The definition of a trend is ‘a general direction in which something is developing or changing’. Understanding the changes and directions happening in your industry and amongst your target audience can be incredibly valuable when creating a solid marketing strategy.

But it’s important to remember – just because something is a trend, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s something you should immediately jump on.

We explore the key things to consider first, so when the next trend comes along you can act quickly or simply ignore it all together.

 

The difference between regular trends and viral trends

In the world of marketing trends, there are two main categories to keep in mind:

• Regular trends: This refers more to industry-related marketing metrics.
• Viral trends: Specific content types that gain popularity and momentum rapidly on social media.

 

Industry trend examples:

In 2024, the number of vegans in the UK was estimated to be around 2.5 million, which was a huge jump from 1.1 million the year before. This is an example of a growing trend that has been happening in consumption habits over several years.

The increase in vegans worldwide and the trend towards plant-based products has caused brands in various industries to evolve what they offer and shift their marketing tactics.

Like fast-food giant McDonald’s for example, who launched the ‘McPlant’ burger in 2022 to meet the needs of the growing number of vegans. It enabled them to keep up with consumer trend and not fall behind in the market.

 

Viral trend examples:

Viral trends consist largely of social media content based on pop culture events. Think things like memes and videos.

It’s also common for brands to use popular content formats from content creators as part of their influencer marketing or brand collaborations.

A common example of this is a cosmetics brand jumping on the ‘Get ready with me’ social content trend. This is where someone films themselves getting ready for the day, but in this instance, they’ll use the brand’s promotional product as part of their routine.

 

Why is it important to understand the difference between regular marketing trends and social media trends?

The nature of viral social media trends normally means they have far less longevity than regular marketing trends.

While marketing trends like consumer buying patterns and competitor behaviour are something to consider as part of a broader strategy, viral social trends tend to enable more short-term wins.

This isn’t the case for all businesses, though. The makeup brand used in the example above could probably find much longer-term value from viral trending content. It’s all about understanding your brand, your industry and your customers.

 

Will a marketing trend benefit your business?

To answer this big question, you first need to think about the following:

 

Does it feel natural for your business?

Building a client base through social media is one of the most effective ways to expand your reach and engage with new and existing customers. For this to work, your content has to feel genuine, authentic and in line with what people expect from your brand.

If you implement a trend that doesn’t feel natural for your business, people will see this as disingenuous, and it won’t reflect well on you.

Shoehorning unlikely trends into your marketing strategy also runs the risk of feeling a little bit desperate, which, again, customers will sniff out quickly.

 

Will it connect you to your customers or alienate them?

Will the trend help you build stronger connections with your customers? Or will it make them feel confused about your brand or alienate them in some way? Will it reach the demographic you’re looking to tap into?

These are things you need to establish before jumping on any kind of trend.

 

Are you on the right platforms?

Not all viral social media trends will be accessible to your business if you aren’t on the right platforms or, more importantly, if your target customers aren’t on those platforms.

If you see a certain type of content going viral on TikTok, for example, this might have you wondering, ‘Hmm, does my business need a TikTok account?’. If this isn’t a platform your customers use, the answer is likely no and that particular trend probably isn’t right for your business.

Any marketing content you produce needs to be native to the channel you’re posting on, and shared in places where your customers will see it and want to engage with it.

 

What are your competitors doing?

You should always have a close eye on your competitors. What they’re doing and what they’re not doing can be extremely illuminating for you and something you can use to the advantage of your own marketing strategy.

The same is true when it comes to trends. Have your competitors jumped on a trend? If so, does it seem to be working for them? Of course, you won’t be able to see their internal metrics but you can get a good feel based on their social media engagement, for example.

Don’t simply replicate what they’re doing because you need to be unique and differentiate yourself in the market. If you think a trend might be working magic for them, figure out how you can implement it in your own way.

 

Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Whatever type of trend you’re looking into, whether it’s a consumer-based pattern, a new industry direction or some viral social media content, investing in it has got to be worth it.

This will depend on your resources (time, capacity, money) and it’s something you should weigh up before jumping on any bandwagon. You’ve got to be reasonably sure that implementing a trend in your tactics will bring you a solid result. If not, you might put your marketing budget, cash flow and brand reputation at risk.

 
Looking for more freelancing advice? Head to our hub, where we’ve got a whole host of resources waiting for you.

Once upon a time, our devices and phones served just a handful of purposes. These days, they’re more like an extension of ourselves.

Our smartphones (and other devices) are now our calendars, online banks, health trackers, nutrition guides, maps, the key to instant communication with contacts all around the world, and so much more.

Professionally, apps can drive productivity, boost organisation, automate some of your most arduous tasks and help you set up and maintain robust processes and systems.

That’s why, as a freelancer, staying up to date with the latest apps is such an effective way to stay on your A-game and make your life a whole lot easier, faster, smarter and sometimes, even cheaper.

 

The apps every freelancer needs in 2025 (and beyond)

The world of apps is fast-paced and quick-changing with a seemingly endless list of options. So, figure out where you would most benefit from some app-based support and focus your efforts there.

We share 10 of the best apps for freelancers in 2025, broken down into five key categories:

• Finding freelance work
• Project management
• Design and creation tools
• Social media
• Bookkeeping and accounting

So, let’s get stuck in!

 

Finding freelance work

Finding freelance work is no mean feat, especially when you’re also trying to focus on the active briefs and clients you already have. Apps can make sourcing and securing work far less daunting and time-consuming.

Two of the most popular apps to help find freelance work are Upwork and Fiverr.

 

Upwork

One of the most professional and reputable platforms for finding freelance work, the Upwork app is a must. You can search for jobs, send files and communicate with clients on the go, whenever, wherever.

 

Fiverr

Promote your services, set your prices, and compete against other freelancers. Build up positive reviews and remember to price yourself competitively but not too cheaply. Great for quick turnaround tasks – but watch out for spammy listings.

 

Project management apps for freelancers

As a freelancer, you’re almost always juggling a number of different projects, clients and deadlines at a time. Centralising it all into one place using a project management tool is a brilliant way to keep on top of everything, plan your capacity, manage expectations and avoid burnout.

Two go-to project management apps (for good reason) are Trello and Monday.com. As a freelancer or ‘solopreneur’, you might prefer the simplicity of Trello. If you’re interested in built-in budgeting, invoicing and marketing tools too, monday.com should tick all your boxes.

Other great options include Asana and ClickUp (which can even be added to Chrome, Alexa and Google Home).

 

Trello

Organise all your tasks visually into different boards and use the customisable Kanban workflow to easily manage multiple projects and deadlines.

If you’re working in a team, invite others to your Trello boards and assign tasks with the click of a button. View tasks and projects by calendar or category, depending on how you’re working.

 

Monday.com

This comprehensive project management platform and productivity app makes managing tasks and organising collaboration at scale a total breeze. Integrate your widgets and other favourite tools to streamline your entire workflow.

 

Design and creation tools

If you require creative design tools, but you don’t need the full-on power of Adobe, then Canva and Figma might be a useful starting point.

 

Canva

This app gives you access to millions of high-quality photos, icons, illustrations and templates so you can create things like social media images, business cards, decks, portfolios and advertising assets from your mobile.

Canva is a beginner-friendly alternative to more specialist (and costly) tools like Adobe Illustrator.

 

Figma

This is a fantastic collaborative tool that enables designers to co-work with clients and peers (such as copywriters and developers) to create, collect feedback and test designs in one platform. It’s a super-efficient way to share work, gather feedback and implement changes.

When it comes to copy and content, check out Grammarly to save valuable time and keep your spelling and grammar in check.

 

Social media

Social media can be an invaluable tool for getting your name out there, building your audience and sharing your content far and wide.

However, to get the most out of your social media channels, they require investment of time and effort, which can be significantly optimised with a scheduling and management app. Two of the most popular right now are Hootsuite and Loomly.

 

Hootsuite

Download the Hootsuite app to draft, schedule, and publish social media content across all of your platforms from one dashboard. You can also engage with your audience and access performance analytics directly from the app, without having to log in to separate social media accounts.

 

Loomly

This other popular social media management platform has recently launched a brand-new mobile app. Once all your social media accounts are connected, you can then create, optimise, schedule and analyse performance of your social media content all in one place.

The main difference between Hootsuite and Loomly is that Hootsuite has great social listening capabilities. This means you can monitor when people are talking about your chosen keywords online and what they’re saying. Loomly doesn’t yet offer this functionality.

 

Bookkeeping, accounting and invoicing

Keeping your accounts up to date and staying on top of invoices is critical for success as a freelancer. Doing so will help you run as tax-efficiently as possible and reduce instances of late payments to protect your cash flow.

That said, recording things like transactions and invoices and uploading expenses can feel daunting and downright painful at times. Using an app makes the whole thing feel far easier and more efficient.

 

Quickbooks

The Quickbooks accounting app is one of the most popular of its kind, especially as it has a plan exclusively for self-employed freelancers. Having an app like this on your mobile, while you’re out and about, makes it quicker and easier to track miles and record transactions as and when they happen.

 

Pandle

This is a free accounting app that is also a bookkeeping software and invoicing platform. Manage customer and supplier invoicing, upload receipts, view reports and complete banking straight from your mobile.

The best thing about Pandle is that all the cloud-based tools are all designed “with real people in mind”, making it perfect for small business owners and freelancers just like you.

Both accounting apps have a long list of features designed to support the financial growth and stability of your freelance business.

 
Done here? Check out our article on free tools for running a business solo—or find more expert advice and resources in our freelancer information hub.

When you’ve poured your time, skills and funds into creating something as a freelancer, releasing it into the world can be a bit scary. Especially if you’re worried other people might claim it as their own. This is where Intellectual Property (IP) protection comes in.

The first thing you need to do if you want to protect your IP, is get to grips with what Intellectual Property is. When you know what you’re dealing with, you’re in a better position to make the right moves for your business.
 

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual Property is something that has been created in the human mind, for example an invention you’ve come up with or a story you’ve written.

When something qualifies as IP, it means it has been protected by law against unauthorised use by anybody other than the person who owns it.

If the person who owns the IP wants to make money by allowing other people to use it, this legal protection makes commercialising it a whole lot easier and far more secure.
 

What counts as Intellectual Property as a Freelancer?

Based on popular freelance services, these are the kinds of things freelancers can register as their Intellectual Property.

• Designs (e.g. logos, graphics, symbols, prints and websites)
• Photography
• Video content
• Artwork
• Written content like blog posts, guides and video scripts
• Code for things like games, apps and software
• Processes (e.g. templates and workflows)
• Inventions, machines, mechanisms, hardware
• Names (e.g. product names and brand names)

 

Different types of Intellectual Property

There are different types of IP that something can be registered as and protected under. The main ones being:

• Patent
• Copyright
• Trademark

You can get some types of protection automatically, but others you’ll need to apply for.
 

Patent

Patents are designed to protect IP related to inventions. In the UK, a patent allows you to take legal action against anyone that uses your invention without permission.

If you’re a freelance developer, for example, and you’ve created new photo editing software, you can patent this process and/or technology so only you can use it.
 

Copyright

Copyright is specifically targeted at protecting IP related to literature, art, music and dramatic work. So, things like books, songs, films, paintings, textiles and sculptures can be copyrighted, for example.

Copyrighting is also often used to protect software IP, including things like databases, programmes and technical drawings.

Let’s say you’re a freelance interior designer, and you generate a 3D render of a design scheme you have created. You’ll be able to register this as IP and protect it by copyright.

This stops anybody else using your 3D drawings, or the 3D files, technical drawings and models used to create them.
 

Trademark

Trademarks are used to protect things like business names, product names, logos, sounds, designs and symbols that distinguish one brand from another. This type of IP protection actually dates back centuries to when artisans would put their “mark” on their products to distinguish them from others.

One of the most common ways a freelancer might use a trademark is to protect their brand identity (name, logo, colours, design, etc.) from being used by any other business.
 

What other types of Intellectual Property are there?

There are other types of Intellectual Property you may not have come across yet. We haven’t detailed them above but they’re still just as important, so we’ll give a brief overview below.
 

Trade secret

This type of IP protection covers confidential company information relating to something that competitors don’t have, such as formulas or specific processes. McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, the formula of WD-40 and KFC’s recipes are all examples of trade secrets registered as IP.
 

Industrial design

This type of IP protects a visual design element of something, such as its shape, colour or pattern. The Volkswagen Beetle, the iPhone and the Coca-Cola bottle are all examples of industrial designs covered by IP rights.
 

Geographical indication

This type of IP protects something from a specific place and which has some form of distinguishable factors related to that location. Champagne from France, Darjeeling tea from India, Swiss watches and Scotch whisky are all examples of GIs protected by IP rights.
 

Who owns Intellectual Property?

In short, you own intellectual property if you’ve created or invented something, and it meets the necessary requirements for copyright, a patent or design. You can also buy intellectual property rights and sell or transfer your own if you wish.

Unfortunately, if you’re employed, your employer owns the IP of anything you’ve created or invented within their business.

As a freelancer, you own the rights to your own creations, for example things like your logo etc. But, if you’re asked to create or invent something for a client, it’s important to put a contract in place to understand who has the legal rights.

 

How can I transfer intellectual property rights?

If you want to transfer intellectual property rights, it must be done through a legal process, but which one depends on the circumstances.

The most common ways IP is transferred are:
 

Purchase

If a business is sold or liquidated, ownership of IP is often reassigned as part of this process. IP can also be sold to a new owner even if the whole business isn’t being sold.
 

Licensing

Licensing enables the original owner to permit others to use their IP within agreed legal terms. It means they retain ownership but can still commercialise all or part of the creation or invention they own.

Licensing can be exclusive, whereby only specific people are allowed to use the IP, or it can be non-exclusive so the IP is available publicly.
 

Assignment

This is where all or some IP is reassigned from the original owner to a new one through a legal written document. It’s a permanent change and normally needs to be made official by registering the new ownership with the specific IP authority (e.g. copyright, trademark, etc.).
 

Mergers and acquisitions

If two companies merge or one acquires the other, ownership of IP will typically be transferred in this process unless otherwise stated in a written agreement.
 

Inheritance

If the person who owns the IP dies, they may leave it as part of their estate to a beneficiary. In this scenario, the transfer of IP ownership happens through inheritance.
 

Top IP protection tips

Before you go, here are three top tips to keep your Intellectual Property safe and sound:

• Use watermarks on your work – If you’re sharing things like photos, videos or design previews, add a branded watermark on top so nobody can use the original versions.
• Always use written contracts – As we covered earlier, contracts are super important when dealing with IP protection, so make sure you’re using them. Make sure you’re both in agreement about who owns what in advance and have it documented in writing.
• Consult an IP expert – There are dedicated legal professionals who specialise in Intellectual Property, so speaking to one of those will help ensure everything is watertight.

 
Looking for more freelancing advice? Head to our hub, where we’ve got a whole host of resources waiting for you.

Being a self-employed freelancer usually means you’re wearing so many hats that it can be easy to skip something. Forgetting to share a social media post or pushing back a self-imposed deadline might seem harmless, but there are other more critical things that shouldn’t be overlooked.

For some freelancers, creating contracts of work can be one of those things you keep high on your priority list and share with every client you have. After all, a well-drafted freelance contract can often support smooth working relationships, align expectations and protect your business in case any issues arise.

We share our tips and tricks on what a freelance contract is, what it should contain and why it’s so important, including agreeing on deadlines, payment dates and legal terms and conditions.
 

What is a freelance contract?

You’ll normally draw up a freelance contract when you start working with a new client. It’s a legally binding document that details the terms and conditions of the project or the working arrangement.

In a similar way to an employment contract, a freelance contract outlines important information and agreements made with a client so that everybody involved is, quite literally, on the same page.

Your freelancing contract might not need to look like a long and wordy document, and could instead be something as straightforward as an email agreement which outlines what work will be undertaken, timeframes, and costs.

Both the freelancer and the client should digest and sign the contract before working together on a new project or if there are any changes to an existing setup. Each party should have a copy of the contract stored somewhere securely for the duration of the project and after.
 

Why are contracts important for freelancers?

Although freelance contracts are legally binding, they aren’t legally obligated. In other words, you won’t get in trouble with anybody if you work without contracts in place, providing everything runs smoothly. But if any problems arise with a project or a client, you might regret not covering yourself with a contract.

The benefits of a carefully crafted freelance contract include:

• Providing clarity for both parties on what is expected in terms of things like scope of work and deadlines
• Providing legal protection for both parties in case of any problems
• Helping to ensure you get paid on time and in full, by setting out expectations
• Protecting your Intellectual Property (IP) so your work can’t be used unlawfully or without payment
• Creating and maintaining a professional impression
• Supporting the tricky process of cutting ties with a client if this situation should arise

 

What should be included in a freelance contract?

Hopefully the benefits of freelance contracts are now clear. The next thing to clarify is what you need to include in a freelance contract to really reap the rewards of having one. The document needs all of the key elements in order for it to be a valuable and functional tool.

Below are the key points a freelance contract should include, whether you’re creating one from scratch or looking to update your existing document.
 

Personal details

Before you get stuck into laying out all the other information in your contract, start by providing the following information about you, such as:

• Full name
• Business name and address
• Website, if applicable
• Email address
• Contact details

 

Scope of the project

The first clause you should create in the main part of your contract is the scope of the project and the agreed deliverables. In other words – what are you doing for the client? Don’t be afraid to get specific here – the more detail you go into, the less chance there is of misunderstandings between you and your client.

If possible, itemise the parts of the project you plan to undertake and deliver and give a rough time estimate for each. Not only will this help manage expectations, but the client will also appreciate being able to see where and how their budget is being spent.
 

Rates and payment terms

The rates and payment sections are arguably the most important part of a freelance contract because it outlines how, when and how much the client has agreed to pay you for your services.

This section of the contract should include details about:

• The agreed rates you are charging by day, hour, flat fee, etc.
• Your preferred payment method and payment details
• Payment terms (typically 30 days), which should match your invoice document, and the details of any late payment fees you might charge
• Whether or not you plan to take a portion of the fee upfront or in installments
• Whether or not the agreed cost includes amends or changes. If not, include information about the additional charges for this.

 

Agreed deadlines, milestones and timeline

Prior to signing the contract, you will already have had a conversation with the client about the desired timeline and your availability. So, when writing the contract, include what you agreed in a clause about deadlines and planned milestones. You should also provide a date for when work officially commences.

It’s worth adding a line about flexibility around delivery deadlines in this clause. You never know what the future holds, and you may need a certain amount of slack. Committing to a specific date, unless the client really needs you to, too far in advance can cause problems further down the line.
 

Cancellation terms

In some rare cases, a client may decide to cancel the project before the full scope of work is complete. A cancellation terms clause in your contract will ensure you’re still paid and not left out of pocket.

The cancellation form should clearly state what your ‘kill fee’ is, which is the amount the client will have to pay on top of what they owe so far for cancelling the project midway.

In this section, you should also include details about what will happen if you need to cancel the project or if you can’t complete it due to unforeseen circumstances.
 

Information regarding your IP

If you have any details about your Intellectual Property (IP) terms, you should share these in your contract. It will help make sure your work is being used how you want it to be and will also prevent clients from being able to use your work without paying for it first.

Normally, the freelancer retains the rights to work until the client’s bill has been settled. After that, you won’t be able to use or resell the same work to any other client. It would be worth noting this so the client knows you have considered ownership.
 

Dated signatures from all parties

To seal the deal, both you, your client(s) and anybody else involved should print and sign the document, e-sign in, or send email confirmation. You will need this for the contract to be officially legally binding.
 

Staying IR35 compliant

When creating your contract, you should make clear that you’re working in a freelance capacity. This needs to be obvious so you don’t look like you’re an employee in disguise, which would trigger the IR35 rules.
 

What is an employee in disguise?

An employee in disguise is a contractor (or freelancer) who has been hired on a self-employed basis, but the nature of the working arrangement is more like permanent employment. This is what IR35 rules and regulations are designed to clamp down on.

Disguised employment occurs because employers hire contractors and brief them to work like permanent employees but pay them invoices rather than through payroll. This means the employer gets to avoid paying National Insurance and other contributions and employee benefits.

Non-compliance can sometimes be the result of an honest lack of awareness, but failing to comply with IR35 rules runs the risk of hefty financial penalties so it’s important to ensure you’re ticking all the right boxes.
 

What to include in your freelance contract

If your relationship with a client is authentically in a freelance capacity and you are operating as an autonomous self-employed contractor, you are what’s referred to as being ‘outside IR35’.

Demonstrate your ‘outside IR35’ status on your contract by detailing your freelance working processes and working arrangements with your client. This will show HMRC that you are indeed a freelancer and not an employee – or a disguised employee.

 
Head over to our freelancer information hub for more guides, news and advice.

As a freelancer, your time is your own. This is great when it comes to setting your own schedule and managing your own time. You don’t need to worry about things like core working hours or set office hours, but it also means you don’t get paid for a contracted number of hours like an employee does. Read More

Blogging is dead, right? Wrong. Blogging is very much alive and well, and can actually be a vital part of your digital marketing strategy when done right. Your customers are still searching for information and a blog is a great way to ensure you’re there to save the day with answers. You reading this blog post is the perfect example.

This almost certainly won’t be the first time a blog has been recommended for your freelance business – and it probably won’t be the last. So, let’s explore the benefits of having a blog as a freelancer in more detail and why it’s worth your precious time and effort.
 

What is a blog?

Where a freelance business is concerned, a blog is a space dedicated to sharing articles, guides, information, or news updates. It’s a more dynamic and flexible way to share content and information that doesn’t live on your regular website landing pages.

A blog typically sits on the business website itself and isn’t usually on its own separate site – unless, of course, that’s the way you’d prefer it to be. In fact, you might not even have a website for your freelance business, and instead host your blog elsewhere.
 

Does every business need a blog?

Not every single type of business will necessarily benefit from a blog. Or, at least, the time and effort required to run a blog won’t return a sufficient amount of income for all types of businesses or industries.

That said any company could benefit from the search engine optimisation (SEO) boost that an active blog can unlock. The more the business appears on Google, the more chance you have that your customers will be able to find it.

So, while a blog is not mandatory to success, most, if not all businesses, can benefit from having one in some way – including freelancers.
 

Why should I have a business blog as a freelancer?

We’ve already touched on some of the key benefits of having a business blog as a freelancer, such as improving your position in search results, and having a more flexible space to share your content.

But if you still need persuading, here are some tip-top reasons you should be blogging.
 

Educate your customers

Very rarely does a client become your client without asking questions or doing research first. When they turn to the internet with their questions, a business blog is a great way to ensure you’re there with the answers they need.

That’s why, when thinking about what to blog about on your freelance website, you should take a strategic, customer-focused approach to your content. Taking this approach means your customers will find more value in your blog.

High-quality, original content will build trust and credibility in you and your business.
 

Showcase your skills and services

Hard-sell tactics have a time and place at various stages of the marketing funnel when you’re trying to convert a lead into a paying customer. That said, people don’t always appreciate being sold to quite so directly all the time. So, instead of telling them what you can do, show them.

A blog is a great way to showcase and sell your skills and services to people without them really knowing it. A photographer, for example, could blog about a new editing tool they’ve just started using but, in the blog post, display their photography work simultaneously.
 

Stay ahead of your competitors

Sharing insights, expertise and knowledge through original content is an effective way to set yourself apart from your competitors. Making your content well-researched and well-written will also help establish you as a reputable source of information and guidance.

An important part of this is establishing your own unique tone of voice (or ‘brand voice’) so that when somebody is reading your blog posts, they recognise the author as you.
 

It gives your marketing plan structure

Coming up with ideas for regular social media content and topics is tough, especially when you’re dealing with all of the other ups and downs of running your own freelance business.

Blog posts help you kill two birds with one stone because you can absorb all of the other benefits of having a blog while having a bank of content to use for social posts and emails. You could even use one of your strongest or most relevant blog posts as a cold outreach topic.

Plus, once you publish a piece of content, it will be live on your blog until you decide to take it down. If you add some internal links to service pages on your website and include a strong ‘get in touch’ call-to-action, blog posts can serve as passive lead-generation streams.

With a blog, you can reap the rewards of other marketing tactics like guest posts, backlinks, affiliate links, sponsored content and on-page ads.
 

Are there any alternatives to blogging?

While we do believe blogging can add value to pretty much any type of business, we don’t want to pile on the pressure.

If you simply don’t have the time or resources to gather content ideas and write and edit regular blog posts, that’s okay. Servicing clients and finding work as a freelancer takes up many hours and a lot of headspace, after all.

A blog is something you could think about as a long-term goal. In the meantime, here are some other ways you can sustain and grow your freelance business.
 

LinkedIn posts

LinkedIn is a brilliant social media platform to invest your time in if you want to share longer-form content with your professional network. Instead of committing to running a blog, use your LinkedIn page to share original, engaging and informative content that adds value and sets you apart in the market.
 

Other social media platforms

While LinkedIn is perfect for interacting with your professional network and building your personal brand as a freelancer, other social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are great places to share brand content.

These platforms are also a great place to experiment with other forms of content (like video) if writing long blog posts is what puts you off exploring that particular channel.
 

Networking (online and in-person)

That’s right – a great way to expand your brand reach, show off your knowledge and market your business is some good old-fashioned networking. Whether it’s joining an online workshop or webinar or heading off to an in-person event with some business cards, make time in your hectic schedule for networking.
 
Looking for more advice on all things freelancing? Head over to our hub, where we’ve got a whole host of handy guides ready to help you out.

Outreach sounds scary, we get it. Especially when outreach is so often associated with old-fashioned methods like cold calling or door-knocking that make you wonder if you’ll need a rejection therapist on speed dial to execute.

However, lots of freelancers – your competitors included – are using outreach strategies to engage and win new clients and keep their calendars full of projects. Plus, while cold methods still have their place, the world has evolved and outreach has become far more diverse and versatile.

So, fear not, we’re here to steer you in the right direction, help you nail your outreach strategy and save you money on rejection therapy bills.

 

What is an outreach strategy?

Essentially, an outreach strategy is a dedicated plan of action designed to find, engage and hopefully onboard new customers. It’s all about devising a way to reach new prospects and generate leads so you can, in an ideal world, nurture them into becoming a client of yours.

How you approach and build your outreach plan will depend on things like:

• How much time you have to dedicate to it
• The type of industry you’re in
• Your budget
• The capacity you have to take on new clients
• Where your target audience is in terms of the platforms and communication methods they use

There’s no one-size-fits-all template and of course, big companies have dedicated sales or marketing teams to take on the task. However, the principles of outreach strategy remain the same for a freelancer flying solo.

 

What different methods of outreach can you use?

Below are some tried-and-tested outreach methods you could try out. It’s worth exploring which one is worth the investment in terms of time, effort, and money. For example, if your customers don’t really use a certain social media platform, skip that one!

 

Email outreach

Email is a great platform for connecting with prospects, whether it’s part of an email marketing flow to your current customers or a cold email campaign to people who aren’t your customers (yet).

When sending your emails, be as personal as you possibly can and tailor your communications as much as you have time for. Recipients are far more likely to take notice if they feel like they’re receiving a message written just for them as opposed to a blanket email, especially in the subject line.

Pro tip: Check out Mailshake and Woodpecker, which are both brilliant tools to help automate your email outreach to make your strategy more streamlined, efficient and trackable.

 

Social media outreach

Social media is an effective way to engage in digital outreach. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and TikTok are great places to engage with prospects directly with targeted ads, organic content and even cold communications (direct messages).

Expert tip: Before you press go on any LinkedIn outreach, give your own freelancer LinkedIn profile a refresh. First impressions are powerful and you want to make sure that you’re having the right impact on anybody who clicks on your page.

 

Blog outreach

Blog outreach is in the same family as content marketing and involves reaching out to other business owners with a blog, website owners and/or influencers for mutual gain.

For example, you could swap guest posts on each other’s blogs or give each other backlinks to expand your reach and drive more traffic to your site. Aim to get your content on websites with high domain authority to put you in Google’s good books and help you climb the search results pages.

Top tip: Check out Pitchbox, a great tool for supporting your outreach efforts, especially if you’re looking into link-building or working with influencers.

 

Cold outreach

Yes, the dreaded cold outreach methods do still have a time and place in modern-day growth marketing – sometimes. If you feel up to the challenge, cold calls, emails, social media messages and even visits to customers you’d like to work with could be fruitful.

Done right, good old-fashioned cold outreach could set you apart from your competitors who shy away from it. Plus, you never know, customers might even enjoy the more direct approach and remember you for it.

 

Customer outreach

This involves connecting with your existing customer base in strategic ways to:

• Prevent them from churning
• Increase the chances of word-of-mouth recommendations
• Boost loyalty to your business. This could be a giveaway or a special promotion, for instance.

Outreach is also a great way to upsell to existing customers, i.e., get them to spend more money on your products/services.

Don’t forget, you don’t just have to pour all of your efforts into one outreach tactic. In fact, the strongest outreach strategies combine the potential of multiple methods.

 

Tips for creating a strong outreach strategy

Ready and raring to outreach? Before you get started on your strategy, here are a few pointers to set you up for success.

 

Set clear goals

Whatever outreach methods you choose, you’re going to need to know if it works. That way, you know which avenues to continue down and which ones aren’t delivering the ROI you really want. The way to do this is by setting yourself clear goals – preferably measurable objectives that you can track.

Great examples of goals or objectives to set for your outreach plan include:

• Lead generation: More interest in what you have to offer
• Boost brand awareness: Make more people aware of your product/service
• Increase sales: More billable work
• Expand reach: Such as tapping into new demographics or locations

 

Meet your customers where they are

It’s a simple tip, but only deploy your outreach tactics where you know there is potential. It’s a waste of resources if you outreach in places where your customers won’t be found.

Do some research to figure out where your customers are hanging out online and what types of offline communication they’re most responsive to, as well.

It’s also worth building some target audience personas and researching their preferred communication methods. Create a profile of your ideal customer(s), research them extensively and then let that guide your choice of outreach methods.

 

Always stay on brand

Keep your outreach communications in line with your brand in terms of tone, visual identity and values. If you’re going to pique the interest of a lead and spark trust in your business, they’ll want to see that your brand is strong and consistent.

Customers (new and existing) feel far more at ease with a brand they recognise as familiar wherever they see you, whether that’s on their social media platforms or in their email inbox.

Plus, a solid brand identity will boost brand retention and support your own personal brand as a freelancer.

 

Have a strong CTA

Make sure you have a strong call-to-action (CTA), i.e. make sure the person reading or listening to the outreach communications knows exactly what you want them to do next.

Whether it’s signing up to your newsletter (to get them on your email list), getting in touch for a free consultation or following your business on social media, the best way to get the outcome you want is to guide clearly.

You can get creative with this too and lead with the benefit to them and not just the hard-sell instruction. For example, you could use ‘Unlock the latest insights’ as your newsletter signup CTA instead of the bog standard ‘Sign up’ copy.

 
Head over to our freelancer information hub for more guides, tips, and advice.

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