Networking for Freelance Marketers

Your next client isn’t posting job listings… they’re lurking! Freelancers, here’s the biggest mistake I see on LinkedIn: You’re searching for job posts instead of getting in front of the people who already need you. Here’s the truth:
Most high-ticket clients aren’t posting “freelancer wanted” ads.
 They’re THINKING about their problem, not actively searching for a solution yet.
 They’re LURKING—reading posts, engaging in comment sections, and gathering ideas. 💡 The freelancers who win? They show up before the client even realizes they need them. Here’s how you do it in 3 easy steps: ✅ Find the conversations before they turn into job posts. - Use Sales Navigator to track CEOs, CMOs, and founders in your niche. - Set alerts for when they comment on industry discussions. - Engage with their content before you ever send a pitch. ✅ Look for pain points hidden in plain sight. - Posts like “We’re scaling fast” = They need help. - “We’re testing a new marketing strategy” = They need experts. - “Who knows a great [skill]?” = They’re hiring, but informally. ✅ Be the expert in their feed—before they need you. - Comment insightfully on posts from decision-makers in your industry. - Post your own content showing how you solve problems. - When they’re ready to hire? You’re the first name that comes to mind. Freelancers who wait for job listings compete with thousands of others for the small % of gigs that weren’t filled at the networking stage. 
Freelancers who show up early build relationships—and get hired before the listing even exists. Are you waiting for opportunities, or positioning yourself for them? 👇

“How do you find your marketing clients?” Is a question I get all the time. So I thought I’d share my approach here — in case it helps! Here are 3 channels that have brought me my best clients: 1. 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (𝐡𝐢!) Posting on LinkedIn can feel like standing naked in front of your entire network. It’s nerve-wracking, but incredibly impactful. And honestly, you don’t need to post every day. Just posting twice a week is enough to see results. Start by sharing stories about your: • Career growth • Learnings • Achievements If you want to master LinkedIn, follow and back-stalk Molly Godfrey's posts. She shares actionable tips on how to post effectively. You'll know it's working when you start getting DMs from your ICP asking to meet! 2. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦) Catching up with your connections isn’t just fun and fulfilling. It also opens doors for new client opportunities. Reaching out can feel scary, especially if you haven't spoken in a while. But the more intimidating the outreach, the more rewarding it tends to be. Even if they don’t have referrals right away, they’ll often make intros down the road. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to reconnect with old friends! 3. 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 Boutique Slack communities are amazing sources for new clients. Here's how to spot the best ones: • Small and intimate • Specialized in a niche • Daily authentic, non-promotional posts • Dedicated systems for warm intros and client acquisition These Slack groups like The Growth Tribe are filled with givers who can refer you to their connections, or even their own clients. I hope this helps! Fellow freelancers: When people ask how you find clients, what’s your go-to advice?

How do I get clients without cold pitching or relying on referrals? How can I stay booked from month to month? How do I get my first client? If I had a penny for every time I’ve heard these questions, I’d probably be a millionaire by now! (Ok, exaggeration, but you get the point 😉). When I talk to solopreneurs/freelancers these questions always come up. Since I started my branding studio 8 months ago, I’ve been booked back-to-back. (It’s been mind-blowing, even to me!) So today, I want to share some of my ‘not-so-secret’ sauce. → Know who you want to serve You’re probably tired of hearing ‘find your niche,’ but it helped me. Finding my niche wasn’t just about specializing in an industry; it’s about understanding who my ideal customers are. I want to work with people who make the work fulfilling. When I figured this out, it became so much easier to find out where they hang out and put myself in front of them. → Do what makes you uncomfortable Posting on LinkedIn is *highly* uncomfortable for me, but here we are. Because growing = doing things outside your comfort zone. 10 months ago, I started posting 2-3x a week. Today, most of my clients come from inbound leads on LinkedIn. → Position yourself as an expert in your field I focus on creating content that shows my expertise while building my community. Yes, these posts may get low engagement because they aren’t as juicy as personal life drama. But they get leads who are easier to convert! Even with that, it took me 3 months to get my first inbound lead. The first one always takes time! So, try to enjoy the process as much as the outcome. → Don’t rely on posting only Creating content isn’t the only way to let people know you exist! If this isn’t your cup of tea, there are other ways. I joined networking groups and attend virtual + IRL events where my ideal customers hang out. (This is why knowing your ideal customer is kinda helpful!) You can even start a newsletter like my copywriter friend Maria John. These are just a few things I do to stay booked. By the way, I came up with 12 points on this subject. If you found this useful, let me know, and I’ll do a part 2 next week. If not, also let me know so I won’t 😂 👉🏾 Have you tried any of these, and did they work for you? 👉🏾 Questions? I’m happy to answer! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi, I’m Sarah 🙋🏾♀️ I share: ✨ Actionable brand strategies to help travel, hospitality, & culture entrepreneurs attract their dream tribe. ✨ Tips for creative solopreneurs looking to grow their businesses. ❤️ this post? Follow and hit the 🔔 for more!