rabhuja design

As freelancers we all have the need to dedicate time towards providing the services that produce our income, whether it is writing, designing, programming, etc. Of course, we also have the need to find that work in one way or another. Freelancers can market their services in any number of different ways, but passive marketing is capable of bring in new clients without taking up a considerable amount of time to find those clients.

In addition to the services that produce income, there are so many business-related activities that can consume our time, and of course marketing and promotion can be included here. While things like bookkeeping, invoicing, marketing, networking (and many more) are all necessary to run a business, they don’t directly produce income. Obviously, marketing is necessary for most freelancers, but if we’re able to generate leads and new business with less time investment, we’ll have more time for providing the services that make money.

There are a few ways that we can passively market ourselves and our services. If these methods are able to produce all of the business that we need, marketing and promotion will require a very minimal amount of time.

Your Portfolio

A killer portfolio is the ultimate tool for passive marketing. As the portfolio is seen by potential clients it will sell your ability for you. The online portfolio is available to anyone at any time, and it does its job without you being present or dedicating time to marketing. Additionally, the portfolio shows clients what they can expect from your work if they hire you.

For more on developing an effective portfolio, see Building a Killer Online Portfolio in 9 Easy Steps .

Referrals/Word of Mouth

When your clients, friends, and family are telling others about you and your services, they are doing your marketing for you. Having other people that market your services is actually more effective than doing it yourself. Potential clients will probably trust someone else’s opinion of your services more than they will trust your opinion of your own services. Clients that come to you at the recommendation of a friend will often have more trust and a better connection to you than the average new client.

Repeat Clients

If you have an ongoing relationship with a client you don’t have to spend time to find that work. The key for retaining clients, of course, is to provide great services that satisfy the client. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure that they are aware of all of the services that you are able to offer. Follow up with clients from time-to-time and see if they have a need for ongoing services or for additional work. Repeat clients are also a plus because they will tend to have more loyalty to you and you’ll be more familiar with them and what they need from you.

Online Profiles

Posting your profile at networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and other similar sites can give you additional exposure. Some aspects of social networking came consume a lot of time and wouldn’t really fit into the classification of passive marketing, but online profiles typically don’t require a large time investment and then can point people back to your primary website and your portfolio. When setting up an online profile be sure that it gives others a convenient way to contact you and that it clearly states the services that you offer.

What Types of Passive Marketing Produce Results for You?

Please share your experiences in the comments.

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