Want to grow your freelance or solo business? Of course, you do!

But marketing isn’t everyone’s strong suit. And it can be tough out there.

Marketing is one of the most important things for any company and in this post we’re going to talk about how you can do it right. Because in reality, marketing is the backbone of any successful business. Without it, even the best product won’t get noticed and you’ll be left out in the cold with nowhere to turn.

Marketing can be difficult for solopreneurs and freelancers whether you’ve been in the game for a while or just starting out. But if you want a freelance business that not only survives but thrives, you need to be consistently marketing. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to market your solo business, even if you aren’t an expert.

Here are six ways solopreneurs and freelancers can market their businesses.

1. Create a website

A website is often the first place customers go when they’re looking for something. Now some of you know my solo business is designing websites, but no I am not someone who is going to tell you, you need to pay someone to get you something fancy. Getting started is more important than your website. But getting at least something on the web is important. You can put your contact information, prices, purchase options, a portfolio [that’s a lot of p’s] and anything else you want potential customers to know about your business on it.

If you’re just getting started and you have more time than money, some websites are free if you use a site like WordPress.com or SquareSpace. Now if you’re more established, generating money and looking to take your business to the next level, that’s when you hire an expert.

2. Leverage social media

A social media profile is another easy way to market your solo business. The great thing about social media is that it’s free. (Maybe not as free as it used to be but…) Since in this day and age almost every type of audience is somewhere on social, establishing a presence there and sharing content can be seen by people who are interested in what you have to offer.

3. Hang out where your audience is

This is a bit of an extension of that last one. Knowing your audience and where they hang out is vital to your success. You want to be seen and contributing wherever your specific audience is. That could be in your local area and networking or business events. Or now that you have a website and a social media profile, it might be time to start joining groups on places like Facebook, LinkedIn or Google Groups. There are groups for everything so explore and see which ones apply to your business.

4. Share your expertise through podcasts and blog posts

Podcasts are a great way to distribute your message. You can talk about your solo business, provide tips and advice, or interview guests.

A blog post is another excellent marketing tool for solopreneurs and freelancers. It’s a way to share what you do and why people should hire you. Publishing your posts consistently will help them rank higher in search engines like Google which will bring more traffic to your website.

5. Pitch yourself

Reaching out to potential customers is another way solopreneurs and freelancers can market their business easier than they might have thought possible before reading this article. While it might not be your favorite option, you can pitch people cold. You can also pitch people simply by having conversations and solving problems for people who follow you on social media, that you meet at an event, or in a coffee shop. You’ve gotta ask, to receive.

6. Ask for reviews, testimonials, and referrals

Most of us aren’t all that comfortable tooting our own horn, so you can get others to do it for you. Email clients how they felt about working with you and how they feel about the results you got. When they respond positively, thank them and ask permission to use it on your website.

This is also a great time to ask them for referral business as well. Happy clients are a great chance to access a customer base that you might not have otherwise been able to reach.

Marketing your solo business is essential to success. For many solopreneurs and freelancers, marketing can mean taking on tasks that are traditionally handled by a team of people. But don’t let the fear of this overwhelm you! There are plenty of ways to market your solo business successfully without having all those resources; we’ve shown you six different options here. The best part? Marketing can be done with little or no money if necessary – just some creativity and effort!

Now I know that you’re interested in learning more about running a freelance or solo business, I want to invite you to join other successful freelancers and solopreneurs subscribed to the Time To Grow Newsletter.