Freelance digital marketers assist clients in developing, implementing, and evaluating campaigns to advertise their products or services. To start a career in freelance digital marketing, you must take several steps, such as establishing relationships with brands.
This article will cover each step in detail, offering valuable information on freelance digital marketing. We will share some best tips and skills to help you get started as a freelance digital marketer.
What is freelance digital marketing?
Freelance digital marketing involves an independent professional who helps companies, organizations, or clients with their marketing requirements. This is typically done remotely, and the specific tasks can include producing different forms of content such as videos, blogs, podcasts, or social media posts. As a freelance marketer, you work independently rather than as an employee of a company. Freelancers are hired for specific jobs or tasks in different areas by companies and businesses.ย
8 effective Tips to become a freelance digital marketer
If you’re looking to start a career as a freelance digital marketer, there are a few important steps you should take. These include developing your skills, promoting your services, and securing clients. To be more precise, here are five steps to follow to embark on a successful journey in freelance digital marketing.
1. Decide on a specialty
Freelance digital marketing contains a wide range of avenues for promotion, considering the different channels available. It is common practice for marketers to delve into these channels individually to maximize their effectiveness. As a freelance digital marketer, you have the opportunity to select one or two channels for concentrated learning. To illustrate, you may opt to specialize in content marketing or focus on SEO and SEM. Furthermore, within these broad channels, you can also select specific sub-channels to specialize in. For instance, you might choose to specialize in running advertisements on a particular social media platform. By specializing, you can foster a loyal client base and foster professional growth.
2. Develop your skill set
Expand your skill set by taking advantage of online courses, video tutorials, or local workshops. For instance, you may find the Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Professional Certificate on Coursera helpful in acquiring job-ready skills within a six-month timeframe.
Obtaining certificates can provide reassurance to clients that you possess the necessary skills to efficiently handle marketing tasks. Additionally, they demonstrate your commitment to ongoing education and a willingness to stay updated on evolving trends.
Another option is to pursue online certifications, boot camps, or even a degree in the field. If you’re interested in a bachelor’s degree, you can choose majors such as marketing, advertising, marketing management, or business administration, with a specific focus on digital or social media management. Online programs also offer digital marketing degrees with similar concentrations and majors.
3. Create a portfolio to enhance your online presence
To become a digital marketer working independently, it is important to promote yourself effectively. It is recommended to create a website containing information about your background, showcasing previous projects, and providing ways for potential clients to contact you.
In the “About Me” section, share a concise overview of your professional experience. Mention any relevant degrees or certifications, and provide insights into your personality and interests. Keep the content brief yet professional.
Freelancers often showcase their work samples in a portfolio. Your portfolio should highlight the types of projects you specialize in, allowing clients to understand your expertise. Ensure that the portfolio has an attractive visual layout and is regularly updated.
Make sure to include a visible contact page on your website’s homepage. Provide both an email address and phone number, and include links to your professional social media profiles, such as LinkedIn.
4. Create a marketing blog
Having a marketing blog is crucial for attracting visitors to your website. It enables you to generate content related to digital marketing that caters to the needs of online users. By utilizing SEO and SEM strategies, you can direct your blog content toward individuals who are interested in your services. Subsequently, by utilizing copywriting and various marketing tactics, you can motivate them to access your website. This approach proves to be highly impactful in the realm of digital marketing.
5. Set your pricing
If you want to work as an independent digital marketer, you’ll need to establish how you’ll charge for your services. You have various options for creating a pricing structure: you can charge by the hour, for specific projects, daily, through a retainer agreement, or a combination of these methods. Setting an hourly rate is common among freelancers. When determining your prices, there are several factors to consider, such as your skill level, the complexity of the work, the level of competition in your field, and the type of clients you target. It’s helpful to research competitors who use similar marketing channels and learn about their pricing strategies. As a beginner, starting with lower rates can be advantageous as it allows you to establish your reputation and build a client base.
6. Register Your Business
Once you complete your initial project as a professional freelancer, a significant moment in your career awaitsโthe time to receive payment.
While it might seem obvious to most freelancers, amidst the various tasks at hand, it’s easy to overlook the fundamentals.
To secure payment for your freelancing services, you’ll require the following:
1. A bank account
2. An account with a payment provider such as Stripe, 2checkout, Wise, Payoneer, and PayPal.
3. An invoice processing system (accounting software is not necessary; a Google Docs invoice will suffice).
4. A registered business entity (for tax-related purposes).
5. An accountant.
Don’t mistake the fact that you work as a freelancer from your home and not from a physical establishment. You still need to establish a legal entity to facilitate receiving payments.
Failing to address these requirements from the outset can lead to complications with the tax authorities as your income grows. It’s advisable to take care of this matter correctly right from the start.
7. Market your services
Once you’ve established your business, it’s time to promote your services. As a freelance digital marketer, your website plays a significant role in your marketing efforts. Aside from that, you can utilize various other channels such as social media, email marketing, and even traditional approaches. Client referrals also hold great value as a marketing avenue, so it’s crucial to deliver high-quality work and maintain a strong level of dedication and honesty. Building trust with your clients increases the likelihood of them recommending your services to others.
8. Find clients
If you’re searching for new clients, try checking out well-known freelance platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. These websites allow you to apply for particular projects, providing you with opportunities to enhance your portfolio.
Additionally, it’s worth considering reaching out to local businesses or even those owned by your acquaintances or relatives. Engage in discussions about their marketing requirements and how you can assist.
Another effective strategy is to incorporate a lead magnet into your website, such as providing an ebook in exchange for visitors’ email addresses. As you accumulate contacts, make use of personalized emails to initiate conversations about marketing and the services you offer.ย
Most demanding skills you need as a freelance digital marketer
Research skills
As a freelance digital marketer, market research holds great significance. It involves spending a considerable amount of time studying people’s behaviors in the market to create customer profiles. These profiles play a crucial role in identifying the target audience for your advertisements and the type of ads to be sent. Depending on the specific location being investigated, finding relevant market information can be a time-consuming process. Additionally, organizing and analyzing the gathered data also requires a significant amount of time and effort. Hence, possessing effective research skills becomes essential to locate comprehensive and reliable market information.
Communication skills
Typically, when freelance digital marketers interact with their clients, they engage in consultation sessions to identify and comprehend the client’s requirements. It is crucial for them to actively listen and carefully observe their clients’ nonverbal signals to ensure that the clients are pleased. For instance, an attentive digital marketer can pick up on cues indicating that a client is struggling to articulate their thoughts. Moreover, possessing exceptional writing and speaking abilities is essential for these professionals as they need to offer constructive feedback to their clients. Effective communication skills also enable a freelance digital marketer to effectively explain technical terms to their customers.
Negotiation skills
Freelance digital marketers set their prices and find clients. While some marketers have fixed prices for potential clients, many negotiate on a case-by-case basis. This is particularly true for long-term projects. Therefore, as a freelance digital marketer, you need to possess negotiation skills to secure fair compensation for your work while retaining as many clients as possible. Fair compensation can boost motivation and result in higher-quality output.
SEO and SEM
SEO is incredibly important in digital marketing, and it’s essential for anyone entering the field to have a good grasp of it. While you can leave the more technical aspects to the experts on your team, having a deep understanding of SEO and knowing how it works, along with best practices for optimizing content, is vital for running a successful digital marketing campaign. This becomes even more critical as AI technology, like Google’s Search Engine Experience, continues to shape the industry.
Content marketing
Digital marketing places a strong emphasis on content, with content marketing remaining an essential component regardless of circumstances. However, content marketing itself is a significant undertaking. It requires the ability to produce top-notch content that is SEO-friendly across multiple platforms, alongside a comprehensive understanding of how to develop a compelling content strategy that captivates and converts audiences. This includes leveraging ChatGPT and other AI technologies effectively.
Added to the complexity, it’s worth noting that content can assume various formats such as videos, social media posts, emails, web content, blogs, e-books, and whitepapers, among others. Additionally, a solid comprehension of social media marketing is crucial, as content holds significant importance on social platforms.
Conclusion
Becoming a successful marketer doesn’t happen overnight. It requires time to establish a solid foundation and kickstart your freelance marketing career. However, you can expedite the process by learning from experienced professionals who have walked the same path. By keeping up with emerging trends and continuously improving your skills and knowledge, you can stay ahead in the realm of digital marketing.
In addition, using a small business management platform like Indy can alleviate the everyday stress and challenges of running a small business. With Indy’s efficient automated software handling administrative tasks, you can focus on enhancing your capabilities, expanding your client network, and driving innovation in your field.
