6 Proactive Ways to Find Freelance Jobs on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a goldmine for finding freelance opportunities. Whether you’re a freelancer struggling to get work or looking to expand your client base, there’s a bit of something for everyone.
But amidst the stiff competition on LinkedIn, how can you take initiatives that land you offers? Here are a few ways to take the initiative while job-hunting on LinkedIn.
1. Enable the “Open to work” Feature
LinkedIn has an “Open to work” feature that signals to clients and hiring managers whether you are open to new job opportunities. This can help clear any form of confusion recruiters might have regarding your availability to take up new jobs, especially if you currently list an active job on your LinkedIn profile. To enable the “Open to Work” label on your profile:
Enabling this feature will allow you to appear in the search results for the selected roles andattract new clients on LinkedIn.
2. Use Keyword Search to Find Posts Calling for Freelancers
Hundreds of companies and recruiters looking to hire freelancers post on LinkedIn daily. Unfortunately, you may never see their posts unless you follow or are connected with them. Sometimes, even when you follow them, there’s a good chance of missing job posts or only seeing them when the available spots have been filled.
Proactively searching for posts that contain freelance job offers is a good way to keep yourself ahead of the competition. A keyword search can help you find opportunities you may have missed out on. But how can you use keyword search for hunting down opportunities on LinkedIn? It’s easy. Let’s say you need a freelance copywriting gig.
3. Use InMail to Send Pitches to Decision-Makers
LinkedIn InMail is a feature that allows you to send messages to LinkedIn users without being connected to the recipient. To enjoy the full feature, you’ll need a LinkedIn premium account. However, with a free account, it’s possible to still send a free message to a LinkedIn member who has enabled the Open Profile Premium feature. To send a pitch via InMail:
Of course, you can’t just throw random messages at recruiters. To increase your chances ofusing LinkedIn to pitch your services, always try to:
Below is a sample of an InMail pitch to a potential client.
Hey Frances,
I’m a copywriter. I recently reviewed your landing page, and I think it might benefit from a bit of optimization. You have a great product, but your website highlights the features instead of the big benefit your product has to offer.
As a conversion copywriter, I can help rewrite your landing page with my voice-of-customer framework. I recently wrote a landing page for a client business similar to yours, and his conversion increased by 20% in three days. See the case study here: example.com
Would love to do the same for you as well. Can we discuss this further next Thursday at 4:00 pm?
Remember to follow-up if the recipient didn’t see or reply to the first message. you could follow up with a simple but not too pushy message like this:
Hello Frances,
This is a follow-up on my previous message, in case you missed it. I believe my solution is what you need to unlock more conversions for your business.
Let me know when you are available to discuss my ideas.
Best regards,
Notice how both messages in our examples are straightforward and personalized? LinkedIn users are more likely to respond to personalized messages than generic ones.
4. Frequently Browse Job Postings
Apart from looking up jobs that are listed in regular LinkedIn posts, you can also browse job postings created with the LinkedIn job listing tool. To browse new jobs on jobs LinkedIn:
you may contact the hiring manager, especially when the job is competitive. Check to see their details beneath the job posting or check the employees on the company’s page.
Inform the hiring manager that you have applied and demonstrate why you are best for the position. Remember to keep your message simple and straightforward.
5. Reach Out to Your Profile Viewers
This is one of the most powerful yet underused opportunities on LinkedIn. Checking people who’ve viewed your profile will help you know the keywords you rank for and enable you to message potential clients who are undecided about your service.
However, you’ll be limited to fewer people who have viewed your profile if you’re not using LinkedIn premium. A premium beats that limitation. To check who’s viewed your profile in the past 90 days:
If you spot an interesting view that looks like a potential client, send them a message like this:
Hi, John. I noticed you looked through my profile. Is there any way my copywriting services could be of help?
6. Use Connection Invites as Pitches
Instead of sending a blank invite and then messaging them after, you can use your invite message as a pitch. This will give potential clients a reason to accept your connection invite simultaneously.
This approach will fast-track your process and save InMail credits if you use the premium plan. You don’t need to be aggressive. Just a simple “why I’m reaching out” message will suffice.
If you don’t have a premium LinkedIn membership, you’ll be limited to 300 characters for an “invite note.” You’ll need to know how to write short but effective emails to make the best of them. If you’d love to know more about pitching on LinkedIn, we’ve previously done a detailed guide onhow to pitch your services to potential clients on LinkedIn.
Make LinkedIn Work for You
Irrespective of your current experience with LinkedIn, don’t write off the platform as a source for freelance jobs. Thousands of freelancers leverage the platform to get gigs across many niches. Success on LinkedIn doesn’t end with having a glittering profile or crafting the best bio.
In a platform with a lot of competition like LinkedIn, success requires being proactive with your approach to job hunting.
The best freelance jobs to pursue and which websites to use to find the best listings for each type of job.
Your phone is a better editor than you give it credit for.
Quality apps that don’t cost anything.
Who asked for these upgrades?
The key is not to spook your friends with over-the-top shenanigans.
Sometimes the smallest cleaning habit makes the biggest mess.
