Marketing for Freelancers: 3 Reminders to Land Clients Without the Ick

Publication Date

February 21, 2025

Summary

Effective freelance marketing isn’t about “selling yourself” at all—it’s about showing up in the right places enough times to be remembered

1. Marketing = Networking

Marketing your business isn’t about “selling yourself.” It’s networking.

When you show up on LinkedIn (or anywhere online), think of it as a way to:

Share your work
Connect with real people
Build relationships that naturally lead to opportunities

This doesn’t mean you should pitch-slap people or treat every post like a sales call. It means:

Get to know people in your niche
Make friends
Share what you do and how you do it
Let people know you're available

That’s it. Keep it human.

2. Getting Clients Is a Numbers Game

Most people won’t respond right away. That’s normal.

You could:

Reach out to 10 people and hear back from 1
Post on LinkedIn for 30 days and get one DM that changes everything
Follow up three times before someone is ready to hire

Marketing is a long game. The key is consistency and trust that enough people will see you, remember you, and reach out when they’re ready.

3. People Need to Know You Exist

You’re not “bad at marketing” just because it hasn’t clicked yet. You probably just haven’t put yourself in front of the right people enough times.

Once I started seeing marketing as connecting, not convincing, it clicked.

I stopped worrying about doing it "right," and instead focused on:

Making real connections
Establishing a routine
Keeping the momentum going

If you’ve been avoiding marketing because it feels weird or overwhelming, try this today:

➡️ Post something on LinkedIn
➡️ Send 10 connection requests to key people at companies you want to work with
➡️ Follow up with someone you haven’t heard back from

⚡️ There are templates and step-by-step instructions for all three inside the Get Clients Guidebook (it's free!).

P.S. I just posted a podcast episode all about this—including in-depth mindset cues, stats you can expect, and how to make marketing feel more natural.

FAQ: Freelance Marketing Without the Ick

What if I don’t like talking about myself?

You don’t have to! Talk about your work, your process, or the problems you help solve. Focus on them, not you.

Is it really okay to send cold DMs or connection requests?

Yes, if you're respectful. A thoughtful, non-pushy message is a great way to start a conversation.

How often should I post on LinkedIn or network?

Aim for 3-5x per week for visibility. But even once a week, consistently, can build momentum.

How do I know if it’s working?

Track connections, replies, profile views, and leads. If these are going up, it’s working—even before clients start rolling in.

Where can I get help with marketing my freelance business?

Grab the free [Get Clients Guidebook] or check out the latest [podcast episode] for step-by-step help.

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