As a freelancer the most stressful part of your life is keeping the work steady and the income flowing. You are only as good as your last completed job and those bills are not going to stop coming in. Advertising yourself can help but how many people are going to see it? Referrals can be your best friend.
Freelance Workers Are Motivated
Freelancers are typically extremely motivated people since they depend on work coming in to make a living. Because of that, the work that they do is usually professional and efficient and chances are that their clients appreciate that work. It is also possible that the client will know someone else who may need the services that you offer. Those referrals are what can open up a world of prosperity for you.
Your Clients Can Help
For the person or company that you just completed a project for satisfactorily they are referring people that they know, probably personally. They will talk to those people, in fact they may have already. Once those referrals are gained your next job may be only a phone call away!
How Can You Get a Referral?
So what can you do to get a referral from a client? The biggest has already been covered, do good work so that your client knows your value and knows what you provide. You may want to incentivize referrals, like some kind of reward if a referral turns into a job. This could be anything from a six-pack of beer to a reduced rate on any future work. If they can be rewarded, your clients may open up their Rolodex.
Gaining a testimonial from a happy client can be shared so that others (who may do their research on you beforehand) will know that someone was satisfied with your work. But just because you have someone’s contact information does not necessarily mean that they need your services. Figuring out what a potential client wants and whether it meshes with what you can provide is important. You don’t want to get yourself in a sticky situation with someone who is expecting something different than what you provide.
Add A Link To Your Website
While you should not rely on referrals turning up out of the blue it can happen. Just by adding a referral link to your website you can bring in business. Many of these potential clients may be shopping around so make them feel valued and make sure that they know you will be there for them. Another way to land potential referrals is to do some sort of seminar or offer some sort of valuable content. It makes you into an authority in your field and if people can see that you know what you are talking about and can answer their questions they may be more apt to do business with you and to refer their acquaintances.
Referrals Can Come in Many Different Ways
You never know where a referral can come from. As a freelancer you will come into contact with other freelancers who may be able to refer work to you. Some of the people that you work with, like suppliers, can potentially be a goldmine, so treat them right. They will do their best to treat you right since you have the power to direct business to them as well.
The Best Way To Get Referrals Is…
Do you know what the best way to gain referrals is? Provide referrals yourself. The client that you did work for is in business and like you is looking for new leads. They will appreciate that and will be much more willing to do the same thing for you. You can also find out from those acquaintances if they are looking for whatever your client provides. The same goes for your fellow freelancers. If you help them out with work they will be more apt to return the favor. It is the circle of life.
Just remember, there is never a bad time to get referrals and it is imperative that you do so to keep the work flowing and the income coming in. Just because a referral says that they do not need your services now does not mean that they won’t need them in the future so give them a call or leave them a business card so they don’t forget you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.