Bryan Connor - Young and Freelancing

Get a Beefy Client Roster for the Summer Months

If you’re a student freelancer like me, the summer months are a golden opportunity for massive amounts of productivity and profit. The key is taking advantage of it so you’re not sitting on your butt all summer wishing you had more work to do.

I’ve had summers with not much on the client work radar and then as soon as school starts up again it piles up. Get started early on drumming up work and you won’t have to deal with a summer drought.

Cull client backlog

If you’re like me, the end of school can spell trouble for getting client work done. Projects, finals, and major life decisions can get in the way of tending to your clients with the utmost care and expediency. The start of summer is the perfect time to clear your backlog of clients desperately waiting for your services. This is my current plan of action and will keep me busy for a nice little chunk of summer.

Herd anything with cobwebs off your client to-do list

Get rid of those small additions, edits and tiny tasks that tend to collect dust on the old to-do list and free yourself up to start some big projects this summer. These smaller tasks can add up so be sure to have them gone before you start in on your list of new clients.

Start by prodding old clients for new work

Put together a survey for your past clients about their experience with you and ask if they are in need of any further assistance in web design or copywriting or whatever your forte may be. Are they launching any new endeavors? Do they need a significant change to their site or the way it’s built? Do they want to expand their current site? All of these things can be a source of fresh work so don’t hesitate to ask.

Milk clients for referrals

Referrals are currently quite a large part of my business so I value them and the clients who give them to me deeply. Clients won’t automatically refer you to all of their friends though. Be sure to ask current clients for referrals and in general ask them to spread the word about you. Offer discounts to clients who give you steady referrals. It’s all about building relationships.

Set aside a few hours a day for lassoing new leads

Sometimes you just have to go back to basics to generate new leads. Take a look at Finding Jobs on the Web; A Practical Guide for some ways to get new leads flowing in from all across the web. Sticking to job boards and cold emails can only help.

Offer new bells to old clients

Learned anything new since your first client? I’m sure you have. Take a look back at what you had to offer old clients and let them know that your skills have improved and you have new services for them if they’re interested. Explain what you’re new and improved skill set can do for their site or business and use some persuasive writing to snag some more work.

Pitch improvements to old clients

As you look back on the things you’ve done for previous clients it’s not unusual to see room for improvement in your own work. It’s important to recognize those improvements and tell your clients about them. Being honest and offering to improve these deficiencies can lead to more work and a greater degree of trust. When looking back don’t be afraid to pitch extensions of a project to a client. Offer to add a blog or other dynamic content. Make it easier for them to update things on their own.

Contact local agencies and firms for overflow work for a freelancer

Make some connections with the local leaders in your industry and inquire whether the could use a freelancer to help them tackle some stray client work. Big firms are often busy but won’t often seek out a freelancer to help them. Send and email and see if your services could be of use.

Ask old employers for referrals and just check in with them

Get in touch with previous employers and bosses from your non-freelance jobs. Talk up your business and see if they or someone they know might be interested in your services. These employers have lots of contacts so chances are good that they could have something for you.

Put the word out, advertise yourself on social networking sites

The power of social networking shouldn’t be underestimate these days. Put out a message about you, your services, and that you’re looking for work. Don’t overlook things like craigslist and other services that let you put out a simple message about your profession and abilities.

Put these tips to good use and build up a nice stock of clients to keep you fed and healthy all summer long. What are your summer freelancing plans? How many clients do you have lined up?