As a freelancer, it’s often feast or famine. One day you’ll have an abundance of fantastic clients, then the next day you’re scraping and pleading for your next couple of dollars.
That’s why I’m passionate about sales funnels for freelancers. A competent sales funnel can help even the novice freelancer build authority, reach their audience, and promote their freelance gigs.
Let’s brainstorm 5 of my favorite sales funnel ideas for freelancers in nearly any niche or market.
5 Genius Sales Funnel Ideas For Freelancers:
- # 1 – The Bridge Funnel
- # 2 – The Survey Funnel
- # 3 – The Automated Webinar Funnel
- # 4 – The Free Consultation Funnel
- # 5 – The Email Course Funnel
Why I Love These Sales Funnel Ideas For Freelancers:
A sales funnel can help you to generate leads, promote your gigs, and also get the word out about your availability as a freelancer. If you want to learn more, then these are my 5 favorite sales funnel ideas.
Let’s take a much closer look at my favorite sales funnel strategies for freelancers.
# 1 – The Bridge Funnel
The bridge funnel is the perfect sales funnel idea if you already list yourself in a popular freelance marketplace. Bridge funnels help to build your brand and still benefit from the big freelance marketplaces.
The way a bridge funnel works is simple. Instead of promoting your freelance marketplace listing directly, you instead promote your lead capture page. On the thank you page, you can introduce yourself and then teach more about your freelance writing gigs.
That way, you can work on building an email list of prospective clients. Once you get your ideal client to subscribe to your email list, you could briefly introduce yourself then refer your prospects to your freelance marketplace listing.
Email marketing can help you to build authority, brand yourself, share updates, and also promote your freelance gigs on any platform you choose.
That way, you can followup with your prospective (and existing) clients via email marketing and on your terms. You can also promote your freelance marketplace listing at your leisure, and whenever you have new openings.
# 2 – The Survey Funnel
The survey funnel is one of the smartest sales funnel ideas for freelancers of all varieties. A survey funnel allows you to poll your prospects so that you can prequalify and segment your clients. You can also identify clients who you are unable to help. A survey funnel, therefore, saves you and your (potential) prospects time.
Maybe you only want clients in a certain industry. Or, maybe you only want to work with clients who meet certain income guidelines. Or, maybe there are certain portions of your prospects who you cannot help for whatever reason. Survey funnels help you identify these segments, and that’s why they’re considerable.
A survey funnel can also help you to segment your clients for automated followup. That way, you can focus on crafting the perfect followup campaign based upon the status and needs of each prospective client that comes through your funnel.
# 3 – The Automated Webinar Funnel
An automated webinar funnel is a type of funnel where you promote a digital workshop, online course, or digital seminar for your clients.
Do you want a unique marketing funnel that helps establish your authority? Or, maybe you’re a passionate freelancer and you want to showcase your expertise to your clients?
If you can relate, then automated webinar funnels are perfect. Automated webinar funnels can also help to automate and streamline your lead generation process. No more waiting for leads and following up manually!
If automated webinars seem like too much technical work, then relax! There are a handful of reliable automated webinar apps that remove all stress from the equation.
# 4 – The Free Consultation Funnel
I challenge you to offer a free consultation as a lead magnet. When your prospective client subscribes, you followup and offer the best advice you can for free. You can even take things a step further and offer a free gig if you think that you’ve found a good prospective client.
The main goal here is to go above and beyond and wow your client with wonderful service before they even hire you.
As a freelancer, you probably realize that many prospective clients are scared to work with you. Maybe they’ve worked with a bad freelancer before and now they’re hesitant.
That’s why offering an introductory gig, or a free consultation is so powerful. Try to melt away the risk that your prospects face.
Working with a new freelancer is a ton of risk, and can seem stressful. Personalities clash, work ethics wane, and finding a harmonious match is tough.
That’s why a free consultation might be a genius idea. You can offer a free, no-stress consultation. During the consultation, try your best to introduce yourself, and try your best to prove to your client that you’re worthy of their trust and business!
# 5 – The Email Course Funnel
Even in our modern era of social media and live streams, I’m still a tremendous enthusiast of email marketing. Enter the email course funnel.
What are the top 7 insights and tips that you could teach your prospective freelancing client? Those 7 insights might make a genius email course! An email course acts like a masterful lead magnet, and also enables you to build your email list.
The best thing about an email course is that you can easily promote your freelancer availability in every email. You can also promote your third party freelance listings in each email. You’re only limited by your creativity!
If you’re not sure how to design an awesome email course, I wrote a comprehensive guide showing how to write an email course and launch it right here.
Sales Funnel Ideas For Freelancers FAQ
I’ve studied the art and science of lead generation for a while. I’m happy to share some of my best lead generation tips for freelancers. These are some of the most common questions that you’re likely to encounter. Please enjoy!
# 1 – How Can Freelancers Generate Leads?
Once you have a solid lead generation funnel operational, the idea is to promote your funnel everywhere and anywhere.
Do you have any social media profiles? Do you have a blog, YouTube channel, or a Facebook group? Begin to take inventory of your digital assets so you can figure out how to get your lead generation funnel in front of your ideal prospects!
There’s also the world of paid advertising. However, paid advertising is expensive and scary if you’re just getting started. That’s why I’m a big fan of blogging, social media sharing, and content marketing!
# 2 – Does Facebook Marketing Work For Freelancers?
Absolutely. I think that Facebook is one of the smartest ways to brand yourself as a freelancer. On your Facebook page, you can share your latest testimonials, reviews, and work.
Facebook is also a great place to share your portfolio of work. Don’t forget local Facebook groups as well! If your hometown has a Facebook group, join the group and ask the moderator if you can promote your freelance business. Be sure to let them know that you’re a local business owner trying to serve their community! Just be sure to never promote your business without permission from the Facebook group moderator!
If you have a marketing budget, you can also consider advertising your marketing funnel with Facebook ads. However, remember to test small, because paid advertising requires a ton of expertise, work, and experimentation!
I should also speak briefly about the power of marketing chatbots! Chatbots are a borderline-genius option at your disposal if you wish to generate leads using Facebook. If you’re not sure how to start with chatbots, then my friends over at SendPulse recently launched a fantastic guide on how to create a Facebook chatbot without stress. If you love the idea of automating much of your lead generation process, then chatbots rock!
# 3 – Does Offline Marketing Work For Freelancers?
Absolutely, yes! To start, pick the low hanging fruit. Make sure that all your friends, family members, colleagues, and neighbors know that you offer tremendous freelancing services for small business owners!
Another thing to investigate is your local town hall to see if they host (or know about) local meetups, business meetings, or support resources for local entrepreneurs.
Take advantage of every small business meetup that you can. Putting your name and face out there in your local community is a great first step to build authority in your hometown. Let everyone know about your business, who you serve, and how you can help.
Also, remember to check your state’s Small Business Development Center. Check to see if they have any helpful resources, meetups, or networking opportunities.
Your local chamber of commerce is also an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself, build local connections, and get your business card out there.
# 4 – Is Fiverr A Good Marketplace For Freelancers?
Yes! I’m a huge fan of Fiverr.com because they take much of the stress out of billing, advertising, fulfillment, and promotion. Fiverr also lets you quickly list your freelance gigs in one handy location.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to sell your services for a meager $5! Fiverr has different packages and options to accommodate a wide variety of freelancers. Over the years, Fiverr has grown remarkably, and you can now list an entire menu of freelance gigs for your prospective clients to choose from and consider.
Fiverr is also very straightforward to use, so I’m a big fan and think they’re great.
Humblebrag: I’m also a Fiverr level-2 seller as of this moment! I say “as of this moment”, because level-2 seller status is very difficult to achieve and maintain. Who knows if I can maintain this rating! (With luck, I can.)
# 5 – How Much Should Freelancers Charge For Their Services?
I honestly think that you should always charge what your services are worth. I know that it’s terrifying to ask for what you’re worth. It’s way too easy to undercharge for your services. Trust me, I know!
The issue with undercharging is that it’s then too easy to burn yourself out. As a result, you’re not doing yourself, or your freelance clients any favors. Be honest and transparent with your clients. Let them know how much you need to charge for your efforts to provide service over the long haul.
if your client recognizes your value, and if you can deliver the goods reliably, then I think everyone wins when you receive fair compensation!
Conclusion
Freelancing is one of the coolest side hustles in our new global economy, and I’m a huge fan! Freelancing also offers abundant freedom for those who love the lifestyle.
That said, freelancing is a ton of work and finding new clients seems daunting, scary, and even depressing at times. That’s why I’m a huge fan of the sales funnel ideas for freelancers in this article, and I hope that you had fun reading.
Thanks again, and please have a beautiful day!
Cordially…
Mike “The Freelance Funnel” DeVincent
MrComputerScience.com