How To Use LinkedIn As The Key To Unlocking Freelance Success
Freelancing has become an increasingly popular counter to more traditional work. As of 2023, there are 1.57 billion people freelancing around the world with nearly 74 million people in the U.S. getting into the entrepreneurial spirit.
What’s even better?
According to recent studies, the worldwide freelance market is worth about $1.5 trillion with an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% year-over-year.
What does that mean for you?
It means that there is no better time to start finding freelance work than right now.
Whether you're a writer, designer, digital marketer, YouTuber, gamer, or programmer—the freedom and flexibility that freelance work gives you is undeniable.
However, finding consistent freelance work can be a challenge.
That's why LinkedIn is one of your best networking tools—especially if you’re just starting your freelance journey.
With over 700 million professionals using the platform worldwide, LinkedIn is an invaluable resource for any professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives that need social proof and a solid networking platform to show it. If you’re looking to connect with potential clients and find new opportunities, then this is the blog post for you.
Here’s why LinkedIn is the key to freelance success and how you can leverage its power to take your career—whether it’s freelance work or a corporate job—to better heights.
Know Your Niche Industry
Knowing your niche isn’t just about picking topics you like. It’s about being specific about your expertise. Your niche type can be either specific to the industry you work with or the deliverables you’ll offer (sometimes both). You don’t have to pick just one, and it’s most beneficial to have more than one (we’ll go over that later). Here’s a breakdown of what that could look like:
Industry-Focused Niche
An industry-focused niche targets a particular sector or market in your industry. For example, I write for the mental health & wellness, lifestyle, and travel industry. That gives me a wider range of topics that I enjoy writing about, and that I can offer my clients when their brand goals intersect. I’ve covered topics in home & decor, food writing, and productivity tools that bled into my other niches.
To clarify your focus for clients to find you online, you must:
Develop a clear understanding of your target customers or clients
Stay updated on industry trends and the best tools for your business
Establish yourself as an industry leader by networking with like-minded people
Deliverable-Focused Niche
On the other hand, choosing a niche based on the deliverables you’ll offer means focusing on your specific skillset. This is where you showcase any products, services, or solutions you offer regardless of the industry. This approach allows you to specialize in delivering specific outcomes, benefits, or solutions to your clients or customers.
With a focus on specific deliverables, you can develop unique expertise and differentiate yourself based on the value you provide to your client rather than the industry you serve. For example, here are some deliverable-specific niches:
B2B Saas content writing for tech professionals
Social media marketing for busy entrepreneurs
Content creation for lifestyle brands
Graphic design for burnt-out creatives
Website development for self-published authors
Though these are just examples of super-specific deliverable niches, you need to be specific in what deliverable you’ll offer to your ideal target client. Understanding the trends, challenges, and opportunities in your field will help you position yourself as an expert as you grow your business and build your network.
LinkedIn Tip
Create a clear and concise headline that says exactly what you do
Your headline is the most important first impression you can make on LinkedIn. It’s an essential part of making LinkedIn work for you. Everyone sees it in every comment, interaction, reply, and post you make. It’s important that your headline says exactly what you do. It makes it even easier for a potential connection or client to reach out before seeing your full profile.
It serves as your digital calling card and helps with search optimization since LinkedIn's algorithm considers the headline when matching users with relevant profiles. A specific and targeted headline enhances your visibility, establishes credibility, and increases the likelihood of generating meaningful connections and business opportunities. It should clearly state your expertise, industry focus, and key deliverables—like this:
Instead of a common headline like this…
Freelance Writer and Editor
Try something like this…
Freelance Writer for Mental Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, and Travel | Beta Reader & Book Editor | Value-Based Content + Mission-Driven Copy
Identify Your Professional Goals
Before diving into LinkedIn headfirst, take some time to identify your professional goals. Ask yourself these questions and write down the answers so you can go back to them as you build your LinkedIn profile and your value propositions.
Who do you want to be in your ideal professional life?
What type of freelance work are you looking for?
What industries do you want to work in?
Are you aiming for long-term clients or short-term projects?
Why do you want to reach these specific goals? (this one is especially important!)
Remember: Your business doesn’t have to stay the same forever. The number of times I’ve adjusted my niches, deliverables, brand strategy (which I’m still working on!), and changed my approach to my work is too many to count in this blog post.
You’re a multi-passionate human with many interests—it’s normal to go back and forth on what feels right for you and what doesn’t fit into the life you’re building now.
Having a clear vision of your goals will help you tailor your LinkedIn profile and networking efforts accordingly.
LinkedIn Tip
Use your "About" section as a Call-To-Action for your ideal client
Position your expertise, skills, and goals with a focus on what you can do for your client—not just what you’ve already done. The value you bring is unique because of who you are, so bring some personality into it. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, bubbly or reserved, formal or laid-back—your perspective and creativity. Be concise and compelling, focusing on what sets you apart from others in your field.
Connect With Like-Minded Professionals
The whole point of having a LinkedIn is to network—so, get to networking! Find people who share your interests, can offer support, and are open to having good conversations about relevant topics. The beauty of being part of the freelance world is the camaraderie you can find with people who want to build a life they love and work with people they actually like. Why not take advantage of learning cool things by interesting people on a free platform designed for it?
By building relationships with fellow freelancers, you can tap into a network of referrals and potential partnerships that can lead to new opportunities (which has been proven in the 30% of my client base coming from those connections.
LinkedIn Tip
Use features like “People You May Know” and "Search" to follow fellow freelancers
The "People You May Know" feature shows you regional area contacts (per your location settings) and relevant industry groups that easily expand your network. Use it to build those connections because you never know who may know someone you know that will positively impact your freelance journey.
Similarly, the “Search” feature connects you with professionals in your industry. I highly recommend you join relevant groups as they are easy connections to make with high potential for referrals. Follow newbies and seasoned freelancers alike because we’re all in this together and everyone is at different stages in their business. By engaging with like-minded people, you can attract the clients you want so they find you.
Communicate With Potential Clients
LinkedIn is a powerful platform that lets potential clients know who you are and what you can do—without an awkward introduction.
Use the platform's advanced search filters to find companies and individuals who may be in need of your freelance services. Send personalized connection requests, introducing yourself and explaining how you can add value to their business. Be professional, concise, and showcase your expertise. Once connected, don't be afraid to engage in conversations and follow up on opportunities. LinkedIn's messaging feature lets you have direct conversations with potential clients, making it easier to establish a rapport and secure freelance gigs.
LinkedIn Tip
Use comments and request connections to build a solid network
LinkedIn is tailored made to help you connect with people who have business top of mind. Use that to your advantage! It’s not like Instagram or TikTok where it is a bit spammy to connect with people based on their work.
Don’t get me wrong—there has been an uptick of spammy messaging and requests across LinkedIn, too—but the majority of the connections are focused on professional means. Don’t be afraid to reach out and compliment someone’s work, let them know your relevant industry insight on one of their posts, or add your portfolio link when they post about their need for someone in your line of work (which happens a lot!).
Remember that headline you wrote? They will see that when you do respond to them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a client because they saw my comment on their post (or a post by someone they were following). Sometimes, it comes down to being in their line of sight when they’re looking for a freelancer.
Post Your Portfolio Samples
Your portfolio is the ONLY way for your clients to trust you and the work you can do. Without one, it’s nearly impossible to gain traction in your freelance career. If you want clients to start messaging you or book time to chat about your services, you have to show your portfolio samples in your “Experience” section.
Make it even easier for people to find your portfolio by putting a reference link (like Linktree or Direct.Me) in your “Contact Info” at the top of your profile—right under the headline—to streamline any traffic and consultation bookings. Make sure to customize the link text with a CTA that makes them click on your link like these:
Let’s work together!
Book your free consultation today
Check out my portfolio!
Here’s how I can help you
See my services here
Need a portfolio?
From searching freelance job boards to sending proposals to signing contracts to getting those invoices paid, being a freelancer can be hard. Contra Pro is a freelance platform that helps with all of those things…and so much more!
Get Contra Pro for $1/first month and combine it with the power of LinkedIn to start getting clients ASAP!
LinkedIn Tip
Use the “Featured” section to show your best work and attract the right clients
Use LinkedIn's "Featured" section to display your best work. Whether it's design projects, writing samples, or websites you've built, the visuals you use have a powerful impact. Include high-quality images for thumbnails and keyworded descriptions highlighting your contributions and the results you’ve achieved. Consider publishing articles on LinkedIn to gain authority on the platform and creating posts demonstrating your expertise with valuable insight for your network. Whether you’re posting once a week, every other week, or creating a monthly newsletter, the key here is to share what you know with purpose. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to be helpful.
Now it’s time to turn that key and start implementing these tips to start getting clients to find you on LinkedIn. To recap, here are the takeaways:
Know your niche industry
Identifying your professional goals
Connect with like-minded creatives
Communicate with potential clients
Showcase your portfolio samples
