How Freelancers Can Use Social Media to Appeal to Excessive-Paying Purchasers -

By Joe Trewick

Freelancers like to complain about social media. “IT’s a time suck.” “IT’s simply vainness metrics.” “IT’s all noise.” And certain, should you’re utilizing IT flawed, IT is a waste of time. However the freelancers pulling in premium purchasers don’t simply use social media—they personal IT.

Let’s take a web page from the playbooks of a few of the world’s most profitable freelancers and see how they turned likes, shares, and feedback into chilly, laborious money.

1. Be a Strolling, Speaking Billboard (Like Austin Kleon)

Ever heard of Austin Kleon? If not, Google him. He turned doodles and a weblog right into a ebook deal, a talking profession, and an viewers that follows him religiously. How? By sharing his work constantly.

The takeaway? If you happen to’re a freelancer and also you’re not sharing your work on social media, you’re invisible.

If you happen to’re a designer, submit sketches, ideas, and closing items.

If you happen to’re a author, share snippets, insights, or case research.

If you happen to’re a marketer, break down campaigns and present outcomes.

You don’t must be a bestselling creator like Kleon. You simply want to verify when a high-paying shopper scrolls previous your profile, they know precisely what you do—and why they want you.

2. Train What You Know (Like Neil Patel)

You may hoard all of your information and hope purchasers magically discover you. Or you would do what Neil Patel does—give away a lot free worth that hiring you turns into the solely logical selection.

Right here’s do IT:

Submit fast, insightful tips about LinkedIn or Twitter.

Document quick how-to movies for Instagram or TikTok.

Write threads breaking down business tendencies.

By the point potential purchasers notice they want an skilled, you’re already of their feed, exhibiting them you’re the reply.

3. Inform a Rattling Good Story (Like James Clear)

James Clear didn’t simply write Atomic Habits. He constructed an empire with one factor: compelling tales.

And that’s what will get high-paying purchasers’ consideration. They don’t simply need to see a portfolio—they need to really feel one thing.

Do that:

As an alternative of “Right here’s a brand I designed,” say, “My shopper went from fighting model id to doubling their income with this rebrand.”

As an alternative of “Right here’s a weblog submit I wrote,” say, “This text introduced my shopper 200% extra visitors in 30 days.”

Your work is effective. Be sure the story you inform exhibits that worth.

4. Have interaction Like Your Life Relies upon On IT (As a result of IT Does)

Freelancers like to submit and run. However social media isn’t a one-way avenue. The high-paying purchasers? They’re watching the way you have interaction.

Reply to feedback.

Share different folks’s work (and add your take).

Soar into related discussions.

IT’s social media, not broadcast media. The extra you work together, the extra folks see you. And the extra they see you, the extra possible they’re to rent you.

5. Make IT Not possible to Ignore You (Like Seth Godin)

Seth Godin constructed his model by exhibiting up each single day. He blogs each day. Emails each day. And whilst you don’t need to go that tough, the precept stays:

Consistency wins.

Submit as soon as per week? You’re forgotten.

Submit thrice per week? You’re on the radar.

Submit each day? Now you’re within the shopper’s thoughts once they want somebody.

Don’t disappear. The second you go quiet, another person fills the area.

6. Cease Begging for Work—Make Purchasers Chase You

The very best freelancers don’t chilly pitch their method to success. They construct a model so robust that purchasers come to them.

Take into consideration IT: when was the final time a sought-after skilled begged for a gig? Excessive-paying purchasers don’t cling round Fiverr or Upwork. They’re on the market, scrolling social media, on the lookout for standouts.

So as an alternative of chasing, create a presence that pulls. Submit your insights. Break down business tendencies. Showcase actual work in a spot the place purchasers can see your expertise firsthand—like a platform where you prove your talent. When purchasers see proof as an alternative of empty guarantees, they rent quick.

And once they do attain out? Do not simply ship a portfolio hyperlink. Ship customized work tailor-made to them. Excessive-value purchasers don’t gamble on maybes. They need to know you’re the one.

7. Make IT Straightforward for Purchasers to Rent You

So a shopper stumbles in your LinkedIn. Loves your Twitter thread. Thinks, Rattling, I would like this particular person. What occurs subsequent?

In the event that they need to seek out your contact data, you’ve already misplaced them. Make IT frictionless.

Have a transparent CTA in your bio (“Need assistance? DM me or ebook right here.”)

Preserve a pinned tweet/submit with a hyperlink to your best work

Reply to inquiries quick

The very best freelancers don’t simply appeal to purchasers. They make IT easy to say sure.

The Backside Line: Social Media = Free Advertising

If you happen to’re a freelancer, you don’t want an enormous advert finances. You don’t want chilly emails that go ignored. You simply have to do what the perfect do:

Present your work

Train what you recognize

Inform higher tales

Have interaction constantly

Be in every single place your purchasers are

Excessive-paying purchasers are on the market. They only want a purpose to select you. Give them one.

Now go receives a commission.

Concerning the Writer

Joe Trewick is an search engine optimization strategist and all-around digital troublemaker.