<aside> <img src="/icons/stopwatch_purple.svg" alt="/icons/stopwatch_purple.svg" width="40px" /> Estimated Read Time: 5-6 Minutes
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As a freelancer, having multiple paying clients is the formula for building a profitable freelance business. In order to do that, you need to keep your pipeline full at all times. This means consistently prospecting and bringing in new opportunities using the winning proposal formula, getting referrals, and continuing to build your portfolio throughout your entire freelance journey. In this guide, we will cover the essential steps you need to take to scale your business and your profits by expanding your client base and keeping your pipeline full.
The first step in scaling your business is to keep your pipeline full at all times. Your pipeline is the backbone of your business, and it will be the reason you either succeed or fail as a freelancer. The best way to keep your pipeline full is by committing to the lead generation process. This means never stopping with the proposals, always prospecting, and bringing in new opportunities using the winning proposal formula.
<aside> <img src="/icons/thought_purple.svg" alt="/icons/thought_purple.svg" width="40px" /> One of the biggest mistakes freelancers make is that once they get a few clients, they stop prospecting. They've closed a few deals and then stop going out there and trying to get more clients. Throughout your freelance journey, you cannot expect to keep every client you have forever. So, you need to make sure that you're filling your future pipeline with other potential clients. Expect some people to turn you down and some clients to leave you throughout your freelance career. That is the real world. So, always be prospecting so you can overcome that and continue to prosper.
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To keep your pipeline full at all times, you need to commit to daily prospecting. This means taking all the necessary actions to get the deal closed and following up with potential clients.
Even when you don't feel like putting in the time to create a winning proposal or following up creatively, remember that it's well worth it to secure your future as a profitable freelancer.
You can also expand to additional channels once you have mastered your primary platform. However, when starting out, focus all your attention on one network, such as Upwork, to build a profitable profile that will secure you clients down the line.
Once you have mastered one platform, you can expand to additional channels. However, it's important to keep your circle of focus very tight and only expand to another platform once you have the first one mastered.
We don't suggest going off of Upwork until you have made a good amount of money on there and now you're ready to spread your wings and expand to other channels. When you're first starting out, you need to do everything you can and focus all of your attention on that single network, in this case, Upwork, so you can build that profitable profile that will secure you clients down the line.
One of the most powerful forms of lead generation is referrals. A referral is when a client or a connection you have refers another business owner to do business with you. People trust their friends more than anyone else, and they trust people in their circle more than the business or freelancer that's trying to do business with them. So when you have a referral, take that very seriously because that's a great way to start to grow your freelance business in your current network.
First off, find people who are good at doing the work you plan to offer services for.
You can find them on freelancing platforms or communities like our Discord. Search for people who share your values and can do an awesome job for your customers. Learn how to delegate tasks and stay on top of deadlines. As the boss of an agency, you'll switch from doing all the work yourself to leading your team and watching over the work. Use tools that help you keep track of jobs, deadlines, and how your team is doing. With hard work and practice, you might even create lots of new jobs - and that would be awesome!
Continuing to build your portfolio is essential to scaling to multiple clients.
By staying active and constantly updating your portfolio, you can put yourself in the best position to attract clients to you.
As you start your freelance journey on Upwork, building a positive online reputation can help attract clients to you. Initially, you'll need to sell and showcase your skills to potential clients to land projects. However, as you build your portfolio and online reputation, clients will start to come to you. Continuously adding case studies and reviews to your portfolio can put you in the best position to start attracting clients. Upwork makes it easy for clients to find the most expert-level freelancers, and by building a positive online reputation, you can increase your chances of being found by potential clients.
Scaling to multiple clients as a freelancer is no easy feat, but by keeping your pipeline full, committing to daily prospecting, leveraging your network for referrals, continuing to build your portfolio, and building a positive online reputation, you can set yourself up for success. Remember, the freelancing industry is competitive, and it's essential to stand out from the crowd.
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Dealing with imposter syndrome
Dealing with imposter syndrome
<aside> <img src="/icons/book-closed_purple.svg" alt="/icons/book-closed_purple.svg" width="40px" /> CHAPTER 6
You know what they say - in freelancing, you're not just selling your skills, you're selling yourself. That's why we've dedicated an entire section of our Masterclass to helping you build a brand that's uniquely you. In this section, we'll show you how to build a personal brand that stands out from the crowd, master the art of phone marketing, and craft the perfect elevator pitch. We know that putting yourself out there can be nerve-wracking, but with our easy-to-follow articles, you'll be well on your way to personal branding success.
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