I started the year with one client. Since then, I’ve signed nine new brands. Now, I want to tell you everything I know about finding new work.
This is not the first time I’ve written about “business development.” (Sorry, I hate that term. It gives me flashbacks of cold calling and Salesforce from my first job selling print advertising.)
In case you missed it, here are a few other newsletters that might be helpful if you’re looking for clients, whether you’re starting out on your freelancing journey or are just in a dry spell:
How I turned job insecurity into $30k (and a freelance side hustle)
How I got my start freelancing while in a 9-5, plus how I identified my service offering and the cold email that landed me Poppi as a client
How to sign your first freelance client while working full-time
What to do once you get a potential client on the phone, advice on setting your prices for the first time, and tips to draft your first contract
I signed four new freelance marketing clients in 57 days
Exactly how I met the first four new clients I signed this year, including how long conversations took, and why I think I landed the contracts
How I cold email my way to new freelance clients without feeling salesy
Helping you identify the right type of client, telling you how I prospect leads and audit their marketing, and sharing another cold outreach template.
Today, I’m sharing everything that’s worked for me, and what hasn’t worked for me (yet) but I know has worked for someone else. Think of this as my BIZ DEV cheat sheet for freelance marketers.
What hasn’t worked for me YET but I know has worked for other marketers:
Feed Me Classifieds
I actually landed a retainer that was posted here, but I got it through a different platform, which I’ll share below. I like to keep an eye on Feed Me Classifieds because you can find amazing opportunities you might not see elsewhere. Right now, I see a Fractional Head of Brand & Marketing role for a multi-unit bakery (dream), a Content Creator gig for a new tennis apparel brand, and a copywriter role with a physical AI company that looks interesting. Emily Sundberg, thank you for your service.
Search on LinkedIn
Filter by Part-Time / Contract and search away! I personally haven’t landed anything through LinkedIn, but I helped a friend get a gig with Apartment Therapy after I saw the JD and sent it to her. The other way I’ve used LinkedIn is searching keywords like “fractional marketer” and “freelance brand strategist.” Sometimes, people will simply post about what they’re looking for instead of setting it up as a job. I’ll warn you: there’s a lot of garbage to sift through on LinkedIn, but you can find some gems.
Apply to MarketerHire
I know a growth marketer who has landed work through this platform. I signed up and haven’t gotten anything, but if I were you, I’d set up a profile because there’s only upside.
Network
Tell your friends (and acquaintances) what you do and that you’re open to more work. Grace Abbott is big on this, and she’s landed clients this way. I haven’t yet, but I’ve come close — I met a woman at my pilates training who ran a supplement business and wanted marketing help. You truly never know where your next client will come from.
Write an email to your network
Send a warm, thoughtful email to your network — past colleagues, clients, friends, family. Tell them about recent projects you’ve worked on and what you’re looking for next. A friend of mine has sent a few of these, and I always love to receive them.
Reach out to your past clients
I tried this back in January and got as far as a proposal. I would definitely use this tactic again, but only with my favorite clients.
Here’s the email I sent them — notice how I focus on what I can do for them, not that I need more work.
What’s actually landed me a client:
Paid subscribers get every platform and practice that’s landed me a client — including the one I rave about in 1-1 calls.