Blogmas- Day 3 | Understanding Freelance Operations- Build Your Clientele
In Day 2 of Blogmas, I discussed the background of freelance operations; however, a major part of having a successful business is a strong clientele base. Many people often struggle with analysis paralysis in the beginning stages of business building, but I received a piece of advice a long time ago that really changed the way I looked at building, or redefining my clientele.
“If you could solve any problem for a specific group of people, what would it be?”
As much as that does not seem like it is advice, it really was so many hidden gems in that one question and here’s what I gathered:
Your clientele are not the people closest to you.
All businesses solve a problem
Businesses that withstand trouble find new ways to solve the same problem
Your audience/demographic may or may not change
There is more than one way to solve a problem (think about the combinations for get a sum of 42).
If you don’t believe in your own processes, nobody else will.
I’m living proof that those six gems are sound advice (really guidelines for me), because it has really helped me understand why I do some of the career/vocation choices that I do.
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Some real-life examples:
I became an educator because I wanted to provide black kids the opportunity to learn, dream and make mistakes in a safe space (aka my classroom).
I started college and career consulting because I understood that not every family had the time or experience with understanding how to get to a post-secondary program or what was needed to maintain the skills and knowledge to reach their desired career.
I chose to pivot into a career in operations because I wanted to help leaders who were dreamers and big-goal thinkers have systems and processes in place that allow them to build and sustain workplace stamina and partnerships.
Three very different areas and reasons to where I have been, but each — in their own essence— solve a specific problem. Of course, I could get extra specific, but for the purpose of this piece I’m not going to.
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Essentially, I want you to realize that you have to get uncomfortable and be okay with making some mistakes. When I first started college and career advising, I tried to do it all: essay writing, test prep, college applications, financial aid, again ALL OF IT. But, college access in itself is such a large industry that I quickly realized I was really good at certain things and needed to outsource other areas. Now, I do not offer test prep or in-depth financial aid advising. These two areas general knowledge subjects for me more so because I came from the training and perspective dealing more with admissions writing and fit, as well as on campus belonging and fit (That’s the recruitment and event planning background at work). It is OKAY to be honest with people and tell them that what they may be looking for is not your ministry. Save yourself and them the headache.
Want the steps to building your clientele? My advice is market to a friend of a friend of a friend. It makes it less personal, and you keep it stupid simple when trying to market what your business is and the purpose and services you offer. People you know may share your work, but trust me, I’ve hopped into more people’s DMs by reading their timelines, or stories and offering my services than relying on someone close to me to spread the news about my work.
Use social media in your favor, such as common BUT unqiue hashtags, viral song choices, going live to discuss some behind the scenes (even with zero people tuning in for more than 5 minutes) or writing the website posts that sound more like a pal-to- pal conversation than super formal.
In God’s time, the clientele of your ordained business will come. But don’t forget, you also have to put in some work to get the vision He gave to you. No really stands for next opportunity, so don’t beat yourself up if things change or don’t go your way.
