Building your client network

Freelancers, most often than not, face the problem of landing not their first client, but the second and the third and the subsequent. Your immediate network soon exhausts and you are out in the market, one amongst a million others, competing for prospective clients.

Whizolve.com is one place where you can build your client network and where prospective clients can find you. But are you ready to whizolve?

Here's a quick checklist to make sure you are, when that call happens and you hear from a client:

1. Make sure you know what you are offering - plans, advice, technological development, maintenance. Stick to your expertise and only offer what you know is your primary domain.
2. Communicate well - ask questions, get hold of them when in doubt before you respond to their RFP.
3. Quantify your response. Supplement your responses with costs and time estimate figures, comparative analysis, scope, wireframes etc. wherever and when applicable.
4. References - they are important to your clients. Always mention references when available or provide with an active portfolio. Make sure they are relevant to the nature of your clients project.
5. Build an active web presence. Point your prospective clients to an online web profile and build up on it. Make them leave testimonials and reviews every time. (FYI - you can do this on whizolve)
6. Build and build contacts. Be good. Point the client in a good direction, or recommend other consultants you know are more suited to their current project needs. This will ensure the client will listen to you the next time you call them.