As designers, there’s nothing worse than trying to market your services but instead feeling like an overly pushy salesperson.
It’s frustrating and can really hinder your business growth because it makes you want to stop posting about your services on social media and pitching to potential clients.
But the thing is, if we don’t solve this issue, you’ll find yourself facing a tough decision: Have no clients OR Give in and become the next Jordan Belfort.
But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be that way?
What if I told you that in this week’s email, I’m going to go over the exact strategy I’ve used for the last 5 years to land clients using social media, but without ever sounding like I’m trying to sell sand at the beach 🏖️
Sound good? Let’s get into it.
1. Provide Value Upfront
The first step is offering value for free.
While this can be a touchy subject in the design industry as some believe you shouldn’t work for free, it’s truly a game-changer.
This is because when you provide valuable insights, tips, or services without asking for anything in return, you build trust and showcase your expertise.
People remember those who help them without expecting immediate returns.
Think of it as planting seeds for future growth 🪴
✏️ Action Step: Take 5 minutes to brainstorm three types of free value you could offer. It could be a free mini-brand audit, a downloadable design guide, or a short video tutorial. Jot these ideas down and start planning how to implement them. These will showcase your skills and open the door to potential projects. 2. Focus on Solving Problems
Now, this is a big one. See, you need to shift your mindset from selling to solving.
Your clients have problems that need fixing, and your design skills are the perfect solution.
So when you present your services as answers to their challenges, you’re no longer selling; you’re helping 🧲
Let’s take a designer who specialises in rebranding. They could create a case study showing how their work transformed a client’s outdated brand and the effects it had on the business’s brand awareness, sales, etc.
This approach highlights your problem-solving abilities and attracts clients seeking similar solutions.
✏️ Action Step: Identify one common problem your target clients face. Spend 5 minutes jotting down how your services solve this issue. Create content and share this insight on your social media or website to start positioning yourself as a problem-solver. 3. Share Free Content on Social Media As you probably know, I’m pretty consistent on social media and regularly share informative content that’s valuable to my audience. And this is exactly what you need to be doing for your audience (Not other designers, but business owners!!!). Regularly sharing valuable content on social media can position you as an authority in your field. Whether it’s tips, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes looks at your process, free content builds your brand and attracts an audience 👥 Take the example of a designer who posts weekly design tips on Instagram. Over time, they build a loyal following, with those followers becoming potential clients. This consistent, valuable content showcases their expertise and keeps them top-of-mind. ✏️ Action Step: Create a simple content calendar for the next week. Plan three posts that provide value, such as design tips, before-and-after examples, or client testimonials. Spend 5 minutes drafting your first post and schedule it for tomorrow. - & remember, make sure these posts are for YOUR target audience. Conclusion
I hope this email has helped you see that marketing yourself doesn’t have to feel salesy.
When you provide value, solve problems, share freely, leverage testimonials, showcase case studies and network authentically, you can promote your design services in a genuine and effective way.
All I ask is that you start with one actionable step today. Whether it’s sharing a valuable tip on social media or reaching out to a previous client for a testimonial, every small action moves you closer to building a thriving freelance business.
Chat next week,
Abi 😊
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