Calling all freelancers and solo workers! I’m writing an article on how to get clients as a freelancer — and I’d love your insights. If you’ve built a steady stream of clients and know what works, I’d be especially interested in your thoughts on these: 1) If you had to start from scratch today, what would you do differently to land clients faster? 2) What are your go-to platforms or methods for client acquisition? 3) What are some common mistakes you see freelancers make when trying to get clients? If you're open to being quoted in the article, drop your answers below — happy to link to your site or portfolio as well!

When I started out, I was a solo consultant doing everything manually and relying on referrals that "might" come in. What changed everything? I repositioned myself and my content. Instead of trying to speak to everyone, I narrowed in on the people who were already showing interest in working with me. I studied my inbound leads and reshaped my content to speak directly to them. This helped me go from solo consultant to agency. I started showing up with: Educational content (so people could trust I knew what I was doing) Personal content (to build connection and relatability) Promotional content (to remind them I'm available for hire) Social proof (so they could see results from others like them) That shift was the turning point. Within months, I went from solopreneur to agency owner. And the best part? I did it by using LinkedIn as my primary marketing funnel for the last 3.5+ years I have been in business. It's still where 98% of my client leads come from. Most freelancers make the mistake of only posting when they need clients or talking like marketers instead of humans. But when your content speaks to the person who's already halfway sold, you don't need to chase leads. You just need to show up. If you're quoting, happy to be included as Melanie Borden, Founder of The Borden Group www.humantobrand.com

1) If I had to start from scratch today, I'd focus on relationships first, not reach. Instead of obsessing over websites or cold pitches, I'd reach out directly to agency owners and marketers, offer value, and build real conversations. My biggest wins came from warm intros and LinkedIn chats, not mass outreach. 2) Go-to platforms/methods for client acquisition: LinkedIn is #1 for me, especially direct outreach to agencies that could white-label our Local SEO service. I also contribute to articles and podcasts, which helps build credibility and visibility. A good case study shared at the right time goes further than a dozen cold emails. 3) Common mistakes freelancers make: They try to appeal to everyone, or they lead with what they do ("I do SEO") instead of how they help ("I help agencies offer Local SEO without extra hiring"). Clients want clarity and confidence, not a menu of services.

Cold outreach changed everything for me. I used to wait around for brands to find me on platforms, but it was too slow. Once I built a simple Notion portfolio and started reaching out to brands I already loved, things moved fast. I'd send short, honest emails with a sample video idea and explain how it could help them. Brands liked that it was about them, not me. That's how I got my first UGC client that turned into a retainer deal. Too many freelancers focus only on looking polished. Fancy profiles and perfect feeds are fine, but they don't replace real conversations. People hire people who show up, follow up, and actually care about their product. If I had to start today, I'd skip the fluff and focus on building 5-10 strong connections instead of trying to reach hundreds.

Of course, I'd be delighted to share my knowledge gained from working as a freelancer and marketing consultant. 1) What would you do differently to acquire clients more quickly if you had to start over today? Right away, I would establish a powerful personal brand on LinkedIn. Inbound leads significantly increased once I took this seriously and started posting frequently, participating in industry discussions, and sharing my findings. In order to establish credibility more quickly, I would also concentrate on a single niche (such as real estate or SaaS) rather than trying to be a generalist right away. 2) Which platforms or techniques do you prefer for acquiring new clients? LinkedIn (by far the best for brand building and B2B outreach) Referrals and word-of-mouth (make it simple for current customers to suggest you) Forming strategic alliances with organizations or consultants that provide complementary services By being reliable and providing free value, I've also had success with the Reddit and Twitter/X communities. 3) What typical errors do you observe independent contractors making when attempting to attract clients? Being overly ambiguous about their work ("I provide marketing services" is insufficient; specify the type, the client, and the reasons you're superior) undervaluing their work, particularly in the beginning. Offering extremely low prices draws the wrong kind of customers. Lack of a follow-up system—many independent contractors only make one pitch before quitting. Real conversions frequently occur when follow-up is done consistently.

If I had to start from scratch today, I'd focus more on networking in the first few months—both online and offline. I'd attend more industry-specific events, join local meetups, and leverage LinkedIn to connect with potential clients directly. Building relationships first, rather than just pitching my services, would likely help land clients faster. For client acquisition, my go-to platforms are Upwork and LinkedIn, along with reaching out directly to potential leads via email. I've also found that creating helpful content—whether blog posts or videos—attracts clients who trust me as an expert in the field. A common mistake I see freelancers make is not defining their niche early enough. Trying to serve everyone dilutes your brand and message. Focusing on a specific audience and tailoring your services to them can make all the difference in attracting consistent clients.