How do freelance writers use LinkedIn to get clients?
I’ve been on the platform almost every weekday for the past three years, studying the ins and outs. It all started because I was tired of dealing with limited demand, scope creepers, and late payers. I heard the hype about LI and hoped the platform could help me attract more of my ideal prospects.
I’m happy to report that LinkedIn has been providing a regular flow of high-quality demand for my business for the past two years. The keys to success I’ve identified are optimizing your LinkedIn profile and getting active. In this blog, I’m going to share 5 tips on the getting active part.
Want to jump ahead?
- 5 tips for freelancers on how to use LinkedIn
- 1. Connect but don’t pitch slap
- 2. Don’t just share links
- 3. Entice people to “…see more”
- 4. No need for a zipped-up corporate presence
- 5. Don’t post and ghost
- FAQs about LinkedIn for freelance writers
- Personalized LinkedIn Profile Audits
Why should freelance writers engage on LinkedIn?
Lots of people are hiring freelance writers on LinkedIn. For your profile to get found often, it needs to be optimized and you need to be an active and engaged user.
When you post, comment, and drive engagement, your profile shows up higher in the search results for the right keywords and gets more exposure in the feed.
The result? You’ll generate more online brand awareness, more clients will land on your profile, you’ll receive more business inquiries, and you’ll enjoy a bunch of other ancillary benefits!
How do freelance writers use LinkedIn to get clients: 5 tips on engagement
Disclaimer: Before we start, I think it’s important to say that I don’t recommend you put all your eggs in one basket. I’ve made that mistake and it almost sunk my ship. While LinkedIn is an amazing place to find freelance writing jobs right now, it shouldn’t be your only source of leads.
Diversification is key for long-term success without stress. If you’re not sure where else to look, be sure to check out our list of legit ways to find freelance writing work. Okay, with that out of the way, let’s get to the 5 tips on LinkedIn engagement!
1. Connect but don’t pitch slap
Once you join and optimize your profile, how do you find clients on LinkedIn? You’ll need to grow your network. A great way to do that is by sending out connection requests. But who should you connect with and what should you say?
I recommend a two-fold approach for freelance writers — connect with your target clients AND other people in the content marketing industry.
Part 1: Make industry connections
Connecting with people in your industry is helpful for a few reasons. First, you’ll see conversations in the feed that are relevant to what you do. As a result, you can chime in, hear from others, and stay in the loop with the latest trending topics. Further, the relationships you build can also lead to friendships (have been pleasantly surprised by this one), mentorships, collaboration opportunities, and even referrals.
But should you connect with other freelance writers?
One lesson I learned after a few months on LinkedIn was that other freelance writers are my community — not my competition. There’s more than enough business for all of us as we each have unique strengths. I often refer work to others and vice versa. Overall, getting to know other writers has done nothing but help me grow my freelance writing business (and make friends). That said, I also recommend connecting with other types of content marketing professionals like strategists, designers, creative directors, SEO experts, developers, agency owners, etc.
Part 2: Connect with your target clients
Next, you’ll also want to connect with potential clients using LinkedIn’s search function (more on that below). For example, if you are a pet content writer, connect with the people at pet-related companies that hire freelance writers.
If you don’t know the positions/titles to target, look back on your past clients. Who hired you and what was their role (founder, marketing manager, creative director, etc.)? If you don’t have any past clients, you can start by making educated guesses. From there, test. Send requests, see who responds, and track which audience brings you the best results.
If you don’t have a niche yet, we have another blog post with advice on niching you can check out.
What to say when you send connection requests
When you send a connection request, you can usually add a note (even if you don’t have LinkedIn Premium). I strongly recommend you don’t send a pitch.
Why? LI is inundated with people sending templated cold pitches and lots of people complain about them. If you take this route, you risk annoying clients which means:
- 1. They’re not going to hire you, and;
- 2. You’re damaging your brand.
Instead, think about how you’d approach someone in person at a trade show. Simply introduce yourself and what you do. If you’re targeting the right people, some will immediately show interest in your services. For those that don’t, that’s alright — you’re planting seeds for the future.
Note: Some people have a “Follow” button instead of a “Connect” button. In those cases, click the “More” button on their profile to find the connect option. Why? If you follow someone, they won’t be notified and you won’t be able to send them a note. Further, you’ll only see their content, they won’t see yours (which undercuts your ability to build an ongoing relationship).
2. Don’t just share links
Many people’s first inclination on LinkedIn is to share links to their blog posts or articles. As a writer, you may be thinking that regularly sharing your work will show off your skills and help you attract your ideal client base. While it can definitely help, it shouldn’t be your only post type.
Why?
LinkedIn seems to cut the reach of posts that contain links. Further, following links creates some friction for your audience. They have to leave their scroll, go off-platform, and then come back.
So what should you do instead?
Think about how you can create content made specifically for the LI feed. For example, share a tip from your blog as a LinkedIn post. You can also add images, videos, sliders, polls, and more. Provide value right there in the feed to help you appease the LI algorithm, expand your reach, and grow your community. Then, when you share a link, more people will likely be interested enough to click.
Note: Another option is to create a post about the topic and then add your link in the comments section.
3. Entice people to “see more”
Next, an important thing to think about when using LinkedIn is that your posts are going to be truncated after one or two lines. So if you want people to see your whole post, your opening needs to entice them to click “…see more.”
Here are some examples of openings that have worked well when posted on LI:
Want to see more content from the creators above? Follow Dina, Justin, and I over on LinkedIn!
So, how do you write an effective opening?
After writing your post, spend some time coming up with a hook that hints at the value but doesn’t give it all away. For example, it could be:
- A claim that challenges the status quo
- A promise of value below
- Or the start of an intriguing story that the reader won’t be able to resist
Tip: If a post flops but you believe the message is important, try a different opener to see if it performs better.
4. No need for a zipped-up corporate presence
It can be a bit intimidating to post on LinkedIn at first. How do you approach a professional social media platform, anyway? Should you resort to a super zipped-up corporate style? Probably not.
Instead, again, think of LinkedIn as a virtual tradeshow or networking event. You want to be professional but also friendly and accessible. Share your personality and don’t be afraid of a bit of humor – it can go a long way.
So how does that advice translate into posts? You can:
- Share your perspective and ask others for theirs.
- Tell real stories from your life and tie them to your business knowledge (example below).
- Poke fun at your industry or point out something relatable.
- Share insights into your work life behind the scenes — your wins, challenges, and day-to-day experiences.
5. Don’t post and ghost
Last but not least, let’s talk about posting vs. engaging. Many people post and post and post, and are bewildered because no one reacts. This can be extremely frustrating and demoralizing. Here’s the secret you may or may not know — social media is reciprocal.
You shouldn’t be on an island sharing your thoughts, opinions, and calls to action. If it seems like you’re only interested in what you have to say, you’re not going to get very far. Instead, see the platform for what it is — a virtual community of people interacting with each other. You need to speak but also listen. You’ll get what you give.
So what does that look like? Connecting with others in your industry, reacting and commenting on other posts, responding to all the comments you get, and asking questions to inspire further conversations. Posting is only part of the equation
Frequently asked questions about LinkedIn for freelance writers
Here’s a look at FAQs about LinkedIn for freelance writers. We’ll add to this over time. Feel free to drop more questions in the comments section.
What is LinkedIn engagement?
Engaging on LinkedIn means actively using the platform. Generating engagement refers to getting clicks, reactions, comments, shares, saves, messages, etc. in response to your posts.
How do you find people to connect with on LinkedIn?
The primary way to search for connections on LinkedIn is to use the search function (it’s on the top left). Type in the keyword you want to search for and click “People” as the type of results you want. You’ll then get a list of potential connections you can browse through. For example, you could search “freelance writer” if you wanted to connect with other writers.
LinkedIn also provides a variety of filters that can be super helpful for targeting a specific audience. You can filter by:
- Location
- Followers of a certain person
- School
- Past company
- Industry
- Profile language
- Service category
- And more
Another approach is to look for people in the feed that you find interesting. For example, if you join the conversation under a post and want to hear more from the people commenting, you can make connection requests from there. This strategy can help you connect with people who are also active on the platform.
How often should I post on LinkedIn as a freelance writer?
I recommend posting at least once per week to keep a steady presence on the platform. This will help to show the algorithm you’re engaged. If you’re really going to double down on the platform, I’d suggest upping it to 3-5 posts per week.
What should my headline be on LinkedIn as a freelance writer?
As a freelance writer, you want your headline to include “freelance writer” for search optimization purposes. Freelance makes it clear that you’re available for contract work and writer, well, that’s obvious. You may also want to get creative and add some clever copy but it’s important to have the basics. We cover more on this in the blog on LinkedIn profile optimization.
Should I update my LinkedIn banner?
Yes, LinkedIn banners are prime real estate. You’ll want to design a background photo that is on-brand, makes a good first impression, and works to get you more leads. You can learn more by clicking the link above.
Where can I learn all the ins and outs of becoming a freelance writer?
Check out our blog “How to Become a Freelance Writer (and Get Paid) in 12 Steps.” It covers everything from choosing a writing type to optimizing your workload for your profitability and happiness.
What are jobs on LinkedIn?
Companies can go on LinkedIn and post jobs that you can apply for. In many cases, these are part- or full-time jobs for people who want to become employees. However, you will also come across job opportunities for freelance writers. I keep an eye out for attractive opportunities and will apply here and there. I’ve found a few new clients this way but have had far more thanks to inbound DMs. Keep in mind, when you apply for these jobs, you’re competing against a pool of many other applicants.
Kimberly Rotter, Chief Relationships Officer at An Army of Writers, recommends taking note when companies look for writers but not applying just then. Instead, add them to a spreadsheet and reach out to them down the road. This way you have a list of companies that you know hire freelance writers, and you can reach out to them when they’re not flooded with applications.
What are LinkedIn groups?
There are lots of groups on LinkedIn that are focused on different topics. For example, you may find one for B2B marketers, SEO specialists, article writers, Marketing Millennials, etc. You can join these groups to see and share posts. They can be helpful to make connections and meet people who share a common interest.
What freelance writers should I connect with on LinkedIn?
Here are some of my favorites:
- Kaleena Stroud (copywriting, brand voice expert)
- Jacob McMillen (Content marketing, freelance writing biz expert)
- Sarah Colley (Writing and content distribution expert)
- Eddie Shleyner ?? (Copywriting expert)
- Kirsten Lamb (Freelance writing and conversions expert)
- Doug Lawson (Expert on driving results through content/copy and proving it ?)
Want to learn more about LinkedIn for freelance writers?
Each social media platform has its ins and outs and they can take some time to figure out. LinkedIn has been my main focus for a few years now and it has paid off exponentially.
I truly don’t think there’s a better place for freelance writers to be right now. However, there are a few specific things you need to do to find clients and have them find you. I hope these tips will help with your LI engagement.
If you’d like personalized feedback on your LinkedIn profile and activity, check out our LinkedIn audits for freelance writers.
Keep reading…
- Learn how to DIY a professional LinkedIn profile photo in Canva
- Find 7 LinkedIn profile tips for freelance writers
- Learn how to DIY an optimized LinkedIn banner
P.S. Have you seen our job board? Every Friday we share freelance writing job opps from LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and the web!