Everyone is always talking about how social media is a must when running any sort of business. Your online branding matters; as does your ability to connect with clients and customers. Is there a few ways to use social media to land gigs?
In fact, as much as we like to complain about it, there is an increasing need for freelancers to start using social media effectively. More specifically, freelancers need to learn how social media can actually help them land gigs.
Here are just a few ways to use social media to land gigs
Find Gigs on Twitter
Many freelancers have found gigs on Twitter by searching for specific hashtags or partaking in Twitter chats within their industry. The key is to remember that Twitter isn’t just about sharing content in 140 characters or less, it’s also about making connections with your tweets.
For example, by searching the hashtags “#freelance”, “#blogging” and “#gigs” (or “#jobs) you can pull up a stream of tweets about these things.
When it comes to Twitter chats, this is your chance to engage with companies and potential customers in your industry. Many colleagues have found themselves blog sponsors, speaking engagements and writing jobs simply from networking on Twitter chats.
Establish Your Expertise on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is awesome because it’s a social media network specifically for professional endeavors. One great way to use LinkedIn to land gigs is to interact in groups. More specifically, answer other people’s questions and add to the conversation in LinkedIn groups. If there’s just one tool to have in your arsenal, let it be LinkedIn.
Show People What You Do on Periscope
Many business owners have used Periscope as a money maker. The beauty of Periscope is you can interact with potential clients live and unscripted. More importantly, you can show people what you do instead of just telling them.
You can also use a call to action on your broadcasts so that viewers know exactly what they can do to continue working with you.
Leverage Your Social Media Following to Land Gigs
Nowadays, it’s become more common for clients to ask about social media followings before they hire any writers. Of course, this depends on the client and what they are actually trying to accomplish.
For example, some sites that are looking for writers want to make sure they are hiring influencers and well-known people in the industry. The idea here is that this way they know they are hiring someone who knows their stuff. Additionally, they are probably hoping the writer’s audience will also read their new work.
The jury is still out on whether or not this is fair or even a good idea. After all, there are plenty of good writers who are just starting out who may not have large followings. Social media following also doesn’t necessarily equate to being an expert. However, depending on the client, don’t be surprised if they start asking about your Twitter followers.
If you don’t have a large following, don’t freak out. This stuff takes time to build and not all clients will ask about this.
Final Thoughts
Social media isn’t going away any time soon. When use correctly it’s an excellent tool for finding prospective clients and it can even be used as a negotiation tactic when trying to close a deal. Now time to use social media to land gigs
Do you use social media in your business? How do you use it?
