Are you looking for new clients? Most copywriters use several simultaneous clients to keep their business smooth. However, how should you approach finding new clientele? Today, we’re reviewing several tips for finding new customers and cracking the LinkedIn market.
Let’s get started.
How do I find copywriting customers?
If you’re new to freelance copywriting, here’s a basic breakdown of finding new customers. The first – and probably hardest – part of finding copywriting customers is overcoming your mental block. Have you ever thought like this?
Do I really have what it takes to make a living from writing? Who would hire me to write for them? How will I find stable work?
These are all valid and important questions, but lingering on them doesn’t help. Instead, focus on your strengths and abilities to centre your headspace.
You’re passionate about writing. Writing is a complex skill that many people can’t execute. Businesses everywhere need copywriters with your talent.
This mindset helps you reach out to potential clients and market yourself. Pro tip: don’t fall into the trap of writing for content mills or – worse – FOR FREE! You are a professional writer, and you deserve payment.
So, why is LinkedIn a better place to look for clients?
Why find copywriting clients on LinkedIn?
Beyond its 930 million users, LinkedIn connects you with quality clients, saving time and money. Content mills consume your time competing for pittance projects and regularly take a commission on your successful pitches. LinkedIn gives you brand credibility that generates repeating work, making it well worth the time investment.
LinkedIn is a hub for businesses with more money to spend on copywriters, leading to higher-paying contracts. You can also find like-minded writers on LinkedIn who share your passions. It might sound like meeting your competition, but you’ll make friends and valuable contacts this way.
Now that we’ve extolled LinkedIn’s virtues, how do you start finding new clients on the site?
How do I get content writing clients on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is – primarily – a social media website. With that in mind, you get out what you put in. Rather than sending identical cold pitches all over the place, awaiting eager replies (or total ghosting), get personal. Here are some actionable steps for gaining new clients on LinkedIn.
Complete your profile
If your LinkedIn profile needs completing, get cracking. Fill out every field, marketing yourself as a professional writer. It’s the perfect time to revamp your profile if you haven’t changed it since going freelance. Search for areas where you market yourself as an employee and switch it up to sell your abilities as an expert.
Identify your niche
Some copywriters write in a massive range of formats for a massive range of topics. If you’re starting out, however, it might be easier to find your passion topic and burrow into that niche to look for work. Maybe you’re big into health and wellness, or you’ll happily write about anything as long as you’re writing white papers. Customise your profile to target your niche interests.
Branch out to other writers
Banding together as professional writers is one of the best ways to rise together in the freelance world. You can improve your skills and build valuable relationships with colleagues. Equally, you can refer one another if a client approaches you, but you have no room in your workload. Connections like these can help turn copywriting into a lifelong career.
Put out quality content
Posting on LinkedIn helps you to cultivate a brand presence for your skills as an expert in your niche. Ideally, you should post regularly, but not too regularly. Daily content can quickly drain you and result in uninspired pieces. Instead, consider two or three weekly posts that market your abilities and bring value to other professionals working in your niche.
Actively engage
Once again, remember that social media platforms like LinkedIn are for engagement and community. Find pages and businesses with niches you’re interested in and follow them. Interact with their posts by commenting and sharing. Don’t make your engagement all about you, be genuine and contribute to the conversation if you can.
Give and receive endorsements
LinkedIn is unique among social media platforms in that it encourages you to talk about your best skills. Choose from an endless list of skills like writing, editing, and SEO practices and put them on your profile. When you have connections, see if they have any listed skills you can endorse, encouraging them to repay the favour.
Use your personality
Writers are some of the most quirky, unique people out there – bring that to your actions on LinkedIn. When you write posts, message potential connections, or interact with other people’s posts, always bring your genuine self to the moment. Everyone, clients included, is drawn to real personalities, so much more than off-putting ‘professional’ personas.
Be proactive
Use keywords relevant to your niche in LinkedIn’s search bar to find prominent people like Content Editors in your field of expertise. Personalised messages to these dream clients offering your services on their latest projects could lead to your next contract. You can also reach out to ideal clients advertising a full-time copywriter job to ask if they can use your services.
Be consistent
We’ve covered that daily posting will leave you burnt out and uninspired, but consistency is still the key. If you trust the process and invest the time to make your LinkedIn stand out, you’ll find that clients will search for you. You can consistently find work on LinkedIn with a professional profile, endorsements of your skills (and even testimonials from past clients).
LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for the modern copywriter. You can utilise its features to make new friends and contacts in your field that can nurture your career across your working lifetime. Successful freelance copywriters use LinkedIn as a lifeline to connect them to their field of expertise and help them grow their client network. Are you making the most of LinkedIn?
About The Author
Jim Pullman
Jim Pulman has extensive knowledge and experience in Home Building, Construction, and Design. He writes articles in his free time and partners with content creators to share his expertise with the online community. He is also passionate about automobiles.
