media update’s Talisa Jansen van Rensburg looks at three tips that will help the South African freelancers to flourish long after the lockdown has ended.

Being a freelancer might seem like the ultimate lifestyle to have — you can be your own boss and work from home. But, it is not as easy as some make it out to be — and it is even harder to be a successful freelancer during a pandemic. This is because your marketing tactics need to allow you to stand out from the rest of the competition — and there’s a lot of them.

No need to worry, however, as we have the solution!

Here are three marketing tips for freelancers in South Africa:

1. Be present on social media platforms

A study done by We are Social in 2019 found that the average South African spends over eight hours a day online. Additionally, 40% of people within the country make use of social media and spend an average of two hours and 48 minutes on these platforms daily.

This indicates that South African freelancers need to be present on social media.

“There is a staggering number of potential customers when you are active on an online platform,” says Meneesha Govender of the South African Freelancers' Association (SAFREA)

Therefore, you need to post engaging content to ensure that you reach the right people. In being a freelancer, it is vital to market yourself, and social media is a great platform to do so — just as long as you market yourself in a subtle way.

For example, if you are a content creator, you can try the following:
  1. Give out free tips on how to create amazing content.
  2. Tell your followers about some of your favourite content creation tools.
  3. Share content from other creators that inspire you.
Being open with your followers and giving them advice shows that you are not just there to take their money, but that you are also there to help and inspire them. 

2. Have a solid and well-planned website

If a person sees your post on social media and they want to learn more about your services or products, they are likely to go search for any sort of your website linked to your brand.

But if they can’t find it, or if they do and your page is riddled with grammar and spelling errors, they will be less likely to contact you.

If you don’t already have a site, you might want to consider tools such as Wix or squarespace to start building one. You can also search for freelance web developers and strike a deal with them.

If you do already have one, you need to ensure that the content on it is flawless, and that it will make you stand out from the rest of any freelancing competitors you may have.

According to an article by vivial, you need a website for the following reasons:
  1. It is your digital business card.
  2. People need to be able to find you when doing searches on Google
  3. It can help build credibility.
  4. Google ranks local businesses higher when searchers make use of their mobile devices.
  5. It helps you sell your brand’s image.
With this in mind, it is important to remember that if you don’t have a website, people might trust you less, meaning they would rather go to a freelancer who does have one.

In terms of the lockdown in South Africa, potential clients want to feel secure in the people that they hire. Having a website will ensure that clients feel you are a reliable source and it will allow potential clients to find you easier. Since people are working from home, the Internet is basically the only way they will be able to find and contact freelancers and businesses.

3. Be adaptable with your rates during COVID-19

Currently, there are a lot of businesses in South Africa that are taking a hit due to the lockdown and COVID-19. According to a BusinessTech article “Companies are already beginning to suffer financially as people practice social distancing and self-isolation.”

Because money is currently tight, you might want to consider lowering your rates. Make it clear on your website and social media platforms that you want to help out local businesses since you, yourself, are one. Therefore, you are offering your services at a more affordable price.

This doesn’t mean that you should make your prices extremely low, but be open to negotiation and speak to brands, companies or people who want to make use of your services.
If you aren’t sure what to charge your clients, be sure to read The South African freelancer conundrum: How much do I charge?
Being open and adaptable during a time of uncertainty will ensure your clients feel secure in making use of your services.

What are some other tips you think South African freelancers need to know about? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Get some insight into the South African freelancer landscape with our Infographic: What does SA’s freelancer landscape look like?
*Image courtesy of Freepik