The Problem With One-and-Done Freelance Services

When I started my copywriting business, one of my main services was writing website copy. I really enjoyed it - there was plenty of variety, and I was good at it.

But most website copy projects were one-off projects. People don't need new website copy every week, month or even every year, so I was constantly having to find new clients.

This is a problem many freelancers face when they only offer one-and-done services. You win the project, complete the project, but then you need to go out and find your next project.

This is fine for a while, but constantly having to find new clients can get exhausting if you don't enjoy marketing and sales. Luckily, you can build a business that doesn't rely purely on one-off work.

Find introducers

Very early on, I connected with as many web designers as I could, and I started to get regular work from some of them. This meant I didn't have to find new clients all the time, as the web designers were doing a lot of the hard work for me.

Finding introducers is a great way of getting more of the work you love without having to constantly attract and nurture new clients.

How to Find Introducers & Referral Partners

Most freelancers would rather not spend half their time prospecting for work. Having a couple of introducers or referral partners can help bring a more consistent flow of work.

The Freelance FairytaleLisa Slater

Offer retainer services

Something else I did was offer ongoing blogging services to website customers. After all, once their new site was live, they needed a way to get visitors to it, so this was a natural add-on.

I don't offer done-for-you copywriting anymore, but I do still offer retainer services such as my rolling mentoring..

When you offer retainer or subscription services, your income is more predictable and stable, and you don't need to generate as much new business.

Getting Retainer Clients as a Freelancer

When you offer retained services, your income will be more predictable and stable, and you won’t need to constantly generate new business.

The Freelance FairytaleLisa Slater

Offer add-on products or services

It's often easier to sell to existing or past customers than attract new ones because you have already established a relationship, built trust, and (hopefully) delivered a great service.

So look at what else you could offer your customers or clients to give them even more value for money.

Ask for recommendations or referrals

When you do deliver a one-and-done product or service, make sure you get feedback and reviews that you can use to attract more clients.

Ask for recommendations. Ask your clients if they know anyone else who would benefit from your products or services.

You can even offer a finder's fee, a refer-a-friend incentive or an affiliate scheme to encourage clients to promote your products and services. Getting other people to talk about your products or services can be a great way of attracting new clients.

Stay in touch with past clients

Your clients might not need your services again immediately, but they might in the future, so always stay in touch.

Connect with them on social media (if they use it) and engage with their content. You don't have to like every post they put out, but commenting on something every now and then will help you stay on their radar.

And make sure you send them personal emails or messages every few months. You could message them about something new they've launched, send them something that they might find interesting or useful, or just let them know about anything new you're offering.

Just because the project is finished, it doesn't mean you have to end the relationship. Checking in with clients means you stay top of mind when they need your services again or if they hear of someone else who needs your services.

Be consistently visible

My favourite way of staying front of mind is through email marketing, but posting regularly on social media will also help you stay visible.

Too many freelancers only do marketing when they need new clients, but if you want a consistent flow of leads and sales, you need to be consistent. And that doesn't need to involve hours of work every week or coming up with new content ideas every day.

If you struggle with marketing or lead generation, book one of my starter sessions, and we'll put a simple, sustainable and realistic strategy in place.

90-Minute Starter Sessions

Let’s find out what’s holding you back so you can start attracting more of the clients you want and building a business that makes you happy.

The Freelance FairytaleLisa Slater

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