Productive Things To Do When You Are a Freelancer Job-Hunting
Did you know that freelancers are predicted to become the majority of the U.S. workforce within the next decade? In fact, over 50% of millennials are already working as freelancers. So, it’s no surprise that when searching for the next project, the struggle is real.
Many freelancers describe their work life as “feast or famine,” meaning that sometimes they have more work than they can handle and other times they have no work at all. There’s plenty to keep you busy during the feast periods, but how can you stay productive during the times of famine?
Here are five productive things to do while searching for freelance work:
Revamp Your Online Presence
Prospective clients will typically check your website, blog, and social media prior to hiring you to perform freelance work. For this reason, it’s important to frequently update these pages and ensure the content is an accurate reflection of your work. Add fresh content, new images, and recent samples of your work while you hunt for more freelance opportunities. You can also schedule blog and social media posts for the future so you don’t have to worry about making time for these tasks once more work starts to come your way.
Touch Base With Former Clients
If you are in need of more freelance work, it’s a good idea to touch base with clients you’ve worked with in the past. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that these clients will contact you if they need your services. It’s possible that they could have lost your contact information or forgotten about the services you offer. Therefore, it’s best to send your former clients a friendly email letting them know that you are available if they are in need of your services again. Even if this does not lead to more work, it’s a great way to reconnect with clients that could hire you again in the future.
Strengthen Your Skills
Freelancers that are in a “famine” period should use their downtime to strengthen their skills. Sign up for educational courses, attend seminars, or read books that can improve your skills and increase the value of your services. You may need to spend money to strengthen your skills, but consider it a small investment that will pay off in a major way down the road. Be sure to update your resume so you can show prospective clients what you’ve been up to recently.
Network
Attend networking events in your community so you can connect with other freelancers and prospective clients. If there aren’t any events coming up, there are other ways to get your name out there in the community. Contact local business owners and explain how your services can help benefit them. If the thought of cold calling businesses terrifies you, start with businesses you are familiar with, such as the gym you are a member of or the natural food store you visit every week. This is an effective way to spread the word about your services and acquire new local clients.
Review Your Business
Now is the perfect time to conduct a review of your freelance business, too. Identify the areas that are working well and those that are not working at all. Are you charging enough? Should you stop offering certain services? Answer these questions honestly so you can improve your business.
As a freelancer, you should never sit around doing nothing while you wait for more work to come your way. Managing your time well is an important element that will keep your job hunt moving in a positive direction. There are countless productive things to do while you search for more work, so what are you waiting for? Get busy!
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