How can you find new job opportunities? Who are your potential principals and customers? How do you make contact with them? These questions are important for new entrepreneurs, freelancers and light entrepreneurs.
In the beginning of your career, your work experience is probably scarce, which is why contacts and networks formed during your studies are essential. Through projects and working groups, you meet new people, and this can lead to the next project or gig. Good work, willingness to learn new things and a positive attitude often breed more job offers. At first, you need to gain experience by working on smaller projects; not many get to start from the “top.” Step by step, you can expand your network and connections towards more challenging jobs for which you need years of experience.
You should find out what the most effective information and marketing channels are in your industry; every industry has its own conventions.
You can use quite traditional methods in approaching potential employers or principals, such as sending them an email or a letter or calling them. Furthermore, various events and meetings provide an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and professionals in your field and other industries. You can use these opportunities to establish useful contacts and leave your business card with potential employers and customers.
When you approach someone, you should first determine why they would buy your services. What presumed need of theirs could you meet? It is very likely that you will only get an answer to one in every ten messages you send (or even fewer). Do not let this get to you.
Various industries have local and national associations from which you can get professional information and through which you can also get job opportunities, so you should consider joining one or more of them.
There are also national and international platforms that convey assignments to people who work on a freelance basis. At their best, these are very efficient in mediating gig work. Of course, the platforms take their share of the fees for the conveyed assignments.
Social media has become a very important marketing channel alongside the traditional advertising media, such as professional magazines and journals as well as local newspapers. By being seen and heard, asking questions and participating in discussions on social media, you can potentially find work. In order for marketing to be as efficient and targeted as possible, you should develop a strategy for your presence on social media. You need to think about which channels and groups you want to be part of and how you want to present your skills and personality. Especially in the art and media industries, but increasingly also in other industries, managing your visibility and publicity is an integral part of your increasing professional competence.
It is also important to compile a CV that shows your background information, education, (the most recent) work experience and your specialisation. In many industries, portfolios are also used to showcase work samples. Portfolios can include, for example, composite sketches, visualisations or showreels. Today, you send your portfolio to potential principals electronically. You can also have your own website through which it is effortless to showcase your skills.
Do not forget about your networks! Read The Gig Work Guidebook tips on networking.