Wudan Yan’s Post

Freelancer your POSITIONING is awful That’s why you are not getting inbound Leads.. You are scratching your head And wondering why your inbox resembles a Ghost Town You have been praying to God to help you out and bring in those clients. You are complaining that you don’t know why you aren’t getting any Leads But have you sat down to really understand why? The truth is no matter how hard you pray If you are not positioned well no one will message you. The only thing you are gonna here are crickets... Listen up buddy! It's time to face the music and have that heart-to-heart you really need. If your positioning is currently giving off an "amateur" vibe Those inbound leads you want so bad will be as rare as Unicorns 🦄 From my experience with People that have jumped on my ascension calls About 75% of them were getting positioning all wrong (You probably are too) And we had to properly position them well before we could even move forward to their Offers Because without Proper Positioning You won’t even get any Leads to give Offers to. Positioning isn't just another bullet point on your To Do List It is a Game Changer! (The secret sauce) the one thing that can make or break your Freelancing Journey. Here's the hard truth: your positioning is throwing up red flags for potential clients. If your message isn't clear magnetic & resonating With the right audience For Example... You are a Graphic Designer but you are positioning as a Copywriter Don't be surprised when Leads don’t stop at you Train Station. Because You are confusing yourself and your Audience. But Wait There's a Way Out! Before you start feeling sad I have GOOD NEWS for you. You hold the POWER to turn this around You can finally position yourself properly and attract Clients that will pay you well. But you have to Stop Complaining! You need to step out of the comfort zone of mediocrity and into the realm of magnetic positioning. This is where your Freelancing Journey gets a turbo boost. Here's How to Fix It: Niche down and stop being a jack of all trades Dive deep into your ideal client's mind to know what keeps them up at night Craft a message that talks about your ideal client Pains and stops them from scrolling. These sound way easier than they actually seem I’m sure you have even tried it in the past but you still have not figured it out. If so then you need guidance buddy And you guessed right I can guide you! Just like I have guided over 50+ Freelancers in the past 6 weeks. Below are a few Results of Freelancers I have helped to position themselves WELL on LinkedIn So if you want to to achieve the same results like they have Send Me a DM with the word “ELEVATE” Let's get Your messaging on point and Your DMs overflowing with opportunities. Don't wait for change to happen Make it happen! Slide into my DMs so you can finally bid adieu to crickets. Wishing you a “Leads Filled” week ahead Choo Choo 🚂

It's crazy to think that I've been a full-time freelancer for eight months now - wow I can't believe I actually typed that out! Being freelance full-time is amazing, there's so much flexibility, you get to choose the brands you work with and you have the power to say no to things you don't feel comfortable with. But, that doesn't mean freelancing is a walk in the park. It's daunting to start up on your own so, for anyone thinking of going freelance full-time, here are three pieces of advice to help you get started (it's going to be a long post)... 💸 Start putting some of your pay aside now! Trust me, you'll thank me for this one. It can be incredibly difficult to find clients when you first go freelance for a number of reasons; you usually can't show any of the work/ results you were responsible for, you haven't been able to build trust with your potential clients yet, your feed may be empty or too sales focused (which could put people off) or people may not know you exist yet. So, make sure you put money aside now so that you have money to invest in your business (e.g. new equipment, courses, programmes etc) or pay your bills down the line. 📱 Work on building your own social media presence. This one is mainly for fellow social media manager freelancers. If you don't have clients yet, work on building your own socials and share the results you've been able to produce with your account. Making sure your feed aesthetic is right is also so important. I've had clients find me through social media and tell me that it was my feed aesthetic that made them book a call with me! It may sound obvious, but working on yourself first is so important if you want to attract the right clients. 👯♀️ Join groups, take part in challenges or invest in courses. Life as a freelancer can be lonely and you don't really have anyone to bounce ideas off. So joining a group of people who do the same thing as you can be incredibly motivating. In January 2023, I took part in Pretty Little Marketer two week LinkedIn challenge and I had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people while doing it. I'm now in a Facebook group with a lot of these people and everybody in that group helps each other with freelance, agency and general marketing problems. Although it was daunting to put myself out there, I've learnt so much from so many incredible people in the industry just from taking part in that two week challenge. Later last year I also signed up for The Social Agency six week social media acceleration course and it was the best thing I could have done as a freelancer. The founder, Anna has so much knowledge of social media and working for yourself. So, if you can, I would highly recommend taking part in this course the next time she runs it! For any fellow freelancers, what is the one piece of advice you wish you could have given yourself when you first started out?

"What do I say if I don't have any results to show prospects?" ☝️ this is a question I get a LOT from new freelancers or those looking to switch niche. Of COURSE they don't have any results to show--they're brand spanking new to the game. But in reality, not many of us actually get an inside peek into how our pieces perform aside from their ranking in Google. Unless we consistently check in with clients, we don't know how much traffic our posts are getting or the exact number of leads they're converting. A lot of the time, the CLIENT doesn't even know that info. So what's a freelancer to do?! Instead of citing social proof, highlight some other ways you can make the client's life easier--maybe you can share a testimonial from a past client, maybe you can tell them you've never missed a deadline, maybe you can tell them that your pieces require very little editing, etc. Fun fact: When I started freelancing, I ALWAYS used to add that I'd never missed a deadline to pitches. I don't know if it was a hangover from the days of writing "reliable and punctual" on my dusty old CV, but it actually seemed to do something. And now that I work with a ton of content teams and hire freelancers myself, I can see that hitting deadlines every 👏 single 👏 time is SO important (and also not that common, weirdly enough). The key is to show that you're a good investment, which means you need to show why you're going to be an asset to the brand and not a time-suck--so look at the things content teams need when they hire a freelancer: 👉 They're likely trying to free up some of their own time to focus on strategic, top-level initiatives 👉They might have a huge backlog of content ideas they need to get through quickly 👉They might want a content partner who can come up with ideas and submit publish-ready posts because they're a team of one And remember, a lot of the time content teams aren't looking for a freelancer to 1000x their leads or "skyrocket revenue by $$$$". They're simply looking for someone to execute their vision and do the grunt work. So next time you're writing a pitch, think about how you can show prospects you're going to save them time, and money, and help them impress THEIR boss. #freelancewriter #freelancing

Going full-time freelance didn't feel like a risk. Working in-house for six years and at agencies for four, I knew how to solve most of the problems I would come across. I was ready. The challenge was that I was going to be responsible for finding my own clients (obviously). So I started by talking to friends. Telling people what I was trying to do. And I landed a few clients that way. Then I started posting to LinkedIn. I found a few more, and I was lucky enough to get some amazing clients right off the bat. (I'm still working with most of them.) As this freelance gig has grown, I've been able to get more selective with the clients I take on. My time isn't infinite, and I have two kids who actually like spending time with me (sometimes). So when new leads showed up, I started having to decide whether they were truly the right fit or not. Being selective has allowed me to get better at solving specific problems for specific businesses. (If you're in the freelance market, I can't tell you how valuable it is to clarify your offer early on.) The cool thing about getting too many clients is you get to make decisions. Do you raise your hourly rate to make room in your roster? Or do you restructure your pricing model and charge a percentage of ad spend? I did the latter (while continuing to honor my existing clients' contracts). But I still struggled to keep up with the demands, and I refused to give some clients a less valuable service while taking on every prospect willing to pay me. So that brings us to today. Here's what I'm doing now: working with really smart PPCers who I can trust to get amazing results for my clients. But that means I'm not a freelancer anymore. Now it feels insincere handling the sales process myself, convincing a potential client that I can knock it out of the park for them, only to hand them off to someone they've never met. So I decided I'll call it what it is: a lead generation PPC advertising agency. And I'm calling it GOOD GROWTH. (Link in the comments.) It's just me and some contractors. I don't expect to have full-time employees anytime soon, and I didn't intend to start an agency, but you just keep moving forward and doing the next right thing. Most importantly, I'm able to continue growing this thing while doing MORE of the stuff I love. Like creating content, teaching folks how to do what we do, and meeting new people. Thank you to the clients who have trusted us to run your campaigns over the past year!!!!! It's been so much fun, and we're just getting started. If your business relies on lead generation (and paid advertising), let's chat! P.S. Thank you Johnathan Woods for creating this 🔥 branding.

Freelancing is all about marketing your skills and providing services to your clients. These services can range from copywriting, social media management, graphic designing, etc. In order to provide these skills optimally, you need the following soft skills: 🧭 Time Management: This is the cornerstone of freelancing success! Being able to manage your time effectively is crucial. As a freelancer, you will have multiple projects, deadlines, and clients to juggle. Mastering the art of time management will keep you on track and ensure you deliver quality work on time. Set schedules, prioritize tasks, and embrace productivity tools like calendars and task managers to stay organized and efficient. 📞 Communication: Good communication skills are the glue that holds client relationships together. Whether it's negotiating rates, clarifying project requirements, or providing updates on progress, clear and timely communication is key. Be responsive, professional, and courteous in all your interactions to foster trust and build lasting connections with clients. 🔄 Adaptability: The freelance landscape is ever-changing, so being adaptable is essential for staying relevant and competitive. Embrace new technologies, learn new skills, and be open to feedback and constructive criticism. The ability to adapt to different project scopes, industries, and client preferences will set you apart as a versatile freelancer capable of tackling any challenge. 📅 Self-discipline: Yes, as a freelancer, you are your own boss! But with great freedom comes great responsibility. Self-discipline is crucial for staying focused and productive when there's no one looking over your shoulder. Establish a dedicated workspace, set boundaries, and stick to a routine to maintain a healthy work-life balance. And don't forget to give yourself breaks and rewards along the way! 💼 Business Savvy: As a freelancer, you're not just a creative or a technician—you're also a business owner. Understanding the basics of freelancing finances, such as invoicing and budgeting, are essential for managing your income and expenses effectively.

7 Essentials for Growing Your Business Online as a Freelancer Whether you're new to freelancing or have been at it for years, growing your business online is essential in order to grow your income and build a sustainable career. In this article, we'll explore the essentials you need to focus on as a freelancer to grow a sustainable business you love. One of the main challenges people face when it comes to growing their freelance business online is a lack of knowledge or understanding of what's necessary to make it successful. Many freelancers simply don't know where to start or which areas to focus on to see the best results. In this article, we'll share the 7 essentials that are key to growing your business as a freelancer. Because growing your freelance business online is definitely possible when you know where to focus your efforts. Sound good? Let's get started. 1. Create A Strong Online Presence First and foremost, a strong online presence is important if you want to grow your freelance business. But what does "online presence" mean, exactly? At the very least, it means having a great website that represents your brand in the best light possible. Think of your website as your home base online - it's where people will go to learn more about you, your work, and how to get in touch. Make sure your website is easy to navigate, visually appealing, and updated regularly with new content. And a blog on your website can be a great place to share your thoughts on freelancing, industry news, and case studies of your work. Once your website is looking good and user friendly, make sure your social media platforms are set up to match your branding and website. Then create a schedule to post regularly. Think about what you want people to know about you and your work, and share that content on social media. You can also use your social media presence to connect with potential customers and industry professionals as well as network with others in complementary niches. The more visible you are online, the more likely people are to find you and hire you for freelance work. Online Presence Resources: Is your website working FOR you? Google My Business optimisation in 8 simple steps The ultimate guide to SEO for blogging 2. Build Your Network There are few resources more valuable to freelancers than a strong network. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of advertising and the truth is that you’re likely to https://lnkd.in/gA-fzxzj

I started freelancing before the Pandemic, and it wasn't easy. 🥴 Most of what I needed simply didn't exist. There weren't tools and Slack channels and AI robots to help me---at least not as many. So I started 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 when I needed something. And now, 4.5 years later, that has become my little library of resources for freelancers. I'm quite proud of my library; it's a result of how hard I've worked, and how often I've had to come up with creative solutions to live the lifestyle I need to be happy. It's my little dream pack of "if only I'd had this," and it's free. 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: By "free," I mean no cash needed. You'll need to enter your email address in most cases.😉 Here's a what's in my library: ���� 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 This is my big rundown of all the ways I've found my healthiest, most valuable clients, presented as a strategy for growing freelancers. The first chapter is free; in it, I walk through my unique brand of "lead theory", which has helped me generate a really nice stream of high-paying, delightful clients. ⚙️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 My newest resource. This list contains all of the tools I use to manage my freelance business and perform SEO/content creation tasks. Honest opinions only, and it only features tools I genuinely like. 🗓️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 My oldest and most popular resource. This was born from the very first content calendar I ever made at my baby job in a content agency back in 2008. It's evolved into a super-calendar since then. Perfect for anyone managing a regular volume of content. ✅ 𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 If you're a writer who's added SEO to your suite of services (or you plan to), this checklist makes it easy to ensure you've hit all the right boxes. Use it a few times, and you won't need to rely on AI to optimize your content. It will be second nature. 🎓 𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 This course I made with StoryChief - Content Marketing Platform covers the essentials of SEO in 60 minutes. This is the stuff you need to know if you want to add SEO services to your freelance business. 📢 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 LinkedIn is where I have gotten most of my freelance clients. This long-form article comes with 30 LinkedIn prompts I've used to get genuine traction on this platform, and a spreadsheet for tracking your progress. I love making these, so if there's something you want/need, let me know in the comments, or send me a DM! 😊 #freelancing #freelancers #freelance #seo #contentmarketing #freelancelife   

Agency and freelance friends: You should say no to more work. While ServiceCrowd exists to help create more transparency in the marketing services buying process, we also exist because we believe strongly that agencies and freelancers are often put in the tough situation of having to say yes to work that isn't well-suited to them, creating a poor experience for both the provider and the client. Our network is for clients, but it's also for our partner providers to feel better about saying no to projects that just aren't a good fit since we can help match those projects to providers who are better-suited, while helping our partners retain the work that they are good at. Saying no is a skill every fractional, freelance and agency provider needs to learn because the thing that kills your profitability is saying yes to everything. Suddenly you've gone from a single freelancer to a $1M agency (great!), but you aren't getting any benefit from all your hard work because you're managing unnecessary complexity (not so great!). It's scary to say no because sometimes you don't know where your next client is going to come from, but putting yourself in a position where you can't service the work you've promised in any kind of profitable way will kill any enjoyment you get from being your own boss. Having partner agencies and networks that you can confidently pass this work to and focus on your core profitable services can be invaluable for a small agency since it will allow you to grow in a sane (and profitable) way. DM me if you want to know more about how we can help match your marketing projects to the best agencies and freelancers who are well-suited and not just saying yes because they want to grow quickly, or how we can help agencies and freelancers grow in a more profitable, sane way.

Creating a successful content freelancing enterprise involves several key steps: 1. **Identify Your Niche**: Determine what type of content you excel at creating and where your expertise lies. This could be anything from copywriting to video production to graphic design. 2. **Build a Strong Portfolio**: Showcase your best work to potential clients. A portfolio demonstrates your skills and helps clients understand what you can offer. 3. **Network**: Connect with other freelancers, industry professionals, and potential clients through online platforms like LinkedIn, freelancer forums, and social media. 4. **Market Yourself**: Develop a strong personal brand and market your services effectively. This includes having a professional website, utilizing social media, and possibly investing in advertising. 5. **Provide Exceptional Service**: Focus on delivering high-quality work and excellent customer service. Happy clients are more likely to provide referrals and repeat business. 6. **Set Clear Terms and Rates**: Clearly define your services, rates, and terms of agreement with clients to avoid misunderstandings or disputes. 7. **Continuously Improve**: Stay updated on industry trends, tools, and techniques to remain competitive in the ever-evolving content freelancing market. 8. **Manage Finances Wisely**: Keep track of your income and expenses, set aside funds for taxes, and consider investing in tools or resources that can help streamline your workflow. 9. **Scale Your Business**: As your business grows, consider outsourcing tasks or hiring additional freelancers to handle increased demand while maintaining quality. 10. **Seek Feedback and Adapt**: Regularly solicit feedback from clients to identify areas for improvement and adapt your approach accordingly. This continuous feedback loop is essential for long-term success.

In 4 months, I turned my one-person freelance business into a multi six figure agency. To get there, I had to ask myself these 3 key questions… For context: January of 2022: I quit my marketing job to launch another service business on my own. 4 Years earlier at the age of 15, I offered different marketing services to many different clients. It was a great learning experience… … but messy as hell. So this time I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to build a service business that could scale. With that in mind, I looked back at my previous freelance experience and asked myself the following 3 questions: 1. Who were my most valuable clients and what service was I delivering to them? I knew that I couldn’t deliver everything to everyone. Instead, I had to narrow things down and focus on 1 offer for 1 type of client.  Knowing this, I went over all previous clients I had worked with: - Which projects had the best margins? - Where was I able to provide the best results? - Where did I have the most convincing social proof? Finally, I decided on  offering LinkedIn Ads to B2B startups. 2. How can I make sure that it’s replicable? Instead of re-inventing the wheel for every client, I needed a replicable system. That’s the only way I could outsource work. And so I started the process of productizing the service. Not doing this, I would’ve capped at around 15K MRR just because of too much work. 3. Who’s the customer I want to work with? I knew that to run a successful agency, it was not only important to find customers of the right company type. But also to work with companies I genuinely resonated with.. During my “do everything for everyone” approach, I didn’t have a perfect match to go for. So I said to myself, “work with people you look up to”. To me, that was young founders & SaaS businesses with amazing products. This allowed me to build relationships with people who were in an industry I aspired to be in. Once I had all the answers, all I did was: - Create a convincing pitch deck - Rebuild a simple landing page - Start posting on Linkedin Float was born. When selling it to notus in July 2022 we had: - Almost €40K MRR - 81% average profit margin - A lean team of 5 freelancers. Nevertheless, I decided to join Perspective | We are hiring!. But that’s a story for a different time :) #growth #marketing #agency