If LinkedIn is not on your list of places to find freelance clients, you’re missing out a valuable resource. LinkedIn’s a great place to find freelance writing clients because you can do so in multiple ways: though the job search feature, connecting with prospects in your niche or setting up your profile so prospects can find you. Whether you want to use all three methods (ideal) or just one, here’s how to find freelance writing clients with LinkedIn.
Job Search
One of the easiest ways to find freelance writing prospects is to search for places that need freelancers. LinkedIn’s job board will provide you with this information. All you need to do is go to the “jobs” section and type “freelance writer” into the “title” bar and you’ll see all the gigs that are available. You can use the “location” bar to filter your search a bit—maybe you’re just looking for prospects in your area. I often will limit my search to “United States.”
Once you have your results, read though the job posts and apply to the ones that interests you most of feel like the best fit. If you want to work from home, make sure you’re only applying for gigs that don’t need you onsite at all. Remember, “freelance” does not always equal “remote.” You can use the remote filter to save yourself time and only see jobs that will let you work from the comfort of your home.
Connect and Cold Pitch
Job search is one method of how to find freelance writing clients with LinkedIn, but I don’t recommend only using that one for your search. Just like with any job board, there will be competition for every position you apply for. That’s not to say it’s impossible to win a job board gig, it’s just difficult. Chances are you’ll be one of 10, 50 or 100 applicants, making it harder for your skill set to stand out.
You will have a better chance of standing out by cold pitching prospects on LinkedIn. They might not be looking for or need a freelance writer when you reach out, but if or when they do, you’ll likely be at the top of their mind.
Cold pitching through LinkedIn is a little different than doing it through standard email or over the phone however. LinkedIn is all making connections; don’t make your introduction to a prospect by simply asking for work. Ease into your pitch. Here’s how to find freelance writing clients on LinkedIn through cold pitching:
• Find prospects in your niche to pitch. You can put your niche in search bar and filter it by topics like “companies” and “people”. I recommend the “people” filter so you have list of prospects to contact that work in your niche.
• Send a connection request to people in your niche who might be able to help you get freelance writing work—marketing managers, creative directors, editors, etc.
• Include a note in your connection request that mentions you write about their industry and that you’re always looking to connect with people in the field. Don’t pitch your services yet!
• Once your invitation is accepted, you can follow up with a thank you and then mention you’d love to write for them if they need a freelancer. The pitch is less intrusive now that the lead is “warm.”
I know this seems like a lot of steps to pitch a prospect. But I remember being in a seminar about LinkedIn marketing and the speaker made a great point—think of the platform as a networking event. If you were at a networking event and met someone, would you walk up to them and say right away, “Hi I’m Joe. I’m a freelance writer and I’d love to write for you. Do you use freelance writers?” Of course not! You’d introduce yourselves, talk about what you do and exchange business cards/contact information. Then you’d follow up and talk more about your services and provide a more formal pitch.
Do the same on LinkedIn: introduction, discuss what you do, share contact information and follow up with your standard pitch.
Prospect Inquiry
This is my favorite way to find freelance clients with LinkedIn because it doesn’t take as much work on my part. Prospects find you with this method! The work you have to do comes in the beginning when you join LinkedIn. The key is to make your profile headline as specific to what you do. Prospects don’t typically search “freelance writer” when they use LinkedIn to find a freelancer. They’re more likely to search for the type of freelance writer they need based on their industry.
For example, my niches are real estate, insurance and personal finance. So what does my LinkedIn headline say? “Freelance real estate, insurance and personal finance content writer.” I’ve had numerous companies reach out to me about freelance writing work because I have no doubt they searched for “real estate”, “insurance” or “personal finance” freelance writer before the found me.
If your LinkedIn headline currently reads, “freelance writer” or “freelance writer for hire” (Mine did at one point), I recommend you update it to something more specific.
I’m sure there are other methods of how to find freelance writing clients with LinkedIn. These are the three that I’ve found the most effective however—leverage the platforms job board, make connections and pitch and make your profile a prospect magnet by making your headline niche-specific. LinkedIn can be a very valuable resource for finding freelance writing clients if you let it!
Thanks for reading.
Joe
Joe Dyton (@DytonsWords) is the President and Founder of Dyton Writing and Editing, and a freelance insurance, real estate and personal freelance writer. He’s written for Connected Real Estate Magazine, GEICO and Student Loan Planner. He can be reached at joe@dytonswords.com.