview, you appear more confident. You know how to sell your skills better because you understand where the company might be needing them. Coming in an interview prepared will really impress your prospects.
Sign up for Freelancing Training
Being confident about yourself and what you can offer will take your career to greater heights.
The problem is many freelancers don’t even know where to start acquiring their first client. Some are stuck with lowballing their price to clients who demand high-quality output. If this sounds just like you, then consider signing up for online freelancing training.
Mike Volkin’s Freelancer Masterclass might be just what you need to double your freelancing rate. As an expert freelancer and entrepreneur, Mike understands the intricacies involved in making you a stand-out freelancer. For more than 18 years, he has helped many companies achieve their financial goals by planning and implementing business strategies that work.
As a top-rated freelancer, Mike became a model of success for Upwork, a giant freelancing company. His pictures appeared in several publications, both online and print, recognizing his exemplary performance in the freelancing community.
Mike’s Freelancer Masterclass is his way of sharing his best practices on how to reach the pinnacle of success as a freelancer. He develops lessons that will help a freelancer, regardless of experience, to up his game.
Freelancer Masterclass contains a 9-step process on how to become a freelancer and get a continuous stream of high-paying clients. The lessons are easy-to-follow using different learning materials including slides, video, quizzes, and bi-weekly live training sessions.